Surf Vagabond is organized around the places where a surf trip actually begins: choosing the right coast, season, and wave for your ability. These surf destination guides cover longboard waves, beginner-friendly beaches, surf towns, regional seasons, crowds, transportation, and places to stay. Some destinations are easy trips built around rentals and walkable beaches; others make more sense for surfers willing to drive, take ferries, or plan around a narrow swell window.
Use this page to compare countries and regions before opening the more detailed local guides. If your priority is softer shoulders and longer rides, start with Longboard Waves. If you are still deciding where to go, choose a region below and work down from the destination hub to individual towns and breaks. Conditions change, so check local forecasts and ocean safety guidance before paddling out.
Looking for Longboard Waves?
Start with my guide to longboard-friendly surf around the world, including mellow points, softer reef breaks, warm-water destinations, and practical trip-planning advice.
North America
California
Compare Southern California longboard breaks, beginner beaches, colder northern surf, and the coastal towns that make the best bases.
Hawaii
Choose the right island and season for Waikiki-style longboarding, beginner surf, warm water, or more challenging reef breaks.
Mexico
Explore Baja road trips, mainland point breaks, mellow longboard waves, surf towns, seasons, and warm-water options.
Puerto Rico
Plan around winter swell, warm water, reef breaks, Rincón surf, and easy travel from the mainland United States.
Central America
Costa Rica
Find warm-water surf towns, forgiving beach breaks, long lefts, beginner options, and the best coast for your travel season.
Nicaragua
Compare Popoyo and other Pacific surf zones, offshore-wind advantages, surf camps, seasons, and practical transportation.
Panama
Choose between Pacific and Caribbean surf, with guidance on swell seasons, beginner areas, island trips, and where to base yourself.
Europe
Portugal
Compare Ericeira, Peniche, the Algarve, island surf, beginner options, Atlantic seasons, and the best base for your trip.
Spain
Explore northern Atlantic surf, Basque Country bases, Mediterranean options, island waves, and where beginners should start.
France
Plan a trip around southwest France, Biarritz, Hossegor, Brittany, Atlantic swell, surf towns, and beginner-friendly beaches.
Asia
Indonesia
Compare Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumbawa, remote island trips, reef conditions, seasons, and easier waves beyond the famous barrels.
Bali
Choose the right Bali coast for the season, your ability, longboarding, lessons, walkable surf, and easier trip logistics.
Philippines
Explore Siargao, La Union, Baler, Palawan, island logistics, seasonal swell, and less obvious longboard-friendly surf.
Sri Lanka
Match the south or east coast to the season, then compare beginner bays, warm-water points, surf towns, and longboard waves.
Oceania
Australia
Compare east-, south-, and west-coast surf, iconic longboard points, city access, beginner areas, water temperatures, and seasons.
Africa
Morocco
Plan around Atlantic point breaks, Taghazout-area surf, winter swell, surf camps, road-trip logistics, and beginner options.