Surf spots in Varkala
4 spots within 4 km of Varkala: 4 beach breaks. 3 suit beginners.
Live forecasts for every spot →
Best spots today in Varkala
- Intermediate: Varkala (Fair, 0.9 m, cross-offshore around 17:00)
- Beginners: Varkala (Good, 0.9 m, cross-offshore around 17:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 12:50 UTC.
The spots
- Edava · beach break, beginner, best on SW/SSW/W swell with E/NE/SE wind, mid tide. Beach peaks under the mud cliffs between Varkala and Kappil, with a semi-hollow left off the small rocky headlands on bigger days. Quieter than Varkala's main beach, it…
- Black Beach · beach break, intermediate, best on SW/SSW/W swell with E/NE/SE wind, mid tide. The dark-sand beach below Varkala's North Cliff, about a kilometre north of the main Papanasam stretch. It tends to be a little punchier than the main beach and is…
- Varkala · beach break, beginner, best on SW/WSW swell with ENE/E wind, all tides. A sandy beach break below the Varkala cliffs, with small, forgiving waves that suit beginners. It is uncrowded and best in the monsoon swell season.
- Kappil · beach break, beginner, best on SW/SSW/W swell with E/NE/SE wind, mid tide. A long, quiet beach north of Varkala where the backwaters meet the sea, used by the local surf schools for lessons. The inside is soft and mushy for learners, with…
When to surf in Varkala
Good days per month for intermediate surfers; tap a month for where else to surf then.
Best months for intermediate surfers: August to October. For beginners: May to October. The water goes from about 25 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 31 °C in April (Boardshorts / rash vest). 3 of the 4 spots suit beginners, such as Edava, Varkala, Kappil.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | 0 | 3 | 29 °C |
| Feb | 1 | 0 | 3 | 29 °C |
| Mar | 1 | 0 | 2 | 30 °C |
| Apr | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 °C |
| May | 4 | 0 | 11 | 30 °C |
| Jun | 4 | 0 | 11 | 28 °C |
| Jul | 4 | 0 | 11 | 26 °C |
| Aug | 6 | 0 | 14 | 25 °C |
| Sep | 7 | 0 | 12 | 27 °C |
| Oct | 7 | 1 | 14 | 29 °C |
| Nov | 3 | 1 | 5 | 29 °C |
| Dec | 1 | 0 | 4 | 29 °C |
Days per month at the best third of the 4 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Lessons and boards in Varkala
Several surf schools, boards easy to rent. Lessons: about INR 1,500–3,000 for a beginner lesson. Rental: about INR 1,000–1,200 a day for a soft-top. Lessons run on the sandy beach breaks below the cliffs and at gentler Black Beach, Odayam and Edava, usually early morning (from about 6 am) and late afternoon when the wind is light; the season is October–April, and schools stop during the June–September monsoon. The long-running Soul & Surf retreat on South Cliff closed in April 2026; smaller local schools book by phone or WhatsApp, so ask at your guesthouse.
Prices change; check with the school. Sources: Surfing in Varkala – Kerala Tourism, Surfing in Varkala guide – TrekGo, Kerala – Soul & Surf.
Staying in Varkala
- Car
- Not needed: North and South Cliff are linked by a cliff-edge path above Papanasam Beach and are walkable; autos run from the railway station (about 5 km), and scooters can be hired for Kappil, Edava and Odayam.
- Remote work
- OK: 4G is decent and some places have fibre, but speeds are inconsistent and there are few dedicated coworking spaces; most remote workers use cliff cafés or guesthouse wifi.
- Travelling solo
- A long-established stop on the backpacker and yoga circuit with many solo travellers on the cliff; the UK advises women in India to avoid isolated beaches when alone, notes harassment and drink spiking, and recommends app or pre-booked taxis over hailing at night.
- Vibe
- Laid-back clifftop strip of cafés, guesthouses and yoga schools above red laterite cliffs, with gentle beach breaks below; a Hindu pilgrimage beach (Papanasam) sits between the cliffs, so dress modestly away from the sand.
- Where to stay
- North Cliff has the most budget and mid-range rooms and the café strip; South Cliff is quieter with guesthouses and resorts; Odayam and Black Beach to the north are calmer, with gentler waves and fewer people.
- Getting there
- Trivandrum (TRV) is about 50 km south, roughly 1 h 15 min by taxi; Varkala Sivagiri station is served by most trains between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, then an auto (about ₹50–80) to the cliff.
- Budget
- $ (cheap)
- Busy and quiet months
- Surf and tourist season runs about October–April, busiest and priciest from December to early January; the south-west monsoon (June–September) brings rough seas, and many cliff restaurants close outside the season.
From travel guides, government travel advice and nomad sites (Varkala – Wikivoyage, India travel advice: safety and security – GOV.UK, Surfing in Varkala – Kerala Tourism, Laptop-friendly work cafés in Varkala – Devvrat Yoga). Check current conditions before you travel.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Varkala?
The best-known are Varkala, Edava, Black Beach, Kappil. In all, 4 spots lie within 4 km: 4 beach breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Varkala?
Edava, Varkala, Kappil: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Varkala?
For intermediate surfers August to October. For beginners May to October.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Varkala?
The sea goes from about 25 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest) to 31 °C in April (Boardshorts / rash vest).
Do I need a car to surf in Varkala?
No. North and South Cliff are linked by a cliff-edge path above Papanasam Beach and are walkable; autos run from the railway station (about 5 km), and scooters can be hired for Kappil, Edava and Odayam.
Can I work remotely from Varkala?
4G is decent and some places have fibre, but speeds are inconsistent and there are few dedicated coworking spaces; most remote workers use cliff cafés or guesthouse wifi.
Are there surf schools and board rental in Varkala?
Several surf schools, boards easy to rent. Lessons: about INR 1,500–3,000 for a beginner lesson. Rental: about INR 1,000–1,200 a day for a soft-top.