Pack Your Bags: Where To Take A Surf Trip This July
Peak Southern Hemi surf season, cool water or warm…
As the Southern Hemisphere winter is in full swing come July, you’ve pretty much got one question to mull over: Wetsuit or no wetsuit? Sure, that might be a no-brainer for some folks that have to wear rubber 365 days a year, but when you’re at a surf spot like J-Bay or Skeletons, suddenly a 4/3 isn’t a roadblock anymore.
Jeffreys Bay, for instance, has five different sections and waves within walking distance along the point. Skeleton Bay has seen (pro) surfers get over 20-second-long tubes. And July’s primetime.
Of course, there are plenty of other [warmer] options in the world at this time. Do the 1,200 atolls comprising the idyllic island nation of Maldives whet your surfing appetite? Sure does ours.
When it comes to surf travel in July (or any of the summer months for that matter), it’s a matter of which coastline is getting consistent swell and offshore winds. Some of the best surf spots manage to get both this time of year.
The following are our top July surf trip go-tos.
South Africa
Where to: Jeffreys Bay (J-Bay), Cape St. Francis
Wave type: Perfect, long, tubing (or not-so-hollow) right pointbreaks
Swell direction: South-Southwest
Average water temp: 19C (66F)
Difficulty level: All levels. Sections like Point are great for beginners and longboarders, while world-class waves like Magnatubes and Supers are perfect for intermediate and experienced surfers (depending on size)
Marquee wave: Supertubes
July perks: Often, there’s a WCT event in July, so you can witness that…and once the circus leaves, it’s pretty empty and laid back for a week or two in comparison
French Polynesia
Where to: Moorea island
Wave type: Mostly hollow reefbreaks
Swell direction: South-Southwest
Average water temp: 29C (85F)
Difficulty level: Mostly intermediate to advanced for the reef pass waves like Haapiti
Marquee wave: Haapiti
July perks: July is a pretty certain month for good, consistent swell in the South Pacific and a lot of the pros will be focused on the neighboring island of Tahiti
—Ryan, United States
Namibia
Where to: Skeleton Bay
Wave type: Long, super hollow, sucky sand-bottomed left point
Swell direction: West-Southwest
Average water temp: 13C (54F)
Difficulty level: Mostly for an advanced level as the wave is very fast, super sucky and there’s a lot of current
Marquee wave: Donkey Bay
July perks: Often more west-angled swells in July which is the best direction for the wave. If you want to score some of the best waves of your life, now is the month to book it to this specific section of the Atlantic. Not the warmest water temperatures, so pack a wetsuit
Samoa
Where to: Savai‘i island
Wave type: Normally, shallow reef breaks, with a couple of odd beachbreaks
Swell direction: South-southwest
Average water temp: 29C (85F)
Difficulty level: Intermediate to advanced level for the bigger reefbreaks, but there are a few easier reefs and beachbreaks that accommodate learners
Marquee wave: Aganoa
July perks: Great swell month and the island of Savaii has epic surf breaks and is way less known (and less crowded) than neighboring Upolu
Oahu, Hawaii
Where to: South Shore
Wave type: Rolling or hollow reef break rights and lefts
Swell direction: South, southwest, southeast
Average water temp: 27C (81F)
Difficulty level: Perfect waves for every skill level. You could take surf lessons at a surf school in Waikiki any day of the week, get tubed at Ala Moana or shred waves like Diamond Head
Marquee wave: Queens and Ala Moana Bowls
July perks: Great swell month to surf the South Shore, but without the scary, dangerous power of the North Shore. Waikiki is also a famed surf town frequented by visitors year round, but there are always ample opportunities to rent a surfboard and find your sea legs out at Waikiki or score world-class tubes at Ala Moana
—Scott, United States
Maldives (North)
Where to: Male Atolls
Wave type: Perfect peeling reefbreaks that aren’t too heavy
Swell direction: South
Average water temp: 29C (85F)
Difficulty level: Softer, mellower waves for beginners as well as fun, hollower points for intermediate to advanced surfers
Marquee wave: Cokes
July: A consistent month for swell, but not nearly as big or dangerous as it can get at this time in Bali or other parts of Indonesia
Central Mexico
Where to: Sayulita
Wave type: Beach breaks and fun Mexican point breaks
Swell direction: Southwest
Average water temp: 29C (84F)
Difficulty level: Great rolling beginner waves with something for intermediate surfers as the swell builds
Marquee wave: Punta Mita
July perks: July is fairly consistent for swell along the Pacific Coast of Mexico, so if you’re an intermediate to advanced surfer, there’s a chance you won’t get bored with Sayulita’s commonly softer surf (plus Playa Sayulita is one of the best beaches in Mex)
—Lauren, United States
