Bizkaia · Spain
Surfing Plentzia
A beach break in Bizkaia, Spain, for beginner and intermediate surfers.
Plentzia's beach sits inside a sheltered bay at the mouth of the Butroe river.
That shelter means it rarely breaks. When a big winter storm is hitting the open coast, though, it can have small, manageable lefts and rights, best around low tide. It's not a spot to plan a trip around, more of a backup on huge days. The water inside the bay isn't the cleanest.
Plentzia is a small town with a marina and a few restaurants, and the metro from Bilbao ends here.
When to surf
Plentzia
Plentzia is at its best from November to March. Conditions it likes: Big swell, low tide.
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 Plentzia
Meñakoz
4 kmBizkaia · Right Reef · Pro
Sopelana
4 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
La Salvaje
6 kmBizkaia · Beach 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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