A trip to some of the best surfing beaches in the world

It seems like anyone who has gotten the hang of surfing never tires of searching for the perfect wave.  There will be plenty of days when getting your fill of local beaches will do the job, but great memories in the water are made at legendary surf spots.  For this reason, when planning a vacation, surfers will plan to go where the waves are known to be amazing.  Here are five spots around the world known to be the best for surfing.

The sleepy little village of Santa Catalina is nestled in central-western Panama, far from the capital and several hours to the east of the western province of Chiriquí.  Though this area is one of the country’s most secluded regions, there is nothing secret about Santa Catalina to the world’s top surfers.  The waves crashing on these Pacific shores are known to be among the best in Central America and the world at large.

Taking a look at the black-sand, rocky beaches at Catalina may be intimidating for a beginning surfer.  Glancing out at the break, the twenty-foot plus swells might look inviting from the shore, but these waves are made for the most experienced surfers.  Waves line up very well in the best conditions, making for long rides which sometimes involve tubes at several points along the way.  While Panama’s summer ends in March, the biggest waves often follow at Santa Catalina between April and June, meaning the crowds will be small but the water packed with serious surfing enthusiasts.

To the west of Panama and south of Nicaragua lies Costa Rica, long since considered the ideal place for a surfing safari.  Costa Rica’s seemingly endless summer and warm-water temperatures make it a terrific destination for the surfer whenever time pops up on the schedule.

In Tamarindo, visitors will find one of the world’s best breaks, known to locals for decades and given a big jolt in popularity by The Endless Summer II.  Witches Rock may be the spot known to most surfers, but the waves consistently cranking at Little Hawaii live up to that beach’s name as well.  Like neighboring Panama, Costa Rica’s summer runs from January through March, but plenty of great waves will be left for travelers arriving from April through July.

Australia is known as one of the best countries in the world for surf, and Margaret River may very well be its most incredible spot.  About four hours from Perth by car, this Western Australia mecca has many spots where surfers will find empty beaches and beautifully formed waves.

One of the most appealing aspects of surfing at Margaret’s River is the variety of breaks found there.  More than thirty surf spots are documented, with possibly a dozen more being circulated by word-of-mouth.  The Main Break offers the most in terms of accommodations and restaurants, along with consistently large, well-shaped waves year-round.  Visiting nearby Cowaramup Bay will involve more of an excursion, but the waves – not to mention the local wineries – will make the trip off the main drag well worth the trouble.

Another beach which is rarely left off surfers’ top 5 lists is Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa.  Like Tamarindo got later on in the sequel, J-Bay had its moment in the spotlight in the original Endless Summer film and continues to shine.  J-Bay is located about 600 kilometers from Cape Town.

Surfers who make this trek will encounter perfectly-peeling rights from the point break –in some cases waves that can be ridden for a full kilometer.  The best season falls between May and September, with perhaps the best time coming when the pro tour stops by in July.  Spots called Boneyards and Impossibles speak for themselves, but Supertubes also is appropriately named, featuring some of the best barrels on the planet.

While surfers may debate whether or not Southern California is the best place on earth to surf, there is no denying its status as world capital of surf culture.  Of all the great breaks from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Malibu’s Surfrider Beach is the cream of the crop.  As for point breaks, Malibu has its own marvel of nature lining up right at the pier.  Aside from being one of the best surf spots, this community is also one of the most exclusive, so plan accordingly.