Best Surf Towns for Beginners and Intermediates
Gorgeous Coastlines and Chill Vibes with a Splash of Beach Reverence
The Beach Boys sing it perfectly, “Catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world.” It is an extraordinary feeling to glide along the water. And you don’t have to be an expert surfer to feel it. Even if that sensation comes in the form of a surf instructor pushing your board into the wave, it is worth experiencing.
Even simpler, just looking back toward the shoreline from your board offers a captivating new perspective (very ACT ethos). Paddling among sea life, sometimes even turtles or dolphins, and stepping onto the beach refreshed by seawater and endorphins makes the experience greater than waves you caught. It can feel both cleansing and spiritual, which helps explain why surfer talk sometimes veers into comically reverent exaltation. Stoked!
Explore the ACT site for more outdoor adventures, cultural insights, and local beverage tips. We hope it sparks ideas and simplifies your next trip.
We believe surf towns are something special. We love the gorgeous coastlines, chill vibe, and beach-reverent lifestyle. Rest assured there will be ample açaí bowls, yoga studios, tie-dye T-shirts, boho pants, and ripped surfers, which you can choose to embrace or simply observe.
Learning to surf or getting back in the water after a long time away can be daunting. That’s why we’ve curated a list of places we’ve surfed that are ideal for beginners and intermediates and happen to be cool towns worth visiting in their own right.
All of these towns offer beach breaks with sandy, forgiving bottoms (rather than riskier reef or rock breaks). Long stretches of shoreline provide plenty of space for everyone including learners. In some cases, there is an easily identifiable area for novices and another area suited for advanced surfers, which beginners can avoid.
We include a section of tips and courtesies at the end of this post to help make the experience better for you and safer for everyone. Read it to approach this sport with more confidence and contribute to water safety.
Our Favorites
Sayulita, Mexico
We go back to Sayulita again and again. This walkable beach village is easy to get to from Puerto Vallarta airport, just over an hour drive. Sayulita is user-friendly, fun, and festive. Plus it has great food. The town has grown a lot since we first started going, but many of the changes are good – the dining options have expanded and ironically, it seems less gringo now as more Mexicans have discovered it and moved there.
Rentals/Schools: There are many board rental and surf school options. Our favorite is Lunazul – good boards, low prices, lockers and changing rooms as well as lessons right on the beach.
Friendly Waves: Looking from the beach, the left side is a stretch of beach break waves ideal for starters. The advanced surfer line-up is towards the right.
Pro tip: Sayulita has limited groceries. If you have a kitchen, ask your driver to stop at La Comer, Mega, or Chedraui when leaving Puerto Vallarta. We always ask our Airbnb host to recommend a driver because you do not need a car in town.
Nearby Alternative: Punta Mita is closer to Puerto Vallarta, with surf views from your condo and board rentals on the beach. The surfing is fun and easy, but it lacks the pueblito charm of Sayulita.
Pismo Beach, CA
Pismo Beach is a throwback surf town near San Luis Obispo on the Central California Coast with a long pier, surf shops, beachy knicknacks, and fish tacos. The beachgoers are mostly university students from Cal Poly and families making the trek from Bakersfield. We taught many family members to surf when we lived here including both of our dads.
Rentals/Schools: There are just a few schools and rental shops. Soft top boards (for beginners) are easier to find to rent than fiberglass.
Friendly Waves: There is a long beach break to the right side of the pier away from the pier. The advanced surfers cluster on either side of the pier.
Pro Tip: There are many towns nearby like San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande, with a lot of wine tasting options in the area.
California Alternative: Pacific Beach in San Diego is another good place to learn.
Somo, Spain
We happened upon lovely Playa de Somo while planning a post-Camino de Santiago trip along Spain’s north coast. Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Santander, this Basque surf town livens up at night bursting forth patrons on sidewalk tables at the many pincho bars. The beach stretches nearly five miles, offering friendly waves along most of its length, so even with plenty of surf classes, there’s always room to ride.
Rentals/Schools: Somo has over a dozen rental/schools. Our favorite was Escuela Cantabra de Surf
Friendly Waves: Almost the entire five mile length is beginner friendly.
Pro Tip: Mid to high tide tends to be better than low tide.
Spain Alternative: Consider El Palmar de Vejer if you are in the south of Spain, about two hours from Sevilla.
Taghazout Bay, Morocco
In this case, the surf camp and hosts made the trip for me. Easy Surf Maroc runs a surf camp and yoga studio from a hillside inn with sweeping coastal views. The all-inclusive package includes airport transfers, surf board, wetsuit, transport to breaks, classes, all meals, and daily yoga in one of the most beautifully situated studios I’ve seen. The rate was cheaper than I can live at home. Delicious meals are served family-style at a communal table where it’s easy to meet fellow guests. The hotel doesn’t serve alcohol, but guests can bring their own. With two surf sessions a day and yoga before dinner, skipping alcohol felt like a natural extension of healthfulness.
While the nearby town has a souk, the area isn’t an epic destination, but the hospitality and surf were so memorable that I plan to return.
Rentals/Schools: Over 20 surf camps serve the area. I’m naming one, because it's a good one I experienced. There are certainly other good options as alternatives.
Friendly Waves: Taghazout Beach is the main beach break. Your camp will take you to the best places for your skill level.
Pro Tip: Flights to Morocco are currently very cheap from Europe, sometimes $50 or lower.
Manly Beach, Australia
We went to Sydney during a sabbatical assuming we would spend our surf time at iconic Bondi Beach. However, instead we fell for the mellow surf culture of Manly, with its scenic ferry rides and village feel, so much so that we extended our time in Australia to catch more waves there. Just a ferry ride from Sydney, Manly blends beach-town charm with city convenience. Beyond surfing, you can walk to Shelly Beach for snorkeling, bike the promenade, or enjoy seafood at beachfront restaurants during sunset.
Rentals/Schools: There are a handful of rentals/schools along the promenade.
Friendly Waves: Best is directly in front of the surf rental places including Manly Surf School
Australia Alternative: Byron Bay is an amazing, fun surf town along the Gold Coast. The waves can be beginner-friendly, but were bigger during our visit.
Tofino, BC, Canada
With a surprising location for a surf town halfway up Vancouver Island, Tofino is woodsy and laid-back, surrounded by forest, beaches, and hiking trails. We drove there from Victoria after the Tour de Victoria ride, passing old-growth forests in Cathedral Grove and the rugged Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. We opted for a luxury stay at Long Beach Lodge Resort, set on Cox Bay, the town’s top surf beach, with beachfront rooms and an on-site surf club. A full wetsuit is a rentable essential and the steady waves kept us in the water until our arms gave out.
Rentals/Schools: There are ample surf rental shops and schools choose from
Friendly Waves: Cox Bay and Chesterman Beach are the longest beach breaks.
Honorable Surf City Mention
Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
Iconic and almost always surfable, Waikiki’s consistent waves are perfect for first-timers. The view of Diamond Head from the water is extraordinary — it’s worth paddling out just for that. The waves are so consistent and easy to catch that I’ve had more ride time per hour here than anywhere else. Duke Kahanamoku’s statue on the beach is an inspiration. Don’t miss the surfing history section at the Bishop Museum. This is where it all began.
Notes for the Active Traveler
A longer board (8-10 foot) will provide the most stable platform to stand up on. Beginners use foam-covered, soft-top boards, which are more stable and forgiving than fiberglass boards.
Wave conditions vary. Some places may have friendly conditions at times, but can get big waves other times (usually winter). Get input from local experts like surf schools.
Check surf reports like Surfline for the beach you are headed to for general info and daily and even hourly conditions. The free version will provide all you need.
If you want to prepare for a surf trip, build upper body strength and swim. I’m at my best when I’m consistently swimming, doing yoga, strength training, and at the low end of my weight range. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out that way!
Practicing pop-ups will make this movement seem natural when you get to the beach. I do pop-ups (like burpees) in my garage as part of my regular workouts.
Wave etiquette posted in Tofino. Photo: Bryan Estep There is surfing etiquette to be aware of that helps keep the water safe, such as who has priority on a wave.
Try to go with someone experienced when you join the advanced surfer “line-up” for the first time. Locals can be vocal, so tact and knowing the etiquette go a long way.
I'd recommend Las Peñitas, Nicaragua. It's a sleepy surf town with miles of uncrowded beach. I had some really productive beginner lessons with a local. Might need an intermediate command of Spanish, as it's still relatively unknown to the wider tourist crowd who flock to San Juan del Sur.