Fall is wrapping up, fast. We’ve got a few more weeks of the swell season’s officially opening in the northern hemisphere and then we’re into winter – and what a winter it could be! This super El Nino is raising eyebrows at spots all over the globe.
And while the usual surf spot suspects will crank regardless, what about those away from prying eyes? The spots that most people don’t want to travel to because getting to the historical consistency is much in favor than throwing caution to wind. And hey, who can blame anyone for just wanting to go somewhere they know waves will be rife. Let’s do some crystal ballin’ around the world.
Sidi Ifni, Morocco
Everyone knows of Morocco’s most famous surf joints around Taghazout. For decades, Anchor Point has been the gathering spot for traveling surfers, van-lifers and so much more – acting as a cultural melting pot for people from all walks of life. But this is just one part of Morocco’s brilliant coastline. There’s a reason why it’s called the land of the never ending rights – and it’s not all about Taghazout. Point your vehicle southwards and skirt the Atlantic coastline and eventually you’ll end up at Sidi Ifni. This is the quiet to Taghazout’s hubbub. November marks the real start of the surf season for Morocco. The nearby Legzira Bay has a mix of beachbreaks and a long right hand point break running from north end of the bay. It can be mellow when small, but when winter starts lighting up the coastline, it’s a thick, hollow cave – much like most places along this coastline.
Dakar, Senegal
Another African nation to add to the list – but very different to Morocco in the north. The Dakar peninsula offers a wider swell window and while Morocco can go flat during the summer, Senegal can pick up south swells from the active South Atlantic during this time. During November, Senegal can come alive under those winter swells out of the North Atlantic, driving waves into a somewhat consistent coastline at times. While Morocco may feel like a more developed country, in terms of surf tourism set-up, Senegal has a last frontier element to it. Dakar juts out in to the Atlantic and can soak up swells from most directions. Well worth a visit if the crowded line-ups across other spots in Africa feel daunting.
Related: Guide To The World’s Biggest Waves
Galicia, Spain
Along the furthest western point of Spain is Galicia, a stunning coastal region that includes both the north and west coasts. It’s a rugged corner of the country, raw and able to soak up power out of the Atlantic with ease. That’s why November’s a great time to head to this part of the world; you get the fall swells at the start of the season before winter really kicks in. Galicia is most famous for its Costa da Morte, or Coast of Death, not because of the surf, but because it has a long history of shipwrecks thanks to raging Atlantic storms and hidden rocks – making navigating this part of Spain a bit of a nightmare. As for the surf, expect to find uncrowded beach breaks set amidst a jagged coastline that also includes a few reefs, rivermouths and pointbreaks when the swell’s right. Van-lifing is almost a necessity out here. Everything is so far away, it pays to be self-sufficient. And on top of that, you don’t want to give up a parking spot when the surf’s really hammering in.
Cabo Verde, Central Atlantic
Cabo Verde is an island chain in the central Atlantic, made up of 10 major islands and a several smaller islets. You would have seen at least one, very viral surf clip from here out of the past few years – and it isn’t hard to figure out which one. Spoiling the surprise aside, these islands have long been home to traveling surfers looking for somewhere very much away from the usual spots. What to expect? Well, when those gigantic Atlantic storms start whirring up across the ocean, they’ll send swell to all parts of Cabo Verde – especially so in November. Like most parts of the Central Atlantic, they pick up both south and north swells, depending on the time of year. But that’s not all, the islands are perfectly positioned to lap up any direction out of the swell window. November is also prime surf season which runs from right now up until March – in-line with the swell season for the northern hemisphere. As for what to expect from the surf, Cabo Verde is a series of reef breaks, offering long lefts and shallow, gaping right hand juggernauts to throw yourself into. There’s at least one world-class, technical wave that would give the likes of Cave in Portugal a run for its money. But away from that, there are also spots for beginners, A-frames and loggable waves away from where the swell concentrates. Basically, there really is something for everyone, if you’re up for scouting around a bit.
Related: Where Do The Biggest Waves In The World Actually Come From?
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