Sopelana Surf – The Ultimate Guide [2024]
Sopelana surf beaches are the go-to playground for people in Bilbao and the western Basque Country. They’re consistent, host some of the area’s best surf schools, and have breaks for all levels. It’s a great base if you’re considering northern Spain.
An introduction to Sopelana surf
If it wasn’t for the salt in the air and the surfboards wedged under the arms, you might not believe that little Sopelana was a beach town. The main road along the coast here, Ingestabaso Kalea, has fancy houses and surf lodges on one side and a big run of parkland on the other. You can’t even see the sand and sea from there.
But it is there.
Some winding roadways and a couple of paths pierce through the dune landscapes that separate the center from the shore and…bingo! They reveal not one, but two 800-meter long beachfronts, each washed by continuous Atlantic swell (consistency is one of the plus points) and hemmed in by rugged stretches of rocky-come-green Basque cliffs.
There are spots for all surfers at all levels down there. Highly seasonal, the various take-off points along Sopelana’s beaches can be punchy A-frames with rampy air sections or knee-high gurglers for the learning crowd. There’s even room for one of the Basque’s most high-quality reef breaks, in the form of La Triangular, which spurts out long rights off a patch of rock at one end of La Salvaje beach (the most westerly).
We’ll dig more into the various spots below but the point here is that Sopelana surf is pretty darn good. Okay, the village isn’t the picture of a charming Basque country town that you get in Zarautz or Mundaka, but it’s got access to the cultural richness of Bilbao (which is a short ride on the metro away), plus great driving access to what’s surely the most surf-rich section of the Pais Vasco.
The upshot? We can hardly think of a better location to base yourself for north Spain strike missions.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Spain
Sopelana surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Sopelana surf?
Where is Sopelana?
First, find Bilbao. It’s roughly midway between the two northern Spanish cities of San Sebastian and Santander (both of which are also rather fantastic for surfers in their own right, you know!).
Bilbao is sort of strung along the mouth of a river with a port on its western side and wilder coastline running to the east, which is where you need to look to find Sopelana.
As we’ve mentioned, the town of Sopelana itself sits about 800m back from the beach of the same name, though some residential areas now spread onto the headlands overlooking the beach and there are roads leading to parking lots right by the entrance to the beaches, so you don’t HAVE to walk there each morning.
The best way to get to Sopelana is to fly into Bilbao. It’s a decent-enough sized airport with flights from London and other major EU cities. You can also catch daily (or, I think, even twice-daily) trains from Madrid.
If you’re basing yourself in Sopelana then you won’t need a car. The metro will whiz you back and forth from Bilbao city center and you can walk to the beach. A car is the best idea if you’re keen on surfing the greater Basque region, spots like Mundaka and Zarautz.
The good news is that cars don’t cost bags in Spain. We book ours through RentalCars.com, and have scored hires for around just $15 in some off seasons.
Surf spots in Sopelana
Sopelana sits right in the midst of a nicely NW-facing run of coast that has a handful of fantastic beaches and reef spots. Here’s the detail…
Mundaka
Mundaka is worth a mention here because it’s within striking distance of Sopelana and isn’t just seen as the best break in the Basque Country, but the best left in the whole world by many (soz, Raglan).
When the season hits in October, all eyes will be on this rivermouth village, which can fire off waves with multiple barrel sections, one after the next after the next. It’s an expert wave but could be the ride of your life if you’re good enough. Check our full guide…
Plentzia
Plentzia is a bit unique on the Basque shore in that it’s main opening to the W swell channel is blocked by a pretty long breakwall – in fact, it’s two breakwalls on either end of the beach. That means it’s often an everyman’s surf spot when there are 15-foot swells thwacking the other spots listed here.
The harbor walls will squeeze oncoming sets and refract them across the bay, loosing power as they go. When they get near the shore, they’re usually at least 7 foot smaller and pretty cruisy. It won’t be working on small summer swells but can be a good winter backup spot for groms and learners. Only good on a high tide. Low is rubbish.
Meñakoz
You’re not gonna’ wanna surf Meñakoz unless your surname is Lenny and you’ve got the badge at Waimea bombie and Jaws. It’s XXL and only works like 3 or 4 times per winter season, when it’s a great place to watch the tow-in crews working their magic/risking their skins. Rides can be awesome but it’s for pros and sponsored names only.
Arrietara
Arrietara is the second (or third ? – we’re not sure; we were told both) longest beach in the Basque Country. At nearly a whole kilometer from tip to toe, it’s got lots of space, which helps because it’s fair to say it’s the real focal point of Sopelana’s surf scene.
Not only does it host the most accessible spots from the center (there’s even a bus that will take you from the metro station to the beach entrance in the summer), but it also hosts regional competitions and is home to many of the town’s very best surf schools.
The swell changes a lot depending on the season. As the stronger NW and W swells of fall and winter kick in, the bay gets bigger and reminds us of one of those many west-facing Portuguese beach breaks where the sandbanks can hold maybe 10-12 foot before properly shutting off. To put it another way, even bigger days work here and will hold moderately well.
In the summer, the main section of the beach between the jagged rock of Peñón Txiki that you see at the northeastern end of the bay and the cliffs to the southwest becomes a real practicer’s playground. We don’t just mean surf schools, either – though there are plenty of those around. We also mean improving intermediates on the hunt for wedgy take offs and pop-up practice on waves that are never too demanding.
La Triangular
There’s no doubt about it that La Triangular is the single best-quality wave on the whole of Sopelana’s beach stretch. It breaks on the reefs that poke out between the western end of Arrietara and the start of La Salvaje Beach, which is just one headland around to the west. You can walk between the two of them using a clifftop path, where there’s also a carpark, and see the wave working just below.
It’s mainly a right but there are short, sharp lefts too, though they roll right into the more jagged rocks so aren’t a great ride if you’re not sure exactly where to lip out. Can handle good size. Loves SE offshore winds and morning sessions without a touch of gust in the air, plus anything from 4 to 10 foot.
The take off here is quite steep and fast. Rather than pointing down the line, it’s one for a wider bottom turn and a bit of realignment. Not pretty but it’s the better way to get on the shoulder, which can be very fun, top to bottom surfing. When it’s larger, the peak will break further out and the lefts will elongate into a more worthwhile ride, further splitting the crowds.
La Salvaje is beloved of Sopelana’s – and Bilbao’s – local crews. We’ve heard reports of toxic levels of localism. Others have told us it’s totally fine.
La Salvaje
When most of the locals talk about La Salvaje, they’re really talking about La Triangular (see above – it’s a super-good reef break at the beach’s eastern end). But there’s also a nice sandbar that makes A-frame wedges on a high tide. Often used by the surf school that’s got a big warehouse of a base on the sand, who have great reviews and are a solid bet if you want quality lessons here.
Aizkorri
If you venture yet one more beach around to the east of the town then you’ll come to the huge, cliff-backed bay of Aizkorri. It’s gorgeous and usually empty. Plus, it’s got what I rate – as a goofy who will do almost anything to escape a busy line up – the best left in the region.
They’re long, peeling sets that work off the rocks at the far end of the bay. Long paddle but a long ride to match. Likes N in the swell. Wind isn’t such an issue since the cliffs are so high there’s good protection. The walk down can be tiring.
Where to stay when surfing in Sopelana?
There’s one standout stay in Sopelana if you ask us. We’ll list that first, and then get to some other great options for different sorts of travelers…
- Moana Eco Surf House– Moana is the obvious choice for surfers in Sopelana. It’s on the main beach road, only 800m walking from both of the top beach breaks here. It’s stylish, offering a mix of modern and Scandi interiors throughout it’s affordable dorm rooms and big doubles. And the extras are fantastic: A spa, an on-site surf school, a beautiful garden area.
- BEACH HOUSE with swimming pool – For families who want self-catering and their own space, this 5-person pad is a top choice. Again, walking distance to the surf schools plus a pool tend to cover the bases for a good summer vacation.
- Azkorri Beach House – A bit of a left-of-field option for HUGE groups, this beach house is out of town but has space for up to 24 people. Cars are probably needed to get there, but it’s one worth knowing about if you’re planning a stag do surf getaway or a corporate surf retreat or something along those lines.
When to surf in Sopelana?
The best time to surf in Sopelana is the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. April through to May and then September to November tend to have some of the best swells; not too big and not too small, but consistent enough to keep the beach breaks running and those reef breaks firing off at La Triangular and Aizkorri.
The summer is best if you’re learning to surf. Schools usually hit their peak season between May and August. Yes, the beaches are busiest then and the waves are smaller but Sopelana usually has plenty of swell for you to improve if you’ve never surfed before or just want to practice, though you’re likely to have maybe 2-3 days that are flat in a 2-week period.
The winter is unpredictable and unruly in northern Spain. Big NW swells can batter the coast and it’s definitely better and more consistent for advanced surfers but can be too hard for total beginners.
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!
