Guéthary & Hendaye · France
Surfing Lafitenia
A right point in Guéthary & Hendaye, France, for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Lafitenia is a fast right point just south of Guéthary, breaking off a small headland into a cove. The point shelters it from cross-shore wind, so it often stays clean when the open beaches are messy.
It has long, lined-up walls and works from fun size to quite powerful, best on a south-west or west swell. Because it's so good and so reliable, the local crowd is strong and surfs it well.
Autumn and winter are the main season, on a south-west to west swell. There's a small car park above the cove, which fills up fast on good days, and a path down to the beach. Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a few minutes south for food and places to stay.
When to surf
Lafitenia
Lafitenia is at its best from September to April. Conditions it likes: SW-W swell.
October to March: Prime
Big, powerful swell, mild Basque winter
April to June: Good
Reliable swell, milder crowds
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches, festival crowds
The year across Côte Basque
Waves near Lafitenia
Cenitz
2 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Reef Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Sainte-Barbe
3 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Right Reef · Advanced / Pro
Alcyons
3 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Left Reef · Advanced / Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Guéthary is small and pricey but puts you right on the reef; Hendaye is a bigger beach town near the Spanish border.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Guéthary & Hendaye guide.
Guéthary & Hendaye surf guideSurf it often and something here is wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.