Surf’s Up

THESE SIX SPOTS OFFER SOME OF THE GLOBE’S BEST WAVES AND COOLEST VIBES. By Leslie Garisto Pfaff

We don’t deny that there are stay-at-home surfers, most of them lucky folks who live on or near a beach where the swells run reliably high. But let’s face it: Most surfers are travelers by nature, eternally seeking the world’s widest swell windows, best peeling waves, longest stretches of uncrowded beach and warmest, most crystalline waters. It doesn’t hurt, of course, if these top surfing spots also happen to be situated in stunning locales, especially if the plan is to spend at least a little time on dry land. With all of that in mind, we offer a half dozen of the globe’s best places to catch some spectacular waves and revel in good times overall:

ULUWATU, BALI, INDONESIA

File it under “Pinch me; I must be dreaming”: sharing the waves with the world’s best surfers beneath a soaring cliff that’s home to an 11th-century Hindu temple. Throw in consistent swells and peaks that come together to create a wall stretching many hundreds of feet, and you’ll understand why Uluwatu is a global surfer’s mecca. Of course, all that perfection can mean large crowds; for a little elbow room, you can head to nearby Lombok or Sumbawa. Visit between April and October for optimum surf. Take a break from the breaks: And hike Mount Agung, an active volcano and the highest point on the island.

NAZARÉ, PORTUGAL

If it’s size you’re after, you’ll find it in this little Portuguese fishing village, in the form of truly monstrous swells, thanks to the 16,000-foot-deep underwater formation known as the Nazaré Canyon. We’re talking record-breaking waves, like the 100-footer effortlessly ridden by world champion Garrett McNamara in 2013. No wonder the World Surfing League holds its annual Big Wave Contest here. For the biggest and best, come in winter and head straight to Praia do Norte, a beach for experts only. Take a break from the breaks: And take in the panoramic ocean views from the stunning 16th-century Forte de Sao Miguel.

GETTY IMAGES OLIVIER MORIN / CONTRIBUTOR

TEAHUPOO, TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Surrounded by a quiet surfing village, Teahupoo is often called “the end of the road” because to reach it you have to go beyond the paved road that leads from town to the beach. But the nickname is metaphorically apt as well: The heavy, glassy waves here, which can exceed 40 feet in height, are among the world’s most dangerous, famous for the triple threat of extraordinary size, power and speed. Even pro surfers have come dangerously close to breathing their last after wiping out on the shallow-lying coral reef just offshore. If you’re an expert seeking the thrill of your life, there are few places that deliver it like Teahupoo. (And for beginning and intermediate surfers, Tahiti offers a wealth of less terrifying spots.) Take a break from the breaks: And wander the beautiful village of Teahupoo, or tour the nearby pearl farm at Tahiti Iti.

SHIPSTERN BLUFF, PORT ARTHUR, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

You’re not in Hawaii anymore, Dorothy—this place, on the southeastern coast of the island of Tasmania, is about as remote as a surfing spot can get, reachable only by an 18-mile boat or jet-ski ride or a two-hour trek through Tasman National Park. It’s also forbidding: Nestled into a rugged dolomite bluff, the beach is home to seals, orcas and great white sharks, and it’s often visited by low-pressure systems working their way up from the South Pole. Still, if you’re an expert surfer looking for the challenge of a lifetime, you’ll find it here, in the form of barreling waves that build miles out at sea and offer some of the world’s most exhilarating rides. Take a break from the breaks: And hike through the forests of Tasman National Park to the top of the bluffs, for breath-stealing views.

RAGLAN, NEW ZEALAND

Before the 1966 release of the classic surfing film Endless Summer, only the locals knew about Raglan, now considered one of the world’s top surf spots. And yet the area still retains the laid-back vibe and surfingcommunity spirit it evinced in that long-ago movie. It also offers consistent 4- to 6-foot swells and a series of left-hand point breaks, and on a good day (of which you’ll find many, especially from November through February), you can ride the best of them in the storied bays of Manu, Whale and Indicators. Take a break from the breaks: And find sustenance at one of the area’s many excellent farm-to-table eateries.

SEAN DAVEY

GETTY IMAGES / HANDOUT KELLY CESTARI / CONTRIBUTOR

JEFFREY’S BAY, SOUTH AFRICA

Like Raglan, it had its star turn in the surfing flick Endless Summer, which helped transform this former sleepy fishing village on South Africa’s Eastern Cape into a must-ride destination. Justly famous for its unparalleled right-hand point breaks, Jeffrey’s is home to the Billabong Pro ASP World Tour. If you want to challenge yourself, make your way to the sections known as Boneyard, Supertubes and Tubes. Or, for a less crowded ride, check out The Point, Kitchen Windows, Magna Tubes or Albatross. Take a break from the breaks: And ride a horse along the gentler waves of the Papiesfontein Beach horse trail.