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 Les Cavaliers. 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. Strong onshore blowing everything out. Give it a miss.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Les Cavaliers is a highly concentrated, immensely powerful beach break situated in Anglet, on the south-western coast of France. The bathymetry is entirely defined by steep, shifting silica sandbanks heavily constrained by two prominent engineered stone groynes. These jetties capture raw north-westerly Atlantic groundswells, funnelling the energy into an extremely narrow breaking zone. When the swell impacts the sudden vertical gradient of the sandbar, the ocean heaves violently, producing incredibly thick, top-to-bottom plunging left and right-hand barrels. An easterly offshore wind is crucial to hold the heavy lips open. Due to the extreme hydraulic force, the immediate proximity of the break to the shallow shore, and the necessity for rapid, near-vertical take-offs straight into a tube section, Les Cavaliers is primarily the domain of advanced surfers. It is a highly consequential, high-speed arena known for severe hold-downs and broken equipment, demanding absolute commitment and elite tube-riding proficiency.
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 Les Cavaliers
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 Les Cavaliers 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.
Les Cavaliers is a powerful beach break in Anglet on the French Basque coast. It is the most exposed and heavy section of the Anglet beaches, producing thick, fast waves with genuine barrel potential on the right banks. When the other Anglet beaches are mellow, Les Cavaliers delivers power. Named for the cavalry barracks that once stood above, it attracts experienced surfers looking for punch.
Best on solid westerly groundswell with easterly offshore wind. Works on all tides but lower tides produce the hollower waves. The 4-8ft range is where it excels. September through March is prime season. Bigger and more powerful than the adjacent Anglet beaches.
The main peak forms where the bank is steepest. The take-off is fast and powerful. Watch from the cliff to identify the working section. On bigger days, outside sets sweep through the lineup.
Powerful shorebreak. The waves hit harder than typical beach breaks. Rip currents on bigger days. Getting caught inside can be punishing. This is the heavy end of the Anglet spectrum. Experienced surfers only on solid days.
Pay car park above the cliff. Path down to the beach. Alternatively walk from adjacent Anglet beaches. Facilities at the car park level.
Less crowded than it deserves due to the power and consequence. Self-selecting for experienced surfers. Good days might see 15-20 people. The heavy nature means beginners and intermediates stay at mellower Anglet sections.
Les Cavaliers is the spot for experienced surfers wanting Hossegor-style power without the 30-minute drive south. The cliff-top viewing is excellent for assessing conditions. If it is too heavy, walk south to the mellower Anglet beaches. The pintxo bars in nearby Bayonne are world-class.
Strong wind
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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 Les Cavaliers tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 48/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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