Let’s go on an Endless Summer adventure around the world. Of course, we need to stay on a budget so that we never have to go back home. Quit your job, sell your possessions and buy a one-way ticket. To know exactly where to go, we take a look at the best cheap surf destinations you need to visit on the trip of your dreams.
1. El Salvador
El Salvador is both incredibly cheap and has a bunch of world-class waves, as well as plenty of opportunities for improving surfers.
It is the most bang for your buck, surf-wise. El Salvador is top of the list of cheap surf destinations.
Price of a room in a surf house
US$ 30 per night for a private room or US$ 15 for a bunk bed. If you shop around and are frugal, you can find even cheaper options.
Price of a local meal
You can get full for a few dollars.
When to go
If you are an experienced surfer looking for the biggest waves, April through to October is the optimal swell window, with April being the sweet spot.
If you are a beginner or intermediate November through March, the weather is nice, and the swell is chest-high.
Where to start
La Libertad is the surf mecca where you can get to know the scene before renting a cheap car and hitting the road to explore the 307 km long coastline.
Why you should visit El Salvador when surfing on a budget
El Salvador has the reputation of being a bit rough. Years of civil war and a corruption problem can do that to a nation. But that’s why you need to get on a plane there, the prices are low and since it is not on top of the list for most surfers, you will have an easier time finding uncrowded waves.
In the last few years, El Salvador has cleaned up their act and achieved some notoriety by becoming a cryptocurrency hotspot. Nowadays, El Salvador is safe (unless you are an unusually stupid gringo.)
Things to plan for and take into consideration
The rainy season starts in May, so if you go wave hunting in the summer, bring rain clothes and be prepared for flooded roads.
A lot of the breaks are cobblestone, so bring a pair of well-fitting reef boots.
El Tunko is on the gringo trail, so that’s busy, but it is cheap to hire a local guide that can take you around and show you the best secret spots.
2. Ecuador
Ecuador is a tropical picture-perfect surf paradise with warm turquoise water and cheap local beer. Both food and accommodation are more affordable than in other South American countries
Price of a room in a surf house
15 for a shared room. 30 for a private
Price of a local meal
5 euros.
When to go
May to November can suffer from some offshore winds, so you might have to surf early in the morning. Except for this Ecuador is an all-year-around surf destination, which is what makes it so brilliant.
Where to start
Montanita is the surf capital of Ecuador. Start there and make your way along the coast, chasing the waves.
Why you should visit Ecuador when surfing on a budget
Ecuador is safe and laidback, with plenty of waves rolling in.
It is cheaper than many other South American countries, especially the food and accommodation is cheap. Bring your own surfboard and a bit of gear.
With both a west and north-west-facing side and a south-west-facing side, Ecuador has a long surf season. The best months to visit are November to March.
Beginner friendly
Another reason why you should make a stop in Ecuador is that it has great breaks for both beginners and advanced surfers.
It is also relatively small, so you will not burn a fortune on airfare. You can take the local bus between the different surf towns.
Things to plan for and take into consideration
Summer is very hot, watch out for sunstroke. Winter, on the other hand, is surprisingly cold for a tropical country, bring a sweater for that ocean mist.
3. Morocco
The unique culture makes Morocco a must-stop on our surf odyssey around the world. Morocco has beautiful buildings, interesting food and powerful surf breaks. It is best to visit from October until April since the summer can get very warm and the size of the swell is often too small. But in the winter, Morocco is super consistent, and you get used to waking up to the sound of pumping waves.
Price of a room in a surf house
You can find a private room for around 25 euros, if you spend a bit more you get nice features such as an ocean view and colorful stylish decorations.
Price of a local meal
Have a tagine for 5 euros.
When to go
October to April
If you are a complete beginner, the summer can work as well.
Where to start
Taghazout is the surf mecca of Morocco and it also has some of the best breaks. Don’t miss Anchor point! It is a must for anyone visiting Morocco. The surf scene is vibrant with lots of fun travelers enjoying the beauty of Morocco.
What makes Morocco great
Food and accommodation are very affordable, and as a general rule very nicely done. Moroccan people take pride in their cooking and in their decoration skills. The surf is among the most consistent, if anything it can be a bit too big in the wintertime.
Immosoena is great to visit when the swell hits that sweet coast Morocco boast.
Lots of things to explore
There are many places where you need to be a bit of an explorer to visit. Explore the areas around Safi, citi kakua, and citi ifni.
Things to plan for and take into consideration
To access more remote surf breaks you need to rent a car. Watch out for tricky car rental companies and cops wanting brides. Moroccan people are super nice, they are open and friendly and have a great sense of humor. But you need a bit of skin on your nose to deal with walking around in the streets in bigger cities.
Also, not everyone speaks English, the official languages are Arabic and French.
Another aspect is that since Morocco is muslin, alcohol is not widely available. There are some liquor stores and nightclubs close to Taghazout.
4. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped paradise Island in the Indian Ocean. It was my home for three years and I loved every second of it. The water is a perfect warm temperature, and the waves are gently rolling in on beaches and reefs.
Many of the guest at our guesthouse in Portugal goes to Sri Lanka in the wintertime.
Price of a room in a surf house
30, but you can find cheaper accommodation depending on the season and where you go. Further away from the oceanfront, accommodation is much cheaper.
Price of a local meal
The local food cost only a couple of dollars, but there are also many nice restaurants with international food for 15-25. After all the surf you want to treat yourself to a pizza pretty often.
When to go
South Coast: November to April
West Coast: May to October
Where to start
Where you end up in Sri Lanka depends on the season since Sri Lanka has two very distinctive seasons. In the wintertime the south side with Hikkaduwa and Weligama have nice weather and calm pealing waves, in the summertime, Aragum Bay is the place to be.
What makes Sri Lanka great?
The palm trees, the tropical jungle, the turquoise water and the gentle, well-shaped waves all make Sri Lanka into a paradise.
The cost of living is truly affordable, which means you get some stunning accommodations and great meals every time you splurge.
Things to plan for and take into consideration
The political situation has been unstable for years, not so that you have to worry about your safety. Sri Lanka is still a very safe country. But there is always some form of building tension between different political fractions and different religious groups.
The surf in Sri Lanka is more suitable for beginners and intermediates. Experienced surfers have to wait for the swell to arrive. I lived there for a couple of years and it is not a destination I would recommend for a more skillful surfer. (Then I would go to The Maldives or Indonesia.)
5. Indonesia
When you are looking for your next cheap surf destination, skip Bali (overpriced anyway) and explore other parts of Indonesia.
Indonesia is a huge country.
Price of a surf house room
The more remotely you go, the cheaper it gets. You can find basic accommodation for just a couple of dollars. Indonesia is really the golden land for surfers looking to stay on budget. Here you get more waves for your money then anywhere else.
Price of a local meal
Eat at a local Warung for 2.
When to go
The best season is April-October. But there are also places in Indonesia that kick off during the winter. For example, the Banda Ache province and Sumba.
Where to start
For a low-budget Indonesian surf trip, I would start in Lombok. From there I would explore more remote places, such as West Java.
6. Brazil
Brazil is both fun and affordable with plenty of beautiful beaches. If you stick to the well-renowned surf places, it is also safe. Many of the most famous pro-surfers are Brazilian, so you should get on a plane and check out the waves that formed them.
Price of a surf house room
It all depends on where in Brazil you go, but you should be able to find something for 20.
Price of a local meal
8.
When to go:
Where to start:
Florianópolis is beatiful. Bahia is also worth a visit.
Things to plan for and take into consideration:
Brazil is a big country. So, you might have to decide on one region, or fly between the good surf spots.
7. Portugal
If you want to go to Europe, Portugal has both affordable accommodation and epic surf. It is not as cheap as the other countries on this list, but if you cook your own food and drink plenty of the cheap local beers you should be OK. The waves are free after all, and in Portugal there are plenty of them.
Price of a surf house room
In the summertime the prices peak,
Price of a local meal
Between 10-20.
When to go:
Autumn is the best time for advanced surfers. Summer is the best time for beginners. Spring is a little bit more inconsistent but can still be good.
Winter bring some huge swells, make sure you check out Nazaré. If you want to surf in winter, you can go south of Lisbon for smaller waves.
Where to start
Start in Ericeira, this beautiful village is all about surf. If you are learning to surf, I recommend Peniche. If you are looking for uncrowded waves, go North.
For warmer weather and mellow swell, you go to the south such as the Algarve.
Things to plan for and take into consideration
