Guéthary & Hendaye · France
Surfing Sainte-Barbe
A right reef in Guéthary & Hendaye, France, for advanced and pro surfers.
Sainte-Barbe is a big-wave right in the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, breaking off the sea wall at the north end of the bay. It only starts working on a large west to north-west swell, around 4 metres or more, when most other spots on the Basque coast are too big.
On those days it gives long, powerful rights. It's for experienced big-wave surfers only, and the local crew knows it well.
It only works a few days each winter. Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a pretty town with a fishing harbour and plenty of places to stay, and on a big day the sea wall is a good place to watch. The rest of the time, the bay is calm and good for swimming.
When to surf
Sainte-Barbe
Sainte-Barbe is at its best from October to March. Conditions it likes: Clean SW-NW 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 Sainte-Barbe
Lafitenia
3 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Right Point · Intermediate / Advanced
Cenitz
4 kmGuéthary & Hendaye · Reef Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Alcyons
5 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.