Parlementia
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Swell
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Parlementia is a legendary, exposed reef-rocky beach break on the Bidart–Guéthary border, known for producing long, powerful surf—often described as ledgey and able to throw hollow, right-oriented waves and also lefts depending on the setup. The wave starts working around 1.5–2 m and can hold up to 5 m and beyond, with ride length commonly cited as normal at about 50–150 m and extending to roughly 150–300 m on better days. The bottom is heavily reef/rock-based, and safety references consistently emphasize currents plus submerged rocks/reef hazards. Paddle-outs are often long, and in stronger swells the combination of depth changes and reef proximity can make the takeoff and bailout window unforgiving. Rescue is described as limited at spot level, while lifeguards are seasonal in the area—so conditions demand experienced judgment and preparation. Wind expectations vary by listing, but East to Southeast winds are repeatedly associated with favorable surfing conditions. Separate wind notes also describe best winds as north to northeast (N, NNE, NE) with a medium reliability signal. For surfing specifically, the pattern described is offshore-favoring with S/SE/E winds and a focus on Northwest/West swell directions. Skill level is consistently placed in the expert/experienced range. The wave can be intense and prestigious, and some listings mention lineup priority rules due to the quality of the break and experienced riders. Access is typically via a coastal walk from Bidart/Guéthary or by using nearby parking along RD810 in the summer season, followed by a walk down to the launch area.
- Big-wave reef break with hollow/ledgy character
- Long rides, sometimes 150–300 m on good days
- Swell working around 1.5–2 m up to 5 m+
- Renowned big-wave reef break with long, powerful rides.
- Works on all tides when conditions line up (swell/wind).
- Water is typically described as clean.
- Very rocky/reef environment with submerged rock hazards.
- Strong currents and long paddles from shore can make sessions demanding.
- Crowds can be higher on weekends.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, SE, N, NNE, NE
- Offshore directions
- SE, SSE, E, ESE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Reported as frontal wind at times; for surfing the spot is also noted to work best with East/Southeast winds.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Shadow Zones
- Close to the cliffs depending on direction
- Thermal Window
- Sea breeze · Afternoon · Months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug · Dir: NW, NNE, WNW · Regional pattern suggests a daytime sea-breeze window in late morning/afternoon through early evening in summer.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with scattered rocks along the coast; rocky reef bottom below.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Big — Working at 1.5–2 m and holding to 5 m and over.
- Launch
- Medium — Launch from the sandy/coastal area near the reef; kiting may launch from the neighboring beach south of the river (Uhabia).
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Launch difficulty described as moderate/difficult depending on access and conditions; reef + currents make it demanding.
Through the year
High in summer; selective expert crowd in winter during large swells.
Winter months are most prone to Atlantic storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Expert-only wave-kiting profile; riders typically launch from neighboring beaches and ride out toward the offshore reef. Conditions can be heavy and require high board control.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Possible for high-level wave sailing during specific combinations, though less common than surfing or kitesurfing.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.2–5.3 m²
Strictly for experts due to powerful wave conditions and distance from shore; reef navigation requires care.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly conditions are described as limited.
- Min Depth
- 2-3 meters over the reef
- Wing Sizes
- 3–5 m²
Powerful, ledgey reef-rocky spot producing long rights and lefts; often described as hollow with a legendary big-wave character and deep-to-reef sections.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW, W
- Swell Height
- 1.5–5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break; paddling and takeoff require readiness for heavy conditions.
- Wind Effect
- East/Southeast (S/SE/E) winds are reported to provide cleaner, more offshore-favoring surfing conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds massive size and can remain rideable when other spots close out; can hold up to 5 m and over.
- Wave Quality
- World class — Also described as excellent / regional classic.
- Wave Power
- Very powerful — Also described as powerful and ledgey.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Also described as peeling in some conditions.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Described as fast; other notes describe medium peel speed—conditions vary with swell/wind.
- Ride Length
- Long — Normal rides 50–150 m; good days 150–300 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- 150–300 m on good days; 50–150 m normal; some notes cite ~200 m typical on certain days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Parlementia in the full forecast view.
Parlementia wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–16 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- W263°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2516 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.8–4.3 m11s period
- Temperature
- 9–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, Parlementia is forecast for daytime winds of 2–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.8–4.3 m with a period of about 11s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
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
- rock
- current
- reef
- submerged rocks
- large powerful waves
- distance from shore
- strong currents
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services can be reached via the Guéthary harbor office or standard national emergency numbers; general emergency number reported as 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Some listings describe no localism and the spot as open to all, while others describe a local/priorities culture for the lineup—use discretion and follow in-water priority.
Rules of the spot
Spot is open; localism notes vary by listing—priority rules may be enforced at times due to wave intensity and experienced riders.
- Dogs not allowed during surveillance period (July–August).
- Paid parking June 15–Sept 15.
- Paddle-out can be long (often taking 15–20 minutes); respect the lineup and be prepared for strong currents.
- Launching for kitesurfing is typically from the beach south of the river (Uhabia).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Bidart
- Nearest Town
- Guethary
- Parking
- Small parking lot along RD810; paid from June 15 to September 15
- Access
- Small paid parking lot along RD810 (paid June 15–Sept 15), then walk down; or access via coastal path (sentier du littoral) from Bidart or via sentier des baleines from Guéthary harbour.
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Accommodation is reported as numerous hotels, guesthouses, and rentals across Bidart and Guéthary.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurant nearby; additional restaurants and bars are described overlooking the water in the area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is reported available in nearby centers.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage is described as available in the area via clubs/accommodation providers.
- Gear Repair
- Surf shops in the region offer board repairs.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
Which wind directions work at Parlementia?
Parlementia works with E, ESE, SE, N, NNE, NE winds. Offshore directions are SE, SSE, E, ESE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Parlementia?
Recommended equipment sizes at Parlementia: Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Windsurfing: 4.2–5.3 m² · Wingfoiling: 3–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Parlementia suitable for?
Parlementia suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Expert · Windsurfing: Expert · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Expert.