7 Best Places to Surf in November – For All Levels
Transition is the keyword in November.
It’s late fall up north, and that means some of the world’s best swell channels can be kicking something pretty. Europe can be at its best. Big barrels, protected beaches, and everything in between makes Northern Spain all the way to the UK a real chocolate box.
Same goes over the pond, where the West Coast’s switch from largely NW to S swells is almost finished. You can still catch some S pulses but the points of California prove that it’s the northern engines that are ruling the roost.
The Eastern Seaboard and New England are enjoying thier sweet spot, while there’s a trickle of high season stuff left in the Indian Ocean.
Basically, you have tons of options. What’s more, most guides we’ve seen just say something like “Go Sri Lanka cos it gud”. That hardly helps if you’re trying to plan a proper surf trip, so we’ve gone the extra mile to pick out the specific surf towns and breaks that a) we think are hot in 2025-26 and b) are good for specific levels…
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The best places to surf in November for beginners
Weligama, Sri Lanka
Weligama offers sheltered, sand-bottomed breaks the likes of which you cannot get around the reef-heavy coast of southern Sri Lanka. They span the whole of Weligama Bay, a huge inlet with a town in the middle of it, that’s always got a good mix of heavier breaks and softer secondary swell.
It’s not for nothing that the town is now the island’s main learner destination. It’s got the waves, but also stacks and stacks of very good-quality surf camps that offer really affordable training and accomodation packages.
There are downsides: Weligama isn’t the prettiest place in Sri Lanka, I’ve heard some bad things about the water quality (but that’s usually only after rains), and seasons have been unpredictable in recent years (I was here in 2023 and it was wazzocking down in Nov!).
Where to stay? The Surfer Weligama – The most established surf camp in the town. Great offering. Great bargain.
Peniche, Portugal
Peniche is Portugal’s great all-season fallback – a rarity of a surf town built on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic, creating multiple wind and swell combos that are just minutes apart. That’s the magic: when one side is blown out or too exposed, the other is often clean and manageable.
In November, that variety comes into its own. You’re in the peak of Portugal’s west-coast surf season, with regular NW swells pulsing in and water still hovering around 17–18°C.
The go-to is Praia do Baleal, a wide, sandy beach to the north of the town that picks up slightly less swell than Supertubos or Molhe Leste, which are to the south. It’s got a conveyor belt of mellow, reforming peaks that suit whitewater learners and longboarders, and the area is dotted with high-quality surf schools and camps.
Peniche itself is an unpretentious fishing town with a solid surf infrastructure – nothing fancy, but it works. The only downside? It gets cold and stormy fast after November, so time your visit early in the month if you want good odds and a bit of sunbathing to boot.
Where to stay? The Salty Pelican Yoga & Surf Retreat is the perfect beginner choice. This brand have stormed the world and for good reason. Yoga sessions, surf on the doorstep – it’s got the shebang.
Nosara, Costa Rica
Set deep in the Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is surrounded by protected jungle and crisscrossed with dusty roads that eventually spit you out at Playa Guiones. Thats a corker of a learner spot; a long, exposed beach break that catches nearly any swell going but has great reform waves and good shelter at its north end.
For beginners, it’s pretty ideal in November. The rains have eased off, but you still get lingering southern swells, and the offshore Papagayo winds are just starting to kick in.
The waves here aren’t tiny – even the inside secondary sets can have punch – but the gentle slope of the beach means there’s loads of whitewater to work with, and you’ve got 300+ metres of paddling room in either direction to spread out, so crowds won’t be an issue.
The town itself leans wellness-heavy. Think: smoothie bowls, yoga studios, boutique eco-lodges. It’s not a cheap surf destination, especially compared to places like Weligama or Tamraght, but the quality is top drawer.
Where to stay? The Nomadic Hotel. A belter of a beach hotel that was made for surfers but is no so, so much more.
Tamraght
iStock.com / Khalid ElkharratTamraght sits just a few dusty hills south of the more famous Taghazout, but it’s got a slower pace and a lot less noise. The village itself climbs up a steep slope from the coast, overlooking a cluster of surf breaks that are perfect for beginners in November.
At this time of year, the first long-period NW swells start rolling in, lighting up the Moroccan points. While Anchor and Killers are doing their thing further up the road, Tamraght’s more manageable beach breaks – like Crocs and Banana Point – pop out mellow walls and long reform sections.
The town has a big surf camp scene. A lot are Moroccan-run, laid-back, and affordable, with rooftop terraces for sunsets over the Atlantic. It’s not fancy, but it’s warm, reliable, and friendly. Downsides? Crowds are growing fast, and the beaches can get wind-blown in the afternoons, so aim for early sessions.
Where to stay? Wave Gypsy Surf & Yoga do a surf course that has training sessions then free surf. It’s a great way to learn and the place has a good vibe to boot.
The best places to surf in November for intermediates and advanced surfers
Cornwall, England
Though it’s largely a summer boom region these days, Cornwall’s surf scene doesn’t shut down in November – if anything, this is when things start getting good.
The big Atlantic pulses return, and beaches like Fistral, Gwithian, and Perranporth start delivering punchier sets and cleaner lines. It’s wetsuit weather for sure (4/3mm I’d say), and you’ll want boots and a hood by late November, but crowds drop off dramatically and early-morning glass-offs are common.
For intermediates, it’s a chance to push into slightly steeper waves while still having the security of beach break setups. If you’re based near Newquay, you’ve got several breaks in driving distance with various wind/swell combos — just make sure you’re checking cams or speaking to locals about where’s best on the day.
Where to stay? St Christopher’s Inn Newquay is cheap, has good nigthlife, and has walking distance to a break. Other than that, a car will really help!
Capbreton, France
Capbreton is Hossegor’s more chill neighbour – but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a soft option just because this region is so famouse. It’s no Peniche; not a beginner haven full stop.
This is still the Landes coast, which means sandbanks that produce punchy beach breaks, dredgy barrels, and rips that’ll keep you honest.
What makes Capbreton a better call for intermediates and advanced types is the sheer range of peaks. Spots like La Piste can get heavy, but beaches to the south toward Labenne mellow out, offering easier entries and longer shoulders. AKA there’s formidable variety.
November is very much swell season here. The Atlantic’s pumping, but the summer crowds have long cleared out, so you’ll find line-ups with room to move. Winds can be hit and miss, so it’s worth checking tides and timing your sessions around lighter offshores.
Where to stay? Go for JO&JOE Hossegor. It’s real cool and located just over the river from Capbreton’s best beach breaks.
Mentawais, Indonesia
November in the Mentawais isn’t prime swell season — that’s April through October — but it still delivers clean surf and a more forgiving vibe, perfect for intermediate+ surfers who want to test themselves on reef without it being triple-overhead.
Thing is, there’s often something lurking aroudn there for folks who want big pits, too, so it suites mixed groups very well, so long as you’re intermediate+
The shoulder season also brings thinner crowds, fewer boats criss-crossing the line-ups, and a chance to snag playful days at iconic spots like Beng Bengs, Burgerworld, or even mellow sessions at Nipussi.
It’s still remote — this is island-hopping surf territory — so most surfers base themselves in all-inclusive resorts or boat charters. It’s not cheap, but the payoff is warm water, mechanical waves, and postcard-perfect reef setups. Just know your limits, as even on a “small” day, some waves here break over shallow coral.
Where to stay? Beng Bengs Surf Camp – 2x daily surf trips in paradise.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
