Map of the World's Best Surf Spots

Are you planning a surf trip, traveling with family and friends, or simply searching for perfect surf?

Discover the best surf spots in the world, and the most popular surf breaks near you.

Waves are everywhere: lost in secret breaks, or pumping in world-class lineups. Enjoy the ultimate surfing experience. Explore the surf map:

 

America

Anguilla
Argentina
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
French Guiana
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Haiti & Navassa
Honduras
Jamaica
Martinique
Mexico
Netherlands Antilles
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Puerto Rico
St Barthelemy
St Kitts & Nevis Island
Saint Martin
Sainte Lucia
Tobago
Trinidad
USA
Uruguay
US Virgin Islands
Venezuela

Europe

Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
UK

Oceania & Asia

American Samoa
Australia
China
Christmas Islands
Cook Islands
Easter Island
Fiji
Hong-Kong
India
Indonesia
Israel
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Korea
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Micronesia
Nauru
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Oman
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Polynesia
Republic of Palau
Russia
Sri Lanka
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Tuamotu
Turkey
Tuvalu
United Arabs Emirates
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Samoa

Africa

Angola
Cape Verde
Congo
Egypt
Gabon
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Reunion Island
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra leone
Somalia
South Africa
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Western Sahara

Surf spots: wind, swell direction, tide and seafloor play a critical role in the creation of rideable waves | Photo: Shutterstock

What Makes a World-Class Surf Spot?

The best surf spots in the world are usually located where four variables meet positively, and consistently, all year round. Several factors impact the quality of surfing waves, but these are by far the most important:

1. Wind;
2. Swell Direction;
3. Tides;
4. Seafloor;

Wind is most relevant variable in the creation of quality surf. Its strength, direction, duration and consistency change the surface of the ocean waters and may produce quality waves for surfing.

Waves propagate faster or slower. The wave period means the time between two waves. When waves reach the shores, they lose energy as they pass through different sea floor types.

There are good and bad surfing waves in rock, reef, coral and sand bottoms, and there are no beaches with top class waves all 365 days of the year.

The interaction between the wind force and direction, the strength and direction of the swell, the tide in a particular hour, and the type of a sea floor creates a determined type of wave.

For instance, in full moon days, the high tide is very high, and the low tide is extremely low, which means you may encounter mushy waves or heavy close-outs, respectively.

Simultaneously, you may have land issues influencing the wave - a jetty, a pier, a river mouth, or a building can transform your local surf spot into a beach break, point break, sand break, reef break or shore break.

Surf reports and surf forecasts analyze this weather interaction in order to deliver accurate probabilities of having great surf sessions in the world's most popular peaks.

The best surf spots in the world are the ones with the most number of days with good surfing conditions.

The Surf Trip Checklist

Wax, toothbrush, contact lens, passport. What else do you need for a long journey?

Surfers are regular travelers. Whether you're on a surf trip with friends, or touring the world as a pro athlete, it's always important to go through the surfer's checklist.

Surf Forecasting At Your Local Spot

How Waves Are Formed
What is wind? How wind is formed
The importance of swell period in surfing
The difference between ground and wind swells
Tracking waves and swell in surf forecasting
Hurricane waves, swell prediction and storm surf
The effects of shoaling and refraction in wave height
The tidal "Rule of Twelfths" in surfing
The Beaufort Wind Force Scale
The best surf forecasting books

The surf spot directory is in continuous improvement. Have we missed a surf spot? Send us an email.