The best places to surf in December depend on which version of winter you want. You can chase warm water and clean mornings, follow North Pacific swell into a coastal road trip, or accept colder water for powerful Atlantic waves. December offers all three, but no destination delivers every advantage at once.
I would not choose by wave reputation alone. Holiday crowds, rising room rates, shorter daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, and the board I plan to carry matter just as much. A forgiving waist-high point can make a better trip than a famous reef that is too heavy to surf.
This is my December shortlist for different kinds of surfers. It is not a ranking. Each pair solves a different problem, from finding easy warm-water sessions to building a trip around real winter power.
The Best Places to Surf in December Start With a Compromise
For warm water and an easy daily routine, I would look at Costa Rica or Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit. For a more defined winter swell window, Baler and the Pacific side of Baja California Sur make stronger cases. Barbados and Madeira are the island choices, but they sit at opposite ends of the comfort scale.
The second decision is timing. The first half of December can still feel like a shoulder season in some places. Christmas and New Year’s week can bring a sharp jump in flights, rooms, traffic, and lineups. If I had flexible dates, I would travel early in the month and let the forecast guide the final break selection.
Warm Water Without Building the Trip Around Heavy Surf
Costa Rica trades peak swell for cleaner travel weather
December begins the drier stretch on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Roads become easier, afternoon rain grows less dominant, and warm water keeps packing simple. That makes surfing in Costa Rica one of the least complicated international options on this list.
The tradeoff is that the large south and southwest swells of the green season are no longer the main story. I see that as a benefit for a longboarder or improving surfer. Nosara gives you an open beach break with room to move, while Tamarindo and nearby beaches offer rentals, instruction, and different exposures. The popular towns will not feel undiscovered, especially late in the month.
I would choose Costa Rica for a surf trip that also needs wildlife, easy meals, and dependable non-surf days. Check the best time for longboard surfing in Costa Rica if board choice is driving the trip, or start with the guide to beginner surfing in Costa Rica if lessons matter more than swell size.
Riviera Nayarit is the social, longboard-friendly Mexico option
On mainland Mexico, December brings drier weather and north-to-northwest swell into the conversation around Punta Mita and Sayulita. The peninsula and surrounding coastline create several exposures, so a car or local guide can help you find a wave that fits the day rather than forcing one crowded peak to work.
Punta Mita is the part I would investigate for longer rides and a quieter base. Sayulita is easier for rentals, lessons, restaurants, and nightlife, but it can feel busy and overbuilt if your ideal surf town is low-key. That difference matters more during the holiday rush.
I would pick Nayarit for a mixed trip where some people surf and others do not. It is less appealing if solitude is the entire point. Newer surfers should read the guide to surfing in Mexico for beginners before treating every pretty point as an easy wave.
Two Pacific Trips Where December Swell Is the Main Reason to Go
Baler reaches its serious season
Surfing in Baler makes sense in December because the Pacific-facing coast of Luzon receives northeast swell. The official Philippines travel guide to Baler identifies December and January as the period when wave height and quality peak, particularly for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Sabang Beach is the practical base, with board rentals, surf schools, and sand-bottom peaks. It can offer approachable sessions when the swell is moderate, but December is not a month when I would promise beginners gentle conditions every day. Cemento and other more consequential waves belong to experienced surfers who understand reef, current, and local access.
Baler is my choice for someone who wants a real surf town and does not mind gray weather or a longer transfer from Manila. It has a different rhythm from Siargao and La Union, which is why the Philippines surf-season guide is useful. There is no single best month for every coast in the country.
Baja California Sur turns into a flexible winter road trip
The Pacific side of Baja California Sur receives the north and northwest energy that becomes more dependable in winter. Around Todos Santos and El Pescadero, you can move between beach breaks, points, and reefs instead of booking a room beside one wave and hoping for the right direction.
Cerritos is the accessible name, with rentals and lessons available, while San Pedrito and other nearby breaks require more judgment. Water on the Pacific side is cooler than many travelers expect from a trip near Cabo, and exposed beaches can carry current and real size. I would bring more rubber than the resort photos suggest.
Baja works best if driving empty stretches of coast is part of the appeal. It is not the trip I would choose for nightlife or effortless logistics. Longboarders can compare the best longboard waves in Baja California before deciding whether the winter swell and cooler water suit the board they want to ride.
The Island Choice: Friendly Variety or Volcanic Power
Barbados gives different surfers different coasts
Barbados is useful in December because it is not a one-wave island. Atlantic energy reaches the exposed east coast, while wrapping swell can create cleaner, more manageable surf on the south and west sides. Soup Bowl is the famous performance wave, but its power, current, and experienced lineup are not what I would recommend to a tentative surfer.
Freights Bay is the longboard-minded alternative when the swell wraps into the south coast. The wave can peel softly and give developing surfers time to settle into a line. Brandon’s and other breaks add options, although wind direction and swell angle still decide which coast makes sense that morning.
I would choose Barbados for a warm-water island trip where the group has different abilities. I would not choose it on the assumption that every coast will be clean at once. A rental car and local advice are more useful than a rigid daily plan.
Madeira is the beautiful answer for experienced surfers
December brings North Atlantic swell to Madeira’s steep volcanic coastline. The island can produce powerful points and reefs with dramatic cliffs behind them, but access, current, rock, and rapidly changing conditions make this a poor destination for learning as you go.
Surfing in Madeira is best approached as a mobile trip. Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar are the celebrated names, while Porto da Cruz and Machico can offer different exposure and a more manageable place to look when the main swell is excessive. Even the softer options deserve a local read before paddling out.
I would choose Madeira if hiking, mountain scenery, and coastal exploration are nearly as important as wave count. Weather can interrupt a plan, yet the island gives you worthwhile days when the ocean is not inviting. It is the most visually compelling December choice here and the least suitable for a casual longboard holiday.
December Has a Hidden Peak Season Inside the Surf Season
The final ten days of the month deserve their own warning. Costa Rica, Nayarit, Barbados, and Baja all attract holiday travelers who may have little interest in the surf forecast but still compete for the same flights, rental cars, and rooms. Popular lesson beaches also become busier when families travel.
I would book early December if price and lineup space matter. If holiday dates are fixed, I would stay near several breaks, reserve a board before arrival, and plan to surf early. I would also avoid choosing a destination only because one celebrated wave appears in every photo. December swell can make that wave inaccessible on the exact week you arrive.
The December Trip I Would Match to Each Surfer
For a longboarder who wants warmth, I would begin with Costa Rica or Punta Mita. For an intermediate surfer who wants the season to feel unmistakably active, Baler is the more interesting call. Baja is the road-trip choice. Barbados works best for mixed abilities, while Madeira belongs to confident surfers who are comfortable sacrificing sessions when the ocean is too powerful.
If my dates could move earlier, I would compare the best places to surf in November. If the trip could wait until after the holiday rush, the best places to surf in January open a slightly different set of winter options. For a trip built around softer shoulders and longer rides in any month, browse the Longboard Waves collection.