Varazze – La Secca

Varazze · North Italy · Italy

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Varazze – La Secca (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/varazze.

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Varazze is one of the best-known waves in Italy. The main peak, La Secca, is an A-frame that breaks in front of the Molo Marinai d'Italia over a man-made rocky bottom. The left is fast and short, the right longer and better shaped. On a good winter swell it gets hollow and holds well overhead, and smaller peaks break along the town beaches.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Packed
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard; a step-up on the biggest days.

When it works

✓ A 1.2–2.5 m south to south-west storm swell as the libeccio drops, with a north or north-west wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Summer flat spells, small swells, and strong south-west wind on the swell.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • crowds
  • localism
  • rips

Best months

November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

Not a place to learn. Stick to surf etiquette: the line-up is packed with very good local surfers. When the main peak is crowded or too big, check the sand peaks along the beach.

Getting there

Leave the A10 at Varazze and drive to the seafront. The wave is by the jetty on the east side of the main bay; park near the promenade.

History

The reef is an accident: rock spoil from big excavation works was dumped here decades ago (accounts differ between motorway and railway tunnels, and date it to the 1960s or 1971). Ventimiglia's planned artificial reef is modelled on it.

Travel notes

How often it works
Breaks a few dozen days a year, from late autumn to early spring, when a south to south-west storm swell hits the Gulf of Genoa. Summer is mostly flat.
Crowd and vibe
The most crowded wave in Liguria. When it fires, surfers drive in from Turin and Milan, and the local crew expects respect. Be patient and never drop in.
Camping and vans
Camping Sole is about 1.5 km away; Camping Gameragna is about 4 km away. Campers have a parking area in Via Natta, about 2 km from the wave. Nearest campsite about 1.5 km away.
Facilities
Town-centre beach with bars, surf shops and the beach kiosks on the promenade. The town beach has a Blue Flag.
Water quality
The nearby EU bathing sites (Ponente Teiro, Levante Teiro, Solaro) were rated excellent in 2025. Avoid the Teiro stream mouth after heavy rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSE–SW best, ESE–WSW works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
6 s minimum, best from 9 s
Wind
Offshore WNW–NE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
low, mid, high best
Faces
SSE (160°)

Live cam

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

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in North Italy · All spots

Sources