Surf by budget
Surf trips under $1,500 from Europe
Where a $1,500 budget can take you for a week of surfing, flights included. 21 surf zones are comfortable at that price and 9 more work if you keep costs down.
- Comfortable for a week21
- Possible, keeping it cheap9
- Two weeks possible29
What $1,500 gets you
| Zone | Country | 1 week, tight | 1 week, comfortable | 2 weeks, tight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asturias | Spain | $282 | $770 | $534 |
| Galicia | Spain | $282 | $764 | $534 |
| Ericeira | Portugal | $287 | $871 | $539 |
| The Algarve | Portugal | $287 | $843 | $539 |
| Porto & the North | Portugal | $287 | $790 | $539 |
| Lisbon Coast | Portugal | $315 | $920 | $595 |
| Gironde | France | $327 | $861 | $614 |
| Basque Country | Spain | $331 | $946 | $632 |
| Landes (Hossegor) | France | $369 | $980 | $698 |
| Fuerteventura | Spain | $387 | $840 | $744 |
| Côte Basque | France | $390 | $1,032 | $740 |
| Lanzarote | Spain | $422 | $840 | $814 |
| Finistère (Brittany) | France | $481 | $945 | $922 |
| Madeira | Portugal | $490 | $1,095 | $945 |
| Azores | Portugal | $630 | $1,322 | $1,225 |
| Java | Indonesia | $683 | $1,212 | $886 |
| Sumbawa | Indonesia | $683 | $1,159 | $886 |
| Sumatra-Nias | Indonesia | $725 | $1,232 | $970 |
| Lombok | Indonesia | $732 | $1,278 | $984 |
| Sumba & Rote | Indonesia | $760 | $1,380 | $1,040 |
| Bali | Indonesia | $781 | $1,432 | $1,082 |
| Golfo Dulce | Costa Rica | $717 | $1,701 | $934 |
| Bocas del Toro | Panama | $725 | $1,503 | $900 |
| Limón | Costa Rica | $738 | $1,536 | $976 |
| Central Puntarenas | Costa Rica | $794 | $1,712 | $1,088 |
| Guanacaste | Costa Rica | $822 | $1,596 | $1,144 |
| Golfo de Nicoya | Costa Rica | $822 | $1,631 | $1,144 |
| Southwest Panama | Panama | $837 | $2,102 | $1,124 |
| West Panamá Province | Panama | $844 | $1,762 | $1,138 |
| Mentawai Islands | Indonesia | $1,040 | $2,195 | $1,600 |
Comfortable for a week on $1,500
Asturias, Spain
Flights from $30 · $36-$167 a day · one week from $282 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
One of Spain's best-value regions. $30-45/day covers a comfortable trip.
Galicia, Spain
Flights from $30 · $36-$165 a day · one week from $282 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
One of the cheapest, least crowded quality surf regions in Europe. $30-45/day covers a comfortable trip.
Ericeira, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $36-$195 a day · one week from $287 · Best: Jan, Feb, Oct, Nov, Dec
Ericeira is one of the cheapest places in Europe to surf good waves. On $40-60/day you eat and sleep well and surf every day; hostel-dorm budget travellers get by on $30/day.
The Algarve, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $36-$187 a day · one week from $287 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Cheapest and warmest part of mainland Portugal. $40-55/day covers a comfortable trip with a rental car; hostel-dorm budgets get by on $30/day outside August.
Porto & the North, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $36-$172 a day · one week from $287 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
One of Portugal's best-value regions, and less touristed than the west coast further south. $35-50/day covers a comfortable trip.
Lisbon Coast, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $40-$205 a day · one week from $315 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
The most expensive of Portugal's surf zones since it's a capital city, but still cheap by European standards. $45-65/day covers a comfortable trip.
Gironde, France
Flights from $40 · $41-$185 a day · one week from $327 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Cheaper and quieter than Hossegor or Biarritz. $35-55/day covers a comfortable trip outside August.
Basque Country, Spain
Flights from $30 · $43-$210 a day · one week from $331 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Mid-range for Spain; $40-60/day covers a comfortable trip including good Basque food.
Landes (Hossegor), France
Flights from $40 · $47-$213 a day · one week from $369 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
One of Europe's pricier surf zones in August; outside peak summer, $45-65/day covers a comfortable trip.
Fuerteventura, Spain
Flights from $30 · $51-$172 a day · one week from $387 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Similar cost to Lanzarote, cheap charter flights keep the overall trip affordable. $35-50/day covers a comfortable trip.
Côte Basque, France
Flights from $40 · $50-$225 a day · one week from $390 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Biarritz is pricier than the rest of the French coast; $50-70/day covers a comfortable trip outside August.
Lanzarote, Spain
Flights from $30 · $56-$167 a day · one week from $422 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
Cheap winter charter flights make this good value overall. $35-50/day covers a comfortable trip.
Finistère (Brittany), France
Flights from $40 · $63-$187 a day · one week from $481 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
One of France's best-value coastal regions. $35-50/day covers a comfortable trip, and it's rarely crowded even in summer.
Madeira, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $65-$230 a day · one week from $490 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
More expensive than mainland Portugal, closer to $50-75/day for a comfortable trip. Surf gear is scarce and pricey, bring your own board if you can.
Azores, Portugal
Flights from $35 · $85-$275 a day · one week from $630 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
Similar cost to mainland Portugal but with pricier inter-island flights and car rental. $55-75/day covers a comfortable trip across two islands.
Java, Indonesia
Flights from $480 · $29-$120 a day · one week from $683 · Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
Java is cheaper than Bali. G-Land works on camp packages ($60-120 a day, all included).
Sumbawa, Indonesia
Flights from $480 · $29-$105 a day · one week from $683 · Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
One of the cheapest parts of Indonesia: $40-60 a day is enough.
Sumatra-Nias, Indonesia
Flights from $480 · $35-$120 a day · one week from $725 · Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
Nias is much cheaper than Bali. $55-70 a day covers a comfortable trip.
Lombok, Indonesia
Flights from $480 · $36-$132 a day · one week from $732 · Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
$50-70 a day is plenty. Desert Point is a basic camp: bring cash and patience.
Possible on $1,500 if you keep costs low
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
Flights from $500 · $31-$255 a day · one week from $717 · Best: Jul, Aug, Sep
Pavones itself is cheap once you arrive; the Osa lodges are pricey. On $45-70/day you travel well. The big cost is getting here (Golfito flight, boats).
Bocas del Toro, Panama
Flights from $550 · $25-$183 a day · one week from $725 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
Bocas is cheap and safe. On $40-55/day you travel very comfortably. The main variable cost is boats to the breaks and islands.
Limón, Costa Rica
Flights from $500 · $34-$205 a day · one week from $738 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec
The Caribbean is Costa Rica's cheapest, most laid-back coast. On $40-60/day you travel very comfortably around Puerto Viejo.
Central Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Flights from $500 · $42-$247 a day · one week from $794 · Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Dominical and Quepos are good value; the Osa (Drake/Corcovado) is expensive and remote. On $50-75/day you travel well outside the Osa lodges.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Flights from $500 · $46-$210 a day · one week from $822 · Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
Guanacaste is Costa Rica's pricier surf region but still good value: on $55-80/day you travel comfortably. Boat trips to the park waves are the big extra cost.
Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica
Flights from $500 · $46-$220 a day · one week from $822 · Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Jacó is cheap and cheerful; Mal País/Santa Teresa runs pricier. On $55-80/day you travel comfortably across the region.
Southwest Panama, Panama
Flights from $550 · $41-$338 a day · one week from $837 · Best: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Santa Catalina is cheap once you arrive; Morro Negrito is an all-inclusive package (~$700/week). On $40-60/day you travel well in Catalina outside the Coiba trips.
West Panamá Province, Panama
Flights from $550 · $42-$240 a day · one week from $844 · Best: Jul, Aug, Sep
Affordable but not dirt-cheap by Central American standards. On $45-70/day you travel comfortably, with the capital's costs a touch higher.
How these numbers work
Every figure is per person. It adds a return flight from Europe to the daily cost of a room, food, local transport, board hire or lessons and a few activities, using the budget we keep for each zone. "Tight" uses the cheapest end of each cost (dorms or simple guesthouses, local food) and the cheapest usual fare. "Comfortable" uses the middle of the flight range and the middle of the daily range. Flights from Europe vary a lot with your airport and dates, so treat these as a starting point and check your own trip in the planner.
Surf trips under $1,500: common questions
Can you do a surf trip for $1,500?
Yes. With $1,500 you can surf for a week in 30 of the 30 zones we cover, and 21 of them are comfortable at that price.
Where is the best surf trip for $1,500?
Comfortable options for a week include Asturias in Spain, Galicia in Spain, Ericeira in Portugal, The Algarve in Portugal and Porto & the North in Portugal.
Can I surf outside Europe on $1,500?
Yes, if you keep costs low: Java (Indonesia, from $683), Sumbawa (Indonesia, from $683), Sumatra-Nias (Indonesia, from $725) and Lombok (Indonesia, from $732). The flight is most of the cost.
Can I stay two weeks on $1,500?
In 29 zones, if you travel cheaply: Asturias, Galicia, Ericeira, The Algarve and Porto & the North.
Other budgets: Under $500 · Under $1,000 · Where to surf by month
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