The waters of the Cantabrian Sea wash an infinite number of locations, where cliffs, long beaches, and boundless green landscapes are the stars of nearly every sight.

Every year, one of the most popular activities on the peninsula's northern shores, surfing, makes its way to all of these beaches. This water sport is quite common among the large and small towns of the Cantabrian coast, making some of them true models of this sport.

We have the perfect illustration of this occurrence in Somo, Cantabria a town of merely over 1700 inhabitants. You can witness how surfing can put a small area on the map of all surfers in the world.

Why should you go surfing in Somo?

The town of Somo, located on the east shore of the Bay of Santander, is only a few kilometres from Santander and can be seen from various parts of the city.

• Surfing nature reserve: Somo is part of the municipality of Ribamontán del Mar, which includes the villages of Galizano and Loredo. These settlements led by Somo, have helped to establish Ribamontán del Mar as Spain's first Natural Surfing Reserve, making Somo's beaches a site where surfing is not only welcome but also a history that needs to be protected.

Somo is a town that has developed specialized tourism for this activity, enticing any surfer to visit, making it Spain's first surfing destination.

A large percentage of the town's 1700 residents are surfers, and the streets are lined with surf schools, stores, and activities, so if you're searching for a paradise where surfing is the main attraction, Somo is a must-see.

What does it mean to surf in Somo? ?

Practising this sport on the town's beaches entails doing so in Santander Bay, a setting where every vista you encounter on your excursion will leave you dumbfounded.

The city of Cantabria may be appreciated from the coast of Somo, with the grand palace of La Magdalena just a few kilometres distant. Surfing in Somo gives you the advantage of the northern environment’s climate. It is humid in the winter and chilly in the summer, allowing you to surf almost all year because the wave never stops.

Surfing at Somo means taking in the breath-taking views of Cantabria. As it is located in a virtually unpopulated area surrounded by untamed landscapes, yet just a few meters from the city, you can see the province's main tourist attractions.

It also means savouring the many distinct flavours of the town's gastronomy. You can visit any eatery when you need to recharge your batteries after a day of fun in the sun.

Where can you go surfing in Somo? ?

Somo has a 3-kilometre-long beach, flanked on both sides by the beaches of surrounding towns like Laredo and Playa del Puntal.

• Somo Beach: This beach is located at the foot of the town, and on any given day of the year, dozens of surfers may be seen catching waves. The majority of Somo's surf schools are located in this location. Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill level or age, as youngsters can begin surfing on this beach at a very young age.

The wind also attracts kitesurfers due to the weather conditions, bringing together followers of both sports within a few kilometres. Surf with views of the small peninsula that houses the Palace of La Magdalena or the Islet of Corbera while being surrounded by a large green and lush landscape far from the people and structures.

• Puntal Beach: At the end of the Puntal dunes, you will feel as if you are walking on a paradise beach while enjoying the entire Santander Bay, from Loredo to Maliaño. It's an overhanging stretch of sand surrounded on one side by the city and on the other by rural communities, where surfing isn't merely a sport but an adventure. Plus, you get to do this amid an incredible landscape of Somo!

The beaches of Santander like Playa de Cuartas or Playa de los Peligros can be seen from the waves of this region. You can also see iconic landmarks like the Cantabrian Maritime Museum, located only 600 meters away.

• Playa de los Tranquilos: This is the beach next to Somo's, and it has the same weather as its neighbouring beach. Surfing is the most popular sport in the area, as surfers from Somo may surf to the nearby beaches. Surfing between the enormous cliffs of Loredo and the Castanejo river, which separates the two beaches, is possible at this beach.

• Surfing Peaks or Sites: El Barco, which has predominantly right-hand waves and left-hand waves when the tide is low, and the Camping area, which has peaks in both directions, are the most famous spots or peaks for surfing on Somo's beaches. To know exactly where the peaks are on the day you go surfing, Somo offers a prediction tool where you can forecast the swell before heading out to surf.

Cantabria is famed for many things, but one of them is without a doubt being the origin of surfing. The Cantabrian Surf School, the most important in Spain, is located on Somo Beach.

Owing to its fantastic location in front of the open sea, the beaches of Somo are surfable all year. This means that if it's hard to surf in this town, it's impossible to surf anywhere else on that day.

Somo is the birthplace of surfing in northern Spain, and it's no surprise that if you're a surfer or want to learn, you can't miss this little surfing paradise.