Bizkaia · Spain
Surfing Mundaka
A left point in Bizkaia, Spain, for pro surfers.
Mundaka is a long, hollow left that breaks on a sandbar at the mouth of the Urdaibai estuary, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and one of the best lefts in the world. It hosted a world tour event for over ten years.
Everything depends on the sandbar, built by sand from the river. When it's in good shape and a solid groundswell arrives, a single wave can give several barrel sections in a row. When the sand isn't right, it can go a whole season without working properly.
It's fast and critical, and the local crew is very skilled and protective. It's for expert surfers only. Watching it from the harbour wall in the village is a good plan B.
When to surf
Mundaka
Mundaka is at its best from September to April. Conditions it likes: Solid W-NW groundswell, low tide, falling.
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 Mundaka
Laga
4 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Intermediate
Bakio
10 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Intermediate
Ogella
13 kmBizkaia · Reef Break · 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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