Biarritz - Cote des Basques Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’m looking at a solid stretch ahead for Biarritz - Cote des Basques. This is a beginner-friendly beach and reef setup, exposed to the west-northwest, so it catches a lot of what the Atlantic throws at it. It’s been unusually warm in the water lately, running about 74°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice bonus.

We’ve got a bit of a wait for the real quality. The immediate days are a mixed bag.

The first standout is Thursday morning the 10th. We’ve got a clean 4ft swell from the northwest, period around 10 seconds, and a light offshore breeze from the east-southeast. The wave energy is moderate at 311, and with that wind, the faces are going to be lined up and tidy. It’s a good, honest start, but keep in mind the crowds here are often heavy.

There’s a real quiet spell through Friday and Saturday – small clean waves in the morning on the 11th and 12th, with glassy conditions and 2ft swell, but the energy is weak, under 100. Good for a longboard or a beginner’s session, nothing to get too excited about.

Then things get interesting. Sunday the 13th sees a jump in energy, with a 4ft northwest swell that has some real legs, a 13-second period. The combined energy hits 545, which is moderate but packing a punch. The wind is questionable, though, switching around to a light cross-onshore by the afternoon. Monday morning the 14th could be the sneaky winner – dead calm, glassy, with a 4ft, 11-second period northwest swell and 399 energy. That’s a window of peaky, clean waves if you can get out early before the wind turns.

Look, the absolute standout is Sunday the 20th. That morning is a beauty. We’ve got a 7ft northwest swell with a 9-second period coming in, and the combined energy is a strong 680. The wind is glassy, from the northeast at just 3 mph. That is a great, punchy swell that will be breaking clean on the inside banks. It’s getting into that intermediate to expert zone, but for a bigger day at Cote des Basques, that’s where the fun is. The afternoon gets too big, hitting 10ft, and the wind turns messy, so get your fill in the morning.

After that, the 21st and 22nd are simply too big for this spot. We’re talking 12ft swell with massive energy readings over 2262. That’s a washing machine for this stretch of coast. Only for the very experienced, and even then, it’s a tough paddle.

But hold on, Wednesday the 23rd morning is another standout. Glassy wind, a clean 7ft northwest swell with an 11-second period, and 1004 in combined energy. That’s an excellent window for experienced surfers who want some real power and shape. It’s a classic autumn groundswell.

And then, as a final treat, Thursday the 24th morning. It is dead calm, glassy. The swell is only 3ft from the northwest, but the period is a very long 17 seconds. That’s a true groundswell, 871 energy, and on this reef-sand setup, those long lines will stand up nicely. It’s a clean, easy day for a broader range of skill levels.

There are a couple of blank spells, but overall, this is a promising outlook. The second week is a bit more uncertain, but the morning windows on the 20th, 23rd, and 24th look like absolute crackers. The crowd factor at Cote des Basques is real, so get in early.

Rusty.

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