Messanges – Plage Sud (Vieux Port)

Messanges · Landes · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Messanges – Plage Sud (Vieux Port) (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/messanges.

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The south beach of Messanges, in front of the Vieux Port campsite, has a well-known left-and-right peak with more peaks along the beach to the north. The left is the easier wave, a long wall with the odd late drop, and works best at low tide. The right is faster and hollow, with makeable barrels, and about 200 m north a shallow bank throws heavy, thick-lipped tubes. The banks are hollow, fast and powerful, so it suits intermediate to advanced surfers.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, spring, summer
Boards
A shortboard or fish, with something with a bit more foam for the left on smaller days.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m north-northwest to west swell at low to mid tide with a southeast to east wind.

When it doesn't

✕ High tide or a swell over about 2.5 m, which closes it out, and any onshore wind.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents

Best months

April, May, June, September, October, November

Local tips

On normal days the paddle out takes 5–10 minutes, but on big days a strong rip can make it much longer, so use it as a conveyor rather than fighting it. The lineup is mostly visiting surfers and bodyboarders and the mood is relaxed. Weekdays are quiet; weekends and summer are crowded.

Getting there

Park outside the Vieux Port campsite at the south end of Messanges and walk 5–10 minutes through it to the beach.

Travel notes

How often it works
This open beach break works all year at any tide, with both distant swells and wind waves. On big days a strong current runs along the beach.
Crowd and vibe
Weekdays are quiet. Weekends and summer bring mostly visiting surfers and bodyboarders. The mood is relaxed.
Camping and vans
You reach the beach through the Village Resort & Spa Le Vieux Port campsite (April to September). The Camping-Car Park aire at Messanges Plage Nord is about 100 m from the sand. It has 55 places, needs a Pass Étapes card and is often full in season. Nearest campsite about 0.5 km away.
Facilities
Snack bars and shops open at the campsite and beach entrance in season. There is a lifeguard post on the beach in summer.
Water quality
Both of Messanges' bathing sites are rated excellent in the official French rating (national open data, 2022).

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, WSW–N works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 2.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–SE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
low best, avoid high
Faces
WNW (286°)

Live cam

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

Nearby spots

All spots in Landes · All spots

Sources