We’ve been to a few places now—from Mexico to Fiji, Canada to Indonesia, New Zealand to Panama. There are lots of places we’ve surfed along the way, so I want to go through my top five surf destinations we’ve found while sailing!
Now, these aren’t undiscovered breaks (although you may not have heard of some); they are just the best waves we’ve found while sailing around the world so far.
Related:
Sailing to Fiji: Surfing Cloudbreak, Restaurants, and More from Your Boat
Surfing Etiquette 101: Respecting Local Breaks While Traveling
1. Bocas del Toro, Panama
I have to start here. It’s a place we spent months surfing and thoroughly enjoyed, yet it’s somehow still slightly unknown.
Bocas is located at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, right where you wouldn’t expect there to be waves. We sailed there for the first time after transiting the Panama Canal and absolutely loved it!
There’s zero wind most days and almost always a surfable swell. There are beginner breaks all the way up to pro-level waves, and it was just epic. We surfed for a whole month straight without missing a day!
On land, there’s a really cool Central American/Caribbean vibe. The locals are amazingly friendly, the food is awesome, and all you need is a boat and a bike.
You can take a taxi boat out to the waves for $1-2 USD (or take the dinghy if you’re on a boat like us). There’s a main point break that’s a left-hander, and inside that, there’s a beginner’s A-frame break. There are also two beach breaks and an intermediate A-frame reef break, all of which are pretty friendly bottom-wise, with not too much coral. We surfed all of them while we were there, and it was awesome.
We went up to Canada, and on our way back down, we made sure to stop here again before heading back to the Pacific. It’s just such an awesome place, and we didn’t want to miss out!
So that’s number one – add it to your surf trip bucket list.
2. Moorea, French Polynesia
I know everyone talks about Teahupo’o and how gnarly and awesome it is—and it deserves it. But just across the channel on the beautiful neighboring island of Moorea, there are uncrowded, barreling, rippable, and super fun waves that are often missed.
We anchored in a place called Haapiti, and it was next level! We’d surf the left-hand reef break there, then go hike the mountains and enjoy the fresh air and views of the reef. We’d then head back down for a sunset session—dreamy!
Also, it’s French, so the food was amazing—tuna, brie, salami, and baguettes. I mean, what more could you want?
If you like beautiful mountains, pristine reefs, French food, and amazing waves, then Moorea is for you!
3. Fiji
Yes, Fiji is kind of a given, but seriously, it deserves to be a dream surf destination! There are literally SIX world-class breaks all within a 10-minute boat ride of each other!
Also, the people are some of the nicest in the world, and you can stay on the islands where the waves break, which means you can paddle straight out. Or you can stay slightly more removed at Musket Cove, where we anchored when we surfed the breaks.
The waves range from beginner to pro, and not all of them are as death-defying as Cloudbreak—but it’s still there for those with enough guts to get after it.
Swimming Pools is probably my favourite (even though it’s a right! I’m goofy 😉). It’s super friendly and best when it’s around shoulder-high, but then gets even more awesome when it’s head-high or over, as it sucks below sea level and can potentially reward you with a barrel… or just an epic ride holding on for dear life. The other side of the break (when it’s smaller) is really chilled and is a favourite wave for beginners.
Image: not Swimming Pools
I won’t go into detail about the breaks here, instead, go check out this blog post: Sailing to Fiji: Surfing Cloudbreak, Restaurants, and More from Your Boat
So yeah, Fiji deserves to be on your bucket list. It is just as amazing as it sounds—actually, it’s likely even better.
4. Mentawais, Indonesia
Fly into Medan or Padang, then take a couple-hour ferry ride over to the islands, grab your board, and get a taxi boat (or drive yourself) out to the break. Finally, breathe a sigh of relief that you’ve made the journey all the way to the Mentawais.
Yep, the Ments are definitely not for the “easy is good” type of surfers. No, you put in the effort to get there because it is so worth it!
I could go on all day about different breaks in the Ments, but my favourites are Telescopes and Kandui, both lefts that I really enjoyed, though that’s only two of many. They barrel, there’s potential for airs, and the walls are super rippable. Honestly, this is one of my favourite surf destinations I’ve visited so far—it could be my number one, actually.
Oh, also, there are right-handers too, for all those regular-footers out there.
On land, you’ll find Indonesian takeaways and the locals going about life. You’ll hear the prayer call every day, usually early in the morning (which can get kind of annoying if you’re not used to it).
As for places to stay, there are surf camps, surf resorts, and surf charters. The charters usually know the best break for the day, and it’s one of the coolest options. Often, we’d be out surfing, and anchored right next to the break would be two or three charter boats, dropping the crew in the water and filming from the deck—definitely a sweet setup!
For an epic surf experience in the Mentawais, check out Kandui Villas – it’s one of the best surf resorts in the region, with access to some of the world’s best waves. We got to go for a walk on the island and it truly is amazing!
It’s also next level if your on your own vessel, you can anchor wherever you want and surf as many breaks as you can find!
The waves? Oh, so epic.
I think that’s enough said!
If you’re adventurous and keen on an epic surf trip, go to the Mentawais!
5. Maldives
This is last but definitely not least. You may have heard about the Maldives—clear water, amazing diving, mind-blowing sunsets, and surf that’s hard to beat. All of that is true, and there’s more!
There are so many atolls and islands, which means even more breaks! Almost all of the breaks in the Maldives are reef, with waves wrapping around the end of an island or pass. They’re less heavy than in other parts of the world, making them more beginner-friendly.
Most of the waves produce world-class barrels on their day, and when the swell is smaller, it’s good for beginners too, making it an all-around destination.
Onshore, you’ll mostly find resorts or islands where the locals live. The culture is unique, and it’s only recently that tourists have been allowed to stay on local islands. Now, there are a few budget-friendly surf camp setups, but resorts are still the most common option. Surf charter boats also go to the more remote southern atolls, where there are even more breaks.
Oh, and there are even a few private waves! Some resorts own the rights to breaks in their territory, meaning you can score uncrowded waves even in peak season… but only if your staying there.
So yes, the Maldives is beautiful, the waves are sweet, and it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed.
Final Thoughts
There’s my list, in no particular order, of the top five surf destinations we’ve found while sailing. But the key is the “so far”—we’re still going, and I can’t wait to see what other spots we find along the way.
For more surf travel inspiration and tips, check out The Inertia – a great resource for surf culture, travel guides, and surf stories. Also, for forecasting, I like to use Windy and Surfline
I hope you enjoyed this post! I’d love to know if there are any spots you would recommend. What breaks would be in your top five? Let me know!