Surf by month
Where to surf in January
January is the middle of the North Atlantic winter. Portugal, Spain and France get their biggest and coldest swells, the Canaries stay warm, and it's the dry season on Costa Rica's Pacific coast and on Panama's Caribbean side.
- Zones at their best18
- Also good2
- Out of season10
January at a glance
| Zone | Country | January | Flight from Europe | Daily budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guanacaste | Costa Rica | Prime | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Limón | Costa Rica | Prime | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Côte Basque | France | Prime | 2h | $25/day |
| Finistère (Brittany) | France | Prime | 2h | $25/day |
| Gironde | France | Prime | 2h | $25/day |
| Landes (Hossegor) | France | Prime | 2h | $25/day |
| Bocas del Toro | Panama | Prime | 12-15h | $30/day |
| Azores | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Ericeira | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Lisbon Coast | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Madeira | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Porto & the North | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| The Algarve | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Asturias | Spain | Prime | 2h | $20/day |
| Basque Country | Spain | Prime | 2h | $20/day |
| Fuerteventura | Spain | Prime | 2h | $20/day |
| Galicia | Spain | Prime | 2h | $20/day |
| Lanzarote | Spain | Prime | 2h | $20/day |
| Central Puntarenas | Costa Rica | Good | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Golfo de Nicoya | Costa Rica | Good | 11-14h | $40/day |
At their best in January
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
- Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point 2 spots
- Tamarindo 3 spots
- Nosara & the south 5 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
- Limón & the north 7 spots
- Puerto Viejo & the south 6 spots
Côte Basque, France · Prime
Oct-Mar: Big, powerful swell, mild Basque winter.
2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots
- Biarritz & Anglet 4 spots
- Guéthary & Hendaye 4 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
- Crozon Peninsula 4 spots
- Pointe du Raz & South 4 spots
Gironde, France · Prime
Oct-Mar: Consistent, powerful groundswell, quiet off-season.
2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 3 beginner spots
- Lacanau & Le Porge 3 spots
- Cap Ferret & Le Verdon 4 spots
Landes (Hossegor), France · Prime
Oct-Mar: Biggest, most powerful groundswell, quieter off-season.
2h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 1 beginner spot
- Hossegor & Capbreton 3 spots
- Seignosse & Vieux-Boucau 3 spots
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
- Isla Colón 4 spots
- Bastimentos & the outer isles 2 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
- São Miguel 3 spots
- Terceira 5 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
- Ribeira d'Ilhas & Coxos 3 spots
- Ericeira Town & South 3 spots
Lisbon Coast, Portugal · Prime
Oct-Mar: Consistent NW-W swell, mild city winter.
2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day · 5 beginner spots
- Cascais & Estoril 8 spots
- Costa da Caparica 2 spots
- Nazaré 1 spots
Madeira, Portugal · Prime
Nov-Mar: Biggest, most powerful NW-N swell, serious big-wave season.
2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day
- West Madeira 4 spots
Porto & the North, Portugal · Prime
Sep-Apr: Consistent swell from multiple directions, cold but reliable.
2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day
- Porto Coast 5 spots
- Viana do Castelo 3 spots
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
- Costa Vicentina 4 spots
- Sagres & Lagos 5 spots
Asturias, Spain · Prime
Oct-Mar: Consistent NW-W swell, cold but reliable.
2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots
- Gijón & Central Coast 7 spots
- Tapia & West Asturias 2 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
- Mundaka & Bizkaia 3 spots
- Zarautz & Gipuzkoa 2 spots
Fuerteventura, Spain · Prime
Oct-Mar: Biggest, most consistent NW swell from Atlantic storms.
2h flight from Europe · from $20/day
- The North Track 6 spots
- South Coast 4 spots
Galicia, Spain · Prime
Sep-Apr: Wide-open Atlantic swell window, consistent and powerful.
2h flight from Europe · from $20/day · 2 beginner spots
- Ferrolterra 2 spots
- Costa da Morte 2 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
- Famara Bay 3 spots
- North Coast Reefs 4 spots
Also good in January
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
- Quepos & Manuel Antonio 6 spots
- Dominical & Uvita 6 spots
- Osa & the far south 3 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
- Mal País & Santa Teresa 6 spots
- Puntarenas & the river lefts 3 spots
- Jacó & Playa Hermosa 6 spots
Where beginners can surf in January
These zones are in season in January 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 January
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 January: common questions
Where is the best place to surf in January?
In January 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 January?
15 European zones are in season in January: Côte Basque, Finistère (Brittany), Gironde, Landes (Hossegor), Azores and Ericeira.
Where can beginners surf in January?
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 January?
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.
← December · All months · February →
One strange surf spot a week
The Lineup: one strange surf spot each week, from hippos on the beach in Gabon to lefts under the volcanoes of Kamchatka. Free, and nothing else lands in your inbox.