Are you coming to Arcachon soon and don’t know where to surf in the area? Then discover the 8 best surf spots near Arcachon!
With its pleasant, year-round climate, the Gironde is the ideal destination for taking up surfing or perfecting your skills on vacation! Who hasn’t dreamed of walking through the pine forest, accompanied by the song of the cicadas, only to find themselves facing the superb waves of the Atlantic Ocean? A wild beach as far as the eye can see, a board under your arm, and you’ve got the heavenly setting every surfer dreams of discovering. Fortunately, it’s not a dream.
If you’re coming to Gironde, you’ll have no trouble finding sensational surf spots around the beautiful town ofArcachon. To help you find your way around, we’ve put together the 8 best surf spots near Arcachon! All you have to do is grab your board and set off to conquer the superb waves of the Aquitaine coast.
1. La Plage de la Salie
Photo credit: Larroussinet for Wikimedia Commons
Located south of Arcachon and the Dune du Pilat, La Salie’s North and South surf spots are the closest and most accessible. Popular with the region’s surf clubs, the beaches of La Salie offer optimal conditions almost all year round. The spots often work, making them popular with local surfers. With quality waves sometimes reaching 3 meters, this is undoubtedly one of the best surf spots near Arcachon.
To access the La Salie Nord and La Salie Sud spots, follow the D218 from Arcachon or La Teste-de-Buch to Biscarosse-Plage. Along the D218, which crosses the Landes de Gascogne, you’ll soon spot a sign for Plage La Salie. On-site parking, restaurants, toilets and other facilities await you. In summer, the spot can be very busy with surfers. If you’re new to the area, don’t hesitate to ask local surfers about the best spots along the long beach and their dangers. There’s generally a good atmosphere at La Salie Nord or Sud.
2. La Plage Sud in Biscarosse-Plage
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Ludovic Farine
Just a 30-minute drive from Arcachon, Biscarosse-Plage is home to some of the best surf spots in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Landes regions! La Plage Sud offers the perfect challenge for experienced surfers. Sandwiched between the dunes, the ocean and the military zone, the Plage Sud spot is a local favorite. This typically Landes spot offers powerful, tubular waves in onshore winds. La Plage Sud is considered a true sandbar spot!
Thanks to its special sandbanks, you’ll find quality waves at Plage Sud at high tide, but difficult to surf once the tide goes out. For its setting and challenges, it’s considered one of the best surf spots near Arcachon. However, the spot is not recommended for beginners and novices due to strong currents.
3. La Plage Nord in Biscarosse-Plage
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Facing the urbanized dune and esplanade, the Plage Nord spot is perfect for beginners and advanced surfers alike. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the town center, this vast and beautiful stretch of sand is supervised during the summer months. Thanks to the esplanade, it’s easy to check the day’s conditions before taking to the waves. You’ll see many surfers watching the waves from the terrace of a restaurant, looking out for the best conditions before taking the stairs down to the beach.
Like Plage Sud, the waves here are powerful and tubular. After all, this spot hosts the WSL Junior Pro every year in May and the Kiwi Surf Festival at the end of July! In addition to its accessibility, it’s easy to park in front of the Plage Nord spot. You’ll find free parking at the end of Avenue des Échassiers, as well as spaces on Avenue des Sables.
4. Le Truc Vert at Cap Ferret
Photo credit: Arcachonphoto.com
While Lacanau is the Gironde’s flagship destination, there are plenty of other beach breaks in the region to suit all tastes. Located north of Arcachon, Cap Ferret and Le Porge are good examples. In the former, Le Truc Vert has established itself as one of the best surf spots near Arcachon! This magnificent beach is totally enclosed by the Cap Ferret national forest. When you arrive at the spot, you’re immediately immersed in nature!
Because of its geographical peculiarity, the Cap Ferret peninsula and its beaches are characterized by highly unstable sandbanks. Be on the lookout, and don’t hesitate to consult local surfers for the best spots in Le Truc Vert. If you’re a beginner, don’t hesitate to ask the instructors at the surf schools on the beach. Waves here oscillate between 1 and 2 meters, and up to 3 meters when conditions are optimal! To reach this spot from Arcachon, allow at least 1? hours’ drive along the Bassin d’Arcachon. Once on the D106, you’ll need to reach the village of Petit Piquey, then take the Avenue du Truc Vert to the beach.
5. Le Grand Crohot at Cap Ferret
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The Grand Crohot beach is one of the first ocean beaches after passing the village of Lège at the entrance to the Cap Ferret peninsula. Close to Bordeaux, it’s one of the busiest in the region. But despite the crowds, it offers one of the best surf spots near Arcachon and the Gironde. Located at the same distance as Le Truc Vert from Arcachon, all you have to do to reach this friendly surf spot is head for the village of Lège, then follow the signs to Plage du Grand Crohot. On site, you’ll find ample parking, shops and facilities, making it an ideal landing spot for surfers!
At the Le Grand Crohot spot, you can find dreamy sandbanks, with quality waves that can reach 2 to 3 meters. When the conditions are right, you’ll find dreamy peaks like this straight, flawless offshore bank that closes the swell irrevocably. It’s also worth noting that while the spot is very busy in summer, it’s often deserted in winter. Experienced surfers can enjoy themselves to the full and attack the waves in total freedom!
6. Le Trencat
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Yuval Beraru
Located on the border between Gironde and Landes, between La Teste-de-Buche and Biscarosse-Plage, the Trencat spot takes its name from a forest house on the D218 road. This relatively inaccessible spot lies in the heart of a magnificent pine forest. It’s sure to please surfers in search of freedom and wilderness! The spot is best reached on foot or by bike from the main road. Once there, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the beauty of the Trencat spot.
Little-known and popular with local surfers, it’s this sense of freedom that makes Trencat one of the best surf spots near Arcachon. However, it is not recommended for beginners or novices. The spot is unsupervised and the currents along the Landes coast are strong, so it’s best to go there if you already have a good level of surfing. On site, waves and conditions are similar to those found further north at Plage de la Salie.
7. La Torchère at Cap Ferret
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Soloviova Liudmyla
Located in the middle of the peninsula, Plage de la Torchère is a good alternative to the Truc Vert and Grand Crohot beaches. It’s much less crowded than the other spots on Cap Ferret. For a quiet day out, it’s one of the best surf spots near Arcachon. What’s more, the spot frequently works, with nice hollows and waves oscillating between 1 and 2 meters in series. However, La Torchère is not recommended for beginners and novice surfers. Indeed, La Torchère beach is unsupervised even in high season.
To find it, go to the intersection of the Truc Vert forest road and the Avenue de Bordeaux. You can park along the asphalt road on the dune side, or a little further south in the picnic area parking lot. Then follow the signposted path across the dune. Allow 5-10 minutes’ walk in the sand to reach the beach.
8. Le Porge Océan
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Arcachonphoto.com
Finally, just north of Cap Ferret, Le Porge Océan is a seaside town in Gironde. It is very popular with Bordeaux residents. Less crowded than its northern neighbor, Lacanau, Le Porge is home to one of the best surf spots near Arcachon: Plage du Gressier. Undeveloped except for a few shops behind the dune, it offers a pleasant, peaceful setting. Good-quality waves run aground here. Beginners and experienced surfers alike will find good spots to practice. To reach Le Porge Océan, take the A660, then the D5 towards the D107, which will take you to Le Porge and the beaches.