Surfing in the Caribbean – Complete Guide to ALL Islands
For some reason, surfing in the Caribbean hasn’t taken off like it has in Indo, or Costa Rica, or Mexico.
There are certainly plenty of exceptions to prove that rule – exceptions that come in the form of Puerto Rico’s beefy Rincon slabs and XXL monsters; exceptions that come by way of the peeling reef breaks of the Dominican Republic; and Soup Bowl. Don’t forget Soup Bowl.
But, by and large, we can’t shake the feeling that this is a region that’s been oft-ignored by most surf travelers, and more given over to monied holidayers on the hunt for the next five-star Sandals resort.
Things are changing surely but slowly. The emergence of newfound surf territories in Cuba and the Bahamas are making that happen. Older surf hubs in the region are also coming to the fore, with fancy surf camps popping up in Encuentro (Dominican Republic) and Jamaica alike.
One thing’s not up for debate: The waves exist. One glance at those fizzing Palmetto Point barrels and the bowling sections of Soup Bowl and you’ll see the potential of this region. We never doubted that, though – full exposure to N Atlantic swells always meant there was going to be action.
Let’s dive a little deeper and see what surfing in the Caribbean is all about…
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Surfing in the Caribbean at a glance
The good
- Regular north swells in winter
- Rincon – a surf mecca
- Tropical vibes and warm water
The bad
- Wind
- Lots of the region has little infrastructure for surfers
The top surf destinations in the Caribbean
If we had to pick out the places where we’d say reign supreme for surfing in the Caribbean, it would be the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Puerto Rico, though Jamaica is also following.
Together, they do the best on those winter N swells and offer the most developed surf communities. They also have the pick of the surf camps, so look to those for your trip first.
Dominican Republic
Just look how close the Dominican Republic is to Puerto Rico! It’s simply not possible that one’s a surf mecca and the other’s not, right? Right.
In fact, this western half of Hispaniola is one of the jewels of the Caribbean surf scene. The main attraction is the Amber Coast and the north, which hoovers N-NE swells in the winter months to offer some fantastic reef breaks at Encuentro (the main beach in Cabarete) and Puerto Plata.
That whole area is a medley of coves and little points that are waiting to be discovered, though. Eastern Trade Winds are the main enemy – they always seem to be blowing, so get in early!
Where to stay? There’s no beating the El Encuentro Surf Lodge here. 300 meters away from the DR’s top surf beach, it’s a lux surf lodge with a pool and uber-cool rooms. They partner with a surf school opposite to offer lessons.
>>Read our complete guide to Dominican Republic surf
Barbados
The teardrop-shaped island of Barbados is the most exposed to the Atlantic swell channels of any island in the Caribbean. It’s sort of a geographic outlier, sitting 100 miles to the east of the next destination over, giving it good action on the N, NW, and NE compass directions.
Add to that a coastline of reefs and rugged points and you finally start to get a picture of what’s sort of established as the finest surf destination in the region. Soup Bowl is the star here, with its thick, grizzly barrels.
But there’s loads for beginners and intermediates just steps away from that tube machine, so don’t be put off if you’re looking for something a bit more chill.
Where to stay? You don’t have to brave the barels of Bathsheba. Head to OceanBlue Resort and the longish peelers of Surfer’s Point will be on the doorstep. It’s a fine resort-style hotel with pools and lush tropical gardens.
>>Check out our complete guide to Barbados surfing
Puerto Rico
The surf pedigree of Puerto Rico cannot be underestimated. Pros have come and gone from the beaches of Rincon here for decades, finding spinning barrels to conquer on the reefs that lie out west.
More lately, there has been a growing scene in the region of Aguadilla, Rincon’s lesser-known bro, and some good options to surf on the north coast.
Overall, we put PR down as a playground for intermediates and up. It’s mainly about shallow reefs and hollow waves. It’s a bit like a Caribbean Nias, only with walkable beaches and a down season when you don’t want to be around.
Where to stay? Cool and colorful Coconut Palms Inn is a classic. Oceanfront, right by the breaks, and boasting wave-view terraces. For something more modern, check Rincon Plaza Hotel.
>Check out our complete guide to surfing in Puerto Rico
Jamaica
The home of reggae bands and steel drums probably shouldn’t be your first choice for surfing in the Caribbean. But it could well be your second.
Relying on the ever-blowing NE trades that caress the region all summer long, there are some surprisingly good breaks here, and something for all levels. Beginners can hit up Boston Bay for peeling rights that curl like scythes into a tropical bay. Performance riders can go south to seek the wedgy barrels that rise on the reefs of Bull Bay and Makkas.
>>Check out our full guide to Jamaica surfing right now
Antigua
Surfing in Antigua and Barbuda was thrust into the limelight in recent times with the great reveal of Palmetto Point, a spot that captured the imagination of the surf world when it was discovered back in 2001 and kept secret by a select few gatekeepers.
Whichever way you look at that it’s a downright amazing wave, funneling neat right barrels straight off a talcum-powder point in the middle of nowhere. Other breaks sit on the main island of Antigua, either picking up the scraps of the NW winter pulses or drawing power from the dominant SE trades.
>>Check out our full guide to surfing in Antigua
Bahamas
The Bahamas aren’t just for yachters and sunbathers and honeymooners, you know? As the northernmost islands in the western Caribbean, this collection of 3,000 rocks has some cracking surf.
Of them all, it’s the group of the Abacos and the long, thing dogleg of an island called Eleuthera that reign supreme. They get full hits from NW-N-NE swells in the winter, and even have bays and points that bend those dominant winds offshore.
>>Check out our complete guide to Bahamas surfing
Cuba
Cuba hasn’t really made the headlines amid other Caribbean destinations that can really wow with their surf – the likes of Barbados and the Dominican Republic, especially. But this long, bent-finger of an island that’s plumed in cigar smoke and soaked in rum certainly has its moments.
The northern shores of the southern provinces often come up trumps. They hide the likes of Boca de Yumuri, a peeling right point break that’s unbeatable on its day. Overall, though, this land remains unexplored and unchartered – perfect for a more adventurous surf trip.
>>Check out our complete guide to Cuba surfing
Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos are an interesting surfing prospect. Look at the map and you’d think they’d have the same prowess as the north coast of the Dominican Republic or the isles of the Bahamas.
But they don’t, mainly because of a long, uninterrupted offshore reef system that kills all N swells. There are points where it sneaks through, though, and places where we think there are undiscovered waves for the taking.
>>Check out our complete guide to the surf in Turks and Caicos
St Lucia
St Lucia is a paradise isle that’s often the stomping ground for honeymoon travelers on account of its 5-star all inclusive. There are a few surf spots, largely leaning towards the more intermediate crowd. They work mainly winter only, thanks to the NE swells that wrap around the tip of the isle to places like Pigeon Point.
>>Check out our full guide to surfing in St Lucia right now
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is a great place to surf. Seriously, you might not have heard of it but it gets a similar Atlantic swell exposure to Barbados and a string of fantastic reef breaks that work for all levels much of the year. We’d say this isle is worth serious consideration for intermediates and up who want to hit glass-clear waters and rugged volcanic black-sand beaches in the very same trip.
>>Check our complete guide to Guadeloupe surf right now
When to surf in the Caribbean?
The prime time for surfing in the Caribbean is the winter between November and March.
That marks the end of the hurricane season, which can wreak serious havoc over the whole of the region and ushers in the dominance of the N swells. They’ll come down all the way from the North Atlantic, off big storms on the US Eastern Seaboard or even deeper up around Iceland and the Arctic. The result is a consistent stream of nice groundswells that travel thousands of miles before hitting the reefs of from the Bahamas all the way to the Dominican Republic.
Summer surfing in the Caribbean is often marred by the presence of the restless trade winds. They blow E most of the time and can get super strong from May to July. There are some neat places – on Eleuthera and in Rincon particularly – where they actually go offshore but they are mainly cross and onshore. Some great days can come of the windswell.
Jamaica almost entirely relies on it. It’s just rarer and wave days won’t be as reliable. The added risk of tropical storms keeps most surfers away from August to September.
Surf hotels in the Caribbean
Of course, there are tons of awesome hotels in the Caribbean, just not the same amount of surf-focused stays you get in places like Costa Rica or Nicaragua.
That said, there are some upcoming lodges and stays that are fantastic if you want to focus on the breaks and not the rum punches…
- El Encuentro Surf Lodge – Definitely among the top surf stays in the whole region. Swimming pool, yoga studio, lush gardens, stylish rooms – it’s got it all within easy walking distance of the multiple breaks of Encuentro on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. If you want to ensure you’ll be right beside the waves for your whole vacation, this one has you covered.
- Coconut Palms Inn – Lovely spacious rooms with balconies that look right over the iconic waves of Rincon in western Puerto Rico.
- La Curadiña – Encuentro Surf Resort – Also in Encuentro in northern DR (yea, probably our top pick for first-time surf vacationers here), this hotel is a lux pad within walking distance of the waves.
Surf camps in the Caribbean
A surf camp is the option if you’re not into self-planning trips. Basically, you pay a set fee and that covers the whole shebang, from your accommodation to your surf lessons.
Packages vary in what other inclusions they have, though – some offer breakfast and dinner, others include yoga lessons. It’s about shopping around to find the right one for you.
The issue in the Caribbean is that it’s NOT Bali or Indo or Portugal or Costa Rica. There aren’t all that many dedicated surf camps to sample here, though there are some that we think are pretty darn fantastic, including…
- Kite Beach Inn x Bobo Surf’s Up Surf School – An incredibly rigorous course consisting of 14 personalized surf lessons, delivered by the esteemed instructors at Bobo Surf’s Up Surf School. Accommodations include a stay in a seaside condo adjacent to Encuentro Beach. This is one of the most comprehensive surf packages on offer in the Caribbean right now, and we think it’s got plenty of value to it – the price tag is around just $1,400 for the whole thing, which is waayyy less than you’d spend planning it all yourself.
Surf lessons in the Caribbean
Surf lessons are a good way to test the water, or just add a day or two of surfing into your Caribbean vacation.
Sadly, there aren’t stacks and stacks of surf schools here like over in Bali or Costa Rica. The only place you can really get lessons is Dominican Republic, which has the town of Cabarete that’s filled with surf school options.
The best of them would include…
- Eco-Surfing Dominicana 3-Hour Surf Sessions – Eric Franco is the leader of this much-loved 3-hour lesson. It’s a fine option for families who care more about the accessibility of the tuition and having a good time that nailing down technical surf things, though Franco isn’t bad at that either.
- Surf lessons in Barbados – Surf lessons that are good for beginners run by former competitors. These guys will take you to different spots in Barbados, depending on swell. Location is confirmed the day before the lesson.
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!