Spring is finally here. While that means the surf on the North Shore has gone relatively dormant for the season, it also means the beginning of Southern Hemisphere surf travel season and Northern Hemisphere leftovers. If you’re a new surfer, spring and summer on Oahu’s North Shore offers ideal conditions for learning, with small waves, warm water, and less-crowded beaches. If you’re a more experienced surfer chasing bigger swells, spring delivers plenty of surf trip options. You just have to know where to look. To find out where to surf this spring, continue reading below for The JOB Spring Surf Trip Guide.
Spring Surf Trip Strike Mission: Baja California, Mexico
For surfers in Southern California, Baja is just a short car ride away. Still, a proper Baja trip feels like you’re traveling worlds away. Once you cross the border, you can take your pick of several world-class right points. The farther you drive, the sparser the crowds become. During the spring in Baja, South Pacific swells begin to churn and increase in intensity from March to May until they are in full form by summer. Additionally, it’s still possible to get decent Northwest swell in early spring.
Family-Friendly Surf Trip: Nosara, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of Central America’s most popular surf destinations. With warm water, consistent swell, and tons of surf breaks to choose from, it’s easy to see why. While famed waves like Ollie’s Point, Witch’s Rock, and Pavones draw surfers from across the planet, one of our favorite spots for a family-friendly surf trip is a beach break in Guanacaste in a town called Nosara. Nosara is the perfect destination for a family-friendly surf trip, thanks to the many reliable sand bars at Playa Guiones. Playa Guiones offers miles of workable peaks, handles size, and offers peaks for surfers of all levels. Plus, Nosara is home to some of the best Costa Rica surf schools.
Best Couples Surf Trip: Portugal
It doesn’t get much better than Portugal in the spring. The flowers are blooming, winter north swells are lingering, and summer south swells are beginning to stir. The air is surprisingly warm for Europe, and the water is comfortable if you’re in the right wet suit. Start your trip in Lisbon and surf some of the south-facing waves close to town and in Cascais before heading north to score waves in Ericeria, Peniche, and Porto. Head south if south swells are in full swing and make the best of the warmer weather in the Algarve.
Best High-End Surf Trip: Bali, Indonesia
Traveling to Bali isn’t always easy, and it’s rarely cheap. At the very least, it takes nearly thirty hours of travel and a minimum of two flights. Once on the island of the gods, however, you’ll find things like food and lodging surprisingly affordable. If that’s not enough, you couldn’t throw a rock on the Balinese coast and not hit a world-class wave. From the left points of the Bukit Peninsula to the perfectly peeling waves in Canggu and beyond, Bali is blessed with consistent swell and favorable winds for much of the year.
Best Budget Surf Trip: San Diego
You don’t always have to cross a border to take a surf trip. Head down to SoCal and soak up the springtime sun in San Diego. Spring surfers will see a rise in south swells, while winter north wells tend to linger around into March. For best conditions, head out early in the morning to find favorable winds and fun waves.
Nothing beats a surf trip to Hawaii. If you want to learn to surf, the gentle waters of Turtle Bay, book your stay at the Turtle Bay Resort, where you’ll have unparalleled access to our North Shore Surf School.
