Europe Spain, Spain
The legendary rivermouth left of the Basque Country.
| Wave height | 4.9 ft (4-6 ft) |
| Swell period | 10 sec |
| Swell direction | 320° |
| Wind | S offshore 3.5 kt |
| Tide | mid / optimal |
| Surf score | 75 / 100 |
Mundaka peels along a sandbar at the mouth of the Oka Estuary on Spain's Bay of Biscay coast. When the bank and swell line up, it produces long, hollow lefts that have hosted WCT events. On the right day, the ideal swell window runs from WNW–NNW (290–330°); groundswell with periods around 12–18s gives it the most shape; the wave is comfortably workable up to roughly 12 ft on the face. Best winds are S or SE, with E or SW still rideable. The wave is highly tide-sensitive - a small change in tide height can switch it on or off. The sweet spot in our data sits between roughly 0.2 m and 1.3 m of tide height. It is a relatively fickle wave that only really lights up on the right combination of swell, wind, and tide. Expect cool water best surfed in a full wetsuit. Expect a packed, competitive lineup whenever it is on. Logistically, it is about 35 minutes from BIO airport. It rewards strong, confident surfers and is not the right place for a first session of the trip - paddle fitness and wave-reading both matter. Board-wise, locals lean on barrel board / step-up.
The best window is typically Sep–Apr, when swells from WNW–NNW (290–330°) are most consistent.
Mundaka can hold size up to about twelve feet on the face when winter Atlantic swells stack up against the rivermouth bank.
Not really - it suits advanced surfers and is not the place to learn.