Bidart II

Surfing
Shortboard, Longboard
Best for
Beginner to Expert
Skill Level
Ocean
Spot Type
Quiet
Crowd Level

This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.

About this spot

About

Bidart II is a sand-and-rock beach-break with a surf that can range from fun and mellow to hollow and powerful. It’s described as producing short rides and mellow A-frame peaks, but it can also become intense and heavy as swell builds. For wave outlook, the spot is reported to start working around 1.0–1.5 m and hold up to 3 m+ (working range also cited as about 0.5–2.5 m). The most favorable swells are typically from the NorthWest, West, or SouthWest, and the tide guidance varies by source—mid tide is specifically highlighted in one place, while other notes indicate it can work across all tides, with rising tide often preferred. Wind effects are important here: offshore East or SouthEast winds are reported to groom the waves. Wind reliability is described as low, so surf conditions may depend strongly on timing with swell and wind. The spot is also exposed, and there’s mention of shifty peaks and rippier conditions when it’s bigger. Safety and access are key factors. Parts of the beach have rocky bottom/submerged rocks, high tide can shut down parts of the beach, and rips/strong currents are possible near rock sections. The access is relatively hard to find—follow the beach signal, then take the small road down to the shore; parking is reported along Rue de la Plage but can be limited near the access path.

  • Hollow, powerful potential over a sandy/rocky bottom
  • Good when offshore East/SouthEast winds coincide
  • Weekdays often empty
Great for
Surfing shortboardSurfing longboardAdvanced riders
What's great
  • Regular surf with good wave quality for a beach-break/reef-break mix.
  • Works from small sizes and can hold to larger swells.
  • Offshore wind grooming is reported for East/SouthEast winds.
  • Weekdays are typically empty and weekends have few surfers.
Heads up
  • Rock-strewn sandy bottom with rocky sections.
  • Can be rippy and shifty when conditions get bigger.
  • May close out quickly on larger swells.
  • Relatively hard to find; access via a small, easily missed road.
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
SE, E, S
Offshore directions
E, ESE, SE
Wind Type
Sea breeze — Atlantic coastal sea-breeze pattern; provider notes a sea-breeze wind type for this spot.
Reliability
Low
Gust Factor
Moderate gusts — Reported as moderate gusts.
Best Months
September, October, November
Shadow Zones
Surrounding cliffs can provide some shelter from North/NorthEast winds.

Water & beach

Water Type
Ocean
Beach
Sand — Sand beach composition reported; mixed with rock bottom sections.
Beach Size
Medium
Waves
Medium — Medium waves reported; also starts working near 1.0–1.5 m and can hold to 3 m+.
Launch
Small — Beach access via a small road and a short walk down to the shore.
Launch Difficulty
Easy — One source describes launch difficulty as easy; another describes access/launch as moderate—overall access involves a short walk from the road down to the shore.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
11–23 °C
Water Temperature
8–25 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
May–Aug: 3/2mm or 2mm shortyOct–Apr: 4/3mm with boots and hood + Boots, Hood
Storm/Rain Season

Winter months often see heavy Atlantic storms.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

A beach-and-reef style surf on a sandy/rocky bottom, producing mellow A-frame peaks that can still become hollow and intense. The break can close out quickly on larger swells.

Beach break
Wave Direction
Both
Optimal Swell
NW, W, SW
Swell Height
0.5–3 m
Optimal Tide
Mid, All tides — One source highlights mid tide; others indicate it works across all tides, with rising tide often favored.
Shelter
Exposed — Reported as exposed; cliff and coastline exposure can still allow some wind shelter at times.
Wind Effect
Offshore winds from the East or SouthEast groom the waves significantly.
Bigger Swell
Holds size up to about 3 meters and beyond, becoming very heavy; also noted to close out quickly in larger swells.
Wave Quality
Good — Wave quality reported as good; can be fickle depending on conditions.
Wave Power
Powerful — Reported as hollow and powerful; another provider describes it as moderate—overall guidance points to powerful/strong surf on workable days.
Wave Shape
Hollow — Hollow/hollow-and-intense described.
Peel Speed
Slow — Slow peeling reported.
Ride Length
Short — Normal rides reported as short; typical ride length also described with good days ranging higher, with under-50m cited.
Typical Ride Length
50–150 m
Ride Length Details
Reported as typically under 50m in some conditions; other guidance gives average rides around 50–150m on good days.
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bidart II in the full forecast view.

Bidart II wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
2–15 ktsGusts 28 kts
Direction
WSW257°
Strongest day
Sun, Oct 2515 kts
Windy days
1/712 kts or more
Waves
0.8–4.3 m11s period
Temperature
9–22 °C

Over the next 7 days, Bidart II is forecast for daytime winds of 2–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 28 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 0.8–4.3 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

What to know before you launch

Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.

Hazards

  • Rocks
  • Submerged rocks
  • Rips/strong currents
  • Powerful shore break
Ability Level: Beginner to Expert
Recommended Safety Gear
Helmet

Rescue & support

Lifeguard
None — No lifeguards reported for the spot.
Rescue & Self-Rescue
No — No rescue availability reported for the spot (wider coast rescue coverage varies).
Emergency Info
Nearest major medical facilities are in Biarritz or Bayonne; general emergency number reported as 112.
Localism / Vibe
Mild — Reported as mild localism.

Rules of the spot

Standard international surfing etiquette applies.

Local Tips
  • Parts of the beach have a rocky bottom.
  • High tide can shut down parts of the beach.
  • The spot can be rippy when conditions are bigger and peaks can be shifty.
  • Access is via a small, easily missed road off the main route between Bidart and Saint-Jean-de-Luz; follow the beach signal for Bidart beach and then take the small road down to the sea (short walk 5–15 minutes).
  • Often best when the tide is rising.

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Bidart
Nearest Town
Bidart
Parking
Beachfront parking along Rue de la Plage; limited parking near the access path is also reported.
Access
Take the road from Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, follow the signal for Bidart beach, then after about 500 m on the right take a small road down to the sea (short walk ~5–15 minutes).
Local Language
French
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
Accommodation
Near — Various campsites and hotels are located along the coast between Bidart and Biarritz.
Food & Drink
Local restaurants and cafes are available in the center of Bidart (short drive away).
Equipment Rental:
Surf shops are located in Bidart town center.
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

Latest reported conditions

Spot questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best season at Bidart II?

The best overall months at Bidart II are September, October, November.

Which wind directions work at Bidart II?

Bidart II works with SE, E, S winds. Offshore directions are E, ESE, SE.

What skill level is Bidart II suitable for?

Bidart II suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Advanced.