Mundaka
Basque Country, Spain
River waveExpert
Europe's greatest left-hand river-mouth barrel, a long, hollow, mechanical tube at the mouth of the Urdaibai Estuary that reels for up to 400 metres and has hosted WSL CT events for years.
Typical Conditions
The Surf Window
Swell Window
OptimalN (0°)
WindowNNW–ENE (330°–60°)
Size4-10ft
Wind
NE
Offshore
Tide
Low
LowMidHigh
Season
October–March
JFMAMJJASOND
The Wave
Type
Left
Bottom
Sand (river-mouth sandbar)
Shape
Long, perfect barrel, cylindrical, mechanical, and consistent on its day
Length
200–400m
Skill Level
- •Who it's for: Expert
- •Why: Fast, hollow barrel over a shifting sandbar, requires tube-riding skill and the ability to read a complex, tidal-dependent break.
Hazards
- •Shifting sandbars, the bank changes constantly
- •River outflow can create unexpected currents
- •Cold Bay of Biscay water
- •Highly competitive local crew
Local Tips
- •The swell, wind, tide, and river outflow all need to align, check local surf reports obsessively.
- •The estuary town of Mundaka is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; the surrounding scenery is spectacular.
Location
43.4081, -2.6940