10 best surf cities in North America

Year-round breaks, board-bag friendly, and locals who tolerate visiting paddlers.

Ranked by climate, cost of living, language access, safety, and lifestyle fit. Personalize this →

#1
Los Angeles, United States
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Sprawl, sunshine, and the global capital of cinema. A car-dependent paradise — if you have a car.
#2
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
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Caribbean coast nomad hub. Cenotes, reefs, ruins, and 5th Avenue's endless taco strip.
#3
San Diego, United States
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Americas finest weather. Beaches, biotech, Mexican border twenty minutes south, perfect mild year-round.
#4
Sayulita, Mexico
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Pacific surf village turned bohemian magnet. Cobblestone streets, beginner waves, mezcal sunsets.

Los Angeles, United States