Morocco has a year-round Atlantic swell, and 99% of the time the surf is up in the fishing village of Taghazout. Yoga-and-surf retreat Amouage is the hippest stay, with 20 rooms decorated in souk treasures like vintage textiles and bright-hued tiles. Surf coaching packages progress beginners with daily lessons while surf guiding programs take intermediates and experts to the best uncrowded breaks in the area. At night, poolside barbecues and live music make it easy to meet fellow travelers.

Cold-water surf photographer Chris Burkard credits the Lofoten Islands with changing his life. Yes, surfing in the Arctic is cold, but the tradeoffs are worth it: crowd-free waves and a chance to get barreled beneath the Northern Lights. Unstad Arctic Surf makes the frigid waters more tolerable by supplying heavy-duty wetsuits and booties. They’ll also transfer a portable sauna to the beach. The family-run hotel sleeps up to 55 in cozy cabins to a penthouse suite with original Burkard prints.

One of Costa Rica’s original surf hotels, the Gilded Iguana opened its doors in 1988 with two rooms, a bar and handful of surfboards. In 2018, new owners transformed it into a stylish, 29-room resort with a pool, restaurant, spa, and gym. Playa Guiones, one of the top surf spots on the Nicoya Peninsula, is just a five-minute walk. The surf club caters to newbies and pros with a selection of over 190 boards of all shapes and sizes, while instructors radiate pura vida.

Nicknamed the land of eternal swell, Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast has offshore winds that make it possible to surf nearly all day, every day. When American Jade Chang Sheppard took over this boutique hotel in 2018, she re-imagined it as an all-inclusive stay for surf fanatics like herself. Inside the 12-room property there are comfy, minimalist digs; meals made from the organic garden; and yoga classes. Surf coaching and guided boat trips to long, peeling waves like Lance’s Left are on offer daily.

Chile’s most renowned surf spot is at the doorstep of this 12-suite boutique hotel. Interiors of reclaimed timber and stone allow the rugged scenery to steal the show. Reliable surf and endless, left-breaking waves make this a destination for surfers globally. And the restaurant, with ingredients from the hotel’s organic garden and wines from the Colchagua Valley, is a favorite of discerning locals. Boards, wetsuits, and lessons are available—reserve a wood-fired hot tub to warm up post-surf.

The team behind whimsical beach retreat Areias do Seixo debuted this family-friendly surf lodge in 2018. Down the road from its sister and an hour north of Lisbon, Noah Surf House’s 21 rooms range from bunks to bungalows. Its location, steps from the mellow waves of Praia de Santa Cruz, make it a solid base for first timers. The surf school can outfit guests with wetsuits and top-of-the-line boards, and Experienced riders can join guided surf safaris to the best peaks up the west coast.

The only hotel on Oahu's storied North Shore is fresh off a major renovation. 42 secluded ocean bungalows have been added to the resort’s 410 rooms and suites. Set on 1,300 acres, with five miles of coastline and seven beaches, Turtle Bay has always catered to the surf set, with lessons and boards. But now, famed local waterman Jamie O’Brien is heading up the surf school with beginner lessons and advanced programs like training for Banzai Pipeline, a break that’s a proving ground for pros.

One of the most consistent barreling right-hand surf breaks in the world, HT’s is just in front of this all-inclusive surf retreat on Sipora Island off the west coast of Sumatra. And ten more world-class waves can be accessed by a short boat ride. Bathtub-warm water and a backdrop of white sand and swaying palms makes this an idyllic destination to learn, and yoga classes and massages keep aches at bay. With just five boho-chic villas, you’ll feel like you’re on your own private island.