Board Surfing Belize

Long Caye at Glover's Reef Surf Trip

It is rare that we have conditions for beginners, but possible on some trips. Beginners may only use our foam board, not our long boards. Not all of our guides surf, so surfing lessons are not available for beginners every week. Persons under the age of 13 are not authorized to use any of our surf boards at any time.

 

If you want world-class, immaculately groomed long fetch overhead barrels - you should consider a destination such as Tavarua or the Mentawais. However, if you're a surfer planning to go to Glover's for the reefs and kayaking, windsurfing, etc. - you also might be rewarded with some very fun, VERY uncrowded tropical surf.

Surf Boards

-6’10" fish shape by Spence

-6’10" hybrid fish-fun shape by Blue

-7’10" fun shape by Blue

-7’6" fish custom

-9’2" longboard by Colbalt

-9’0" beginner hard-bottom foam board

 

Surfers may also bring their own board, which we will gladly carry out to the island. One can ride a variety of boards on the break, everything from long boards and fun shapes on mellower days (or for the less experienced) and our wave is also great for the modern fish shapes on bigger days. True short board thrusters occur on bigger days for those in the know. A fish is probably the all-around best bet as it works in most size waves, including smaller, mushier days. Another good option would be the new hybrid "mini-tanker" boards with higher volume/less length in the 6-7 ft range. Our wave is not a consistent short board break but it is a very consistent long board break; any board over 7’ is going to perform well on our wave.

What Else Do Surfers Need?

Booties are required to wear at all times in the water. Our What to Bring list on the Adventure Island at Glover's Reef info sheet (you can request this document to be mailed or emailed to you) includes a discussion of booties. Surfers should bring booties that are thin enough to allow for mobility on the board, yet thick enough to buffer the rock/coral from harming their feet. Some booties made specifically for diving are big and too cumbersome for surfing.

 

What Time of Year is Best for Surfing?

Good waves can be found all year, it depends on the weather out to sea which creates the swells that form the best waves. Winter and spring are windy seasons and Long Caye will usually see a good break of four feet or higher during this time, but occasionally the seas do flatten out for a few days at a time. December through March may be the best time to plan for waves, though we have had flat spells during these months as well. Last season, even the month of May had decent surf for 3 out of 4 weeks.

 

There is no way to predict the surf or wind conditions for a specific date!

 

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The Break

Our wave is a right hand break which starts out in 8-12 feet of water, getting progressively shallower the longer the ride, ending in about 3 feet depth. Moderate to steep on the initial drop, there can also be a slight reform where one needs to cutback to make a second section where the wave walls up again with a fun, punchy, fast, inner section. Because of the shallowness of the break, this wave is not recommended for first time beginners as there is the risk of falling off the board wrong and hitting the bottom. However there is little risk of being "pounded" by the wave inside because it loses most of its force in the shallow water.

 

Swell in the winter is almost always near/moderate fetch trade-wind-driven waves. The Trades blow a near constant 10-15 knots (or more), so often times surfable wave conditions also have "onshore" wind and chop It’s a rare day to have super glassy conditions - although it does happen.

 

Also, because of the reef the wave is very consistent; it’s common to have a 4-6 foot face on the initial drop. Rides of 50 yards are possible on good days when it’s connecting. This is a very uncrowded break, so except for having to share with our other guests, you can catch all the waves you want!

 

Looking for a Belize surf trip?

You can see our surf break in the photo at left.

 

Perched on the brink of the continental shelf, our island base of Long Caye lies on the slender coral ring of Glover's Reef, an atoll 35 miles offshore from Dangriga, in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. We’ve made sure our entire Water Sports Center blends into the undeveloped, natural atmosphere of this tropical island, unspoiled by the modern world.

 

Surf Report for Belize and Honduras

 

Surf Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico and Yucatan region

 

Glover's Reef wind and waves Looking for wind or wave information for our island? Follow the link above to a satellite buoy station with wind and wave information, located 31 miles WNW of our island, right in the area where we cross the Blue on our way to Glover's Reef.

 

Questions? Send us an email: slickrock@slickrock.com or call (800) 390-5715

 

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