The Best Surfing Hot Spots in the World

For expats who are looking for the best swells around the world, well read on. These places not only boast of waves but also of golf, the real-deal surf and turf dishes and yes, incredible vacation and travel getaways.

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

Photo: Kanaka Menehune

The island of Hawaii – where almost everywhere you go, you find waves – and great ones to surf in! The Pipeline is like the big daddy of waves, where many a surfer have dreamed of making the perfect surf ride over its crest. The area is just heavy with great swells. It scales over six meters above a razor-blade table reef and a shallow base. From Dillingham Airport, you can get there via a taxi ride to Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea. 

The Backdoor in Hawaii is also home to world-class tubes and swells. Like in Pipeline, these swells are mostly for professional surfers. Expats who are not surf experts can have a great time watching pro surfers zoom through the tubes effortlessly. It has been known that Hawaii's ancient kings rode the surf aboard ancient wooden boards even before the place was discovered by missionaries. 

Waikiki is the perfect place for expats who are into surfing but not crazy enough to try the swells in Pipeline and Backdoor. The waves are friendlier here. From Dillingham Airport, a taxi rides to Kam Highway and opposite Sunset Elementary, and you won't miss these great surfing places.

But since you're in Hawaii, you might as well check out fabulous golf courses and of course, snack on the best surf and turf dishes the resorts and restaurants that litter these locations.

Canary Islands, Spain

Photo: Victor Morell Perez

Towards the most northern part of the chain of the Canary Islands is Lanzarote. It is perfectly nestled about 100 kilometers from the Moroccan coast in the Atlantic. Lanzarote, located at the northern part of the Canary Islands chain is about 100 km from the Moroccan coast in the center of the Atlantic Ocean. Apart from Lanzarote, other resorts like Cost Teguise and Famara on both east and west sides of the coast are also popular for the swells that are available to surfers with almost 1500 meters of beautiful beaches and the backdrop of the volcano. 

Expat families with children will find these resorts having friendlier waves that are perfect for family surfing. 

In Fuerteventura Island, expats will see swells perfect for all levels of surfing. There are more aggressive tubes in some parts of the island, and there are swells that make for fun surfing. Water has mild temperature all year round, and the Canarian sunshine smiles on all expats who come for the surf, vacation, sand and the sun and good surf and turf dishes. Usually, the best time to catch these waves are from October to March.

Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Photo: Efrain Gonzalez Buitrago

Costa Rica is known for its sleepy beaches that just spells both relaxation and fun! The beaches are just stretches of white sand and expats will find monkeys swinging in trees along the sand. Swells are just endless, almost calling out to surfers to be ridden. Here, the waves cater from the novice to the more advanced riders. In Playa Guiones, Nosara, more surfers huddle over and surf the tides. It has a sandy bottom and waves can vary from the time of the year from the gentler ones for beginners and the bigger ones. When the bigger swells do come in, only professional surfers are allowed to go to the beaches. 

Expats looking for more consistent waves head over to Playa Tamarindo. It offers excellent beaches and great restaurants where expats and surfers can munch surf and turf variations, most importantly, it has one of the most consistent swells for stretches. 

The best time to come over for surfing is from April to September.

Byron Bay, Australia

Photo: Aristocrats-hat

This place used to be a slow-paced dairy town that has now become a haven to hippie-surfer-stockbrokers from all walks of life and from all over. This place is famous for beginner surfers. There is just way too many varieties of swells for different levels from the gentler rollers in Watego Beach and to the most fun breaks of Tallows as well as in Wreck. All are friendly enough to surf in just for fun and if you are still learning to surf. Byron Bay Surf School makes sure you will love surfing rather than dread it. There’s a variety of waves to fit various surfing skills, from the rollers in Watego Beach to the breaks of Tallows and The Wreck (in small swells). The months from March to May are the perfect time to go for more consistently warm weather conditions and more consistent swells.

Kuta Beach, Indonesia

Photo: Oceana

This place is a surf destination. It can get crowded but mainly because it swells come in an excellent package of tropical goodness – the palm-lined beaches, the Asian feel of the island and most definitely, the great food from surf and turf to Bali’s local and traditional dishes. Most of all, the island is popular with surfers for its grinding left-hand reef breaks. This also makes Bali a great destination for surfers out to learn better moves. Swells do get bigger, though, which is also perfect for more advanced tide riders. The best time to come over is from May to September. The travel to this place usually comes with great partying everywhere in the island. 

Whether you are just a starting-out surfer or the more daring tube rider out for a great wave adventure, the world is just littered with cozy and warm havens for riding the perfect crest. You just need to fly and be on a surfboard and viola! The wave is yours! And of course, who can deny the food? Surf and turf go where the waves are too!

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