Discovering the surf spots of the Basque coast: 100 Marches Beach

SURF SPOT IN BIDART: 100 MARCHES BEACH

“100 Marches” Beach is located in the northern part of the town of Bidart; it is relatively secluded and quieter than the beaches in Biarritz. Its tranquility is partly due to the difficulty of accessing it—don’t expect to park right by the beach. As the name suggests, it is bordered by a steep slope that must be traversed via the famous “100 steps.” There are three ways to reach this beach:

– You can park on the Bidart plateau and walk down.

– You can also park at the Erretegia beach car park, a little further south, and walk along the seafront (only at low tide).

– The final option is to park in front of the access road leading to the “Le Pavillon Royal” campsite and walk to the beach along that road.

This spot has the advantage of not being too crowded, even during peak season, and can be surfed at any tide, though mid-tide is best. The seabed is a mix of rock and sand; be careful of rocks that may emerge as the tide drops. It works best with a swell of 1 to 1.5 meters and an East/South-East wind.

This spot has the advantage of not being too crowded, even during peak season, and can be surfed at any tide, though mid-tide is best. The seabed is a mix of rock and sand; be careful of rocks that may emerge as the tide drops. It works best with a swell of 1 to 1.5 meters and an East/South-East wind.