Best Time to Surf: Month-by-Month by Country

The best time to surf depends on the coast: we map the season of 364 surf breaks in 29 countries, and the table below shows the share of each country's breaks at their best in every month — so you can see where the waves are working before you book or buy.

Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type

Surf season calendar by country

Each cell is the share of the country's mapped breaks that are at their best that month. Darker means more of the coast is working.

Share of surf breaks at their best, by country and month
Country	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	Best months
Australia(20)	10	10	95	100	90	90	90	90	90	5		10	March to September
Brazil(9)				100	100	100	100	100	100	100			April to October
Caribbean(4)	100	100	100								100	100	November to March
Chile(3)			100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100			March to October
Costa Rica(23)	13	13	74	87	87	91	91	87	87	87		13	March to October
Dominican Republic(5)	60	60	60	60	40	40	40	40	40	60	60	60	October to April
Egypt(5)	100	100	100								80	100	November to March
El Salvador(17)	18	6	59	65	65	65	65	65	65	53	24	12	March to October
England(4)	100	100	100	75					75	100	100	100	October to March
Fiji(6)				100	100	100	100	100	100	100			April to October
France(9)									100	100	100		September to November
French Polynesia(7)	29	29	29	71	71	71	71	71	71	71	29	29	April to October
Guatemala(3)			33	100	100	100	100	100	100	100			April to October
Indonesia(37)	3	3	3	86	95	97	97	97	97	95	3	3	April to October
Ireland(4)	100	100	100	100					100	100	100	100	September to April
Japan(3)				100	100	100	100	100	100	100			April to October
Mexico(57)	11	11	47	65	84	88	88	88	88	82	12	11	May to October
Morocco(8)	100	100	100							100	100	100	October to March
New Zealand(3)													—
Nicaragua(22)			41	91	95	95	95	95	95	82	5		April to October
Panama(9)	11	11	67	67	78	78	78	78	78	67		11	March to October
Peru(29)	17	10	24	72	69	72	72	72	76	41	10	10	April to September
Philippines(5)	40	40	40					60	60	80	100	40	October to November
Portugal(17)	100	100	100	88					88	100	100	100	September to April
Puerto Rico(6)	100	100	100								100	100	November to March
South Africa(7)				100	100	100	100	100	100				April to September
Spain(9)	100	100	100	78					78	100	100	100	October to March
Sri Lanka(7)	71	71	71	71	29	29	29	29	29		71	71	November to April
United States(26)	92	92	65	65	4	4	4	8	69	65	92	92	November to February

Where to surf in each month

Countries where at least half the breaks we map are at their best that month.

January: Caribbean, Egypt, England, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic
February: Caribbean, Egypt, England, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic
March: Caribbean, Chile, Egypt, England, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Australia, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Panama, United States, Dominican Republic, El Salvador
April: Australia, Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Nicaragua, Portugal, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Spain, England, Peru, French Polynesia, Sri Lanka, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico, United States, Dominican Republic
May: Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, French Polynesia, Peru, El Salvador
June: Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Australia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, French Polynesia, El Salvador
July: Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Australia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, French Polynesia, El Salvador
August: Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, French Polynesia, El Salvador, Philippines
September: Brazil, Chile, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica, Panama, Spain, Peru, England, French Polynesia, United States, El Salvador, Philippines
October: Brazil, Chile, England, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, French Polynesia, Panama, United States, Dominican Republic, El Salvador
November: Caribbean, England, France, Ireland, Morocco, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic
December: Caribbean, Egypt, England, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic

Surf spots by level

Beginner surf spots (84)Intermediate surf spots (238)Advanced surf spots (206)

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best surf in January?

In January, at least half the surf breaks we map are at their best in Caribbean, Egypt, England, Ireland, Morocco, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Spain.

Where is the best surf in July?

In July, at least half the surf breaks we map are at their best in Brazil, Chile, Fiji, Guatemala, Japan, South Africa, Indonesia and Nicaragua.