Surf by month
Where to surf in October
October is when Europe's Atlantic coast comes back to life, with proper groundswell, water that's still bearable and far fewer tourists. Indonesia's season is winding down and Central America's Pacific coast still gets some south swell.
- Zones at their best17
- Also good11
- Out of season2
October at a glance
| Zone | Country | October | Flight from Europe | Daily budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Puntarenas | Costa Rica | Prime | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Golfo de Nicoya | 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 |
| Mentawai Islands | Indonesia | Prime | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Azores | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Ericeira | Portugal | Prime | 2-3h | $25/day |
| Lisbon Coast | 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 |
| Golfo Dulce | Costa Rica | Good | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Guanacaste | Costa Rica | Good | 11-14h | $40/day |
| Bali | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Java | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Lombok | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Sumatra-Nias | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Sumba & Rote | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Sumbawa | Indonesia | Good | 16-20h | $28/day |
| Southwest Panama | Panama | Good | 12-15h | $30/day |
| West Panamá Province | Panama | Good | 12-15h | $30/day |
| Madeira | Portugal | Good | 2-3h | $25/day |
At their best in October
Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica · Prime
Aug-Oct: Peak, most consistent S-SW swell, and the wettest, greenest months.
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 · Prime
Aug-Oct: Peak S-SW swell, most consistent and biggest, but the wettest months.
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
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
Mentawai Islands, Indonesia · Prime
Sep-Oct: Still good swell, fewer boats.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day
- Playgrounds (North) 8 spots
- South Mentawai 8 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
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 October
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica · Good
Oct: Still firing, crowds thinning, very wet.
11-14h flight from Europe · from $40/day · 4 beginner spots
- Cabo Matapalo 4 spots
- Pavones & the south 5 spots
Guanacaste, Costa Rica · Good
Aug-Oct: Peak SW swell and empty line-ups, but the wettest, muddiest roads.
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
Bali, Indonesia · Good
Sep-Oct: Still good waves, fewer people in the water.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 2 beginner spots
- Uluwatu 7 spots
- Canggu 7 spots
- East Bali 7 spots
- West Bali 2 spots
- Nusa Lembongan 3 spots
Java, Indonesia · Good
Sep-Oct: Still world-class, camps wind down, deals appear.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 2 beginner spots
- West Java 7 spots
- Pangandaran / Batu Karas 2 spots
- G-Land (Grajagan) 4 spots
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
Sumatra-Nias, Indonesia · Good
Sep-Oct: Clean swells continue, crowds drop off.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day · 1 beginner spot
- Nias / Lagundri Bay 5 spots
- Krui / Lampung 7 spots
- Simeulue 2 spots
Sumba & Rote, Indonesia · Good
Oct: Warm, clean and very quiet.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day
- West Sumba 3 spots
- Rote (Nemberala) 3 spots
Sumbawa, Indonesia · Good
Oct: Smaller and quieter, Lakey at its easiest.
16-20h flight from Europe · from $28/day
- West Sumbawa 4 spots
- Lakey Peak (Hu'u) 5 spots
Southwest Panama, Panama · Good
Oct: Still firing, onshore south winds more frequent late in the day.
12-15h flight from Europe · from $30/day · 1 beginner spot
- Morro Negrito 5 spots
- Santa Catalina 2 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
Madeira, Portugal · Good
Apr-May, Oct: Smaller, more manageable swell, milder weather.
2-3h flight from Europe · from $25/day
- West Madeira 4 spots
Where beginners can surf in October
These zones are in season in October and have the most beginner-friendly spots:
- Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Playitas, Playa Matapalo and Dominicalito
- Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica: Playa Coyote, Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen (Mal País)
- Lisbon Coast, Portugal: Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril and Praia das Maçãs
- The Algarve, Portugal: Amado, Zavial and Tonel
- Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Playa Grande, Tamarindo and Ostional
- Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica: Playa Carate, Pan Dulce and Playa Zancudo
Out of season in October
Limón (Costa Rica) and Bocas del Toro (Panama) are in their quiet months. Check each country's season guide before booking.
Surfing in October: common questions
Where is the best place to surf in October?
In October the zones at their best are Central Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Golfo de Nicoya (Costa Rica), Côte Basque (France), Finistère (Brittany) (France), Gironde (France) and Landes (Hossegor) (France), among 17 in total.
Where can I surf in Europe in October?
15 European zones are in season in October: Côte Basque, Finistère (Brittany), Gironde, Landes (Hossegor), Azores and Ericeira.
Where can beginners surf in October?
Good options are Central Puntarenas in Costa Rica, Golfo de Nicoya in Costa Rica, Lisbon Coast in Portugal and The Algarve in Portugal.
Where is the cheapest place to surf in October?
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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