Bizkaia · Spain
Surfing Punta Galea
A right reef in Bizkaia, Spain, for pro surfers.
Punta Galea is the headland at the end of Getxo, below the cliffs, and one of the big-wave spots of the Basque Country.
On a serious swell a right breaks fast over a shallow rock reef, and it can go well above 20 feet. It's for professional big-wave surfers only. On normal days there's nothing to surf, but the cliff path is a good place to watch the sea.
It only breaks a few days each winter, on a very big north-west swell. On normal days, the beaches of Sopelana and La Salvaje nearby are the places to surf.
When to surf
Punta Galea
Punta Galea is at its best from November to March. Conditions it likes: Big NW swell, SSE wind.
October to March: Prime
Consistent, powerful NW-W swell, cold but firing
April to June: Good
Reliable swell, milder crowds
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches and high season prices
The year across Basque Country
Waves near Punta Galea
La Salvaje
3 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Sopelana
4 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Meñakoz
5 kmBizkaia · Right Reef · Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Mundaka is small and books out fast on a good swell; Sopelana, closer to Bilbao, has more beach-break options and a bigger surf scene.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Bizkaia guide.
Bizkaia surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.