Bizkaia · Spain
Surfing La Arena
A beach break in Bizkaia, Spain, for beginner and intermediate surfers.
La Arena is the beach at the western end of Bizkaia, between Muskiz and Zierbena, about 20 minutes from Bilbao.
It has lefts and rights off the sandbanks and works best on winter north-west swells, on any tide. It's busy with surfers from the city, and the rips can be strong. The water has a bad reputation because of the industry nearby.
Autumn and winter bring the most consistent swell, and in summer it's usually small enough for lessons, with lifeguards and surf schools on the beach. It's easy to reach from Bilbao by car or metro and bus, so it gets busy at weekends. Sopelana and La Salvaje, across the estuary, are the alternatives when it's flat.
When to surf
La Arena
La Arena is at its best from October to March. Conditions it likes: NW swell, SSE wind, all tides.
October to March: Prime
Consistent, powerful NW-W swell, cold but firing
April to June: Good
Reliable swell, milder crowds
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches and high season prices
The year across Basque Country
Waves near La Arena
Punta Galea
8 kmBizkaia · Right Reef · Pro
La Salvaje
10 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Sopelana
11 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Mundaka is small and books out fast on a good swell; Sopelana, closer to Bilbao, has more beach-break options and a bigger surf scene.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Bizkaia guide.
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