France ยท Atlantic Europe
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Capbreton. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Not much swell but keen eyes will find something to ride. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Onshore wind making a mess of the surface.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Capbreton encompasses a series of high-quality beach breaks located in the Landes region of south-western France, immediately south of Hossegor. The bathymetry relies entirely on mobile silica sandbanks, which are strongly influenced by the adjacent deep-water Gouf de Capbreton submarine canyon and local engineered groynes. The canyon channels raw Atlantic swell energy, but the specific angle of the Capbreton beaches and jetties slightly diffuses the power, making the waves generally more manageable than its northern neighbour. Operating optimally on a west-north-westerly groundswell paired with an easterly offshore wind, the breaks offer structured, A-frame peaks providing both left and right-hand rides. While hollow sections exist, the waves frequently offer steep, workable walls suitable for high-performance carving. This balance of power and predictability renders Capbreton ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. The sandy bottom is forgiving, but the strong littoral currents and shifting peaks require solid ocean awareness and disciplined paddle fitness to maintain position.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season, and rip risk elevated.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 71% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:12
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Capbreton
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Capbreton is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Capbreton is a beach break on the Landes coast of southwest France, next to Hossegor. A deep underwater canyon (the Gouf de Capbreton) runs close to shore, amplifying and focusing incoming swell energy. The beach faces west and produces powerful, well-shaped waves. Less famous than neighbouring Hossegor but produces quality surf with a slightly mellower character on the main beach.
Picks up westerly Atlantic swell, amplified by the canyon bathymetry. An easterly offshore wind is ideal. Works on all tides. The 3-6ft range is most user-friendly. Consistent September through May. The canyon effect can make the swell here slightly bigger or differently shaped than beaches further north.
The main beach has multiple peaks. The section near the harbour jetty can produce a defined wave when the sand aligns. Peaks shift with the banks but the beach is reliable. The area closest to the Hossegor border picks up the canyon effect most.
Powerful waves due to the canyon effect. Strong rip currents on bigger days. The harbour jetty creates currents and should be avoided. Bigger than it looks from shore due to the deep-water focus of swell energy.
Free and pay parking along the beachfront. Direct access to the sand. The town has full facilities including a good selection of restaurants and surf shops. Less tourist-heavy than Hossegor.
Less crowded than Hossegor despite adjacent location. The canyon effect is not widely known. Good days see 15-20 people. A more local, relaxed atmosphere than the Hossegor circus. Surf schools operate in summer.
Capbreton is Hossegor without the hype. The canyon effect creates interesting wave shapes that differ from the standard Landes beach break. The harbour area has excellent seafood restaurants. If Capbreton is too powerful, the beaches north towards Seignosse offer mellower alternatives. The fish market by the harbour is outstanding.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Capbreton tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 50/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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