Malpica – Area Maior

Malpica de Bergantiños · Galicia Norte · Spain

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Malpica – Area Maior (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/malpica.

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Area Maior is the town beach of the fishing village of Malpica. The peninsula the village stands on shelters it and tidies up big swells, so the waves are more orderly than on the open beaches nearby. The bottom is clean sand with no rocks where the waves break, and the banks change often. Lefts and rights are most consistent in the middle and towards the southern end. About 1 m is ideal for learning; 2 m or more gets serious.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A soft-top or longboard on small days; a shortboard when it's big.

When it works

✓ A strong north to north-west swell at low to mid tide, ideally falling, with a south wind.

When it doesn't

✕ North to north-east wind, high tide, small swells and the summer flat spells.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • localism

Best months

January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Its consistency and sandy bottom make it a favourite for local surf schools. Weekends get crowded, so be polite with the locals.

Getting there

In the village centre, with parking in front of the beach. A car park at the far end suits campervans. There are beach bars and surf schools on the sand.

Travel notes

How often it works
Consistent from autumn to spring, but often flat in summer. The town's headland shelters it, so it needs a decent swell and gives tidier waves than the open beaches nearby.
Crowd and vibe
Few surfers on weekdays, busier at weekends, with several surf schools on the sand. A local surf guide says visitors are always welcome. An old online comment mentions locals pushing outsiders, so be courteous and wait your turn.
Camping and vans
Camping Sisargas, on the road to Carballo, is about 3 km south and opens from mid-June to the end of September. The car park at the far end of the beach is known as a spot where vans and autocaravanas can spend the night. Nearest campsite about 3 km away.
Facilities
There are beach bars, several surf schools and parking in front of the beach, with the town's shops and restaurants right behind.
Water quality
Area Maior holds a Blue Flag for 2026, which requires excellent bathing water. It is a town beach next to a fishing port.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–N best, WNW–NNE works
Size
1.5–3 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 4 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore SE–SW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, avoid high, on the falling tide
Faces
N (358°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Galicia Norte · All spots

Sources