The best luxury surf resorts in the world
From first-class spa treatments to uncrowded line ups, luxury surf resorts are a growing phenomenon. These lavish resorts offer some of the world´s best breaks, ultimate comfort and world-class dining. Get ready for the best waves of your life.
NIHI is “a place to connect with something larger than oneself.” This eco five-star resort - voted best hotel in the world - is situated on Sumba Island between lush jungle and a stunning beach and is home to one of the world´s most desired waves: “God´s Left” or “Occy´s left”. After a 50-minute flight from Bali to Tambolaka, it's another 1.5 hour drive before you reach the secluded resort. To completely get into the spirit of seclusion, NIHI offers a three-villa treehouse, besides its 27 villas.
Catching a wave here isn´t easy, but once you get one you are rewarded with an exceptionally long ride. NIHI limits the amount of surfers to 10 per day to make sure you´ll have an incredible surfing experience. Newbies can have a try at nearby Coconut Cove, where you opt for a half-day lesson with breakfast or lunch. Besides surfing there are plenty of other activities to do, such as swimming with horses, cooking classes and trekking in the jungle.
How to get there: first fly into Bali then fly into Tambolaka Airport on Sumba Island (TMC).
Best season: all year with peak in April-October
Four Seasons at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Four Seasons knows how to bring barefoot luxury to the next level. This eco-luxurious resort with 175 rooms gives its guests privileged access to two renowned surf spots giving consistent swells all year round: Ollies Point and Witch’s Rock. Surfers of all levels can enjoy the waves here and take lessons through the hotel´s surf school (or join a guide to discover other surf spots).
The Four Seasons in Costa Rica is committed to preserving and regenerating the environment and leaving a positive, enduring impact on the local community. Some of the initiatives put in place by the resort are energy sourced from renewable or carbon-free sources, elimination of single-use plastic water bottles, local, sustainable and seasonal menu items available and water-efficient landscaping. Furthermore, guests can join a coral restoration project by diving with dive-masters on a rescue mission to clean, catalogue and restore fragile coral reefs struggling to survive in the waters surrounding Papagayo.
How to get there: fly to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR). From there it is a 40-minute car ride.
Best season: all year with peak in April-July
Six Senses, Malolo Island, Fiji
Surrounded by crystal clear waters and pristine beaches, Six Senses Fiji is located in a beautiful bay on Malolo Island, only 25 km from the airport. Six Senses Fiji offers 24 spacious pool villas and residences with two to five bedrooms. The luxury resort has its own private beach and the famous spot Cloudbreak is only a fifteen minute boat ride away. Other breaks in the area are Restaurants, Wilkes and Swimming Pools, and there are waves for beginners as well. If surfing is not for you, or your partner, the resort offers plenty of other activities, such as snorkeling, cooking classes, underwater cleanups and sailing.
Sustainability lies at the heart of Six Senses Fiji which is reflected throughout various sustainability programs that include conserving energy and rainwater, making on-site high-quality drinking water and growing organic produce. The resort has one of the largest off-grid solar installations in the Southern Hemisphere using Tesla batteries, where energy from the sun produces 100% power for the resort and desalination plant. Furthermore, the resort is home to 39 Fijian Crested iguanas, a critically endangered native species with less than 5,000 remaining in the world. The resort makes every effort to ensure that these special residents are safe and that their habitat, between the villas and spa, remains as it was found.
How to get there: fly to Fiji´s international airport at Nadi (NAN). From there a transfer can be arranged to Port Denarau where you can get a private or group speed boat transfer to the resort. Alternatively, a helicopter transfer can be arranged from either the airport or Port Denarau.
Best season: the biggest and best waves in the dry season from March to October. Smaller waves November-February.
Amazing eco-resort with overwater villas overlooking endless blues, Gili Lankanfushi is a private island where the accommodations blend in harmoniously with their natural surroundings. Jailbreak is the wave closest to the resort at just a five minute boat trip. Other spots near the hotel are Honkies, Sultans and Chickens. At Gili Lankanfushi you´ll find waves for every level.
With its environment in mind, buildings at the resort are constructed out of responsibly sourced local materials like teak, palm wood, bamboo, and palm fronds that were harvested during the island’s rehabilitation process. Guests have organic toiletries in refillable earthenware containers in their rooms and a dedicated desalination plant provides still and sparkling water for all guests. By sourcing ingredients locally, including pole-caught seafood and vegetables from the organic vegetable garden, Gili Lankanfushi tries to reduce its footprint and serve the freshest, most nutritious meals. If you want to get involved yourself, you can sign up for coral cleaning adventures, collecting underwater data with scientific organizations like Manta Trust, and other sustainable initiatives.
How to get there: fly into Velana International Airport (MLE) on Malé. From there the resort will greet you and escort you to your speed boat transfer.
Best season: smaller waves February-March, peak season in April, June-October the biggest and best waves.
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle, Sri Lanka
Located on Sri Lanka´s south coast, Anantara Tangalle is truly a haven of peace. Surrounded by 42 acres of lush coconut trees, the resort with 152 rooms offers ocean view villas, private dining and surf lessons. This coastline is perfect fo beginners and intermediate surfers and the best surf is from April to November. Within 15 minutes of the resort you can choose between an easy right pointbreak, a left pointbreak, hollow, peaky beach breaks, drops at a big wave spot and sand-bottom beginner beaches.
Partnering with neighbors and local government, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle is committed to preserving its coastline through initiatives that include water conservation, zero waste gardens, guided nature walks and wildlife and mangrove conservation. In support of the community and local cottage industries nearby, the daily catch is brought by a local fisherman, while seasonal produce are consciously sourced from within a 10 km radius.
How to get there: fly to Colombo (CMB), then it´s a 2.5 hour drive to the resort.
Best season: peak July-August, longboarders and smaller waves November-April
Mexican spirit and contemporary luxury meet at the One & Only in Palmilla, set in a lush tropical garden at the Sea of Cortez. The One&Only offers spacious rooms, suites and villas on the stunning Los Cabos peninsula. The area offers consistent waves, from beach breaks to reef breaks and point breaks. Other experiences await at the resort are sailing, horseback riding, whale watching, holistic ceremonies etc.
One&Only Palmilla has always been committed to initiatives that give back, protect, and help build a sustainable future. Baja’s rich land and abundant ocean serve as an integral part of the unique One&Only Palmilla experience. The resort has introduced new sustainability efforts designed to reduce plastic waste, conserve water, and mitigate the collective impact on our planet. One&Only Palmilla´s dedicated water conservation program introduces a state-of-the-art EcoPure Water Purification System helping produce and bottle the highest quality of filtered water onsite, while eliminating the need for single-use plastics.
How to get there: fly to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). From there it´s a 20-minute ride.
Best season: all year with peak in June-August
A surftrip on a liveaboard gives you access to the best and empty lineups. Tropicsurf´s Savu Sea cruise is held on the Si Datu Bua, built by the master Konjo boat builders of Sulawesi. It´s ideally suited to small groups and Tropicsurf’s flexible Savu Sea itinerary. This magnificent, three-stateroom Phinisi sailing schooner melds the best of traditional island sailing vessels with all of the modern amenities and safety features that have established Silolona as the undisputed standard for excellence. The cruise will bring you to unnamed breaks and waves good for beginners through pros. For non-surfers there is a range of activities, such as fishing, snorkeling, visiting villages etc.
How to get there: fly into Bali (Denpasar Airport, DPS), from there you a private charter can be arranged, or you fly into Tambolaka Airport on Sumba Island (TMC). The cruise leaves from Nihiwatu Resort.
Best season: April-October with peak June-August
Mukul Resort is located on the southwest Pacific shore, in a coastal region known as the Emerald Coast. All accommodations at the resort have ocean view and are furnished and decorated with works made by Nicaraguan artisans – carved native teak tables, sugarcane twig headboards and rum barrel staves. If you are looking for an ultra-luxury experience, you can book Casona don Carlos; the Pellas family’s private beach residence which features a 20,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor living area with 80-foot-high palapa ceilings. Resort activities include the beach club, clifftop spa, golf, yoga, surf lessons, guided hikes, fishing excursions, and children’s activities.
World-class breaks without the crowds, that is what surfing in Nicaragua looks like. With seventeen impressive surf breaks within a forty-five minute drive, Mukul is a premium surfing destination. Come surf at Manzanillo Point, a left point wave directly in front of the resort’s private beach club. Without public road access, outside surfers may only visit by boat.
When Mukul was built, the goal was a complete integration of the resort with its surrounding environment and communities. Mukul’s founders and staff work daily to celebrate and conserve natural resources. One of the environmental initiatives at Mukul is a partnership with local farmers to protect the water sources of local residents. Small farmers are given financial incentives to leave trees standing, reforest barren areas, and implement water catchment strategies to more effectively retain water. The resort also works actively within the community with projects such as access to clean drinking water, planting trees and projects at local schools.
How to get there: fly into Managua or Liberia, Costa Rica. From there a driver will await you to take you to the resort.
Best season: all year with peak June-August
White Pearl Resort, Mozambique
Thanks to its unique location, you can combine an exciting bush safari with a tropical beach and surf (or dive) vacation. Located just 100km south of Maputo, Maputo Special Reserve is one of 36 biodiversity hotspots identified worldwide. White Pearl Resort is situated on Mozambique’s Lagoon Coast and offers 22 luxurious ocean-facing suites, which have been designed to take advantage of their beautiful natural setting, while protecting the fragile eco-systems beneath them. The surf is excellent for surfers of all levels, at Ponta Mamoli, with long stretches of sand-bottom point breaks. More experienced surfers can find powerful waves at Ponta do Ouro.
White Pearl Resort is committed to the sustainability of the land and protecting conservation areas through educating guests, staff and community on how to enjoy, appreciate and protect the environment. There is a dedicated Activity Centre on-site with a team who facilitate not only activities but all initiatives for the resort´s sustainability programs. One of the programs is the initiative towards raising awareness and improving the understanding within communities to protect the endangered turtles, which has been running since 2011.
How to get there: fly into Maputo. From there the resort can arrange for a 4x4 transfer, or helicopter transfer.
Best season: April-October with peak June-July
If you are interested in booking any of these resorts, just send me an email to arlette.diederiks@fora.travel and I will happily sort out your travels!
All photos are courtesy the respective hotels.