Capbreton — La Plage

Capbreton, the 'urban' spot of the south Landes: beaches backing onto the town, the casino and the only harbour on the Landes coast. The gouf — the great undersea canyon — calms the swell in front of the town, the groynes chop up the sea: it's more chop and small waves than a big beach break. Afternoon thermal in summer, punchy lows in autumn.

Capbreton is the urban spot of the south Landes: beaches backing onto the town, the casino, the iconic 1858 pier, and the only harbour on the whole Landes coast. Two things calm the sea in front of the town. First the gouf de Capbreton, that undersea canyon starting 300 m from shore and dropping to 100 m at 1,500 m out: it brakes the swell in front of Capbreton — note it's the opposite at Hossegor, where the gouf amplifies the famous 'la Nord' wave. Then the dykes and rock groynes protecting the first beaches south of the harbour. Hence water that's more chop and small waves than big beach break. The kite sector is south of the harbour, towards the Estacade. The hazards are precise. The harbour and its channel: entry is strictly forbidden, the Boudigau estuary flows out there and it's the only harbour between Bayonne and Arcachon, so real traffic. The dykes, groynes and blockhouses: hard obstacles in the water and on the beach. The baïnes, as everywhere in the Landes, with their rip current at mid-tide. And the Atlantic shorebreak, which can build suddenly — you don't ride alone. The season runs June to October: west-to-north-west thermal in summer, big west-to-south-west lows in September-October for the seasoned. A resort and surf-culture vibe, not the wild side of the dune beaches.