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Top Surf Destinations for Winter 2022
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The weather may get colder, but it doesn’t mean you have to stash your surfboard away until next summer. Whether you opt for the warmer but smaller swells of the Caribbean or seek the monster waves of Portugal’s Nazare, the Surfline forecast team have compiled the Top Five Surf Travel Destinations you’re going to want to visit this November.
Portugal
Although Portugal is known for the massive monster waves of Nazare from November to March, it’s not all giant beach breaks. According to Surfline, the various nook and crannies along Portugal’s Atlantic coast offer protection from winter storms coming in off the ocean that cause the huge waves places like Nazare are known for. Surfline suggests heading to the south-facing regions of Cascais, Carcavelos, and the Algarve regions for smaller, more manageable waves if you don’t fancy risking your life at Nazare.
Mentawais
Located off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, the Mentawai islands offer the warmth of the Indian Ocean, non-existent crowds, and perfect fun-size waves. According to Surfline, November’s surf forecast for the islands reveals the potential for overhead surf leading up to and through the middle of the month.
According to PerfectWaveTravel, there are 50 recognized quality breaks in the Mentawais, with Hollow Trees, Macaronis, Rifles, and Green Bush known as some of the best in the world.
Northern Baja
The forecasters at Surfline reveal Northern Baja offers something for every kind of surfer. “November is some combination of prime and shoulder surf season in Baja Norte – both the North Pacific and South Pacific remain active, with the North Pacific ramping up through the month and the South Pacific becoming less consistent in storm and swell production,” Surfline reports. “There is a chance – albeit a low one – for a late-season swell from the tropics as well.”
Puerto Rico
November is the start of peak surf season in Puerto Rico, with Surfline reporting the island has been called the Caribbean’s answer to Oahu’s North Shore! According to Surfline, the best quality surf comes from the North Atlantic storms that increase in frequency later during November. Surfers can expect smaller fun-size waves at the beginning of the month and more powerful surf mid to late November.
“From the Rincon and Aguadilla breaks in the west to the San Juan breaks in the east, the region is wide open to anything from the NW to ENE, so you’re almost guaranteed to find something to ride daily,” Surfline advises readers.
Oahu
Big wave rider alert! According to Surfline, November is the beginning of the high surf season on the North Shore, which means the odds of running into XXL waves increases during the month. However, if big surf isn’t your thing, Surfline suggests heading to the mellower surf spots of the South Shore and Waikiki for smaller waves.
