Costa da Morte · Spain
Surfing Malpica
A beach break in Costa da Morte, Spain, for beginner and intermediate surfers.
Malpica is a fishing village on the Costa da Morte, and its main beach, Area Maior, sits right next to the harbour. It faces north and takes the north-west swell.
The waves are peaks over sand, best around mid tide with a southerly wind. It's rarely crowded, and it's a good place to surf when the open beaches further west are too big.
It's at its best from autumn to spring on a north-west swell with a southerly wind. Malpica is a working fishing village with seafood restaurants by the harbour, and the Sisargas islands are just offshore. Razo, to the west, picks up more swell when Malpica is small.
When to surf
Malpica
Malpica is at its best from September to April. Conditions it likes: NW swell, S offshore wind, mid tide.
September to April: Prime
Wide-open Atlantic swell window, consistent and powerful
May to June: Good
Milder weather, still decent swell
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, busiest with Spanish domestic tourism
The year across Galicia
Waves near Malpica
Razo
10 kmCosta da Morte · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Doniños
44 kmFerrolterra · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
A Frouxeira (Valdoviño)
61 kmFerrolterra · Beach Break · Beginner / Intermediate
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Malpica and Razo are small fishing villages with simple guesthouses, rural houses and apartments, and a few campsites near the beaches. Carballo, a little inland, has more hotels. Book ahead in July and August; the rest of the year it's easy to find a room.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Costa da Morte guide.
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