Northern Spain and the French Basque Country are idyllic settings for lovers of surfing and other water sports. It is an area that offers pleasant temperatures at this time of year, the best waves and idyllic settings for those looking to fully enjoy the sea away from the crowds.
Waking up with the peace of the sound of the waves in the background and watching the sunrise from the camper van or motorhome surrounded by movie landscapes is an incomparable experience. Whether you own a vehicle or want to rent one to enjoy a few days surfing, the Cantabrian coast and the Basque-French border are home to well-known destinations to recharge your batteries enjoying surfing and caravanning.
This route to travel by camper or motorhome through the French Basque Country, the birthplace of some mythical surfers where water sports is almost a religion, starts from the glamorous French city of Biarritz. Considered one of the best destinations in the world for surfing, it is home to very interesting spots such as the beaches of La Cotê des Basques, Milady (with a very popular municipal motorhome area) and Grande Plage, in front of the majestic mansion where a century used to summer Napoleon III.
About 30 km away is Saint Jean de Luz: a small French fishing village in a quiet and picturesque crescent-shaped bay with a past steeped in history and legends of Basque corsairs and sailors. This is one of the most sheltered spots in the Bay of Biscay, with rocky reefs, nice forehand breaks and some perfect beaches for beginner surfers, like Cénitz beach.
To ride the waves of Erromardie or Mayarco, it is recommended to have a good level of surfing, just like on Lafiténia beach: a place that hosts numerous prestigious international surfing competitions, whose 100-meter straight shore is compared to the famous Bells Beach australian.
Depending on the beach we choose, we can opt for different options to spend the night and/or park, such as Erromardie Farm (especially if we travel with children), the quiet Camping International Erromardie or the centrally located Pont Charles de Gaulle, if that doesn't bother us. the night rush and we don't have a very big vehicle.
Our last stop on this route will be Hendaye: just 21 km from San Sebastián, it is a destination well prepared for traveling by camper or motorhome. In addition to having many options for spending the night and/or camping, it is a perfect city for doing all kinds of water sports, but also for resting and enjoying the scenery. Here the less initiated in surfing will have multiple options to learn the basics or to perfect some techniques for those who have an intermediate level. Lehena, Surf Division or Surf School Ocean Beach are three of the most popular schools.
If you want to stay in the country, you cannot miss the beautiful Zarautz beach, the longest in Gipuzkoa (Euskadi). It is a true mecca for surfers from all over the world, as it concentrates a multitude of peaks with sandy bottoms for all levels in its 2,500-meter length. To camp with your camper or motorhome near this postcard paradise, there are highly valued options such as the Gran Camping Zarautz or the Talai Mendi.
From here we will go to another of the quintessential settings for surfing in northern Spain: Mundaka, a small fishing village in Vizcaya where this sport is considered a way of life located next to the spectacular Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Its beach has one of the best left-hand waves in Europe and its best time is from December to March, when the strongest swells appear. It is not recommended for surfers with a low or medium level.
To enjoy Mundaka beach in a camper or motorhome, you can go to the area located in the center of town or to specialized campsites such as Purtuondo (about 2 km from the beach). The location of these spectacular facilities is unique, and was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1984.
Just 30 kilometers from Santander (Cantabria) we find Somo beach. With almost 4 kilometers of sand, it is ideal to start surfing or improve your level, since it has a multitude of peaks, from the most protected ones in the western area of the beach (known as El Puntal), to the more open area to the northwest. at the height of Loredo.
Less known is the Trengandín beach, in Noja, which holds one of the best waves in the Cantabrian Sea: El Brusco. In a setting of fine sand with Mount Mijedo in the background, in autumn and winter it is capable of giving very powerful waves of up to three meters with long tubes. It is a demanding peak, not suitable for the most novice surfers.
It is an area with a great surfing culture, and you will have no problem spending the night or camping with your camper or motorhome. As in the previous routes, to find motorhome areas or campsites very close to the beach, you can use specialized apps such as Roadsurfer or Park4Night, among others.
Some examples with good user opinions are the Suesa-Somo motorhome area, the Somo Parque campsite or Playa Joyel, very well-kept facilities practically at the foot of Ris beach and with all the luxury of amenities.
