Surf spot guide · Cantabria, Spain
Rarely crowded right-hander off the eastern end of a scenic Cantabrian bay, waking up on big NW winter swells.
High Waves
Large waves up to 2.2m expected at Islares. Peak conditions around 6:00 AM.
Exercise extreme caution when entering the water. Strong currents and large waves present. Warning valid until 9:00 PM.
Islares is a sand-bottom beachbreak at the eastern end of a wide Cantabrian bay, midway between Castro-Urdiales and Laredo. The main wave is a right-hander that peels on a solid NW or N swell, with a-frame peaks across the banks on good days. Faces are slopey and medium-paced rather than hollow, rewarding carving over barrel-hunting. Take-offs are manageable for intermediates reading shifting peaks. The break needs 1 to 1.5 metres to get moving and fires best at 1.5 to 2 metres with a SW offshore. Low to rising tide is the sweet spot; outgoing tide activates strong rip channels along the eastern rocks. The bay is picturesque and rarely crowded, with free parking above the beach and a campsite nearby. Estuarine runoff after heavy rain can dip water quality. Oriñon, a hollow left, breaks 800 metres west and pairs naturally on the same swell.
A right-hander rewarding carvers over barrel-hunters on Cantabria's widest bay.
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Rarely crowded year-round. The spot sits outside the main surf circuit and draws mostly local intermediates during winter swells. Even on the best days the peak count stays low.
Quiet Cantabrian beachbreak, uncrowded and scenic
Cantabria
Punchy, fast left at the western end of a picturesque Cantabrian bay, breaking off the river mouth at low tide.
Cantabria
Sheltered urban beachbreak in Castro Urdiales, a reliable fallback when bigger spots nearby are blown out or oversized.
Cantabria
Popular Cantabrian beachbreak in a wide circular bay, producing fast, punchy a-frame peaks that fire best on winter swells.
+9 MORE →Target the first two hours of incoming tide on a 1.5m-plus NW swell for the best right-hander shape
Paddle wide of the rip channel along the eastern rocks when entering and exiting
Avoid the water for 24 hours after heavy rain due to river runoff
Combine with Oriñon just 800m west for a hollow left option on the same swell
Free parking is available at the road above the beach
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
Road access with free car parking above the beach. Walk-in entry onto the sand. No lifeguard, restrooms, showers, surf school or surf shop at the break. Camping available nearby.
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