Surfing Suances & the west

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 5/5

NW swell, SE offshore wind, mid tide

Los Locos is the beach below the cliffs just west of Suances, and one of the most consistent and best-known waves in Cantabria. It faces north-west and takes almost every swell, with fast peaks over sand that can get hollow.

It's also one of the most crowded: on a good day the line-up is full of local surfers and visitors from Santander. When it's big it is not a beach for beginners, as the currents are strong. The town is right above, with surf shops and bars.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 1-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

NW swell, SE offshore wind, low tide

Tagle is a small cove a few kilometres west of Suances, with a beach break that is best around low tide. It's much quieter than Los Locos and a good alternative when the crowd there is too much.

The beach is small and the tide covers most of it at high water, so time your session around low tide.

In summer the small beach fills up with families, so autumn and spring are usually the best times. There's a small car park above the cove. Suances, a few minutes east, has the shops, restaurants and places to stay.

Beach Break · Best Sep-Apr · 1-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

NW swell, SE offshore wind, mid tide

Merón is the long beach next to San Vicente de la Barquera, in the far west of Cantabria, with the Picos de Europa behind it on a clear day. It's several kilometres long, so there is room for everyone, and there are surf schools at the El Rosal end near town.

It's an open beach break with peaks along the sand, best around mid tide with a southerly wind. Onshore wind spoils it quickly. It's rarely crowded outside summer.

In summer the beach is busy with families and surf schools. San Vicente de la Barquera, next to the beach, has seafood restaurants and places to stay.