Pantin Surf Guide – Galicia’s Gateway to Surf

Pantin is a coastal village and beach combo located in the Galicia region of northwest Spain. Often referred to as the Gateway to Surf in Galicia, it’s right on the cusp of an exciting array surf spots that I’d say suit every level, depending on the season/swell size.

Pantin’s reputation on the global surf map has been cemented by the annual Pantin Classic Pro, one of the most prestigious events on the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series. It typically takes place in late summer and attracts some of the world’s top surfers.

But it’s not just a region for pros. The whole area is littered with gorgeous – and I really do mean GORGEOUS – beaches that often have reef sections next to thier cliffs but big open beach breaks that work nicely on almost all tides.

Yes, there’s a bit of the infamous Galician localism here but nothing you can’t avoid if you come and surf in Pantin as I’d say it’s best surfed: With a car and your own boards in the boot. Drive around, explore northwestern Galicia. You can surf every darn day and often be alone.

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This is just one part of our full guides to surfing in Galicia and surfing in Spain

Surf spots in Pantin

Pantin is a beach and village, so the main spot is obviously going to be Praia de Pantín. Apart from that, there’s a handful of great spots to the east and west that are both remote and developed (AKA have thier own surf schools/rentals)…

Pantin Beach (Praia de Pantín)

The crown jewel of the area, Pantin Beach offers peaks all the way along its length but it’s the left (on the west side of the bay) and the right (on the east) that give it its hallowed rep as one of the finest spots in the whole of Spain.

The left is tucked right under the jagged rocks of the Posta Moura, the high, lush hills and cliffs on the left side of the bay as you look out to sea. It’s actually an A-frame wave as most are in Pantin, working on the sandbank that builds up at the mouth of the Rio Riomaior. The shoulder here is generally a lot more mellow than the rights that are on the far side of the beach because swells have to work thier way over the rocks on the outside (which you can see if you look north).

The main wave and the one that hosts both the Pro comps and a virtually consistent crew of the best surfers in Galicia is the right on the east end of the beach. It actually breaks on the sandbottom below the cliffs just north of Praia de Porto Carrizo, a smaller sub-beach of Pantin that’s a great place for swimming and chilling.

The wave can handle some seriously nice size and will give some fantastic performance waves when there’s big NW swells or even W swells, which are dominant basically all the way from late August through too March here. There’s brilliant protection from easterlies, which tend to blow most of the winter, so sets can stay clean even if it’s low-pressure and overhead.

Some say this is the most consistent wave in Spain.

Baleo Beach

Located slightly to the east of Pantin, literally 2 mins down the road (it’s even walkable), Baleo is another notable surf spot that offers a mix of reef and beach breaks.

Its unique orientation can handle different swell direction becuase the biggest W or even SW pulses can refract in to give smaller conditions throughout the summer.

It’s perfectly due NW though, so winter swells hit striaght on and really make themselves known – will be an heavy, slabby beach break whenever it gets over 5 foot.

Valdoviño

Just 4.5km down the road to the southwest of Pantin Beach is Valdoviño. Again, it’s a classic north Galician setup: An open beach with loads of sandbanks that perform well with solid NW swell and a pushing tide. It can really vary here, though.

It’s prone to blowing out on easterly winds since there’s not such good protection, though you can tuck right under the east cliffs to get some cleaner sets if that happens. Summers are generally okay for all levels but there are rips about so probably best to opt for a surf school.

In winter it can be mega here, with monster closeout sets wiping the lineup between decent set waves.

When’s the best time to surf in Pantin?

The best time to surf in Pantin is from September to November, when the North Atlantic storms start to deliver powerful groundswells that create ideal surfing conditions.

During this period, the weather remains mild, and the water temperatures are still relatively warm – in fact October has water temps that are almost exactly the same as August!

Summer months offer smaller, more manageable waves perfect for beginners and improvers, while winter provides heavier swells more suited for experienced surfers who know what they are doing.

Where to stay in Pantin?

Pantin and the surrounding areas offer a variety of accommodations suitable for surfers looking for comfort and proximity to the beach.

We’d say a car hire is priceless here if you’re on a residential surf camp. There’s hardly any hotel that gets you within walking distance of the beaches, and anyway, a lot of the fun of Galicia is driving from break to break.

• Siete Playas Surf House – Although it’s not on Pantin Beach, this 5-bedroom boutique B&B has excellent proximity to the breaks of Valdoviño and is like 7 mins from Pantin. It’s very chill, has lovely owners and grounds with views of the Galician coast.
• Pantin Surf&Beach – If you want to be right in Pantin then this is a great option. Rent the whole apartment and you’ll have space for 11 people. Great views, modern design.

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