The ocean, the spots, the people, the atmosphere. All of this makes surfing a very attractive and popular water sport around the world. We have seen movies about it; we have seen tournaments in the coasts of our country; we know somebody that surfs or is into surfing; we have heard about crazy surfer stories; we have enjoyed seeing people surf the waves and sometimes we have tried to surf ourselves at a vacation time we spent at the sea. There are even artificial waves in resorts and cruises so people can enjoy the excitement.
Surfers enjoy the most beautiful places and get the adrenaline rush needed to be happy for the rest of the day. There are some islands that are the perfect places to go surf and to enjoy what the place has to offer. We are taking a look at only 5 of them that are in the top of mind of surfers around the globe.
Bali: they say Bali is a living postcard and it closer to a fantasy than to reality. It has white sand beaches, coral ridges, a lush jungle with stone temples and a good amount of monkeys, apart from all the cultural dance performances, the yoga meditations and, of course, the surf spots. For surfers, it is a paradise on earth due to the consistent waves that come from the Indian Ocean. It has been a surfer’s paradise since the early 70s and the mixture of the surfing world with the local Hindu culture and the charm and feeling of the local people, make Bali one of the best, if not the best, destination to surf and travel.
Tavarua, Fiji: it is an island and resort with the shape of a heart, it is 29 acres big and it is close to Viti Levu, the main island in Fiji. Clear waters make this island idyllic to relax and forget about everything. Fishing and surfing are amazing in this island. For surfers it has easy access to the waves and it is home to the very popular “Cloud Break” surf spot that is voted as one of the 10 best and most Challenging waves in the world. Tavarua Island faces south by southwest into the South Pacific and is perfectly positioned to catch all swells coming up from the Southern Ocean.
Oahu, Hawaii. Oahu is the third largest island in Hawaii, and the one where most people from Hawaii live and work, almost 1 million inhabitants. This is the island where the capital, Honolulu is located, the historic and well known Pearl Harbor and the infamous Waikiki beach. History and beauty are just around the corner in this island if you want to go to special landmarks like the historic Chinatown, the Punchbowl, a crater-turned-cemetery, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. For surfers, well it is just paradise and history. Since the early 30s with the Waikiki beach boys and the many competitions around the island, makes it perfect to really live the surfing life. It is home to the Triple Crown of Surfing competition and festival held every winter in November where the pros meet to showcase the best surfing in the world.
Image courtesy of DJHeini at Flickr.com
Barbados. This island is in the eastern Caribbean, and it is part of the British Commonwealth. Bridgetown, the capital, is a paradise for cruises and a mandatory stop for almost any cruise ship. It features things like shopping places, colonial buildings and one of the Western Hemisphere’s oldest synagogues. When it comes to surfing, The island’s location far out in the Atlantic Ocean is key to the waves that travel thousands of kilometers on the bottom of the sea to just release all the power during its long journey over Barbados’ coral reefs. The surfing is consistent and waves are guaranteed all year around in this island. There are truck rentals available to carry all the equipment and look for the best waves.
Santa Catarina, Brazil. Santa Catarina has this European vibe that makes you want to stay. You can find amazing beaches in the best tropical weather and resorts of all kinds. It is a trendy city with education levels that amaze any tourist and very low crime rates comparing it to the rest of Brazil. It is an escape from the busy metropolis like Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. It used to be a surfers paradise and now hosts all types of tourists. Beaches like Joaquina and Campeche offer more than 40 surfable waves in the months of March, April, September and October.
Image courtesy of Dauro Veras at Flickr.com
