The 25 best beginner surf spots on earth for 2025

Girls Who Can’t Surf Good is a global community, and so are their invaluable surf recommendations.

Our shortlist of the best beginner surf spots is based on personal recommendations made by the Girls Who Can’t Surf Good in 2024 and 2025. We’ve weighted, tiered, and fact-checked these recommendations to bring you the most trusted beginner surf breaks. ✅

Here are the best beginner-friendly surf breaks across the globe that you may want to explore in 2025. We’re kicking off our journey in Central America and traveling west.

🇨🇷Costa Rica: So many surf spots, so little time

🏄🏽‍♀️🌿 Dominicalito
Mellower waves compared to nearby Dominical. Smaller crowds. Good surf camps and coaches available. Go in December – April.

🏄🏽‍♀️🌞 Santa Teresa
Sandy beach. Laid-back surf town with yoga and nightlife. Cleaner and smaller waves can be found November – April.

🏄🏽‍♀️🌴 Samara
Less crowded and less competition than Tamarindo. Slow and rolling, easy-to-catch waves. The reef offshore breaks up big waves, keeping the inside surf small and manageable. November – April is dry season with smaller, clean waves.

🏄🏽‍♀️🏞️ Nosara
Long, gentle beach break. Works at all tides. Aim for November to April for the best conditions.

🏄🏽‍♀️🍽️ Tamarindo
Perfect for your first surf trip. Plenty of surf schools, rental shops, restaurants, and amenities. Dry season offers the friendliest waves from December – April.

🇳🇮 Nicaragua: The off-shore dream

🏄🏽‍♀️🤝 San Juan Del Sur
Two for the price of one! Remanso Beach offers super forgiving waves, while Playa Hermosa is great for learning and improving. Best waves from November – April.

🏄🏽‍♀️🏝️ Popoyo
Small and slow. Easy paddle out on both sides of the break. Surf camps and lessons available. Go in November – April for beginner-friendly conditions.

🇲🇽Mexico: Hidden surf gems with fewer crowds

🏄🏽‍♀️🧡 La Saladita
Super long, slow left-hand wave that is great for beginners and longboarders. Soft takeoff, easy to practice standing up and riding waves. More peaceful than Sayulita. Visit March – October for mellow summer waves.

🏄🏽‍♀️🤠 Sayulita
Lively surf town with lessons, rentals, and a cool community. Lots of beginner-friendly beach breaks. Best time to go: November – May.

🐻California: The ultimate surf playground

🏄🏽‍♀️🏖️ Coronado Beach, San Diego
Best beginner-friendly surf spot in San Diego. Wide beach with multiple peaks. Less crowded than other SD spots. Sandy bottom, and pretty consistent waves year-round. Smaller waves in March – September.

🌸Hawai’i: The birthplace of modern surfing

🏄🏽‍♀️🌺 Waikiki, Oahu
It’s touristy. It’s crowded. It’s the best beginner surf break in the world. The best wave for practicing pop-ups. The longest ride you may have—30 seconds! The easiest place to take your first surf lesson. Good all-year round, but aim for May-September for the best beginner conditions.

🇦🇺Australia: The land of endless waves

🏄🏽‍♀️🌿 Mollymook, New South Wales
Two-mile stretch beach. Less crowded than Byron Bay. Nice, sandy bottom for gentle wipeouts. Surf schools available. Stick to South Mollymook for the best beginner waves.

🏄🏽‍♀️🌍 Scott’s Head, New South Wales
Great for learning to ride green waves. Long, mellow right-hand waves. Protected from large swells, keeping waves manageable. Sandy bottom with some rocks, but best surf is at mid to high tide.

🏄🏽‍♀️🏞️ Turners Beach, New South Wales
Located in the chilled-out surf town of Yamba. Soft, rolling waves with a sandy bottom. Close to town with surf schools available. Surf all-year round (best in summer & autumn).

🏄🏽‍♀️🌊 Byron Bay, New South Wales
Famous but crowded. Clarkes Beach is best absolute beginners. Sandy bottom with gentle rollers (slow rolling waves). Plenty of surf schools, but expect company in the lineup. Best in small swells with light winds.

🏄🏽‍♀️🌴 Noosa, Queensland
Long, peeling right-handers. Awesome break = crowded. Surf early (sunrise sessions are quieter). Main Beach is best for absolute beginners, sandy bottom, right in town. First Point – best for learning to ride green waves, long & soft right-handers (the surfer rides the wave to her right), but can be crowded.

🇵🇭Siargao Island, Philippines: Untapped surfing paradise

🏄🏽‍♀️🐴 Jacking Horse
You might have heard of Cloud 9. Jacking Horse is a safer bet for beginners. Lovely rolling waves. Check it out September – May for smaller, more manageable waves.

🇱🇮Bali, Indonesia: Where spiritual vibes meet the best waves

🏄🏽‍♀️🌴 Batu Bolong (Canggu)
Very slow, mellow wave for beginners and longboarders. Multiple peaks make it easy to find a less crowded spot. Great surf town vibes. Travel April – October.

🏄🏽‍♀️🏖️ Kuta Beach
Long, soft beach break waves. Plenty of schools & board rentals. Dry season and smaller waves can be found April – October.

🇱🇰Sri Lanka: The beginner surf haven

🏄🏽‍♀️🌿 Weligama
Soft sand bottom. Long beach break. Buckets of surf schools and camps. Dry season that offers clean waves is in November – April.

🇸🇳Senegal: West Africa’s hidden surfing gem

🏄🏽‍♀️🏖️ Plage de Yoff
No reef, no rocks, with gentle beach break waves. Works year-round, but best for beginners in smaller swell seasons. That’s October – April, great for learning.

🇲🇦Morocco: The land of endless right-handers

🏄🏽‍♀️🏖️ Taghazout
Soft beach break perfect for first-timers. Close to Taghazout town with surf schools and rentals. Best time to go: October – April.

🏄🏽‍♀️🌊 Imsouane
The longest wave in Morocco, ideal for beginners and longboarders with a forgiving sandy bottom. Go in October to April.

🇵🇹Portugal: Home to the best break in Europe

🏄🏽‍♀️🌿 Baleal Beach
Rolling waves and a sandy bottom near famous Peniche. Multiple peaks let beginners practice without interference. Aim for March to October.

🍊Florida: The East Coast’s surfing capital

🏄🏽‍♀️🌴 Cocoa Beach
Small, mellow waves. Plenty of surf schools and rentals. Strong surf community because of Kelly Slater. Consistent surf all year round. March – August work best for beginners.