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 My Wave Finder.

Here is your ultimate guide to the world’s best left-hand waves.

Whether you are just getting into surfing and looking for a long mellow left wave or if you are an expert seeking that deep barrel ride, this countdown should help you decide what you next perfect surfing destination should be.

To find the best surfing destiation for you,  try our WaveFinder search engine!

10. Mundaka, Spain

To kick off this countdown, here is a sweet left wave located on the north coast of Spain, just under 2 hours away from San Sebastian.

Mundaka is a dreamy point break with a few hollow sections allowing to either go straight down the line or stall in the pit for some cover, if desired. This wave is considered as one of the best surf spots in Europe and works best from low to mid tide. It is also, arguably, the best wave in Spain.

In our countdown, Mundaka is the best left-hand wave in all of Europe!

When to go: The best time to surf Mundaka, Spain is from October to April, during the Spanish winter which brings more swell, less crowds and colder conditions.

9. Pavones, Costa Rica

Pavones is the longest wave in Costa Rica and probably in all of Central America.

Located on the very southern tip of Costa Rica, next to the border with Panama, this wave works perfectly on a dominant southwesterly swell that wraps around the point peeling for ages.

Read our complete surfing guide to Pavones, Costa Rica

Unlike Tamarindo or Santa Teresa, Pavones is a bit of a pain to get to as it is very remote and underdeveloped. However, the trip will definitely be worth it with the reward of potentially catching the longest wave of your life.

When to go: Costa Rica is good all year round for surfing but the best season is from April to November when swells are more consistent and sizable. It also happens to be the rainy season in Central America.

Book a Surf Camp with Surf Expedition using Promo Code MYWAVEFINDER to save $50

8. Chicama, Peru

Chicama is known to be nothing less than the longest wave in the world. On a good day, you can surf this left for almost a mile and the locals even started using boats to take the surfers back to the take off zone instead of having to paddle all the way back. Located on the dry coastline of Peru, Chicama is pretty mellow and should suit a wide range of surfing levels.

Read our complete surfing guide to Chicama, Peru

When to go: The best time to surf Chicama is from April to October, during the austral winter months, for better chances of seeing a nice SSW swell peel onto the point.

7. Raglan, New Zealand

First featured in Endless Summer, Raglan quickly became New Zealand’s surfing capital as well as one of the best lefts on the planet. Manu Bay is the main point break in Raglan, followed by Whale Bay and Indicators. On an epic day, all three points will connect creating one of the world’s longest waves.

Read our complete surfing guide to Raglan, New Zealand

When to go: The best time to surf Raglan is from March to June with big consistent SW swells and lighter winds than what winter and spring would offer.

6. Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

One of Bali’s most iconic surf spot, Uluwatu is blessed with a unique set up both in and out of the water. First, to get to the wave, you must come down those stunning cliffs where bars, shops and restaurants are packed with surfers and visitors enjoying an after-surf Bintang or simply having a Balinese coffee watching the sunset.

Read our complete surfing guide to Bali, Indonesia

Then, the wave itself is a challenging left with a few barreling sections and about three different takeoff spots. On a good day, they will all connect into one long wall of water with the potential of catching the wave of your life.

When to go: The best time to surf Uluwatu, on Bali’s west coast is from April to September as the winds are favorable and swells are more consistent.

5. Desert Point, Lombok, Indonesia

Desert point is a very fast and challenging barreling wave. On a good swell, it is comparable to Fiji’s Cloudbreak in terms of speed and length. This one should strictly be kept for experts as the reef does not forgive. Being a direct neighbor to Bali, Lombok is easily accessible by air or ferry. You will experience a total different culture considering this island is mostly Islamic instead of Hindu.

The island of Lombok also remains much less crowded than Bali in terms of surfing population which is another great advantage of hopping over to this side for a surf trip.

When to go: The best time to surf in Lombok, Indonesia is from April to September when the swell becomes more consistent. It also happens to be the country’s dry season.

Read our complete surfing guide to Lombok, Indonesia

4. Skeleton Bay, Namibia

Hands down, the longest barrel in the world. Yes, when it works, Skeleton bay is indeed the longest barrel in the world and quite a tricky one to ride, too. Located off the Namibian coast, Skeleton bay is a very hollow wave (and heavy on large swells) breaking on a shallow sand bank. When conditions line up, you are almost guaranteed the ride of a lifetime.

However, the perfect conditions for this ride to happen are pretty fickle and tend to be quite rare. Also, its remote location make it very hard to just go to for a regular surf check. People go up from South Africa when the charts look awesome and this trip has to be a full commitment, nothing less.

When to go: The best time to surf Jeffrey’s Bay (JBay), South Africa is from June to September.

Read our complete surfing guide to Namibia

3. Cloudbreak, Fiji

Cloudbreak is a world class reef break located near the island of Tavarua, in Fiji. This very fast and hollow left is a perfect set up to get some of the longest tube rides in the world. However, such a wave definitely does not forgive and should only be kept for experts.

When to go: Although surfing is possible all year in Fiji, the best conditions are to be found from May to November.

Read our complete surfing guide to Fiji

2. Teahupo’o, French Polynesia

To many, this is the most picture-perfect and amazing spot in the world. Almost pulled from a fiction movie.

Teahupo’o is an incredibly hollow and powerful wave that breaks right on top of a shallow and very sharp reef giving place to the best barrel you will ever see. To surf it, you can paddle out for about 15 minutes. However, if you wanna see it or take a picture of a surfer getting spat out of the hole, you will need to hire a boat as the spot is quite far from shore.

The whole scenery is absolutely unreal with crystal clear water and an amazing coastline defined by mountains and palm trees.

When to go: The best time to surf Teahupo’o is from May to October for significantly more consistent and bigger waves than the rest of the year.

Read our complete surfing guide to Tahiti, French Polynesia

1. Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii

Pipeline is arguably the world’s best wave and also the most popular surf spot.

Located on the North Shore of Oahu, this A-frame reef break is known to offer some of the best barrels and is also hosting the World Surf League on their final leg of the world championship. This wave should also be attacked by experts only as it remains the world’s deadliest spot.

Its proximity to the beach also makes Pipeline one of the best wave to simply watch from shore and on a big winter swell you will sometimes feel the beach shaking on a big set.

When to go: The best time to surf Pipeline and the whole north shore of Oahu is from November to April, during the Hawaiian winter season.

Read our complete surfing guide to Oahu, Hawaii

The post World’s 10 Best Left-Hand Waves appeared first on My Wave Finder.

• Summary

• Best time to Surf Raglan

• Where to stay in Raglan

• Getting to Raglan

• Safety/Things to know

• Surf spots

Summary

Raglan is widely considered the best surf town in New Zealand, and for good reason. First made famous by the cult surf film Endless Summer in 1966, Manu Bay put Raglan on the global surf map with its impossibly long, peeling left-handers. Nestled on the west coast of the North Island, just two hours from Auckland, this laid-back coastal town is a surfer’s paradise.

With a strong surf culture, vibrant community, and world-class waves, surfing in Raglan is an experience every surfer should have on their bucket list.

Why Surf in Raglan?

As soon as you roll into town via the winding roads of Waikato, it’s obvious what Raglan is all about surfing, nature, and a relaxed lifestyle. Surf shops, cafés, and food joints line the main street, and the ocean sets the rhythm of daily life.

Whether you’re chasing long point breaks or mellow beginner waves, Raglan has it all. The town is surrounded by incredible surf spots like Ngarunui Beach (for beginners) and Manu Bay or Whale Bay (for experienced surfers).

Manu Bay is the main show in town!

Manu Bay is Raglan’s famous surf spot and an absolute goofy footer’s paradise. This rocky point break is consistently fed by south westerly ground swells throughout the year and when conditions are favorable, you might just catch the longest wave of your life right here. On a small day, beginners can try to catch a few waves at Manu Bay but what makes it tricky is getting in and out without hitting you or your board on the rocks. Timing is key. 

Throughout the years, New Zealand became a backpackers’ top destination because of its amazing landscapes and the possibility of easily getting a working holiday visa that will allow you to stay in the country for up to 2 years! If such is your desire, Raglan could very well be a good place to settle, work and surf for a while!

When to surf Raglan

Surfing in Raglan, New Zealand is good all year round. However, the best conditions are offered from March to June with lighter winds, less crowds and swell picking up into winter. 

December is when the town really comes to life for summer. Waves are smaller and more crowded during that period as well.

Where to stay in Raglan

Browse our interactive map to find the best place to stay in Raglan!

Best hotels and resorts in Raglan:

Low budget : Raglan Backpackers is located in the heart of Raglan with a waterfront property.

Best value : Raglan Sunset Motel for a great place to stay, well located and comfortable.

Getting to Raglan

Raglan is located about 2 hours south of Auckland and 45 minutes from Hamilton. You can get there by bus, from Hamilton, or by renting a car and driving to the coast.

Safety/things to know

• Respect the locals at all time.
• Look out for rocks when tide gets low.
• Winds are pretty strong from April to November.
• The best way out is to jump off the rocks right at the peak. Be very careful when doing so as you only get one chance. 

Surf spots in Raglan

Ngarunui beach

The main beach break and the best surf spot for beginners in Raglan. Most of the surf is located right in front of the lifeguard tower and the car park. Works on all tides.

• Wave direction : Right
• Bottom : Reef
• Best tide : High
• Skill level : Advanced
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : NE

Manu bay

Manu Bay is Raglan’s most famous surf spot. An extremely long left-hander breaking over rocks that peels nice and slow. On low tide, Manu Bay can get a bit hollow and barrels will be found on a good swell. The higher tide will make the wave a bit more chunky and will require the surfers to manage their speed carefully by staying in the pocket on few occasions. Paddling out can be done from the point which requires a jump off the rocks or from the boat ramp which is easier but will take longer.

• Wave direction : Left
• Bottom : Rocks
• Best tide : Any
• Skill level : Any
• Optimal swell direction : SW
• Optimal wind direction : E

Whale bay

Whale Bay is next up the point after Manu Bay and is a bit trickier than Raglan’s famous spot. The takeoff zone is more critical and hollow while the wave itself is faster. Should be kept for advanced surfers.

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

Indicators

After Whale Bay comes Indicators, the first break in the whole bay. On an epic day, Indicators connects all the way to Manu Bay which is absolutely rare as on most occasions, all three spots break individually. 

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

Ruapuke beach

It will take you just under 30 minutes on a dirt road to get to Ruapuke, a beautiful and secluded beach that usually picks up the SW swell better than Raglan. If waves are too small in town, head to Ruapuke where they should be a few feet bigger. The setup is a regular beach break with a little point break on the right.

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

The post Raglan, New Zealand appeared first on My Wave Finder.