Learning to Surf? These Beginner-Friendly Spots Have Chill Waves and Great Vibes

Visiting a new place—trying new foods, meeting locals or exploring the outdoors—often requires you to step outside your comfort zone. And if you’re traveling to learn to surf, there are additional considerations: picking beaches with calmer waters, searching for the right instructor and finding a community that’ll cheer you on with every wave.

That’s why it’s worth heading to what Brick Howze calls “the place outside of the place.” According to Howze, a music producer and self-taught surfer born and raised in Los Angeles, these are the smaller, more forgiving beaches beyond the better-known destinations nearby.

Howze, who also founded Ebony Beach Club (a collective dedicated to helping Angelenos reconnect with the ocean and find joy in belonging through lessons, retreats, and parties) recommends that beginners step off the tourist trail and head to the festive beaches of Brazil, southern Ghana or, most surprisingly, New York City.

With accessible waves and Howze’s stamp of approval, these destinations are perfect for travelers who want to pick up a board and try something new.

Praia da Macumba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

People-watching, fresh açai bowls and the communal feel as just a few reasons Howze likes surfing in this corner of Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Brick Howze)

You’ll find Howze’s favorite waves about an hour outside Rio de Janeiro, at Praia da Macumba in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood. “It’s a really cool little beach town. It’s the most authentic version of Brazil to me. Rio can be a little flashy, shiny, but Recreio and Praia da Macumba will give you that real, authentic Brazilian experience.”

A large rock formation separates the beach here into two sections, one of which offers calmer waves. After a full day of surfing, Howze recommends dinner at SULT, a cozy restaurant serving Brazilian-Italian fusion and natural wines, before heading to Casa Black Rio to spend the later hours of the night dancing samba.

Still, you can stay in downtown Rio for access to everything. Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro is an institution just steps from the iconic Copacabana Beach.

Playa Negra, Costa Rica

Howze has hosted Ebony Beach Club surf camps in Playa Negra, thanks in part to its beginner-friendly waves. (Photo courtesy of Brick Howze)

“The reason I love Playa Negra is because it checks all those beginner boxes. The waves are really beginner-friendly,” said Howze, who’s hosted several trips to Costa Rica with Ebony Beach Club.

He likes the area’s black-sand beaches, which have fewer crowds and offer what he calls an organic Costa Rican experience. Outside of surfing, you can also take dips in the country’s hot springs and go on waterfall hikes.

Book a room at Cafe Playa Negra, an intimate boutique property that’s a quick 10-minute walk from the beach.

County Line Beach, Malibu, California

After a day spent surfing at County Line Beach, Howze recommends stopping by Neptune’s Net for fresh seafood and cheeseburgers. (Yasara Gunawardena/The Infatuation)

In a region filled with surfable beaches, Howze recommends getting away from the city crowds and heading to County Line Beach, aptly named as it sits right on the line where Los Angeles and Ventura counties meet.

“County Line has all these different waves all over the place, so there’s variety and space to spread out,” Howze explained, rather than crowded waters where surfers compete for one perfect wave.

After toweling off, head to Neptune’s Net, a historic food shack that’s been serving clam chowder and seafood baskets since 1956. Or, check out one of the Malibu restaurants recommendedOpens overlay by our friends at The Infatuation.

For your stay, book The Surfrider Malibu, a beachside getaway steeped in California history that offers surf lessons with local experts.

Busua Beach, Ghana

It’s a long journey to get to Ghana’s Busua Beach, but the friendly locals and inviting waves are well worth the trek.

When Howze is in Ghana, he skips the capital and heads west to Busua to get a true feel for West African surf culture. Getting there is a journey, though—one that requires hiring a driver for a seven-hour ride down the coast.

“When you get to Busua, it’s such a beautiful mini haven,” said Howze, who describes the beach as friendly and inviting, like the waves themselves.

There are just a few small lodges to pick from here, but the waves will be well worth it. You’ll want to spend a few nights in Accra on either end of your trip; at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra, you’ll find a spa and two restaurants serving Mediterranean and Asian fare.

Pua‘ena Point, North Shore Oahu, Hawaii

At The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, you don’t even have to leave the hotel to catch great waves.

Howze calls Pua‘ena Point “the most beginner-friendly wave on the North Shore of Oahu.”

While most tourists head to bustling Waikiki, Howze prefers the perfect swells and unspoiled nature of the North Shore. In addition to its strong surf culture, the area is also great for snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming with wild dolphins.

When he’s in Oahu, Howze stays at The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, which has an open-air feel and some of the “most beautiful Hawaiian views you can get.” For first-time surfers, Howze also recommends signing up for surf lessons through the hotel’s Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience.

Lakey Peak Beach, Sumbawa, Indonesia

Outside of Bali, you’ll find a surf haven with consistent waves at Lakey Peak.

You fly to Lakey Peak in central Sumbawa, a few hours east of Bali, for just one reason, Howze said. “If you’re not going there for surfing, there’s no reason to be there.” In the surf world, the area is well-known, with waves that Howze describes as consistent and crystal-clear. Lakey Peak Beach, he said, is best for advanced beginners who’ve had some previous experience in the water.

“This is for people who want to elevate their surfing. You go here, and you’re going to come back 20% better at surfing.” To kick off your trip, fly into Bali, where you’ll find plenty of accommodations, including Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, a jungle hideaway with riverfront villas in Ubud.

Rockaway Beach, New York City

The Rockaway Hotel + Spa places you right by the uncrowded waves of Rockaway Beach. (Photo courtesy of The Rockaway Hotel + Spa)

New York City might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of surfing, but for a few months of the year, during hurricane season, “the whole surf community is all eyes on New Jersey and New York,” Howze said.

Another reason he loves surfing in the Rockaways is its lack of crowds and unexpectedly close-knit surfing community. “I think that’s why Rockaway is really cool. They have a really dope beach community there,” he said.

For a stay that’s all surf and less city, book a room at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa, which is just steps from the beach and its closest subway station. The hotel has plenty of amenities, including a heated pool, rooftop restaurant and bar, saunas and full-service spa. The Rockaways also offer plenty of incredible restaurantsOpens overlay for when you work up an appetite.

Lead photo: Brick Howze.