Surf Lesson at Biarritz's Côte des Basques

What it involves

The Côte des Basques is the long beach south of Biarritz's centre, below the cliff, and the city's school beach: at low and mid tide a broad strip of sand opens up and the wave breaks in soft foam, good for standing up the first few times. At high tide the sea rises to the foot of the cliff and no lessons are given, so the time changes every day with the tide.

A beginner lesson lasts an hour and a half. It begins on the sand, with the warm-up and the technique for paddling and standing on the board, and continues in the water, in the foam zone, with the instructor beside you. A soft, large, stable board is used, and a wetsuit.

Who runs it

In this entry we include Biarritz Surf Training, a school set up on the beach itself, on boulevard du Prince de Galles. Its instructors hold the French state qualification, groups are a maximum of eight students per instructor and people are grouped by level. Its hut has changing rooms and showers. The price includes board, wetsuit and public liability insurance.

The prices it publishes:

• Beginner lesson, 1 h 30: from €45.
• 3-day course (1 h 30 a day): €125.
• 5-day course: €190. 10-day: €360.
• Private lesson, 1 h for one person: €100; with two or three, the lesson becomes 1 h 30.
• Jardin des vagues, for children aged 6 to 9: 3 lessons of 1 h 30 for €125, only in French school holidays.
• Bodyboard, private 1 h lesson: €100.

The school runs from April to November and closes in winter. You book on its website, by package; it also takes calls and WhatsApp. Choose the level carefully when booking.

Other schools operate on the same beach; compare times if the tide on your days doesn't fit.

Season and conditions

April to November. In June and September the water is already mild and there is room on the beach; July and August are the months with the most groups. Even in summer, the Atlantic here is cool: the wetsuit is not superfluous.

To sign up, you just need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim. No special fitness is needed, but paddling tires the arms more than it seems: with one lesson a day for several days you learn more than with a single long one.

Meeting point and what to bring

You meet at the school's hut, on the Côte des Basques beach, boulevard du Prince de Galles. Arrive fifteen minutes early to change.

Bring swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel, water-resistant sun cream and something warm for afterwards. Leave in the car or your accommodation whatever you don't want to leave on the sand.

Getting there

The beach is a short walk from the centre, on the other side of the Atalaye, where the Aquarium is. In summer, parking near the beach is hard: if you can, walk or take the bus. The Txik Txak buses run along the coast and connect with Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Hendaye.

With children and teenagers

Teenagers can go to the beginner lessons with the adults. For ages 6 to 9, the Jardin des vagues is the right choice, but it runs only in French school holidays, which don't always coincide with Spanish ones. With younger children, the Côte des Basques is good for playing at the water's edge at low tide, always in the supervised zone.

After the water, go up for lunch at Les Halles de Biarritz, in the centre.