Hendaye is the refuge spot of the Basque coast: a long, sheltered bay that keeps delivering mellow beach peaks when overhead-plus swell shuts down everything north of the border. Best with medium-to-large NW swell, S wind offshore, and it works through all tides. Size range is knee to head-high on most days, but the bay only really fires when Hossegor and the rest of the coast are closing out at 6ft-plus. Beginners and intermediates dominate the lineup, and during storms or school holidays the crowd swells dramatically with surf-school groups, travelling van surfers, and local groms. Bottom: sand with rocks at the eastern edge. Season: Oct to Mar. Consistency: medium, swell-dependent. Water quality is generally clean but degrades noticeably after heavy rain due to estuary runoff at the river mouth, so check conditions before paddling out after a storm.
Localism is generally mellow and welcoming, but vocal moments do occur. Expect heavy crowds whenever the rest of the Basque coast maxes out. Surf schools are numerous and operate across the bay year-round. Drop-ins are frequent because the average skill level is lower than at nearby spots. Dawn patrol during French school holidays is your best chance at uncrowded peaks.
Drive along the seafront road and the bay unfolds in front of you with peaks visible along its length. Pay parking runs along the seafront and fills fast on busy days and in summer. Lifeguards present in season. Board and wetsuit hire is available directly on the beach. A skatepark sits just across the river in Irun if the surf is flat.
When Hendaye is working, the whole Basque coast is likely massive, so check surf forecasts before committing to the drive north. Guéthary and the reefs around it offer more powerful options for experienced surfers when swell size is manageable. Les Deux Jumeaux at the eastern edge of the bay occasionally produces a groomed right for more patient, experienced surfers when swell and reef align.
Forecast by Windy.app
