lines at JBay, one of the best surf destinations in July
Endless lines at JBay. Photo by Ryan Craig

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

wave in south africa, one of the best surf destinations in july

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

Surf South Africa
A hand-picked collection of the best surf trips in South Africa — focused on authentic experiences found nowhere else.

French Polynesia

moorea island, one of the best surf destinations in july

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

Tereva David’s Tahiti
It’s hard to think of a better place for constant swell exposure than smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Barrier reefs wrap around the island, creating a variety of world-class setups,…

Namibia

skeleton bay, namibia, one of the best surf destinations of july
Photo by Alan van Gysen

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

Surf Skeleton Coast
A hand-picked collection of the best surf trips in Skeleton Coast — focused on authentic experiences found nowhere else.

Samoa

Samoa, one of the best surf destinations in July

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

south shore, oahu, one of the best surf destinations in July

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

Jamie Sterling’s North Shore
With Honolulu and the bustling southern side of Oahu commonly referred to as “Town”, the greener, slower-paced North Shore is what locals call “Country”. A tight-knit community of natives and…

Maldives (North)

Male Atolls, Maldives, one of the best surf destinations in July

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

Surf North Male Atoll
A hand-picked collection of the best surf trips in North Male Atoll — focused on authentic experiences found nowhere else.

Central Mexico

sayulita, mexico, one of the best surf destinations in july

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)

Kalle Carranza’s Riviera Nayarit
Best known for its variety of friendly, rippable waves, the quality and diversity of set-ups put this region on the surf map many years ago. From mellow, rolling points to epic reefs and punchy…


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