Your Complete Noja Surf Guide – Cantabria’s Secret

The surf in Noja

Noja’s two main beaches have different personalities.

Playa de Ris, to the north and west of the town itself, is the more exposed and consistent of the two. It’s a broad sandy bay with shifting peaks and lots of room to spread out. Sets work thier way in through the big sea stacks you can see off the coast and produce some very high-quality left walls on the best days. Other times it’s more short-ride A-frames, but still decent quality if there’s some 3+ foot swell in.

Smaller days are ideal for learners and longboarders, though this isn’t the best learner spot in the region on account of some rips, some localism. You’re better off trying out Berria Beach or Somo if you’re a beginner.

Playa de Trengandin, on the southeastern side of Noja is more sheltered, so works only when bigger swells push through. The main thing you’ll notice is the rocks. They poke out when the tide dips to reveal a devil’s kitchen of jagged reef that is a nightmare to navigate. I honestly don’t even bother. Some locals know where the gaps are. I leave them to it and head to better breaks in the area – Langre, Berria.

Other surf spots near to Noja

I’ve already mentioned a few spots in the vicinity. That’s because Noja itself isn’t that well known. It’s got waves and they can be good, but don’t come here without having an idea of what’s next door, because it’s pretty fantastic.

• Berria – This is a cracking beach break that’s good for all levels depending on the swell. It’s like 12 mins from Noja and has open sandbar waves that can be excellent, offering some rare wind protection thanks to high coast hills.
• Laredo – One of the larger towns in the region with a very sheltered beach break that’s good for learners most of the time but can show its teeth when it gets HUGE.
• Langre – A more protected beach that’s bloody beautiful. Rustic, wild Cantabria setting and good waves for learners throughout the summer a lot of the time.
• Somo – About 20 minutes’ drive to the west is the place that I’d say is the capital of Cantabrian surfing. Somo has highly consistent beach breaks and cracking surf camps to boot. If in doubt, I’d base myself here TBH.

When to surf in Noja?

Autumn (September–November) is the standout season – the water’s still warm, the winds are calmer, and the Atlantic sends in consistent swell. Winter (December–February) can bring the most size, but it’s often accompanied by stormy conditions and colder water, so it suits confident surfers.

Summertime is still a go here. Cantabria works fairly well thanks to good exposure to NW swell channels, but you may have to travel around a bit to catch what’s working.

What to do in Noja when there is no surf?

I like being here precisely because it’s a chilled fishing town sort of thing. I don’t tend to do all that much when there aren’t waves. Just sit and chill. Here are what I’d pick out as my highlights…

• Walk the length of Trengandin Beach – Backed by dunes and marshes and fronted by those wiered rock stacks I spoke about earlier, this is one of the most scenic beach strolls in Cantabria.
• Explore the Joyel Marshes – A protected wetland area with birdwatching hides and gentle walking trails. Fun day if you don’t want a hike that’s ultra-strenouous.
• Visit Santona – A short drive away, this fishing town is famous for its anchovies and marshland reserve. Nice vibe in the summer when lots of Spanish holidaymakers are in.