Xivares (Asturias)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Xivares is an exposed Asturias beach break near the Gijón/Carreño coast. It’s described as having pretty consistent, regular surf with multiple peaks (right and left waves), and generally good wave quality on workable days. The swell window commonly starts around 1.0–1.5 m and can hold up to about 2 m+ (with reports it may close out on very large sets). It’s especially noted as an option when other nearby west-facing beaches can get too big, and it can deliver hollow/inside sections on the right kind of day. Tide matters: sources repeatedly emphasize it works best around low to mid tide, and it can be poor when the tide is too low. Wind-wise, south winds are cited as optimal for cleaner, offshore-groomed conditions, with north winds tending to be messier. Safety is the biggest priority. Hazards include rocks at/near the ends of the beach and currents/rip currents—one source highlights rip currents near the rocks. Water quality can be impacted by pollution and nearby industrial surroundings, so it’s recommended to check water quality reports, particularly after heavy rain, and to respect any seasonal lifeguard restrictions.
- Regular, consistent beach-break surf
- South wind tends to produce cleaner/offshore conditions
- Best around low to mid tide; varies at low tide
- Rocks and pollution/current risk—check conditions before entering
- Pretty consistent surf and regular frequency
- Good wave quality on a good day
- Works on a wide swell range (starts around ~1–1.5 m and can hold to 2 m+), acting as an option/refuge during larger swells
- Exposed spot with rocks and currents/rip risk
- Water quality/pollution concerns near industrial areas (check reports, especially after heavy rain)
- Can be poor at low tide; conditions vary with tide and swell size
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSW, SW
- Offshore directions
- S
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Providers describe offshore/cleaning conditions with south winds; one source explicitly labels wind as gradient.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gusts described as moderate in provider data.
- Best Months
- January, February, October, November, December
- Shadow Zones
- The cliffs can create wind shadows near the shore.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with rocky ends.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Big — Providers describe huge/very large potential on swell; another gives medium size. Works from ~1.0–1.5 m and can hold to ~2 m+.
- Launch
- Small — Sandy beach with rocky outcrops at either end; launch/entry area is the beach with ends to watch for rocks.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — One provider rates as easy, another as moderate; shared guidance suggests beach entry but rocky ends increase complexity.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and during summer holidays; relatively quiet during winter weekdays.
Late autumn and winter (November to February).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break with generally regular, consistent surf. Multiple peaks with both right and left waves; the right wave is described as the most prominent. Can act as a refuge during larger swells when other, more exposed west-facing beaches can blow out.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NNE, NE, NNW
- Swell Height
- 1–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Best tide position is low and mid; multiple providers also note the spot performs best around low to mid and can be poor at low tide depending on conditions.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach with limited shelter.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the South groom the waves; North winds are messier.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds up on larger swells (reported up to 2 m+ / 6 ft+); one provider notes it can close out on very large swells over about 2.5 m.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as good; one provider also notes that even when conditions are optimum, quality can vary.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Providers describe ordinary/moderate power.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — One provider gives mixed shape; another describes peeling on offshore-clean days.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Provider describes medium peel speed.
- Ride Length
- Short — Normal 50–150 m; can be short (<50 m) at low tide per provider data.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal length 50–150 m; short (<50 m) at low tide. On good days rides can reach up to about 150 m.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Xivares (Asturias) in the full forecast view.
Xivares (Asturias) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–12 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- SSW212°
- Strongest day
- Wed, Oct 2812 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–3.0 m10s period
- Temperature
- 10–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, Xivares (Asturias) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Wednesday, October 28 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.7–3.0 m with a period of about 10s. 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
- Rocks
- Currents (rip currents)
- Pollution / water quality issues (especially near industrial areas and after heavy rain)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard zones are referenced; group context indicates mid-June to mid-September for lifeguards/rescue coordination.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited; group context supports limited/semi-seasonal rescue presence with coordination handled via Spain’s maritime safety/112 emergency system.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Gijón.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Localism described as mild.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies.
- Seasonal lifeguard zones during summer months
- Works best around low to mid tide; at low tide the surf can be poor.
- Check water quality reports, especially after heavy rain due to nearby industrial surroundings.
- South wind is best for cleaner, offshore-groomed conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Gijón
- Nearest Town
- Carreño
- Parking
- Park a vehicle right by the break; parking lot available near beach access.
- Public Transport
- FEVE train stop (Xivares) within walking distance; also served by local coastal buses.
- Access
- From Gijón take the old road to Avilés, then turn toward Candás/Luanco; the road to Xivares is easy to miss. Instant access (<5 min walk) from parking to the break.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation ranges from guesthouses in Candás to hotels in Gijón.
- Food & Drink
- Seasonal beach bars (chiringuitos) are usually present during summer.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental is available nearby (primarily in Gijón and Luanco, with seasonal pop-ups).
- Gear Storage
- Limited public storage (many services handled via nearby clubs/schools).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The central Asturian coast near Gijón/Avilés blends rugged Atlantic scenery with nearby urban amenities, with a focus on timing tides and wind for board-sports.
Dramatic cliffs and a lighthouse museum at Asturias’ northernmost point.
Declared a historical-artistic site with notable architectural heritage.
An architectural landmark in Avilés hosting major exhibitions and events.
A scenic cliffside hiking trail connecting the Gijón area with Candás.
Cliff-top and shoreline walks are a major outdoor draw along Asturias’ rugged coast.
The Asturias coast is widely associated with wave sports and beach-hopping.
Traditional cider houses and historic ties to canned fish culture in Candás.
Restaurants and bars are broadly available in nearby urban coastal centers.
A modern aquarium showcasing Cantabrian and tropical marine life.
Relaxed family tourism with beaches, viewpoints, and promenade-style areas along the coast.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Xivares (Asturias)?
The best overall months at Xivares (Asturias) are October, November, December, January, February. The best wind months are January, February, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Xivares (Asturias)?
Xivares (Asturias) works with S, SSW, SW winds. Offshore directions are S.
What skill level is Xivares (Asturias) suitable for?
Xivares (Asturias) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.