The 10 Best Surf Spots in the World for 2020

Over 300 days of offshore winds

Located on the west coast of Nicaragua, Popoyo is a dreamscape for surfers. A rocky, dirt road deposits you into the heart of a small, remote village where the lifestyle is all about the surf. While many breaks revolve around swells, storms, and tides, Popoyo is consistent year round. The spot receives over 300 days of offshore winds annually and, as a result, is often regarded as one of the best surf spots in the country. Like most of Central America, Popoyo experiences a dry season and a wet season, so plan your trip accordingly.

The main break

The main break in Popoyo is an A-frame that breaks over a rock shelf, offering up good options for regular and goofy footers — with the occasional tube. The Outer Reef Popoyo is a five-minute paddle from the main break and is a hollow left-slab suitable for expert surfers. While many of the breaks in Popoyo can be intimidating, Beginner Bay, on the south end of the beach, offers rolling waves well-suited for beginners and intermediate surfers.

In addition to the main spots, Popoyo has a number of other noteworthy spots lining the beach: Stoneys, La Piedrita, Playgrounds, Playa Colorado, and Plays Santa. Although I’ve never been to Popoyo, a good friend of mine regularly makes the trip and comes home with stories of perfect waves — making it the top spot on my list.

Beach breaks for all skill levels

Nosara is a village located on the North Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste and is famous for yoga and year-round surf. Technically, Nosara is a few miles inland, so when tourists visit, they typically stay in Playa Guiones, Playa Plada, or Playa Garza, with Playa Guiones being the most popular. In 2015, a good friend of mine moved to the area to work as a surf instructor. After hearing about the epic surf and seeing his photos, I had to visit. Nosara definitely lives up to the hype. After that first visit I was back a year later to get my fill of warm water waves.

Playa Guiones and Playa Garza

Playa Guiones is a 7km stretch of beach with several different beach breaks spread along the coastline. Waves break in both directions and work on all tides, making it a fun spot any time of day. The main break offers waves suitable for beginners and experienced surfers, and the area has many surf schools if you’re looking to learn the sport or improve upon your skills. Playa Guiones can get pretty busy, but just a few miles away is my personal favorite spot: Playa Garza. Playa Garza is a reef break with a mellow inside section and a stepper section on the outside. Regardless of the break you choose, Nosara delivers.

Experience necessary

Uluwatu is one of those destinations that perennially tops bucket lists. Located on the southwestern tip of the Bukit Peninsula, Uluwatu is known for its world-famous surf as well as the Uluwatu Temple: an 11th century Hindu temple. Due to its famous name and prime conditions, Uluwatu is one of the busiest surf spots in all of Bali and is best suited for experienced surfers. Consistent year round, Uluwatu offers hollow, performance waves during low tide and slower, mellower waves during high tide.

The five peaks

Although generally referred to as Uluwatu, it’s actually a wide reef that is home to five different peaks: Temples, The Bombie, The Peak, Outside Corner, and Racetracks.

Temples is the farthest south and requires the longest paddle — the spot offers more size on smaller days. The Bombie is the most exposed spot and offers some of the biggest swells and waves in all of Indo. The Peak is located directly in front of the stairs and is the most consistent, offering multiple takeoff points and fast, short sections. Outside Corner offers big, open faces for only the most experienced surfers, making it a great spectacle for beachgoers. Lastly, Racetracks breaks over a shallow reef and has long, fun sections and occasional barrels. Although Bali does have some beginner-friendly spots, Uluwatu is suited for experienced surfers.

Surfing the famous Cloudbreak

Located just three miles south of Namotu Island in Fiji, Cloudbreak is famous for consistently being one of the most challenging waves in the world. The spot breaks over a sharp, shallow reef and offers fast, barreling lefts. As the wave progresses, it tends to speed up, presenting shallower, more critical sections. The wave is as equally amazing as it is dangerous and, as such, it attracts pros from across the globe. If you aren’t up for surfing Cloudbreak, getting an up-close view from a boat is an incredible way to experience the wave.

Other waves nearby

Cloudbreak is beautiful from afar but surreal when viewed up-close. The spot breaks best during long-period swells rolling in from the south/southwest. When the swell comes from the south, the spot offers peeling point breaks; when the swell comes from the west, you can find heavier tubes. Cloudbreak is home to varying conditions, and waves can range in size from 2–20 feet. When the waves are small, they tend to be faster and shallower — exercise caution on the inside as the reef is extremely shallow. While Cloudbreak is the most iconic spot in the area, there are a number of other incredible waves near Namotu Island: Desperations, Tavarua Rights, Restaurants, Swimming Pools, Namotu Lefts, and Wilkes Passage.

One of the world’s best right point breaks

Often referred to as J-Bay, Jeffreys Bay is regarded as the surfing mecca of South Africa and home to one of the best right point breaks on the planet. Located on the western edge of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, Jeffreys Bay is situated inside a crescent-shaped bay that shelters many of its incredible point breaks. The region was first popularized in The Endless Summer, when Bruce Brian stumbled upon Cape Saint Francis — the spot that is now lovingly referred to as Bruce’s Beauties. Although Brian deemed the spot perfect at the time, J-Bay, located just to the east, is more deserving of surfing glory.

The ten sections of Jeffreys Bay

Offshore winds shape the classic point break, which offers long rides, fast walls, and barreling sections. J-Bay is sometimes thought of as one particular spot, but it’s actually home to ten different sections: Kitchen Windows, Magnatubes, Boneyards, Supertubes, Impossibles, Salad Bowls, Coins, Tubes, The Point, and Albatross. Supertubes is regarded as the crown jewel of the region, offering long, fast waves — this is where contests are typically held. The Point and Albatross offer slower, more manageable waves, well-suited for intermediate surfers and longboarders. The spot works during all tides, but tends to be best on a mid-incoming tide. While J-Bay sees waves year round, it’s best during the winter months when storms come in close to shore.

Rincon’s phenomenal breaks

Often referred to as the surf capital of the Caribbean, west Puerto Rico is home to a variety of incredible beaches, the most iconic of which is Rincon. Rincon has been on the map as a premier surf spot since 1968 when the Surfing Championships were held there. Located on the northwest side of the island, southwest of Aguadilla and north of Mayaguez, Rincon is one of the most consistent spots in the Caribbean. While the locals are typically friendly and a variety of surf craft can be found in the water on any given day, be sure and respect the rules of the lineup and scan the beach for hazards before entering the water. Rincon is home to a handful of stellar breaks: Little Malibu, Tres Palmas, Maria’s, Indicators, Domes, Sandy Beach, and Antonio’s.

Spots for different styles and skill levels

Little Malibu can be a fun spot for longboarding — a fast right-hander breaks over a shallow reef. Tres Palmas is a right-hand reef break and is the most famous big wave spot in the Caribbean. Maria’s is a fun spot for all skill levels that offers long rights and works best on a northwest swell. Indicators is best suited for experienced surfers as it can get big and dangerous with hollow rights and a challenging paddle out. Domes is a right hand point break with a flat rock bottom that offers fun waves for a variety of skill levels. As the name suggests, Sandy Beach has a sandy bottom with long lefts breaking along the reef. Antonio’s works best in the morning when the winds are low and offers both rights and lefts. Like most spots, if you do a little searching, you’ll find a number of fun, less crowded spots along the coast.

Next level big wave surfing for experts

Nazare, Portugal, is home to one of the most iconic and biggest waves in the world. The fishing village is located in the Oeste region and Leiria District, in a historical Estremadura in Portugal. The town is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Silver Coast.

Although it’s been popular among surfers and body boarders for decades, it wasn’t until 2011 that the spot gained popular recognition. In 2011, Garrett McNamara rode a giant wave at Nazare, earning the Guiness Book of World Records title for “largest wave ever ridden.” In 2013 he broke his own record there, and in 2017, Rodrigo Koxa took the title by riding an 80-foot wave at the same spot.

Praia do Norte

When people think of Nazare, they think of Praia do Norte. Praia do Norte offers the biggest waves in the region, and the sets that come through are big, heavy, and powerful. While the spot is only suited for the most experienced of big wave surfers, it can be beautiful to view from the shore — exercise caution when viewing as people die on the beach each year.

Praia de Vila

Another popular spot in the area is Praia de Vila, located next to the central promenade of Nazare. At Praia de Villa, surfers will find a powerful beach break with inconsistent rights and lefts. Finally, on the south end of Nazare, next to the harbor, is Praia do Su l— the spot works well during big swells and offers fast, barreling waves. Nazare is a popular tourist destination, but as far as surfing goes, it’s only suitable for very experienced athletes.

The surfing capital of the Philippines

Siargao is a teardrop shaped island located 800 kilometers southeast of Manila, the capital city. Like many of the islands in the area, Siargao is breathtakingly beautiful, but what sets it apart from the rest is its incredible surf. Siargao is home to 27km of exposed coastline and has the feel of an older Bali. Although Siargao is made up of over thirty surf breaks, the island often experiences long, flat periods, so you’ll want to watch the swell and try to time your trip accordingly.

Cloud 9

The most well known spot on the island is Cloud 9 — consistently recognized as one of the top ten breaks in the world due to its big, steep waves that break in both directions. A stone’s throw from Cloud 9 is Tuason’s Point, a point break that offers a left hand barrel that can get pretty heavy.

Siargao’s other breaks

A few other spots in the area are Stimpy’s, Caridad, Cemetery, Pilar, Jacking Horse, and Daku Island. The spots that break close to shore have a tendency to get crowded, but if you hop on a boat to an outer reef, you’ll have a better chance of scoring some empty waves. While the island has potential for waves year round, your best bet is to visit General Luna during the southwest monsoon and Pilar during the northeast monsoon.

San Clemente’s famous spots

Although I’ve been to a number of incredible surf spots across the globe, my home break in San Clemente will forever be my favorite. San Clemente, a seaside town in Orange County, California, was founded in the 1920s and has been on the map as a surf destination for quite some time. San Clemente is home to a number of world-famous surf spots: T-Street, Upper Trestles, Lower Trestles, and San Onofre. While traffic is a regular occurrence both on and off the water, battling the throngs of people will be well worth it once you drop into a wave at Lowers.

The four main breaks of Trestles

Trestles is a world-renowned wave and what San Clemente is best known for. Trestles consists of four main breaks: Cotton’s, Uppers, Lowers, and Church. Lowers is the best and most popular spot and frequently hosts surf competitions; it offers an A-frame wave that breaks over a cobblestone bottom.

San Onofre

A few miles south is San Onofre, one of the dreamiest longboarding spots in the world. San Onofre, or San O, as the locals call it, includes The Point, Four Doors, Old Man’s and Dog Patch. Old Man’s is probably the most famous spot and offers long, rolling waves, perfect for hanging ten. Although San Clemente sees waves year round, my personal favorite season is fall — the water is warm, and the summertime crowds are gone.

The Seven Mile Miracle

Often referred to as the “Seven Mile Miracle,” the North Shore of Oahu is home to some of the best surf in the world. While it’s typically calm and flat during the summer months, the North Shore lights up during the winter, and prime waves can be found up and down the coast. On any given winter day, a number of professional surfers can be found in the lineup, making for an impressive show for those who prefer to stay on the beach. Although there are a few beginner-friendly spots, the North Shore is most famous for the massive waves that can be found at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, or Waimea Bay.

Big, powerful waves that call for big skills

Pipeline is one of the most famous and most dangerous surf breaks in the world — it offers perfect, barreling waves that break over a shallow reef. Located just past Pipeline is Sunset Beach, which is known for its big, powerful waves and beautiful beach. Waimea Bay, the most famous big-wave spot on all of the North Shore, regularly receives 10–30 foot swells during the winter.

Waimea Bay hosts a number of big wave chargers and is home to the famous “Eddie Would Go” contest, in honor of legendary surfer Eddie Aikau. While many of the famous spots on the North Shore are too challenging for me personally to surf, I’ll never tire of watching the impressive waves and talent that have made the stretch of coast famous.