The World’s “FRIENDLIEST” Surf Destinations…

While we all get caught up in the negativity around surfing (if you’re like me anyway), with crowds, localism and general surf trip pessimism, you’ll be pleased to know many destinations are still pretty laid back and come without the hassle of aggressive locals and bad vibes. Here are some such places…

===========================

Read:

===========================

Premium Content:

===========================

Follow/Support:

===========================

Partners:

===========================

Top Surf Camp Packages 2024:

===========================

What I Travel With:

===========================

Video Creation:

===========================

*Please note that some of these links are affiliate links. This means (at no extra cost to you), I receive a small commission which helps me make more videos like this.

[darrylmossop]

At the 2:46 mark there is a young man, on the left, holding one of his daughters. Sadly this beautiful man passed away from cancer 4 weeks ago.
A great surfer, glassed and father, a great bloke much loved by us on the Sunshine Coast. The paddle-out was huge.

Love all your videos but this one simply blew me away.

Peace Komang.

Huge thanks.

[roodyboy]

Another great video dude! Where did you go in Brazil? I'm hesitating between Bahia and Rio for a few months this winter, Jan-March.

PS: Subscribed!

[ptrschick]

I’m fascinated by what may cause locals to be so friendly and welcoming in some line-ups and such aggressive a-holes in other line-ups… Having been that young, selfish local myself, whose local break in Rincon CA, I’m gonna have to admit, once I matured and assumed a more generous perspective, EVERYTHING in my life became A LOT more fun. After all, I was FORTUNATE enough to have been hatched in an area where Rincon is home, so sharing the fruits with those who weren’t so lucky, is the LEAST I can do…😊👍🏽✌🏽

[HoStevie]

El Salvador is next for me! I'll be brushing up on your videos before hand 😅

[johnstenglein]

Dan, you produce such informative videos. Thanks for posting. Your inside views provide lots of starting points for interested travelers.

[Soul_fly_steve]

Just subscribed after watching a couple of your vids mate. Very helpful as my next surf trip is coming up end of October. I Have 3 weeks and thinking of splitting my time in a couple of places. Ive surfed many places over the years but thinking about Brazil at the moment. Already done Panama and Costa Rica a couple times, so as im still thinking Central and South America, the last vids have helped. Cheers for sharing

[daskispot]

Totally agree on Brazil! I traveled to surf there when I was a proper beginner and accidently took a wave from a local in the lineup (I didn't snake him, but I should have let him take it). I thought I was about to get hit, but instead the man was chearing on the good ride and then paddled up to let me know if I had gone left on the A-frame, we could have shared the wave. Everyone was good vibes the entire time. Never saw any aggression.

[Luge_Lessons]

I got on this video 12 days late 😄 Super well done as usual, minus Sayulita; friendliest town by far for sure, but the dumpster fire of a wave is another story. So dynamic how everything you said about Sayu was all true and all wrong all at the same time 😂 I love it, great work, big fan.

[theoutsider]

Agree totally about Bali, well at least Bali back in the 2000s. I went 3 times in late 2000s for 3 weeks each time. One of the standout things was how happy and friendly the local people were, from the guys that take you out in a boat to the reef at Airport lefts for example, to our taxi driver Wyian, to shopkeepers, people on the beach, at the restaurants, and in the water. I only really saw people being what you may think of as agressive at Ulus and Balangan on a couple of bigger swell days. And you may expect this really with such high quality waves and the numbers in the water, the really good guys tend to snake most of the waves which some think of as agressive. But if you're patient and get a few, its so worth the effort. Never saw any outright agression like fights though, did hear about it from one or two guys mostly they were calling out Brazilian and Israeli surfers though, not locals.

[GeoffAlexander-mt]

I used to go to Sayulita and the Punta Mita area fairly often--I love the area, love the people, some fun waves there. Sadly, last time I was in Sayulita the water was filthy. It was awful, I got ear infections in both ears, got super sick. Maybe they have upgraded their sewage and water treatment facilities in the last eight years, I really hope so, it's a fantastic town.

[marevs]

I was lucky to start traveling in the early 70's.In 1980 I visited an outer island in Tahiti.On my first surf a hugely muscled Tahitian, paddling as fast as he could toward me.I was pissing myself thinking that I was about to get punched.To my surprise (and delight)he extended his hand, welcomed me and said next wave is yours!My experiences in Hawaii have been the opposite, sorry to say.Thanks for the video and commentary.

[luigizaccaria]

Im from Brazil. The fame of localism and agressive surf culture existed in the past. Especially in Rio de Janeiro because the gracies were surfers and had some fights with hawaians.

Today localism is a thing of the past. I surf in Guaruja for 30 years and never had a problem.

[johnbaker]

Just spent a month in Ireland. Cant believe it didn't make it on the list!
Such nice people, cool vibes and great waves🤘

[danielignaciocardozo]

I’m leaving in Brazil, and I totally agree. People is really friendly.

[eddielazzeri]

How are you doing, Dan? Anything on Ubatuba, Brasil? I wll be there early September..

[mapiochi]

As a brazillian, I honestly think the bad reputation from Brazil comes from some people traveling in other countries and not really knowing the "rules" of a point break, since we mostly have beach breaks here...

In beach breaks we have to paddle everywhere to find the waves, and who is at the best spot, drops... There is no "line", because the line-up is always changing... Sometimes I don't even encounter my friends at the water because we start together but then paddle far away from each other...

So some people do that in foreigns point breaks (I myself have met some brazillians doing that and explained to them that you have to wait your turn)...

But almost in every surf break people are welcoming and chill... As long as you are not active looking for trouble, you won't get any....

[mamotivated]

Great content as always. Keep up the great work.

[surfchicka]

Im Australian and love surfing brazil, people are beautiful in the water, chilled local vibes 😁

[arturjj.travel]

As a Brazilian I'm very happy to know that you had a great time in my hometown (Floripa) and Rio. I can guarantee that 95% of the Brazilian surfers are relaxed and good vibes. Unfortunately the other 5% that creates the bad reputation.

[mathisphilippot]

Brazilians are so nice in the water. Also, idk if you’ve been to Siargao Philippines, but never experienced a better vibe in the water than there.