Surfing Costa da Morte

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

Open Atlantic swell

Razo is a long, open beach on the Costa da Morte in Galicia, facing straight into North Atlantic swell. Its peaks are powerful and can get big quickly when a storm system arrives.

It rarely goes flat, but it can turn heavy and messy fast. The dunes and lack of buildings make it feel remote. The water is cold, so bring a thick wetsuit. It suits confident intermediate surfers and up.

It's best in autumn and spring, when the swells are big enough without the worst of the winter storms. The beach has surf schools and a surf camp nearby, and the village of Razo has a few places to stay. The currents are strong when it's big.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 1-6 ft · Crowd 1/5

NW swell, S offshore wind, mid tide

Malpica is a fishing village on the Costa da Morte, and its main beach, Area Maior, sits right next to the harbour. It faces north and takes the north-west swell.

The waves are peaks over sand, best around mid tide with a southerly wind. It's rarely crowded, and it's a good place to surf when the open beaches further west are too big.

It's at its best from autumn to spring on a north-west swell with a southerly wind. Malpica is a working fishing village with seafood restaurants by the harbour, and the Sisargas islands are just offshore. Razo, to the west, picks up more swell when Malpica is small.