December is winter surfing at its most spectacular. The North Pacific throws the Pipe Masters and the season’s biggest days at the North Shore, and the North Atlantic sends Nazare towering, Portugal’s reefs firing and Morocco and the Canaries into midwinter prime. The tropics deliver too: Sri Lanka’s south coast is in full flow, Barbados’s Soup Bowl is at its most powerful, and Bali’s east coast fires in the wet-season offshores at the year’s lowest prices. There is world-class surf in every direction and for every level.
Quick Overview: Where to Surf in December
- North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii · Peak of peaks: the Pipe Masters and the heart of the Hawaiian season, the North Shore at maximum power and maximum crowd
- Peniche, Ericeira and Nazare, Portugal · Big-wave winter: Nazare in its towering prime, Supertubos heavy and hollow, cold water and Europe’s most powerful surf
- Taghazout, Morocco · Midwinter prime: the North Atlantic at full power, Anchor Point reeling its full length, warm sun over cool water
- Canary Islands: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura · Peak reef season: El Quemao at full activation, the Fuerteventura north shore firing, 20°C water in midwinter
- Sri Lanka South Coast · Full season: the NE monsoon established, Weligama and the Midigama reefs at their finest, warm water and reliable offshores
- Bali East Coast: Keramas and Nusa Dua, Indonesia · Wet-season secret: the east-coast reefs firing in the NW monsoon offshores while the Bukit goes onshore, year’s lowest prices
- Barbados, Soup Bowl · Prime winter: big, consistent North Atlantic swells at Bathsheba, Soup Bowl powerful and barrel-rich in warm water
- Puerto Escondido, Mexico · Hidden gem: Warm-water power: the Mexican Pipeline trading south swells for winter north swells, still heavy, still warm, quieter than summer
North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
December is the North Shore at full song. The Pipe Masters caps the competitive year, the biggest North Pacific swells of the season arrive, and Pipeline, Sunset and Waimea are all at their most consequential. It is the most electric and most crowded month on the Seven Mile Miracle. It sits at the top of our guide to surfing in Hawaii.
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Adv
Pipeline and Waimea: expert-only. Rocky Point and Laniakea for intermediates. Beginners: Waikiki south shore. Water 24 to 25°C, boardshorts. Book months ahead, capacity is at its peak. Fly into Honolulu (HNL).
Where to Stay
- Ke Iki Beach Bungalows · Haleiwa · ★ 4.9 · beachfront bungalows minutes from Pipeline during the Pipe Masters
- Turtle Bay Resort · Kahuku · ★ 4.8 · the best luxury base, with its own breaks and the contests a short drive away
- North Shore Ohana School of Surfing · Haleiwa · ★ 4.8 · essential guidance in a month when conditions swing from big to enormous
Peniche, Ericeira and Nazare, Portugal
December is deep Atlantic winter in Portugal. Nazare enters its towering big-wave prime as the biggest North Atlantic swells funnel over the canyon, Supertubos is at its heaviest and Coxos at Ericeira reels on the long-period groundswells. Water drops to 15 to 16°C, but lineups are quiet and prices low. See our full guide to surfing in Portugal.
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Nazare: tow and expert big-wave only, a spectator sport for the rest of us. Supertubos and Coxos: advanced. Beginners: Baleal on smaller days. Water 15 to 16°C, 4/3mm. Fly into Lisbon (LIS).
Where to Stay
- Surf Castle Peniche · Peniche · ★ 4.9 · steps from Supertubos in its heaviest winter form, a small committed crew
- Ericeira Surf Camp · Ericeira · ★ 4.8 · World Surfing Reserve base with daily calls between Coxos, Ribeira and the Cave
- Magic Manor Nazare · Nazare · ★ 4.7 · big-wave season base in town, minutes from the Praia do Norte viewpoint
Taghazout, Morocco
December is Morocco in its element. The North Atlantic low-pressure belt deepens and the NW groundswells that make Anchor Point famous arrive with real power, while the sun stays warm over 17 to 19°C water. It is the classic European winter escape, with a wave for every level within a short drive of Taghazout. See our full guide to surfing in Morocco.
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Beginners: Panoramas and Banana Point. Intermediates: Hash Point and Imsouane Bay. Advanced: Anchor Point and Killers. Water 17 to 19°C, 3/2mm (4/3mm for dawns). Fly to Agadir (AGA).
Where to Stay
- Surf Maroc, Amouage · Taghazout · ★ 4.9 · rooftop over Anchor Point, expert guides in the season’s most powerful swells
- Surf Berbere · Taghazout · ★ 4.8 · community camp with full-power sessions, Atlas trips and Berber dinners
- Hashpoint Surf Camp · Taghazout · ★ 4.8 · best-value point-front stay with strong guidance for improvers
Canary Islands: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
December is peak season in the Canaries. North Atlantic groundswells wrap onto the shallow volcanic reefs, Lanzarote’s El Quemao is at full activation and Fuerteventura’s north shore is consistent and powerful, all in 20°C water within a short flight of Europe. See our guide to surfing in Spain and its islands.
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El Quemao and The Bubble: expert-only. Beginners: Famara and El Cotillo. Intermediates: Corralejo beach breaks and Punta Blanca. Water 20 to 21°C, 3/2mm. Hire car essential. Fly to Arrecife (ACE) or Fuerteventura (FUE).
Where to Stay
- Famara Surf Camp · Caleta de Famara, Lanzarote · ★ 4.9 · best knowledge of El Quemao’s tide windows, right on Famara Beach
- Surf Riders Fuerteventura · Corralejo · ★ 4.8 · access to the full north shore from El Cotillo to The Bubble
- Lapoint Fuerteventura · Corralejo · ★ 4.7 · all-inclusive with yoga and a clear beach-to-reef progression
Sri Lanka South Coast
December brings Sri Lanka’s south coast into full season. The north-east monsoon is set, swell is consistent, and the water is a warm 27 to 28°C. Weligama Bay is the beginner bay, and the Midigama reefs deliver for intermediates and advanced, with camps and cafes buzzing before the January peak. See our full guide to surfing in Sri Lanka.
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Weligama Bay: best beginner bay in Asia. Midigama reefs for intermediates and advanced. Water 27 to 28°C, boardshorts and rash guard. Fly into Colombo (CMB), 2 hours south by road.
Where to Stay
- The Surfer Weligama · Weligama · ★ 4.9 · highly rated bay camp in the coast’s most reliable stretch
- Ahangama Surf Camp · Ahangama · ★ 4.8 · reef-zone base pairing Weligama days with Rams Right step-ups
- Lapoint Surf Camp Weligama · Weligama · ★ 4.7 · structured camp with yoga, coaching and Galle Fort trips
Bali East Coast: Keramas and Nusa Dua, Indonesia
December’s NW monsoon grooms Bali’s east coast into offshore perfection while the famous Bukit breaks go onshore, surfing’s best-kept seasonal secret. Keramas, a world-class right-hand reef, catches clean swell and glassy dawns, prices are at their lowest and the island is at its lushest. See our full guide to surfing in Indonesia.
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Keramas and Serangan for intermediates and advanced. Beginners: Nusa Dua’s forgiving inside. Surf mornings before 11am when the east coast is offshore and glassy. Water 27 to 29°C, boardshorts. Fly into Denpasar (DPS).
Where to Stay
- Keramas Surf Lodge · Keramas · ★ 4.9 · only accommodation on the break, offshore dawns visible from the pool
- Odysseys Surf School, Sanur · Sanur · ★ 4.8 · daily routing between Keramas, Serangan and Nusa Dua on the NW swell
- Canggu Surf House · Canggu · ★ 4.7 · central base 30 min from Keramas, social scene at its most affordable
Barbados, Soup Bowl
December is prime time at Soup Bowl. Big, consistent North Atlantic lows send long-period swell to Bathsheba, and the reef bowl throws its fast, hollow right-hand peak in 26 to 27°C water, all with the island in full tropical-winter swing. It ranks among the world’s best places to surf.
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Soup Bowl: intermediate and advanced only, heavy reef and urchins. Beginners: Freights Bay on the south coast. Water 26 to 27°C, boardshorts. Book Bathsheba well ahead. Fly into Grantley Adams (BGI).
Where to Stay
- Sea-U Guest House · Bathsheba · ★ 4.9 · the essential Bathsheba stay, steps from the Bowl
- Round House Inn · Bathsheba · ★ 4.8 · cliff-top heritage inn above the reef
- Dread or Dead Surf School · island-wide · ★ 4.7 · local guides who keep first-timers safe on the reef
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Hidden gem 🔍
December keeps Puerto Escondido pumping. As the last south swells fade, winter north swells begin to reach Oaxaca, and Zicatela, the Mexican Pipeline, keeps unloading heavy sand-bottom barrels in warm 27 to 28°C water, with the mellower La Punta point for those building up. See our full guide to surfing in Mexico.
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Int
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Zicatela: advanced and expert only. Improvers: La Punta point and Carrizalillo. Water 27 to 28°C, boardshorts. Fly into Puerto Escondido (PXM).
Where to Stay
- Hotel Casamar · Puerto Escondido · ★ 4.8 · comfortable base steps from Zicatela with front-row swell views
- Buena Onda Beach Resort · La Punta · ★ 4.7 · relaxed La Punta stay by the mellower point, ideal for improvers
- Puerto Surf Lessons · Puerto Escondido · ★ 4.7 · local guiding that reads Zicatela honestly and keeps beginners safe
From the Pipe Masters to a glassy December dawn at Keramas, this is the month the surf world runs at full power. See you in the line-up.
