Surf by month
Where to surf in November
November is a quiet month in the tropics, with the rainy season in Indonesia and some of the wettest weeks in Costa Rica. In Europe it's the opposite: the Atlantic coast is fully in season.
- Zones at their best15
- Also good2
- Out of season13
November at a glance
| Zone | Country | November | Flight from Europe | Daily budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Lombok | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| West Panamá Province | Panama | Good | 12-15h | $30/day |
At their best in November
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
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 November
Lombok, Indonesia · Good
Oct-Nov: Smaller and emptier, lovely for intermediates, great prices.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 2 beginner spots
- Desert Point 1 spots
- Kuta Lombok 9 spots
West Panamá Province, Panama · Good
Oct-Nov: Onshore south winds increasingly dominate late in the season.
12-15h flight from Europe · from $30/day · 3 beginner spots
- Rio Mar & the coast 10 spots
- Panama City breaks 5 spots
Where beginners can surf in November
These zones are in season in November and have the most beginner-friendly spots:
- Lisbon Coast, Portugal: Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril and Praia das Maçãs
- The Algarve, Portugal: Amado, Zavial and Tonel
- Côte Basque, France: La Grande Plage, Côte des Basques and Hendaye Plage
- Gironde, France: Lacanau-Océan, Cap Ferret and Montalivet
- West Panamá Province, Panama: Hawaiisito (Little Hawaii), Panamá La Vieja and Mojon Beach
- Finistère (Brittany), France: Porsmilin and Le Minou
Out of season in November
Bali (Indonesia), Central Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Golfo Dulce (Costa Rica), Golfo de Nicoya (Costa Rica), Guanacaste (Costa Rica), Limón (Costa Rica), Mentawai Islands (Indonesia), Sumatra-Nias (Indonesia), Sumba & Rote (Indonesia), Sumbawa (Indonesia), Bocas del Toro (Panama), Southwest Panama (Panama) and Java (Indonesia) are in their quiet months. Check each country's season guide before booking.
Surfing in November: common questions
Where is the best place to surf in November?
In November the zones at their best are Côte Basque (France), Finistère (Brittany) (France), Gironde (France), Landes (Hossegor) (France), Azores (Portugal) and Ericeira (Portugal), among 15 in total.
Where can I surf in Europe in November?
15 European zones are in season in November: Côte Basque, Finistère (Brittany), Gironde, Landes (Hossegor), Azores and Ericeira.
Where can beginners surf in November?
Good options are Lisbon Coast in Portugal, The Algarve in Portugal, Côte Basque in France and Gironde in France.
Where is the cheapest place to surf in November?
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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