Surfing Hossegor & Capbreton

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 3-10 ft · Crowd 5/5

Clean groundswell, light wind

La Gravière is the most famous wave in Hossegor and one of the heaviest beach breaks in the world. A deep underwater canyon, the Gouf de Capbreton, sends the swell straight onto the sandbank, so the waves come out of deep water and break hard in shallow water.

On a good bank it throws thick, hollow barrels, and it has hosted world tour contests. Takeoffs are late and steep. Once it's over head high, it's for advanced surfers only, and the lineup is very competitive. It's best on a clean groundswell with light wind, usually in autumn.

The best time is usually autumn, from September to November, when the banks are often at their best, the water is still mild and the summer crowds have gone. Winter brings bigger, colder swells, and in summer it's often small and full of holidaymakers and bodyboarders.

If it's too big or too busy, La Nord and La Centrale are a few minutes' walk south along the same beach, and the beaches of Capbreton are more forgiving. There are lifeguards in July and August; the rest of the year you're on your own, so know your limits.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 3-10 ft · Crowd 4/5

Clean groundswell, light wind, all tides

La Nord sits between La Centrale and La Gravière, on the same sandbank system that made Hossegor famous. With size it gets as hollow and heavy as its neighbour, and it holds a big swell well.

Local surfers often split between the two when both are working, because La Nord can be a little less crowded. The best bank moves through the season, so check both before you choose.

When the swell is too big for the rest of Hossegor, La Nord is often where the experienced surfers end up, because it can hold waves well over head high. In summer, on the other hand, it's usually small and crowded with holidaymakers.

The whole stretch from La Gravière to La Centrale is easy to walk, so it's worth checking a few peaks before you paddle out. Autumn is usually the best season, with good banks, clean groundswell and water that's still mild.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 4/5

Clean groundswell, light wind, low tide

La Centrale sits in the middle of Hossegor's line of beach breaks, between the heavier peaks. It still has real power, but is usually a bit easier than La Gravière.

On a clean groundswell with light wind it has good, hollow waves, with a little more room for mistakes. It's a sensible place for strong intermediate surfers to try Hossegor, and it gets busy on good days.

Autumn is the best time, when the banks are usually good and the summer crowds have gone. In July and August it's often small and busy with swimmers, and the lifeguards limit surfing to marked zones. If it's too big, La Sud, a short walk south, is more sheltered; if it's too small, La Nord picks up a little more.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

W-NW swell, E wind, all tides

Les Culs Nuls is the naturist beach just north of La Gravière, and the name is the local joke about it.

It gets less attention than its famous neighbour, but it pulls in a lot of swell and the banks can be just as good. Up to about head high it's a fun beach break for confident intermediates. When a big swell arrives it changes character fast and turns into heavy, hollow sets that are best left to people who know the area. It works on most tides.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-6 ft · Crowd 4/5

W-NW swell, E wind, sheltered in big swell

La Sud is the southern end of Hossegor's beach, right against the jetty at the mouth of the Capbreton harbour channel.

The jetty takes some of the power out of the swell, so it's where beginners head and where locals come when La Nord and La Gravière are too big. The peaks shift with the sandbanks. On an average day you get softer, shorter waves than further north, which makes it the easiest place in Hossegor to start.

It's a good choice in summer for lessons and on stormy winter days when the rest of Hossegor is closing out. The car park and the bars along the seafront are right behind the beach, and Capbreton is just across the harbour channel.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-4 ft · Crowd 3/5

Small W swell, low tide

Notre-Dame is a small beach next to Capbreton harbour, named after the statue of the Virgin that looks over the fishermen.

At low tide it turns into a gentle, slow wave on the sand, which is why it's popular with beginners and kids having their first sessions. Don't expect much here on a big day. On small days it's one of the friendliest places to learn on this stretch of coast.

Summer is the main season for lessons here, with lifeguards and surf schools on the beach. The rest of the year it's quiet. Capbreton's harbour, fish market and restaurants are a two-minute walk away, so it's easy to fit a session around a day in town.

Beach Break · Best Oct-Mar · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

Big W-NW swell, E wind, mid to low tide

L'Estacade is the wooden pier at the mouth of Capbreton harbour, and the waves here break on the town's central beaches just south of it.

A line of rock groynes cuts down the swell, so on normal days it's small. It comes alive when a strong swell is running and the open beaches are maxed out. Then the groynes help shape some punchy peaks. It works best from mid to low tide.

It's mostly a winter wave, for the days when the open beaches of Hossegor are too big. On those days the pier is also the best place in Capbreton to watch the surf. The town centre, with cafés and restaurants, is right behind the beach.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 2-6 ft · Crowd 3/5

W-NW swell, E wind, mid to low tide

Le Prévent sits between two rock groynes in the middle of Capbreton's beachfront.

The groynes give it some shelter when the swell is big, so it stays surfable for more people than the open beaches around it. There's usually a left and a right off the sand, at their best from mid to low tide. The atmosphere is relaxed and you'll see every level in the water.

It suits mixed groups: beginners on the inside, better surfers on the outside peaks. In summer lifeguards mark out the surfing zones, so check the flags. If it's crowded, Le Santocha and La Piste are a short walk south.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 4/5

W-NW swell, E wind, all tides

Le Santocha, on the Plage de la Savane, is Capbreton's best-known wave.

Several peaks spread along the beach, so there's usually room to find your own, and it works on all tides. The right at the north end, breaking off the last rock groyne, is the one locals wait for, and on a good day it's excellent. It's a local spot with a tight crew. Be patient and respectful in the lineup.

It's at its best in autumn and winter, on a west or north-west swell with an easterly wind. In summer it's smaller and shared with schools and swimmers. There's parking near the beach, and the Capbreton seafront is a short walk north.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 4/5

W swell, E wind, high tide

La Piste is the stretch of Capbreton south of the old wartime bunkers that sit on the sand.

As soon as there's a bit of swell it throws fast, hollow waves, mostly rights, and on the right day there are barrels to be had. The access path is a little hidden but the beach has facilities. Better for surfers who are comfortable with quick, steep takeoffs. It gets busy.

Autumn and winter swells bring the best waves, and higher tides usually suit it. The bunkers on the beach are a landmark and a good place to check the waves from. If it's closing out, the groynes further north at Le Prévent give more shelter.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

Small to medium W-NW swell, E wind

Les Océanides is the southernmost beach in Capbreton, where the houses stop and the dunes take over.

It's wilder and much quieter than the town beaches, with fewer people on the peaks and no row of snack bars. On a small to medium swell it can be perfect, with clean lefts and rights. When the swell gets serious it hits hard, so it's a spot for experienced surfers on those days.

It's the place to look when the town beaches of Capbreton are crowded. There's little shade and few facilities, so bring water. Labenne Océan, a few kilometres further south, is a similar option.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 2-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

W swell, E wind

Labenne Océan is the main beach of Labenne, a few kilometres south of Capbreton and far less busy.

The sandbanks move a lot, and when they line up the waves can be really good. Getting out can be hard work, and the currents are sometimes strong, so check it from the dune first. It doesn't handle big swell well and rarely gets above two metres. Wind from the east is what you want.

It's quieter than Capbreton all year, and in summer there are lifeguards and a few surf schools. The car park and a couple of snack bars are behind the dune, and the pine forest behind it has cycle paths back to Capbreton.