Where to go surfing in North America in July
The 30 best surfing spots in North America in July: the best-known spots in season first.
Updated November 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
When are you planning to go?
In short
- Best for surfing in North America in July: Trestles – San Clemente (United States), Salina Cruz (Mexico) & Playa Negra – Guanacaste (Costa Rica).
- Water at the top 10: 15–31°C.
- Warm enough for no wetsuit: Salina Cruz, Playa Negra – Guanacaste & Popoyo.
- For beginners: Tofino – Long Beach, Cabarete & Malibu – Surfrider Beach.
By continent
By country
1
JulPEAK SEASON
Trestles
San Clemente · United States
1 m waves21° water24° air
Intermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ CLD 40 km
2
JulPEAK SEASON
Salina Cruz
Mexico
1.5 m waves30° water35° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ IZT 40 km
3
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Negra
Guanacaste · Costa Rica
1.5 m waves30° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 31 km
4
JulPEAK SEASON
Popoyo
Nicaragua
1.5 m waves29° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ MGA 75 km
5
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Bluff
Bocas del Toro · Panama
1.4 m waves30° water28° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ BOC 7 km
6
JulGOOD
Soup Bowl
Barbados
1.7 m waves29° water30° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ BGI 16 km
7
JulGOOD
Punta Roca
El Salvador
1.3 m waves31° water31° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ SAL 30 km
8
JulGOOD
Long Beach
Tofino · Canada
1.3 m waves15° water18° air
Beginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ YAZ 1 km
9
JulGOOD
Rincón
Puerto Rico
1.2 m waves29° water32° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ MAZ 18 km
10
JulGOOD
Cabarete
Dominican Republic
1.3 m waves28° water31° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ POP 17 km
11
JulPEAK SEASON
Malibu
Surfrider Beach · United States
0.9 m waves21° water28° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LAX 27 km
12
JulPEAK SEASON
Barra de la Cruz
Mexico
1.6 m waves31° water32° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ HUX 32 km
13
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Guiones
Nosara · Costa Rica
1.5 m waves30° water30° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 5 km
14
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Colorado
Nicaragua
1.4 m waves29° water30° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ MGA 83 km
15
JulPEAK SEASON
Ollie's Point
Potrero Grande · Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 39 km
16
JulPEAK SEASON
Scorpion Bay
Baja · Mexico
1.3 m waves23° water29° air
Beginner-friendly · shorty · ✈ LTO 116 km
17
JulPEAK SEASON
Tamarindo
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water31° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 41 km
18
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Grande
Tamarindo · Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 44 km
19
JulPEAK SEASON
Pavones
Costa Rica
1.1 m waves29° water28° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ PJM 24 km
20
JulPEAK SEASON
Salsa Brava
Puerto Viejo · Costa Rica
1.2 m waves30° water29° air
Advanced only · no wetsuit · ✈ CHX 34 km
21
JulPEAK SEASON
Huntington Beach
United States
0.9 m waves21° water25° air
Beginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ SNA 13 km
22
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Avellanas
Costa Rica
1.5 m waves30° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ NOB 35 km
23
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Santana
Nicaragua
1.5 m waves29° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ MGA 76 km
24
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Maderas
Nicaragua
1.4 m waves29° water30° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ LIR 87 km
25
JulPEAK SEASON
Jacó
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water29° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 58 km
26
JulPEAK SEASON
Jacó
Playa Hermosa · Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 54 km
27
JulPEAK SEASON
Esterillos
Costa Rica
1.4 m waves30° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ XQP 42 km
28
JulPEAK SEASON
Playa Venao
Panama
1.1 m waves29° water29° air
Beginner-friendly · no wetsuit · ✈ CTD 66 km
29
JulPEAK SEASON
La Lancha
Punta de Mita · Mexico
1 m waves31° water31° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ PVR 26 km
30
JulPEAK SEASON
Matapalo
Osa Peninsula · Costa Rica
1.1 m waves30° water29° air
Intermediate and up · no wetsuit · ✈ PJM 18 km
The 30 best surfing spots in July: spots in their best season first, the best-known first, then by wave height. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where is the best surfing in North America in July?
Trestles – San Clemente (United States): 1 m waves; Salina Cruz (Mexico): 1.5 m waves; Playa Negra – Guanacaste (Costa Rica): 1.5 m waves.
Where is the water warm in July?
Punta Roca: 31°C, no wetsuit; Barra de la Cruz: 31°C, no wetsuit; Punta de Mita – La Lancha: 31°C, no wetsuit.
Where can beginners go surfing in July?
Good spots for beginners this month: Tofino – Long Beach, Cabarete & Malibu – Surfrider Beach.
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