South America

If "variety is the spice of life," then for surfers, the continent of South America is bubbling with flavor. Indeed, every country with a coastline offers some kind of world-class wave framed by unique, often thousands of years old cultures and breathtaking landscapes. From the forested "Land of Lefthanders," in Chile, to the countless, punchy beachbreaks of Brazil, to the phenomenon found in Chicama, Peru known as the world's longest wave... see: Variedad (variedade, if you're in Brazil.)

Luckily, surfers and furthermore "surf towns," have existed in wave-rich pockets all over the continent for a few decades now, so the infrastructure for a dream trip is in place. With waves on tap in two separate oceans, for every level of surfer, on any budget, brush up on your Spanish, bring a boardbag with a varied quiver, and get a ticket that's changeable—as you'll most likely want to extend your stay.