Philippines · Indo-Pacific
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San Juan in La Union province is the Philippines' most established surf town on Luzon's western coast. A gentle beach break over dark volcanic sand produces soft, slow-crumbling waves ideal for beginners. The growing Filipino surf community has its roots here, with local surf clubs, competitions, and a welcoming culture that embraces newcomers. The wave is forgiving, the water is warm, and the town offers affordable lessons and rental, making it the Philippines' primary gateway to surfing.
The north-east monsoon (Amihan) season from October through March sends consistent wind swells directly towards the west-facing coast. Typhoon energy refracted through the South China Sea also delivers waves. The spot works on 2-5ft of north-east to north-west swell. South-easterly offshore winds clean the face, most reliable at dawn. Summer (April-September) is generally flat on this coast.
The main surf area has a wide, gently sloping sandy bottom with multiple peaks. Beginners should stay in the reformed whitewater close to shore where the waves are small and manageable. Intermediate surfers can sit on the outer bars for longer green-face rides. The southern end of the beach near the rocks occasionally produces a more defined peak.
Minimal hazards. The flat sandy bottom presents no reef or rock hazards in the main surfing zone. Mild currents can develop on bigger swells. The main risk is other beginners lacking spatial awareness. Jellyfish appear occasionally.
Accommodation lines the beachfront with surfers walking directly to the water. Parking is available at beachfront resorts and along the main road. Surf schools and board rental are abundant and affordable. Full facilities including restaurants and shops serve the area. La Union is a 5-7 hour drive north of Manila.
Weekends bring crowds from Manila, particularly during monsoon season when the waves are running. The inside zone fills with learners and surf school groups. The atmosphere is friendly, supportive, and community-oriented. Weekday mornings are significantly quieter. The Filipino surf community is warm and welcoming to visitors.
The monsoon season provides the waves but also brings rain. Pack rain gear. The water is warm (27-29C) year-round, so board shorts and a rash vest are sufficient. A soft-top or longboard maximises fun on the gentle faces. The local surf instructors are skilled and affordable. If La Union is flat, Pagudpud further north picks up more swell. The town has a lively evening social scene centred around the beachfront bars.
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Based on historical weekly averages
Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
How busy each week is based on school holiday overlap from feeder markets.
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 29 days of logged conditions.
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at La Union (San Juan). The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical mid-June.
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).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at La Union (San Juan) is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Slim pickings. Only worth it if you are gagging for a wave. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Light onshore crumble taking the edge off. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
Heads up: thunderstorms forecast, and jellyfish: peak season.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
Good water clarity: ~13m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at La Union (San Juan)