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Surf Spots in the Philippines

Kara Santos

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is blessed with beach breaks along both the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea, as well as reef breaks throughout the archipelago. For surfers, this means that there are numerous surf spots around the country to check out.

Though I’m not a good surfer by any means, I’ve had the chance to visit different surf spots in the country and watch pro surfers in action. Hopefully, this post will provide useful information for people who would like to try to learn to surf around the Philippines.

NOTE: This list is not extensive. These are just the most popular surf spots that I have personally been to and/or tried surfing or recommended by friends.

La Union

San Juan in La Union is considered the Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines, and is known for its consistent quality surf. Its beaches have waves suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers. There are lots of established resorts and restaurants in the area to fit any budget from family-style type establishments ideal for big groups.

Local and international surfers flock here to enjoy the waves and various surfing tournaments and competitions are held here throughout the year. The La Union Surfing Break launched in 2006 to expose surfing to the general public, is held annually during the semestral break (October), attracting lots of students from Manila, Baguio and other Northern Luzon cities.

Among the popular surf sites in the Philippines, La Union is one of the most accessible coming from Manila. You might want to time your visit during non peak-season to get the most of the surf though as it’s possible to crash into other surfers taking lessons. The accessibility from Manila, party vibe and atmosphere, and number of establishments and restaurants in the area make La Union a good beginner-friendly option for families and as a weekend barkada getaway.

Siargao

No surfing list in the Philippines would be complete without including Siargao. This island in Surigao del Norte is synonymous with surfing and is known as “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines” drawing attention from local and international surfers.

“Cloud 9”, a right-breaking reef wave with a thick, hollow tube is one of the best known surfing waves in the country. This is where domestic and international surfing competitions are held every September by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.

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Palawan

One of the newly discovered surfing spots in the Philippines, Nagtabon Beach offers a great destination for those looking for something new to do in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. This peaceful palm-lined white sandy beach lapped by clear turquoise waters is ideal for beach-trippers and surfers.

Located just 31 kilometers away or less than an hour from downtown Puerto Princesa, Nagtabon Beach is a mile-long cove facing the West Philippine Sea. Once a secret getaway frequented only by locals, the site is becoming more popular to tourists, but still remains relatively remote and uncrowded. Nagtabon Beach offers a great beach getaway and surf spot for locals and adventurous tourists based in Palawan.

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READ MORE: Nagtabon Beach, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

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Baler

Baler is a quaint coastal town in the province of Aurora bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the East. Fun Fact: Baler is actually the birthplace of Philippine surfing. After filming the 1979 War Film “Apocalypse Now,” production crew members left their surfboards with locals and the Philippine Surf Culture was born!

Sabang Beach in Baler has a long stretch of sandy shoreline and a soft and shallow oceanbed, making it an ideal place for those who want to learn to surf for the first time. There are numerous surf shops located along Sabang Beach’s beachfront hotels and inns including Charlie Does, named after the memorable line “Charlie don’t surf” in the film Apocalypse Now.

If you want bigger waves, you’ll need to rent a motorized banca to reach different surfing spots like Cemento Reef, Charlie’s Point and Lindy’s point or other areas in the province of Aurora (not usually recommended for beginners).

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READ MORE: Travel Guide: Baler, Aurora

Bagasbas

Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte has risen in popularity as a surfing and kiteboarding spot. Several summer surfing festivals and clinics have been held here and local surfers recommend Bagasbas beach for beginners who want to learn how to surf.

Bagasbas Beach has fine gray sand with a long coastline that stretches over two kilometers, making it a popular hangout for locals during weekends. The waves are consistent near the coast throughout the whole year, and the sea-bed is shallow and sandy so it doesn’t hurt when you wipeout, making it ideal for surfing newbies. Intermediate and expert surfers can head a little further away from the shore where the waves pose a bit more of a challenge.

Its accessibility by land travel from Manila makes Bagasbas an affordable option for local tourists who don’t want to travel by air or who want to bring their own boards. There are lots of establishments right in front of the promenade of Bagasbas Beach that offer surfing lessons and surfboards for rent.

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Mati, Davao Oriental

For those based in mainland Mindanao, Mati the surfer town and the capital of the province of Davao Oriental, located on the south-eastern side of Mindanao is the top surfing spot. Dahican is one of the most popular destinations in Mati with its 2-kilometer pure, fine white sand shore that is a prime prime destination for surfers and skimboarders.

Pujada Bay boasts thousands of species of sea life and has been considered as among the richest bays in Southeast Asia. As such, locals take measures to preserve the diversity of marine life, protecting animals like lobsters, sea cows (locally known as Dugong), bottlenose dolphins, hammerhead sharks, manta rays and different kinds of turtles.

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Pagudpud

With its powdery white sand coast, turquoise water and good swells, Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte is easily one of the most picturesque surfing spots I’ve been to in the Philippines. The raw, rugged beauty of the place and the general lack of people crowding the beach makes this a great surfing destination.

According to local surfers, the swells bring waves almost all-year around in some areas including Blue Lagoon, Maira-ira point and Saud Beach. Pro surfers may want to time their trip during the southeast monsoon from July-September, when the waves are more spectacular.

Pagudpud is on the the northernmost tip of Luzon and because of its distance from Manila, it remains practically a virgin surf destination, with just a few beach resorts nearby. I hope it remains that way.

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Baras, Catanduanes

Known as the home of “Majestic Waves” or simply majestics, idyllic Puraran Beach Resort in Baras, Catanduanes is a surfing spot for those who want to ride the waves in a laid-back setting.

The secluded area in Catanduanes facing the Pacific Ocean has creamy golden sand, clear waves, and colorful coral reefs. The long barrel waves in Puraran are said to be comparable in power and quality of those in Hawaii. Therefore, this spot is recommended only for pro-surfers.

Catanduanes celebrates a provincial festival every October centered on the international and national Governor’s Surfing Cup, which attracts surfers around the globe to test their water skills on these powerful waves. First-time surfers can head instead to the tamer Tilod Beach for their initiation to the board sport. It’s best to contact the local tourism office for your surf lessons here. The seabed here was a bit rocky compared to some of the other surfing spots I’ve tried though.

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Zambales

There are three areas in Zambales identified as surf spots: San Antonio, San Narciso and San Felipe. I’ve only been to two of these. Zambales is relatively near Manila, but does not get as crowded as other surf spots, which makes this an ideal place for day or weekend trips if you want to get some quality surfing lessons.

According to Surfing in the Philippines, Pundaquit in San Antonio, Zambales has good surf action since it is bordered to the west by the South China Sea and thus receives swells from the west and north quadrants. They add that the coastline offers surfers many possible surfing breaks and is renowned for year-round consistent swell and diversity of breaks. The beach has waves that can cater to all surf abilities, from “first-time surfers to the experienced and hardcore big wave riders.”

Liw-liwa, a sitio in San Felipe is another popular surfing destination in Zambales. The surf area in Liw-liwa is called “High 5 Lahar” or simply “Lahar” which probably explains why there seems to be a lot of sand mining operations still going on at the shore. The beach itself is not that developed, though there are some small surf resorts & backpacker haunts a short walk away.

Locals say that the waves in San Felipe are pretty consistent compared to other spots in Zambales (others: Crystal Beach in San Narciso & Magic Left in San Antonio).

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Real, Quezon

The nearest surfing spot to Manila in terms of land travel, the laid-back town of Real, Quezon also offers a decent place for beginners who want to try out surfing during a quick weekend trip. The coastal town, which is located on the eastern shores of Luzon facing the Philippine Sea, is known for having rural beach resorts with grayish sand. Despite its proximity to Manila, there are only few resorts here that rent out surfboards.


You can rent surfboards and hire surfing instructors at The PaRK (Pacific Recreation Kamp) which is located by Tignoan Beach. The sea was pretty flat with just a few beginner-friendly waves when we visited in early August. Check wave conditions before heading there to avoid disappointment. During monsoon months, the waves supposedly rise to heights which make the place ideal for longer surfing sessions.

Tignoan Beach has a wide beach break with brownish gray sand and scattered rocks, and is rockier than some other beaches with fine, sandy bottoms. The current was quite strong even if the waves were fickle, so paddling back to shore was a real workout. Unlike other more developed surfing spots with hotels nearby, Real is ideal for backpackers and weekend warriors who want to camp out, cook fresh seafood from the market and grill it at the resort during their surf trip.

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There are lots of other great surfing destinations around the Philippines that I haven’t personally been to yet including Calicoan in Eastern Samar. For some great surfing resources, check out My Life on Board.

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