Surf by month

Where to surf in December

December brings winter swell to Europe and the start of the dry season in Costa Rica and on Panama's Caribbean side.

Plan a surf trip for December

December at a glance

ZoneCountryDecemberFlight from EuropeDaily budget
GuanacasteCosta RicaPrime11-14h$40/day
LimónCosta RicaPrime11-14h$40/day
Côte BasqueFrancePrime2h$25/day
Finistère (Brittany)FrancePrime2h$25/day
GirondeFrancePrime2h$25/day
Landes (Hossegor)FrancePrime2h$25/day
Bocas del ToroPanamaPrime12-15h$30/day
AzoresPortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
EriceiraPortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
Lisbon CoastPortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
MadeiraPortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
Porto & the NorthPortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
The AlgarvePortugalPrime2-3h$25/day
AsturiasSpainPrime2h$20/day
Basque CountrySpainPrime2h$20/day
FuerteventuraSpainPrime2h$20/day
GaliciaSpainPrime2h$20/day
LanzaroteSpainPrime2h$20/day
Central PuntarenasCosta RicaGood11-14h$40/day
Golfo de NicoyaCosta RicaGood11-14h$40/day

At their best in December

Guanacaste, Costa Rica · Prime

Dec-Apr: Dry season, offshore mornings, sunshine, clean NW-fed 3-4ft waves almost daily.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 5 beginner spots

Limón, Costa Rica · Prime

Dec-Mar: Main season, NE-E storms off Colombia fire Salsa Brava and the reefs.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 3 beginner spots

Côte Basque, France · Prime

Oct-Mar: Big, powerful swell, mild Basque winter.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots

Finistère (Brittany), France · Prime

Sep-Apr: Wide swell window catches groundswell from most directions.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 2 beginner spots

Gironde, France · Prime

Oct-Mar: Consistent, powerful groundswell, quiet off-season.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots

Landes (Hossegor), France · Prime

Oct-Mar: Biggest, most powerful groundswell, quieter off-season.

2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 1 beginner spot

Bocas del Toro, Panama · Prime

Dec-Mar: Main season, NE-E storms off Colombia fire the reefs and Silverbacks.

12-15h flight from Europe · from $30/day · 2 beginner spots

Azores, Portugal · Prime

Oct-Mar: Biggest, most consistent Atlantic swell, wet and cool.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 2 beginner spots

Ericeira, Portugal · Prime

Oct-Feb: Biggest, most consistent NW/W groundswell, cold but firing.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 1 beginner spot

Lisbon Coast, Portugal · Prime

Oct-Mar: Consistent NW-W swell, mild city winter.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 5 beginner spots

Madeira, Portugal · Prime

Nov-Mar: Biggest, most powerful NW-N swell, serious big-wave season.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day

Porto & the North, Portugal · Prime

Sep-Apr: Consistent swell from multiple directions, cold but reliable.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day

The Algarve, Portugal · Prime

Oct-Apr: Consistent NW-W swell, mild Algarve winter, fewer crowds.

2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 5 beginner spots

Asturias, Spain · Prime

Oct-Mar: Consistent NW-W swell, cold but reliable.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Basque Country, Spain · Prime

Oct-Mar: Consistent, powerful NW-W swell, cold but firing.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Fuerteventura, Spain · Prime

Oct-Mar: Biggest, most consistent NW swell from Atlantic storms.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day

Galicia, Spain · Prime

Sep-Apr: Wide-open Atlantic swell window, consistent and powerful.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots

Lanzarote, Spain · Prime

Oct-Apr: Biggest, most consistent NW-N swell, dry warm climate.

2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 1 beginner spot

Also good in December

Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica · Good

Dec-Apr: Short dry season, cleaner, sunnier, but smaller than the summer swell.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 7 beginner spots

Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica · Good

Dec-Apr: Dry season, cleaner conditions and WNW pulses, though smaller than the summer swell.

11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 5 beginner spots

Where beginners can surf in December

These zones are in season in December and have the most beginner-friendly spots:

  • Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Playitas, Playa Matapalo and Dominicalito
  • Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Playa Grande, Tamarindo and Ostional
  • Lisbon Coast, Portugal: Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril and Praia das Maçãs
  • The Algarve, Portugal: Amado, Zavial and Tonel
  • Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica: Playa Coyote, Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen (Mal País)
  • Limón, Costa Rica: Westfalia, Playa Negra (Cahuita) and Playa Cocles

Out of season in December

Bali (Indonesia), Golfo Dulce (Costa Rica), Lombok (Indonesia), Mentawai Islands (Indonesia), Sumatra-Nias (Indonesia), Sumba & Rote (Indonesia), Sumbawa (Indonesia), Southwest Panama (Panama), West Panamá Province (Panama) and Java (Indonesia) are in their quiet months. Check each country's season guide before booking.

Surfing in December: common questions

Where is the best place to surf in December?

In December the zones at their best are Guanacaste (Costa Rica), Limón (Costa Rica), Côte Basque (France), Finistère (Brittany) (France), Gironde (France) and Landes (Hossegor) (France), among 18 in total.

Where can I surf in Europe in December?

15 European zones are in season in December: Côte Basque, Finistère (Brittany), Gironde, Landes (Hossegor), Azores and Ericeira.

Where can beginners surf in December?

Good options are Central Puntarenas in Costa Rica, Guanacaste in Costa Rica, Lisbon Coast in Portugal and The Algarve in Portugal.

Where is the cheapest place to surf in December?

Among the zones in season, the lowest daily budgets are in Spain (from $20 a day). Flights make a big difference, so compare the total in the planner.

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