From river bores to endless point breaks, we’ve rounded up the world’s longest surfable waves that are totally worth the journey.

Pro tip! To find your perfect wave, try our WaveFinder search engine!

Scorpion Bay, Baja California, Mexico

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Right-hand point break

• Ride Length: Up to 1.2 km

• Best Season: June to October

• Best Swell: Southern Hemispheric swells

• Crowd Factor: Low to moderate due to remote location

In the dry heat of Baja California’s desert is hidden one of the world’s longest waves…Scorpion Bay is an amazingly long surfing wave that has 4 to 5 distinct points and takeoff spots. When a decent-size swell lines up properly and hits Baja California’s coastline, this wave becomes one of North America’s longest point break.

Its remote location and lack of infrastructure also prevents it from being overcrowded. Definitely worth the trip…

Read our surfing guide to Baja California Sur, Mexico

Pavones, Costa Rica

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Left-hand point break

• Ride Length: Up to 1 km

• Best Season: April to October

• Best Swell: SW

• Crowd Factor: Moderate

On the southern end of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is located this small town which is home to one of Central America’s best and longest wave…

Being so remotely located, Pavones is somehow sheltered from most of the heavy crowds that can be found further up north. On a good southwesterly, this is point break peels nicely providing waves as long as a few hundred meters.

Read our complete guide to Pavones, Costa Rica

Pororoca

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Tidal bore (river wave)

• Ride Length: Up to 12.5 km

• Best Season: March and September (full moon & equinox)

• Crowd Factor: Very low

• Risk Factor: High (debris, water hazards)

This tidal wave located in the Amazon River is only surfable twice a year when conditions align. When it does, it is a fast, dangerous river wave that can sometimes reach 12ft+ in size. Due to the extreme conditions that come with it, this wave is not suitable for everyone.

With a proper technique, equipment and support team, one can catch a wave and ride it for as long as 10km! The record for the longest ride at the Pororoca is just under 40 minutes for an astonishing 12,5 kilometers total length.

Also read: The World’s 10 Best Right-Hand Waves

The Bono Tidal Bore

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Tidal bore (river wave)

• Ride Length: Up to 10 km

• Best Season: Late September to early November

• Crowd Factor: Extremely low

• Tip: Hire a local boat guide

Similar to the Pororoca, The Bono tidal wave is also a river surfing spot located in the Indonesian Kampar River.

Almost 100 km away from the sea, this wave is also very fickle and only works under some precise tidal conditions. Surfing tour companies even offer their services to help surfers catch the longest wave of their life!

Also read: The 10 Biggest Waves In The World

Superbank, Gold Coast, Australia

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Right-hand sand-bottom point

• Ride Length: Up to 1,5 km

• Best Season: February to April (Cyclone season)

• Best Swell: E to SE

• Crowd Factor: Very high

Coolangatta, at the southern end of Gold Coast, Queensland, is home to one of the world’s longest and most consistent wave. This one definitely is not a hidden gem but still deserves a great spot on our countdown for its remarkable length and quality. On a good cyclone swell, one can surf from Snapper Rocks all the way down to Kirra, an insane 1.5 km ride.

Raglan, New Zealand

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Left-hand point break

• Ride Length: 600m to 1 km

• Best Season: March to October

• Best Swell: SW

• Crowd Factor: Moderate to high

First put on the map by cult surf film “Endless Summer” in 1966, Raglan quickly became New Zealand’s best surf town. It is also home to the country’s longest wave.

Read our complete surfing guide to Raglan, New Zealand

The surf spot that made Raglan famous is Manu Bay, just a short drive out of town. On an epic day, this wave connects all the way from Indicators, the furthest peak, into Whale Bay and finishes in Manu Bay for a filthy leg-burning ride.

Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Left-hand sandbar

• Ride Length: Up to 2 km

• Best Season: May to October

• Best Swell: Strong SW swells

• Crowd Factor: Low (but competitive)

• Warning: Very fickle and difficult to access

Hands down, the world’s longest barreling wave is right here in Skeleton Bay, Namibia. This wave is very fickle and doesn’t work all that often. However, when it does…dear lord! Many South Africans make the trip up here when big swells show up on the radar. Even then, only a few of those swells are actually gonna line up properly for Skeleton Bay.

Read our complete surf guide to Namibia

Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa

Key Info:

• Wave Type: Right-hand point break

• Ride Length: Up to 1 km

• Best Season: May to September

• Best Swell: SW to SSW

• Crowd Factor: High

• Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced

Not only is Jeffrey’s Bay one of the world’s longest wave, it also probably is one of the five best waves on the planet, period. This point offers everything from long, fast walls, barrel sections and even some ramps to aim for the sky. Definitely not for beginners…

Chicama, Peru

Key Wave Info:

• Wave Type: Left-hand point break

• Ride Length: Up to 4 km

• Best Season: May to September

• Best Swell: SSW

• Crowd Factor: Moderate

• Bonus Tip: Local boats will tow you back to the lineup!

With a filthy length of 4 km, Chicama is known as the world’s longest wave! Located near a small fishing village in the north of Peru, Chicama needs a decent SSW swell to peel nicely down the point. When it does, the wave is so long that boats are up for hire to get you back to the takeoff spot…

Read our complete surf guide to Chicama, Peru

The post The World’s 9 Longest Surfing Waves appeared first on MyWaveFinder.

Summary

Here is a good one for the most adventurous surfer out there. If you are into surfing in empty line-ups with countless amount of seals and dolphins while discovering a friendly culture, Namibia could be a good option for you.

Apart from the few Skeleton Bay endless barrel videos that leaked the internet, Namibia remains a pretty untouched surfing destination. The cities still have a strong European influence but as soon as you escape them, you will find an endless coastline with huge surfing potential…and barely anyone out.

While Skeleton Bay is a very fickle and tricky spot that only works on large swells, you will find some consistent breaks near the Swakopmund area. For the rest, it is all still up to you to discover. Beginners will have a bit of a harder time here and would most definitely prefer learning with a surf school in South Africa.

Namibia is also home of the world’s oldest desert, the Namib. Safaris are offered and represent the opportunity of a lifetime to see some of the most amazing wildlife.

When to go

The best time to surf Namibia depends on what kind of conditions you are looking for. This part of the African coast is exposed to consistent groundswells throughout the year. For bigger waves, April to October is the best time to go while November to March will offer smaller waves with summer conditions.

Surf Camps in Namibia

The Salty Jackal is a great surfing hostel in Swakopmund, offering several Surf Camp packages. Surf Camps include accommodation, daily surfing lessons, surfing equipment and much more!

starts at US$556, including:

• All surf equipment included
• 2 hours daily surf lesson for 5 days
• Surf transport and ISA qualified surf coach / guide
• Beautiful garden with lawns and edible plants & herbs for delicious, healthy cooking
• Access to fitness equipment, table tennis, slackline, and balance board
• Hammocks and a comfy lounge with board games and books
• Booking service for activities and safaris
• 7 nights accommodation

Where to stay

A good place to stay on a surf trip to Namibia is Swakopmund, a coastal surf town which is surrounded by many surf spots.

Getting there

Some south-africans will simply drive up there on a good swell forecast but otherwise, your way in is flying to Windhoek or Swakopmund.

Safety/things to know

• Watch out for rips and currents
• Surfing Cape Cross is now forbidden to protect the seals. There are a few other spots nearby.

Surf spots in Namibia

Skeleton Bay

The world’s longest barreling wave is right here in Namibia. Skeleton Bay is a fickle and inconsistent surf spot that needs a powerful SW swell and favorable wind to starts working. When it does, it is nothing less than epic. 

• Wave direction : Left
• Bottom : Sand
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Guns

A solid left-hander that can hold powerful swells. More manageable than Skeleton Bay but still challenging when it gets big. Suited for intermediate to advanced surfers.

• Wave direction : Left
• Bottom : Sand and rocks
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Intermediate and advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Wreck

A more accessible beach and reef break near Swakopmund, offering both lefts and rights. Works best on high tide and is surfable for all skill levels.

• Wave direction : Right and left
• Bottom : Sand and rocks
• Best tide : High
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Mussels

A quieter left-hander that can produce fun waves with the right conditions. Works well on a mid to low tide and is suitable for most surfers.

• Wave direction : Left
• Bottom : Sand and rocks
• Best tide : Mid to low
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Pebbles

A rocky reef offering both rights and lefts. Can get quite punchy, especially on higher tides. More suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.

• Wave direction : Right and left
• Bottom : Rocks
• Best tide : High
• Skill level : Mid to high
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

The post Namibia appeared first on MyWaveFinder.