Water sports are a great excuse to visit some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and resorts and if you are into kite surfing or board surfing there are plenty of great destinations just waiting for you.
Here are just a few for you to add to your list.
El Médano, Tenerife
This is just a few minutes’ drive from the island’s airport. El Médano is considered to be a paradise for kite surfing. The best time to visit is in summer when the wind is stronger and more frequent and it is recommended that you leave big kites at home with most enthusiasts here opting for a 7m kite or something smaller. Try El Médano Bay itself, particularly if you are a beginner and want to learn as there are schools right next to the beach. Alternatively you can opt for Cabezo, but this is considered to be better for the more experienced surfer.
Cabarete, Dominican Republic
On the north coast of the Dominican Republic is Cabarete. Surfers come here for the relaxed atmosphere and again, the best time of the year to visit is the summer. There is even a beach here called ‘Kite Beach’! A trip to the Caribbean for kite or board surfing might sound like a huge expense, but there is accommodation here to suit any budget and there are also plenty of cheap eateries around.
Red Sea, Egypt
There are a number of locations in the Red Sea where you can go kite surfing. You can try Dahab where there is more than 300 days of wind in the year so you can pick and choose when you visit. The area is a very laid-back one, or you can opt for Moon Beach. This is a resort and the management here can arrange surfing trips for you.
Portugal
There are a number of places in Portugal where the surfing is great. Much of the coastline picks up swells from the north, west and south so there are good surfing conditions for much of the year. In the winter some areas can see swells of up to 15ft. In the summer some places have surf of up to 5ft. Why not try the area around Peniche? Alternatives can include Supertubos, Coxos and Pedra Blanca.
Oahu, Hawaii
Oahu is widely considered to be the best place in the US for surfing. For a long time this has been a popular destination with both amateurs and professionals. Surfers come here looking to ride on ‘Pipeline’ the largest of the waves and because it is considered to be the home of surfing.
Bundoran Beach, County Donegal, Ireland
Seasoned surfers will not be put off by the cold here. Bundoran Beach is just a few hours away from Dublin and the Atlantic waves are some of the best in Europe. The average wave is around 10ft here but much bigger waves have been recorded. This is a great spot for surfers on a tight budget as plenty of low-cost accommodation can be found here.