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Level 10/10

Punta Galea

Getxo, Spain

😮‍💨Hold-downs🪨Rocks🌀Strong rips

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Punta Galea is where the Basque Country's big wave pedigree reveals itself in full fury—a clifftop amphitheater overlooking some of the most powerful surf in Europe. When the Bay of Biscay roars to life with massive Atlantic storms, waves up to 50 feet high break along this rocky promontory, drawing the continent's most committed chargers. The annual Punta Galea Challenge has cemented its reputation as Europe's premier big wave venue, with jet ski support and cliff-side spectators bearing witness. This is not a wave to take lightly; it's the proving ground for those who seek true consequence in cold, powerful water.

Punta Galea surf forecast

Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.

10-Day Forecast

Today4

Poor

1.2mN@6s

8km/h

1.2m@6s

8km/h

Thu5

Poor

0.7mNNW@14s

10km/h

0.7m@14s

10km/h

Fri6

Poor

0.7mNW@12s

11km/h

0.7m@12s

11km/h

Sat7

Poor

0.5mNW@11s

18km/h

0.5m@11s

18km/h

Sun8

Poor

0.4mNW@12s

15km/h

0.4m@12s

15km/h

Mon9

Poor

0.2mNW@10s

22km/h

0.2m@10s

22km/h

Tue10

Poor

0.2mWNW@9s

17km/h

0.2m@9s

17km/h

Wed11

Poor

0.6mN@9s

22km/h

0.6m@9s

22km/h

Thu12

Poor

0.8mWNW@11s

14km/h

0.8m@11s

14km/h

Fri13

Poor

1.0mNNW@8s

4km/h

1.0m@8s

4km/h

Groomed 5+ days out, less certain

View 2-year historical scores →

Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions

Find Flights

Best session: MorningAM 10 km/h · PM 6 km/h · Mid tide at 5am (0.6m)

Swell

1.2m

N(5°)

Score: 1/25

Period

Short period

Score: 0/25

Wind

8km/h

ESE(105°)

Score: 18/25

Weather

11°C

0.1mm63%

First light 7:21amSunrise 7:51amSunset 5:59pmLast light 6:29pm

Windswell

—

Secondary

0.3m

Confidence

100%

Location & Conditions

Loading map...

Swell1.2m @6s N outside window

Wind8 km/h ESE cross-shore

SwellWind: Offshore Cross Onshore

Showing forecast for today · all day

Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows

Strike window: 7:35am–4:23pm · through highIdeal tide: 1.0–3.0m

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

6am

9am

12pm

3pm

6pm

°C

8°

11°

13°

12°

6°

8°

15°

16°

13°

4°

13°

18°

14°

10°

13°

15°

17°

16°

11°

13°

16°

18°

15°

17°

19°

18°

20°

22°

20°

18°

19°

22°

21°

18°

14°

15°

18°

16°

12°

14°

18°

14°

2m1.0

sec

15s

14s

12s

11s

12s

10s

11s

swell

windkm/h

10g13

9g15

6g15

1g9

11g20

12g19

15g25

11g19

4g13

7g12

13g15

11g19

8g18

10g21

13g22

18g31

20g36

16g30

20g35

17g32

18g38

18g43

11g40

12g28

22g43

22g47

21g49

22g45

20g43

18g44

18g46

16g53

15g52

18g48

24g49

24g56

24g63

20g62

12g57

15g37

15g38

14g37

13g37

10g37

6g33

2g26

6g21

5g24

2g31

tidem

5:50am0.6m

12:19pm2.9m

6:34pm0.3m

12:56am2.8m

6:49am0.4m

1:14pm3.0m

7:21pm0.1m

1:44am2.9m

7:38am0.2m

2:01pm3.1m

8:03pm0.0m

2:26am3.1m

8:19am0.1m

2:44pm3.2m

8:41pm0.0m

3:03am3.2m

8:58am0.0m

3:20pm3.3m

9:17pm0.1m

3:37am3.3m

9:36am0.1m

3:56pm3.3m

9:53pm0.1m

4:09am3.3m

10:10am0.1m

4:28pm3.3m

10:25pm0.3m

4:40am3.3m

10:48am0.2m

5:00pm3.2m

5:10am3.2m

11:22am0.3m

5:32pm3.0m

Ideal tideStrike windowNight

Tide times today

5:50 am

Low · 0.60m

12:19 pm

High · 2.90m

6:34 pm

Low · 0.32m

Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

Poor

Components

Swell Direction6/25

Swell Size1/25

Swell Period0/25

Wind18/25

Raw Score25/100

Adjustments

Wind History-2

🌊 Tide+3

📉 Undersized Swell-12

🚫 Undersized Capmax 15

Adjusted Score14/100

Confidence

Multiplier×1.00

Final Score14

🌊 Mostly in the tide window

Plan Your Strike

Return flights to BIO, departing today with a 5-day trip window.

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Location & Conditions

Loading map...

Swell1.2m @6s N outside window

Wind8 km/h ESE cross-shore

SwellWind: Offshore Cross Onshore

Showing forecast for today · all day

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Spot Details

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Swell Requirements

Optimal direction: NW (320°)
Direction range: 290° - 350°
Size range: 2.5m - 8m
Ideal size: 4.1m - 5.8m
Height multiplier: 1.08×
Ideal period: 18s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction: S (180°)
Offshore range: 140° - 220°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide: mid to high
Optimal range: 1m - 3m

Water temp

14°C

Wetsuit

4/3mm fullsuit

Difficulty

10/10

Crowd level

3/10

Access: Cliff access. Jet ski support for big days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of wave is Punta Galea?

Punta Galea is a big-wave spot in Getxo, Spain, that mostly breaks right.

What swell works best at Punta Galea?

Punta Galea picks up swell from the WNW round to the N, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NW. It starts working at around 2.5m and keeps going up to about 8m, with the sweet spot around 4.1 to 5.8m. Period matters too: aim for 18s or longer, as anything under 14s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.

What wind is offshore at Punta Galea?

A S wind is dead offshore at Punta Galea, and anything from the SE round to the SW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.

What tide is best at Punta Galea?

Punta Galea is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 1m to 3m on the local chart.

When is the best time of year to surf Punta Galea?

The most reliable run of swell at Punta Galea comes Oct to Mar. October-March big swell season. Hosts Big Wave event.

How cold is the water at Punta Galea?

The water at Punta Galea averages around 14°C, so you'll want a 4/3mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.

Is Punta Galea good for beginners?

No. As a big-wave spot, it's strictly for experienced surfers. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Big wave spot. Cliffs and rocks. Experts only.