Santander – Mataleñas

Santander · Cantabria · Spain

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Santander – Mataleñas (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/matalenas.

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Mataleñas is a small cove below the cliffs between Cabo Menor and Cabo Mayor, on Santander's northern edge, reached by steps from the park. It faces east and is tucked away from north-west wind. It needs a big swell to break, but it holds up to 4 m, so it is a fun big-day alternative when the exposed beaches are closed out. The waves are short, fun rights and lefts over sand, and it is often uncrowded.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter
Boards
A shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A big north-west swell (2 m and more) with a west to south-west wind, best on the rising tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Normal swells don't reach it, and east or north-east wind blows straight in.

Watch out for

  • rocks

Best months

January, February, March, November, December

Local tips

Check it on big north-west days. It is sheltered and often empty then, while El Sardinero has a hundred people out. It works on most tides, best on the rising tide.

Getting there

From the end of El Sardinero, take the road to the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. Turn right after the entrance to the Mataleñas golf course. Walk down the steps through the park to the cove.

Travel notes

How often it works
It faces east, so it only works on big north to north-west swells. That also makes it a reliable shelter on stormy north-west days, when everywhere else is blown out.
Crowd and vibe
Usually empty, even on big days when El Sardinero next door has a hundred people out. The few who surf it are mostly Santander locals.
Camping and vans
Camping Cabo Mayor is right above the cove, about 300 m away on the lighthouse road. It takes motorhomes and opens spring to mid-September. Nearest campsite about 0.5 km away.
Facilities
Summer lifeguards, toilets, showers and a big car park at the top, but more than 150 steps down to the sand and no beach bar.
Water quality
The EU rated Mataleñas' water excellent five years running, in the latest data (2021).

Ideal conditions

Swell
NW–N best, WNW–NNE works
Size
2.5–4 m offshore swell; starts at 1.8 m, holds to 5 m
Period
10 s minimum, best from 14 s
Wind
Offshore SW–NW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best, on the rising tide
Faces
NE (54°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Cantabria · All spots

Sources