Surfing Les Cavaliers: The Complete Guide

Les Cavaliers is a sandy-bottom beach break located in Anglet, France, offering both lefts and rights along the North Atlantic's seasonal swells. Les Cavaliers is one jewel in the crown of Anglet's legendary beach break chain—a stretch of sand that has produced French surf champions and hosted competitions for decades. Rated as intermediate difficulty with moderately crowded conditions, this beach break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is WNW (300°), with workable conditions from W to NNW (270°–330°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Les Cavaliers needs a minimum of 0.6m / 2ft to start working and handles swells up to 2.5m / 8ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 8 seconds, with 12 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the ESE (110°). The full offshore range spans ENE to SSE (70°–150°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at low to mid tide. Optimal tide range is 0.5m–2m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Les Cavaliers runs September, October, November, December, January, February, March (Sep–Mar). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens April, May, June (Apr–Jun). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Year-round with autumn/winter best. Part of Anglet stretch.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 16°C / 61°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is BIQ, just a quick 10-minute drive from the break.

Access: Beach access from road.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🌀 Strong rips — Dangerous currents
👥 Crowded — Gets very crowded

Can get crowded. Rips on bigger swells.

Safety Tips:

Study the currents before paddling out. Know your exit strategy
Surf early mornings or off-peak days to avoid the worst of the crowds

Skill Level: This spot is rated intermediate (4/10). Crowd Level: Typically moderately crowded (6/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Les Cavaliers? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Les Cavaliers is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*