Taiwan, or formerly known as Formosa Island is a largish island technically still part of China sitting on the edge of the West Pacific smack bang in the middle of the most active hurricane (or Typhoon as they're known as in Asia) zone on Earth. A skinny and long island (140km wide, 380 km long) it was a lot of coastline. Hurricane swell is very consistent from September-March with winds tending from the north but varying with the hurricane's track.
The east coast is more exposed but the west and southwest coast also do receive a heavy amount of hurricane juice. This geography also allows for rewarding travel with big and offshore conditions always to be found somewhere.
Add to this the warm tropical climate (okay not as warm as Indo but still boardies!), lack of local surfers, a myriad of quality cobblestone points and rivermouths together with top notch infrastructure and pretty nice and unique culture and food and you got yourself a tropical Santosha! Ready to throw it all away to teach English in this modern first and high paced city island? Then check out the details:
Break info:
Tyhpoons cause the swells here and depending on their track is where you'll find the waves. East coast is the most consistant although the west coast can too get typhoon swells. Between Hualein and Taitung good hunting options.
Jian San (Golden Mountain) 25 14 30 N 121 38 03 E
Right hand reef/jetty right. Like all of Taiwan this can get very good. Close to Taipei so expect more crowds then the south/eastern spots blow.
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Asia/Taiwan/jin_san__golden_mountain_/index.html
Dock Bay 24 56 27 N 121 53 43 E
Just north of the popular beachbreak of Dasi/Daxi aka Honeymoon Bay is a small and hollow left breaking just next to an old break wall. Jump off the rocks.
http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Asia/Taiwan/dock_bay/index.html
Bashien-Dong 23 23 49 N 121 28 52 E
A cobble-stone left point break formed by a rivermouth. A great spot. N-NW wind is off shore. From here all the way down to Taitung is prime hunting ground with many quality setups get a car and some mates and hit it.
Cheng-Gong (Palm Point) 23 07 N, 121 23 55 E
Cobbe-stone left point break. North wind is off-shorish. One of the best.
Donghe Rivermouth 22 58 35N , 121 18 53 E
Nice hunting ground around here. Next to the bridge over the river there is a small road going to the beach. Here a rivermouth together wind morning off-shores unviels a great A Frame with occasional cover ups and high performance wackable walls.
Nanwan 21 57 30 N 120 45 37 E
The popular surfing beach of Nanwan is a good southcoast base for exploration with the option of hitting both sides. At the south end near the nuclear discharge plants right hand reef that can get awesome and hollow although crowded by Taiwan standards. A fickle spot, check it in big swell and north winds.
Houbihu 21 56 38 N 120 44 58 E
Just south of Nanwan at the harbor enterance to Houbihu is another classic reef break. A left and right, but the right is superior. Gets hollow.
Wow, looks friggin awesome right?!! Well that's just some of the spots and yes it is that good! Travel there is chilled too, a big city in the north but yet space and clean waves on the east and south. A fairly large surfing community exists of a mix of Taiwanese and expat surfers who are all super cool and inviting. Most surf shops are located in the south or in Taitung. There are many cheap place to stay near all the breaks and this can be arranged for you for under 50USD per day. Just hit the contact button and we'll even go surf with you! Happy hunting. Ran Ticket.
Please do not say Taiwan is technically part of China. That is untrue.
ReplyDeleteThe surfing content is great though, keep the historical content for someone else :)