Surf Holidays Santander & Somo The first surfing reserve in Spain

In 1963 Jesús Fiochi of Santander became the first Spanish surfer when he rode a wave on Santanders El Sardinero beach. Since then the region in the state of Cantabria in Northern Spain has become rich in surfing history and has a tradition of producing some of Spain's best surfers.

Santander is the capital of Cantabria, and has a population of approximately 175,000. It has its own airport and ferry service to the UK. Across the bay is the surf town of Somo, a small town that has grown to become a thriving surf centre full of surf schools, surf shops, surf camps & surf cafés and other facilities such as the skate park opened in 2012.

Somo is on the beach so everything is within easy walking distance. It is a laid back place so just imagine yourself with sand in your shoes for your entire surf holiday in Somo!

In 2012, the 12km wave-rich stretch of coastline from Somo to Galizano, known as Ribamontán al Mar, was officially declared the first Surfing Reserve in Spain. This recognised the importance of surfing in the region and put it on the world map as one of the best surf holiday locations in Europe.

It is estimated the Santander and Somo coastline receives 300 days of waves a year! The long white sandy beaches are perfect for beginners learning how to surf or intermediates wanting to progress. For advanced there are reefs off the cliffs further East of Somo.

The main surf beaches in the area are: El Puntal, Somo, Loredo, Galizano y Langre. As well as surf they offer spectacular scenery and beauty. Langre beach regularly features in the top 10 beaches in Spain. A surf holiday in Somo is a great place to stay as a base. It offers a variety of different accommodation types, surf schools and Somo surf camps. The beach in Somo stretches for 6kms and off the beach there are cafés, restaurants, bars, In 2011 a skatepark was added, facing out onto the beach.

The cuisine of Ribamontán al Mar is one of its hallmarks. Thanks to its excellent location on the coast and its proximity to rural farming land the region offers a great choice with plenty of its own natural products. You can choose from local rural restaurants in Somo or head to Santander for a much larger choice.

As well as surfing in Somo, the surrounding area offers a lot of natural beauty. Small forests, country roads, interesting paths that take you from meadow land down to the beach. Great for exploring on foot, car or on a bike - most surf camps in Somo have bike rental.

The region gets mixed weather, it reaches 25°C in summer and 13°C in winter, and it gets it fair share of rain, giving it a lovely green landscape.