Want to surf epic waves without spending a fortune?
You’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up the 10 cheapest surfing destinations in the world. Places where you can surf world-class waves for less than $30 a day.
From tropical islands in Asia to hidden gems in Africa and Latin America, these budget-friendly surf spots offer the perfect mix of affordability, consistency, and vibe.
Use our WaveFinder search engine to find the destination that best suits your surf style and budget.
1. Indonesia
Read our complete surfing guides to Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa
Not only is Indonesia one of the cheapest surfing destinations in the world, it also is one of the best, period. With many world-class breaks either on Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumatra or in the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia has definitely become a must-visit destination for every passionate surfer.
Waves are consistent throughout the year, peaking from May to October and a typical day can cost you less than $25.
Find a surf camp in Indonesia, starting at US$125
2. South Africa
Read our complete surf guides to Muizenberg and Jeffrey’s Bay
Known as the surfing mecca of its continent, South Africa has a wide coastline that connects two different oceans and is home to some very popular world class waves.
Despite being a sharky country, South Africa is attracting surfing adepts from all over the world due to its cheap cost of traveling, amazing landscapes and stunning wildlife.
Find a surf camp in South Africa, starting at US$155
3. Sri Lanka
Read our full surfing guides to South Sri Lanka and Arugam Bay
Located right below India, Sri Lanka is somewhat similar to its northern neighbor, without the big chaos that is found pretty much everywhere around India. It will also be slightly more expensive, but nothing outrageous. A day will easily cost you less than $30
The whole south side of Sri Lanka is very popular from November to April due to favorable winds. There are several surf towns spread along this side of the island such as Hikkaduwa, Ahangama, Midigama, Weligama and Mirissa.
During the rest of the year, you can head to Arugam Bay, on the east coast which has several point breaks as well as offering a very special laid-back surfing vibe. This region is also where the best waves in Sri Lanka will be found.
Find a surf camp in Sri Lanka, starting at US$175
4. Peru
Peru is one of South America’s most underrated surf havens, especially for those traveling on a budget. With its low cost of living, affordable accommodation, and abundant local eateries, surfing in Peru can cost as little as $20–30 per day. Peru is also home to the longest wave in the world, Chicama, where rides can stretch over a kilometer on a good day.
Coastal towns like Huanchaco, Punta Hermosa, and Máncora offer consistent waves for all levels, a laid-back surf culture, and plenty of low-cost lodging. Transportation is also cheap and accessible, with buses and moto-taxis connecting the surf towns easily.
Read our complete surfing guides to Chicama and Huanchaco
5. Nicaragua
Nicaragua offers some of the cheapest and most consistent waves of our list. With 300+ days of offshore wind every year, surf towns like San Juan Del Sur, Popoyo and Playa Colorado are all great places to settle down and score perfect waves every day without spending a pretty dime.
6. Ecuador
Ecuador is not the most popular surfing destination in South America, with Brazil, Chile and Peru stealing most of the spotlight. However, the surf in this small country is insanely consistent and fun.
Montanita is a small surfing village located near Guayaquil which is a great place to set a base on a surf trip to Ecuador. A typical day will cost you no more than $30 and you are almost certain to get waves and be able to enjoy tropical weather in a very friendly environment.
7. El Salvador
El Salvador has seen its reputation hurt by political instability in the last few decades. However, now that things have settled a bit, it is now a very interesting surfing destination in Central America. This country has many world-class point breaks like Punta Roca, Salvador’s most popular surf spot.
Since tourism is still low compared to Costa Rica, for example, the costs associated with a surf trip to El Salvador are very reasonable for the overall quality of its waves.
Read our surf guide to El Salvador
8. India
India might simply be the world’s cheapest country to travel to. In fact, accommodation and food can cost you less than $20 per day…There is also some decent surf in this country that is usually not mainly visited for its waves.
The region of Kerala, down south, is pretty exposed during the swell season that runs from March to November.
If you feel more adventurous, the Andaman Islands still have a few unexplored waves waiting for you…This trip will be a little more expansive though, due to lack of infrastructure.
Read our surf guides to the Andaman Islands and Kovalam
9. Morocco
Morocco is a world-class surfing destination, known for its dreamy point breaks, rich surfing culture and cheap costs of living. While surfing in Morocco, you can easily find accommodation for as cheap as $10 per night and eating out at a restaurant can cost you less than $5.
When you add the rich Berber and Islamic culture, year round sunshine and delicious cuisine, you get a cheap and rewarding surfing destination that should be on every surfers bucket list for 2025.
Read our complete surfing guide to Morocco
10. Philippines
Philippines is still a fairly underrated surfing destination in Asia. However, this archipelago has some amazing surf spots that can definitely match the quality of any waves in Indonesia or Maldives.
The island of Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines with many great waves like Cloud 9 which could be considered like the Asian version of Backdoor.
There are also several spots for less experience surfers which are perfect to get into reef break surfing. On top of that, food and accommodation are very affordable on the island.