November flips the surf world into winter mode. The North Pacific stirs the North Shore to life and opens the Vans Triple Crown, while the North Atlantic sends its first clean groundswells into Portugal, Morocco and the Canaries. Across the tropics the season is turning too: Sri Lanka’s south coast wakes with the north-east monsoon, Barbados’s Soup Bowl starts to fire, and Costa Rica’s Caribbean reefs open their short, ferocious winter. It is a month of momentum, with warm-water options and Europe’s finest waves both on the table.
Quick Overview: Where to Surf in November
- North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii · Season opening: the first serious North Pacific groundswells wake the Seven Mile Miracle, Triple Crown energy building, Pipeline finding its form
- Peniche and Ericeira, Portugal · Atlantic prime: clean autumn groundswells at Supertubos and the Ericeira reefs, water still bearable, crowds thinning after summer
- Taghazout, Morocco · Season kicking in: North Atlantic swells reaching the right-hand points, warm sun, Anchor Point beginning to reel
- Canary Islands: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura · Europe’s Hawaii warming up: the winter reef season starting, El Quemao and the Fuerteventura north shore turning on, 21°C water
- Sri Lanka South Coast · Season begins: the NE monsoon settling in from late November, Weligama and the Midigama reefs cleaning up, warm water year-round
- Caribbean Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo · Reef season opening: the short, ferocious Caribbean winter at Salsa Brava firing on north swells while the Pacific stays warm and fun
- Puerto Escondido, Mexico · Late-season power: the Mexican Pipeline still firing on the last big south swells, warm water, punchy beach-break barrels
- Barbados, Soup Bowl · Hidden gem: Season opening: the first big North Atlantic swells reaching Bathsheba, Soup Bowl waking into its powerful winter form
North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
November is when the North Shore comes alive. The North Pacific storm belt deepens and the first long-period groundswells of the winter light up Pipeline, Sunset and Waimea, and the Vans Triple Crown window opens. It is powerful, crowding fast, and the true start of the Hawaiian season. It sits at the very top of our guide to the best places to surf in Hawaii.
Beg
Int
Adv
Pipeline and Sunset: expert-only. Rocky Point, Laniakea and Chun’s Reef for intermediates. Beginners: Waikiki south shore. Water 25 to 26°C, boardshorts. Book early, capacity fills fast from November. Fly into Honolulu (HNL).
Where to Stay
- Ke Iki Beach Bungalows · Haleiwa · ★ 4.9 · beachfront bungalows minutes from Pipeline as the season’s first swells arrive
- Turtle Bay Resort · Kahuku · ★ 4.8 · the North Shore’s best luxury base, with its own quieter breaks and the Triple Crown a short drive away
- North Shore Ohana School of Surfing · Haleiwa · ★ 4.8 · essential local guidance for a month when the swell can jump from manageable to serious overnight
Peniche and Ericeira, Portugal
November is arguably Portugal at its best. The first proper winter lows send clean, powerful groundswell into the Silver Coast, Supertubos wakes up and the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve fires across its reefs, while summer crowds have gone and prices have dropped. Water is cooling but still workable in a 3/2. See our full guide to surfing in Portugal.
Beg
Int
Adv
Supertubos and Coxos: confident intermediates and advanced. Beginners: Baleal (Peniche) or Ribeira d’Ilhas (Ericeira) on smaller days. Water 16 to 17°C, 3/2mm. Fly into Lisbon (LIS), 45 min to Ericeira.
Where to Stay
- Surf Castle Peniche · Peniche · ★ 4.9 · walking distance from Supertubos, a committed cold-water crew, the town at its most local
- Ericeira Surf Camp · Ericeira · ★ 4.8 · World Surfing Reserve base, daily guide calls between Coxos, Ribeira and the Cave
- The Surf Experience Ericeira · Ericeira · ★ 4.7 · structured coaching with video analysis, the smart way to tackle the reefs for the first time
Taghazout, Morocco
November is when Morocco switches on. The North Atlantic lows start pushing NW groundswell onto the Taghazout points, Anchor Point begins to link its long walls and Imsouane offers one of the friendliest long rides anywhere, all under warm autumn sun while Europe cools. See our full guide to surfing in Morocco.
Beg
Int
Adv
Beginners: Panoramas and Banana Point. Intermediates: Hash Point and Imsouane Bay. Advanced: Anchor Point. Water 18 to 20°C, 3/2mm. Fly to Agadir (AGA), 45 min to Taghazout.
Where to Stay
- Surf Maroc, Amouage · Taghazout · ★ 4.9 · rooftop overlooking Anchor Point, knowledgeable guides as the season’s swells build
- Surf Berbere · Taghazout · ★ 4.8 · community camp with morning sessions, Atlas day trips and Berber dinners
- Hashpoint Surf Camp · Taghazout · ★ 4.8 · best-value stay on the village point, good guidance for improvers stepping up
Canary Islands: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
The volcanic islands 100 km off West Africa begin their winter reef season in November. Lanzarote’s El Quemao starts to fire, Fuerteventura’s north shore comes to life across 30 km of reefs, and the water sits around 21°C, warm enough for boardshorts on the calmer days. It is the closest thing to reef surfing within a short flight of Northern Europe. Part of our guide to surfing in Spain.
Beg
Int
Adv
El Quemao and The Bubble: expert-only. Beginners: Famara (Lanzarote) and El Cotillo (Fuerteventura). Intermediates: Corralejo beach breaks. Water 21 to 22°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 local knowledge of El Quemao’s tide windows, right on Famara for all other levels
- 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 learning ladder from beach break to reef
Sri Lanka South Coast
From late November the north-east monsoon establishes over Sri Lanka and the south coast turns on. Weligama Bay offers one of Asia’s best beginner waves, and the Midigama reefs (Lazy Left, Rams Right) start to deliver for intermediates and up, all in 27 to 28°C water. Early season means fewer crowds than the January peak. See our full guide to surfing in Sri Lanka.
Beg
Int
Adv
Weligama Bay: superb beginner bay. 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 catching the season’s clean early swells
- 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 international camp with yoga, coaching and Galle Fort trips
Caribbean Costa Rica, Puerto Viejo
While the Pacific coast keeps ticking over, November opens the Caribbean reef season around Puerto Viejo. Salsa Brava, the country’s heaviest wave, wakes up on north swells into a thick right-hand barrel, backed by the friendlier beach break at Cocles, all warm, reggae-tinged and a world away from the Pacific tourist trail. See our full guide to surfing in Costa Rica.
Beg
Int
Adv
Salsa Brava: expert-only reef barrel. Cocles: intermediate beach break. Pacific coast (Santa Teresa, Nosara) stays warm and beginner-friendly. Water 27 to 28°C, boardshorts. Fly into San Jose (SJO).
Where to Stay
- Cabinas Casa Verde · Puerto Viejo · ★ 4.8 · long-running Puerto Viejo guesthouse a short walk from Salsa Brava
- Salsa Brava Surf School · Puerto Viejo · ★ 4.7 · local coaching that knows when the reef is a paddle-out day and when to watch from the beach
- Selina Puerto Viejo · Puerto Viejo · ★ 4.6 · social base with easy access to Cocles and the wider Caribbean breaks
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
November still brings serious surf to Oaxaca. Puerto Escondido’s Zicatela beach, the Mexican Pipeline, keeps drawing big south and early north swells into fast, heavy sand-bottom barrels, while the warmer water and easier nearby beaches at La Punta suit improvers looking to step up. See our full guide to surfing in Mexico.
Beg
Int
Adv
Zicatela: advanced and expert only, one of the heaviest beach breaks on earth. 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 views of the swell
- 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 keeps beginners on the safe beaches and reads Zicatela honestly
Barbados, Soup Bowl
Hidden gem 🔍
Barbados opens its surf season in November. The first substantial North Atlantic lows send long-period N and NE swell to the east coast, and Soup Bowl at Bathsheba, the mutant reef bowl that focuses energy into a fast right-hand peak, starts to fire, all in warm 27 to 28°C water. It ranks among the world’s best places to surf.
Beg
Int
Adv
Soup Bowl: intermediate and advanced only, heavy reef and sea urchins. Beginners: Freights Bay on the south coast. Water 27 to 28°C, boardshorts. Fly into Grantley Adams (BGI).
Where to Stay
- Sea-U Guest House · Bathsheba · ★ 4.9 · the essential Bathsheba stay, walking distance from the Bowl
- Round House Inn · Bathsheba · ★ 4.8 · cliff-top heritage inn with a grandstand view of the reef
- Dread or Dead Surf School · island-wide · ★ 4.7 · local guides who read the Bowl and keep first-timers safe
Wherever November takes you, from the North Shore’s opening swells to the first barrels at Soup Bowl, it is the month the surf year turns. See you in the line-up.
