A sheltered beach break on the Cantabrian coast of northeast Spain, Laredo's Los Pinos peak offers a reliable refuge when the exposed beaches at Santander and Bilbao are blown out or maxed out. SW to NW swell in the 3-5ft range suits it best, with offshore winds from the south and mid to high tide keeping the banks clean. It's an all-levels wave in the right conditions, and the weekday crowd is light enough for intermediates to work on their surfing without much competition. Bottom: sand. Season: autumn through spring. Consistency: moderate, best as a backup option during large swells that shut down the more exposed breaks nearby. The Los Pinos end of the beach is the focal point of the lineup, so head there first and read the sandbanks before paddling out, as the best peak shifts depending on recent swell and tide movement.
Weekdays see a thin crowd and a relaxed atmosphere. Weekends attract more surfers and the lineup becomes noticeably busier, especially in summer and during clean swells. Nothing suggests heavy localism, but standard respect applies. Dawn patrol on weekends is the obvious call if you want uncrowded peaks.
Take the A-8 motorway from Bilbao or Santander and exit at Laredo. Drive roughly 2km along the beach road to reach the Los Pinos end. The town has basic amenities including food and accommodation. No hazards beyond standard beach break conditions.
When Laredo is flat or too small, the exposed beaches around Santander and Somo pick up more swell and are worth checking if conditions have calmed. Further west along the Cantabrian coast, spots near Castro Urdiales add another option when the swell window and wind align.
Forecast by Windy.app
