
Summer is officially in here, which means south swell season is upon us. There's still time to get in one last summer surf trip. With record-breaking temperatures around the US and a serious lack of swell on both coasts, it may be time for a surf trip. For surfers, summer typically means long stretches of small waves with the occasional fun south swell to hold us over until things start cooking during the winter. If you’re keen to trade in your spring suit and waist-high waves for a pair of board shorts and overhead perfection, continue reading below for Oleu Presents the Ultimate Summer Surf Travel Guide.
Convenient Summer Surf Travel Destinations
Mainland Mexico

With over 4,500 miles of Pacific-facing coastline, mainland Mex is teeming with quality surf. From the famed big waves of Puerto Escondido and the right-hand points of Bara de La Cruz to the longboard-friendly waves of Sayulita, there’s truly something for everyone. While Mexico’s main stay breaks have drawn serious crowds for decades, there are plenty of off-the-beaten-path options well worth exploring. In Mexico, effort is rewarded. Go the extra mile and reap the rewards of solitude.
Nicaragua

Skip the crowds and tourist traps of Costa Rica and head to neighboring Nicaragua instead. Nicaragua has three main surf regions: North, Central, and South. In Southern Nicaragua, trade winds blow over Lake Nicaragua and give the region’s best waves all day offshore winds. Add quality beach break barrels, boat trip point breaks, and picture-perfect reef passes to the mix, and you’re in for the trip of a lifetime. The farther north you travel, the fewer surfers you’ll share the lineup with. While Northern Nicaragua lacks the all-day offshore winds of the south, it’s home to one of the best beach breaks in all Central America. If you’re looking for tube time during your surf travels, head north.
El Salvador

A regular footers dream, El Salvador’s short but profound Pacific coast is dotted with right-hand point after right-hand point. A newly anointed World Tour stop, El Salvador’s notoriety as a surf travel destination has risen in recent years. El Salvador’s Pacific coast is divided into two regions, the West and the East (the coastline faces south). The breaks in the west are more exposed and break more frequently than those in the east, which requires a powerful south swell to kick into gear. Whether you head east or west, you’re bound to score.
Far-Flung Summer Surf Travel Destinations
The Mentawai’s

A trip to Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands should be on every surfer’s bucket list. While traveling to Indo isn’t the adventure into the unknown that it once was, a proper Mentawai charter experience will transport you back in time to a long-gone era of surf exploration. The Mentawai are an island chain within the Indonesian archipelago that contains 70 different islands and is home to some of the best waves on the planet. While the Ments receive year-round swell, the official swell season falls from May to October, peaking in June and July.
Fiji

A favorite amongst pros for a reason, Fiji is home to some of the world’s best reef breaks, breathtaking, electric blue water, a welcoming culture, and perhaps the best left on the planet. While Cloud Break and Restaurants in Tavarua take the cake for the island nation’s best waves, there’s more to Fiji than its iconic lefts. With over 300 islands, Fiji is a mecca for south swell enthusiasts and goofy footers. Large southwest swells rise out of deep water and peel perfectly down Fiji’s pristine coral reefs to form waves that look like they’ve been plucked from your daydreams. Most traveling surfers stick to Tavarua, where a handful of luxury hotels ferry surf travelers to Cloud Break. Beyond Tavarua, there are quality breaks in the Mamanuca Islands and elsewhere in the island chain.
With surf travel season in full swing, sun protection is more important than ever. The Oleu UPF 50+ surf shirt offers industry-leading protection in a modern Aloha shirt cut. From land to water and back again, our Boardshirt goes places other Aloha shirts cannot. Head to our website to grab your Boardshirt for your next surf trip.