If you are deciding where to surf in November, the best destination depends on which surf season you want to follow. Morocco and Lanzarote begin receiving stronger North Atlantic energy, Puerto Rico and Oahu move toward winter surf, while southern Sri Lanka and La Union become more useful as Asian monsoon patterns shift. November is less about one universally best surf spot and more about being on the right coast at the right time.
For most intermediate surfers, Morocco is the November destination I would investigate first because you can combine long right-hand points with enough nearby alternatives to adjust when conditions change. Puerto Rico makes more sense if warm water and easier travel from the United States matter. Longboarders and progressing surfers should look closely at southern Sri Lanka or La Union, while Lanzarote and Oahu become more interesting if you are already comfortable in powerful surf.
If your trip falls earlier in the season, compare these destinations with my guide to the best places to surf in October. November surf seasons do not switch on everywhere at the same time, so a difference of a few weeks can change which coast makes the most sense.
Six November Surf Destinations and Why They Make the List
| Destination | Why November Matters | Best Fit | Main Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | North Atlantic swell starts activating the point breaks | Intermediate surfers and point-break trips | Popular waves can become crowded |
| Lanzarote | Stronger Atlantic surf reaches the volcanic coastline | Experienced reef surfers | Shallow reef, wind and serious waves |
| Puerto Rico | North and west coasts enter their winter swell window | Warm-water surf trips from the U.S. | Reefs, currents and changing swell size |
| Oahu | North Shore winter swells begin arriving | Advanced surfers and mixed-ability Hawaii trips | North Shore surf can become extremely demanding |
| Southern Sri Lanka | Surf focus starts shifting to the south and southwest | Beginners, longboarders and intermediates | Early November can still be transitional |
| La Union | Northeast monsoon pattern favors western Luzon | Social surf trips and progressing surfers | Popular areas can be busy, especially on weekends |
Morocco Is the November Trip I Would Build Around Point Breaks
November is when surfing in Morocco starts becoming much more interesting for surfers specifically traveling for waves.
North Atlantic swell begins reaching the coast around Agadir with more regularity, giving Morocco’s famous right-hand points a better chance to start connecting.
I would not book the trip expecting every point to be perfect every morning. November is still early enough in the season that swell size and direction matter, which is exactly why having several breaks within reach is valuable.
Taghazout is the obvious base to investigate first. Anchor Point attracts much of the attention, but the real strength of staying in the area is having other points and beach breaks available when the headline wave is too crowded, too large, or simply not working properly.
That makes Morocco especially appealing to an intermediate surfer. You can travel for quality point-break surfing without making the entire vacation dependent on one high-consequence reef.
Longboarders can also have a very good trip when the points are running at a manageable size. The better question is which break suits your board that day rather than whether Morocco as a whole is a longboard destination.
Lanzarote Is the More Serious Atlantic Option
If Morocco appeals because of long points and flexibility, Lanzarote appeals for almost the opposite reason.
The volcanic island has direct Atlantic exposure and reef waves that become increasingly relevant as the stronger surf season develops.
November therefore makes sense if powerful surfing is part of what you want from the trip rather than something you are hoping to avoid.
Shallow reef, current, wind, and experienced lineups mean I would be conservative about which waves I surfed. A destination having world-class waves does not mean every visiting surfer should paddle into them.
Famara changes the equation because it provides a long beach setting and established surf infrastructure. That makes it the more practical part of Lanzarote for progressing surfers and anyone who does not belong on the island’s heavier reefs.
I would choose Lanzarote over Morocco when reef surfing and the island setting are major parts of the attraction. If I wanted longer point waves and more margin to adjust the plan, Morocco would interest me more.
Puerto Rico Gives November Surfers Winter Swell Without Cold Water
Puerto Rico solves a specific November surf problem: you can follow the beginning of the winter swell season without packing for cold water.
The north and west coasts become increasingly important as Atlantic energy reaches Rincón, Aguadilla, Isabela, and surrounding areas.
For a surfer traveling from the continental United States, that combination makes Puerto Rico one of the easiest November surf destinations to put together.
I would still avoid treating easy travel as evidence that the surfing itself is easy.
Reef, currents, crowds, and increasing swell can make conditions much more demanding than the tropical water suggests. Break selection becomes particularly important for intermediate surfers as winter energy builds.
The attraction is having several surf zones within a relatively compact area. I would rather stay somewhere that lets me check different breaks than reserve accommodation beside one famous wave and expect it to suit me throughout the trip.
Puerto Rico would move higher on my November list if warm water were non-negotiable but I still wanted surf with a genuine winter-season feel.
Oahu in November Can Mean Two Completely Different Surf Trips
November changes the character of surfing in Hawaii, particularly on Oahu.
The North Shore begins receiving the winter swells that make it famous. For advanced surfers, that creates opportunities. For most visitors, it should also create caution.
The difference between a manageable North Shore day and a very serious one can be enormous. I would watch conditions carefully instead of arriving with a checklist of waves I expected to surf.
What makes Oahu useful for a November trip is that the island does not force everyone into North Shore surf.
My guide to surfing in Oahu breaks down the broader island, while Waikiki offers a very different experience from winter North Shore reefs.
Waikiki’s board rentals, instruction, and longboarding culture make it useful for beginners and cruisier surfers even while much heavier surf is breaking elsewhere on the island.
That contrast makes Oahu particularly good for mixed-ability groups. Experienced surfers can follow North Shore conditions, newer surfers can stay conservative, and everyone has something worth watching when a major swell arrives.
Before choosing the coast, see my guide to the best time to surf in Hawaii.
Southern Sri Lanka Becomes More Useful as November Progresses
November is a transition month for surfing in Sri Lanka, which makes location especially important.
The surf focus begins shifting away from Arugam Bay on the east coast and toward the south and southwest, putting areas such as Weligama, Midigama, Ahangama, and Hikkaduwa back into the conversation.
I would lean toward later November if this were a surf-specific trip. Early in the month can still feel transitional, while later dates give the changing seasonal pattern more time to establish itself.
Weligama if you are learning
Weligama is the part I would investigate first for lessons and beginner-friendly surfing. A sandy learning environment and easy access to instruction make more sense for a first surf trip than immediately chasing the reef waves farther along the coast.
Midigama and Ahangama as you progress
These areas introduce more wave variety once your surfing moves beyond the first stages. They can make southern Sri Lanka especially useful for a trip where people in the group surf at different levels.
Hikkaduwa for a more established tourism base
Hikkaduwa combines surfing with a larger tourism scene and several wave options. I would consider it when I wanted more going on outside the water rather than the quietest possible surf base.
My guides to the best time to surf in Sri Lanka and where to surf in Sri Lanka go deeper into the seasonal coast change.
La Union Is the November Option for an Easier Philippines Surf Routine
November puts La Union in a useful seasonal position as the northeast monsoon begins favoring the west coast of Luzon.
San Juan has an established surf scene with lessons, rentals, places to stay, food, and the kind of infrastructure that makes repeated sessions easy to organize.
That is why I would look at La Union when I wanted a Philippines surf trip without building the entire vacation around a remote or high-consequence reef.
It can suit longboarders, progressing surfers, and travelers who like having a social scene around the surf.
The compromise is popularity. Weekends and good forecasts can bring more people into the water, so this is not the choice I would make because I expected empty lineups.
For a country where the correct surf coast changes with the monsoon, it is worth reading both my guide to surfing in the Philippines and the best time to surf in the Philippines.
If a longboard is driving the trip, compare the best longboard waves in the Philippines as well.
Where to Surf in November for Beginners
A beginner should not choose a November destination simply because it has entered its peak surf season. In several places on this list, peak season means more powerful waves rather than easier ones.
Southern Sri Lanka would be one of my first choices because Weligama gives you established beginner surfing while nearby areas offer progression as your confidence improves.
La Union is another practical option because San Juan has lessons, rentals, and a surf scene that makes organizing your first sessions relatively simple.
Waikiki gives beginners access to instruction and longboard-friendly surf even while Oahu’s North Shore is entering a much more serious season.
Morocco can work for beginners when they choose appropriate beach breaks and instruction, but I would not treat the famous points as learning waves.
Puerto Rico requires similarly careful break selection as north swell becomes more active, while Lanzarote’s celebrated reefs would be near the bottom of my beginner list.
If You Travel With a Longboard, November Looks Different
A longboard changes which destinations I would prioritize.
Southern Sri Lanka and La Union move higher because both can support surf trips built around more approachable waves rather than forcing you toward heavy winter reefs.
Waikiki is also an obvious November longboard option if Hawaii is the destination, even though the North Shore is receiving much larger surf at the same time.
Morocco becomes interesting when the right-hand points are running at a size that suits a longer board.
If longboarding determines where you travel, browse the Longboard Waves section rather than choosing the destination with the most impressive winter surf forecast.
November Is a Good Month for Intermediate Surfers
Intermediate surfers probably have the widest range of useful November destinations.
Morocco gives you quality point-break potential with alternatives nearby. Puerto Rico gives you warm water and multiple north- and west-coast options, although increasing swell makes wave selection important.
Southern Sri Lanka gives you a progression-friendly coastline, while La Union offers an easier daily routine than a trip built around powerful reefs.
The important distinction is between being an intermediate surfer and being comfortable in serious reef surf. Those are not automatically the same thing.
Lanzarote and the stronger North Shore days on Oahu should still be judged wave by wave rather than added to the itinerary because of your general ability label.
For Advanced Surfers, November Opens the Door to Winter Power
This is where Lanzarote and Oahu separate themselves from the more approachable destinations.
Both can produce powerful surf as winter-season energy increases, and both demand more judgment than simply arriving with a shortboard and looking for the biggest wave.
Morocco can also become much more serious when swell increases, while Puerto Rico’s reefs and exposed breaks give experienced surfers plenty to consider as its winter window develops.
I would choose among them according to the type of wave I actually enjoy rather than assuming the most powerful destination is automatically the best one.
Early November and Late November Can Point You Toward Different Coasts
I would pay more attention to the exact dates in November than I would for a month that sits squarely inside one established season.
Some destinations are still transitioning.
Southern Sri Lanka is the clearest example. Later November gives the south and southwest seasonal pattern more time to settle compared with the beginning of the month.
In Morocco, Puerto Rico, Lanzarote, and Hawaii, the opposite consideration applies: winter energy is beginning to build, but individual swell events still determine whether you find modest surf or something much more serious.
This is why I would use monthly seasonality to choose the destination, then use the short-range forecast to choose the actual break.
The November Destination I Would Choose by Trip Style
If I wanted a surf-first trip centered on point breaks, I would start with Morocco.
If warm water and straightforward travel from the United States mattered most, I would look at Puerto Rico.
If I were learning or traveling with a longboard, southern Sri Lanka and La Union would move much higher on the list.
If the group contained everyone from beginners to experienced surfers, Oahu has the unusual advantage of offering mellow Waikiki surfing while North Shore winter swell develops elsewhere on the island.
If I specifically wanted powerful reef surfing, I would investigate Lanzarote rather than pretending its more consequential waves make sense for every surfer.
That is the advantage November gives you. You can chase Atlantic points, tropical winter swell, easy longboard sessions, or powerful reefs in the same month. The best surf trip comes from choosing the version of November that matches how you actually want to surf.
If your dates move into the following month, compare these options with the best places to surf in December before booking.