Zarautz surf forecast
Zarautz has the longest beach in the Basque Country, a north-facing sandy stretch with many peaks that suit every level of surfer. It picks up swell from the west round to the north-east, and the cleanest days come with a south wind.
Zarautz surf forecast by the hour
The table shows wave height, swell, wind and tide hour by hour for Zarautz Beach. Forecasts like this are for open water near the shore, so the waves that break can be smaller at more sheltered spots.
Updated 08:58next run 13:40Open-Meteo wave and wind models
09:00–11:00 · offshore
Today 3 Nov
Marginal 08-12: short weak swell, waist-chest, cross-offshore SE.
Best window: 08:00–12:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 04:32
- High
- 11:11
- Low
- 17:27
- High
- 23:58
- Sunrise
- 07:46
- Sunset
- 17:57
Every hour, 05–21
Tomorrow 4 Nov
Worth it 08-12, clean knee-waist, glassy.
Best window: 08:00–12:00
Tide and daylight
- Low
- 05:50
- High
- 12:18
- Low
- 18:30
- Sunrise
- 07:47
- Sunset
- 17:57
Every hour, 05–21
Thursday 5 Nov
Go 09-11, clean knee-waist, offshore S.
Kiwi's best shot: 09:00–11:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 00:57
- Low
- 06:49
- High
- 13:14
- Low
- 19:19
- Sunrise
- 07:48
- Sunset
- 17:56
Every 3 hours
Friday 6 Nov
Worth it 08-12, clean knee-waist, glassy.
Best window: 08:00–12:00
Tide and daylight
- High
- 01:45
- Low
- 07:38
- High
- 14:02
- Low
- 20:02
- Sunrise
- 07:49
- Sunset
- 17:54
Every 3 hours
Forecast point: Zarautz (43.288, -2.170). Waves = estimated breaking height at the beach. Data: Open-Meteo wave and weather models (CC BY 4.0). Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information. Surf at your own risk.
Watch the wind direction first. A wind from the south blows offshore here and tidies the waves. Then check the tide, because the range is big: in early November the highs reached about 3.6 m and the lows dropped to about 0.3 m.
Surfing Zarautz: the beach and nearby spots
Zarautz is a coastal town in central Gipuzkoa, about 15 km west of San Sebastián. Its beach is about 2.5 to 2.8 km long, gives highly consistent surf and has many peaks, so you can usually find a wave that fits your level. Over the last few years it has become popular among surfers, and it is one of Spain's most popular surfing spots.
Zarautz Beach
Beach breakAll levelsThis is the main break, a long sandy beach that faces north and takes swell from the west to the north-east. It works best at mid tide with waves between about 0.8 and 2 m.
Many peaks spread along the sand, and the town is known as a good place to learn. Surf schools have been set up in the town, so expect lesson zones and crowds. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Orio
Nearby spotAbout 4 kmOrio sits about 4 km away and shows up in forecast lists as a nearby spot to compare when Zarautz looks messy. Check its own forecast before you drive over. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
Zurriola hondartza
Nearby spotAbout 16 kmZurriola is listed about 16 km away on forecast spot lists for the area. It is a handy backup to check on the same coast. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
Roca Puta
Nearby spotAbout 5 kmRoca Puta is another spot that forecast pages list close to Zarautz, about 5 km away. Our sources do not describe how it breaks, so look before you paddle out. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
What Zarautz needs to fire
These are the exact rules behind Kiwi's rating for this spot. Every hour of the forecast is scored on all four, then turned into a rating of 1 to 5 stars.
Swell
West to north-east swell
The beach faces north and is open to swell from about west round to north-east. North-west swell lines up well with this window.
Wind
South wind is offshore
A wind from the south blows offshore and keeps the faces clean. Northerly winds blow straight onshore and make the beach choppy.
Tide
Mid tide works best
Aim for the middle of the tide rather than the very top or bottom. The tidal range here is large, so conditions can change a lot within a few hours.
Size
0.8 to 2 m sweet spot
Waves of about 0.8 to 2 m give the best surf. Below about 0.4 m it is too small, and above about 3 m the beach gets too big.
Shortcut: a west to north swell of 0.8–2 m, a south wind and a mid tide is a good day at Zarautz.
The best months to surf Zarautz
We replayed Kiwi's rating on every day of the last year and counted how often Zarautz's best window reached 4 or 5 stars.
Sep–NovThe best season
September and October have the most good days, around 60–64%, and in September 87% of days are at least fair. The water is still about 22°C in September and falls to about 17°C by November.
Dec–MarBigger, colder winter swell
Typical wave height runs about 2–2.4 m, so the beach is often at the top of its range or past it. In January only about 23% of days are good, and the water is about 13.6°C, falling to about 12.9°C in February.
Apr–MaySolid spring sessions
April and May still have plenty of good days, around 52–57%. Waves ease to about 1–1.4 m and the water warms from about 15°C to 17°C.
Jun–AugSmall, warm and busy
Summer waves are small, around 0.8–1 m, and in July and August only 10–13% of days are good. That suits beginners, but the town fills up, growing from about 23,000 people to about 60,000.
Before you go
Crowds and surf schools
The main hazard here is crowding, and parts of the beach are set aside as surf school zones. Surf schools such as Zarautz and Pukas have been set up in the town.
Keep clear of lessons, pick a quieter peak along the long beach, and give beginners room. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Getting there
Zarautz sits on the A8 motorway, which links it to the rest of Spain.
The town has two railway stations, and Euskotren trains run to San Sebastián and Bilbao. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Water temperature and wetsuit
In February the water is coldest, about 12.9°C, so a 5/4 mm suit with boots is a good idea. Around December, at about 15.4°C, a 4/3 mm suit works for most people.
In spring and autumn, at about 15–19°C, a 3/2 to 4/3 mm suit is enough. In July and August the water is near 25°C, so a shorty or just boardshorts will do.
Daylight in autumn
In early November the sun rises at about 7:45 and sets at about 6 pm, so plan short sessions around the tide. Sources: es.surf-forecast.com
Surf culture
Zarautz is a stop on the World Surf League Qualifying Series. Many of Spain's champion surfers have lived here. Sources: en.wikipedia.org
After the surf
Food matters a lot in this town, and chef Karlos Arguiñano has a hotel and restaurant facing the beach.
Getaria, the next town to the west, is known for grilled fish and local white wine. Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
Where the numbers come from
The method
Kiwi takes Open-Meteo's wave and wind models (ECMWF WAM, Météo-France, NOAA GFS and Open-Meteo's best-match blend) at a point about 5 km off Zarautz. There is no buoy correction here yet: these are the models as they come.
Each hour is scored on the four rules above (swell, wind, tide, size). The stars are calibrated on a full year of data for Spain, so 4 stars at Zarautz is a genuinely good day by that country's standard.
What we can say
The season chart and the stars use the same rules, replayed on the archive: a month marked good was good by these rules, not by a surf report.
Without a buoy nearby, the size at the beach is our model's estimate, not a measurement.
Zarautz surf questions
Is Zarautz good for beginners?
Yes. Our forecast rates the beach as fine for all levels, and the town is known as a great place to learn, with several surf schools. The small summer waves of about 0.8–1 m are the gentlest.
When is the best time to surf Zarautz?
September and October are the best months, with good surf on about 60–64% of days. April and May are also strong.
How cold is the water in Zarautz in December?
The sea is about 15.4°C in December. A 4/3 mm wetsuit is a sensible choice.
What wind is offshore at Zarautz?
A wind from the south is offshore at Zarautz. North winds blow onshore and spoil the surf.
Is Zarautz crowded?
It often is, and surf school zones take up part of the beach. In summer the town grows to about 60,000 people.
Can I get to Zarautz by train?
Yes. Euskotren trains link Zarautz with San Sebastián and Bilbao, and the town has two stations.
Check today's waves at Zarautz
Open the hourly table, look for a south wind and a mid tide, and pick your window.