China Beach, Canada
Also within 20 km of Port Renfrew
- Port Renfrew Surf spot · 0.4 km from Port Renfrew
- Quartertide Rocks Dive site · 4.2 km from Port Renfrew
- Kellett Rock Dive site · 5.2 km from Port Renfrew
- Sombrio Beach Surf spot · 10.2 km from Port Renfrew
Watch this spot We email you when China Beach is worth the trip.
About China Beach
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces S (193°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (13°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 600 m out (1 in 62). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 8°C in February, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 12°C in August, its warmest (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves). For beginners the best months are usually March, April, May and June, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Port Renfrew. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 10°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 9 h 20 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA), direct.
See flights MDW → SEA · Skyscanner from about £215 returnAdGetting there. 3 h 15 from the airport to China Beach.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Port Renfrew, 27 km (about 50 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer China Beach: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Port Renfrew, 27 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Port Renfrew 48 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 26 places to stay · where China Beach stays
Places to stay in Port Renfrew · Booking.com AdSooke 48 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 11 places to stay
Places to stay in Sooke · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Port Renfrew · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Port Renfrew · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
China Beach on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 29, too small | 2 ft9 ssoft | 79kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 3 knots | 10°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft9 ssoft | 46kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 3 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 15kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 13°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft8 smushy | 14kJ | wind from the north-west, 2 knots | 13°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft10 ssoft | 84kJ | wind from the west, 5 knots | 10°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft9 ssoft | 60kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 4 knots | 9°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 5, too small | 2 ft8 ssoft | 29kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 19 knots | 9°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 13kJ | offshorewind from the north-east, 1 knot, offshore | 9°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 5, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 6kJ | wind from the east, 5 knots | 10°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft7 smushy | 7kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 2 knots | 9°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight MDW to SEA, then 3h 15 by road. About 9h 20 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight MDW to SEA, then 3h 15 by road. About 9h 20 door to door
Rough cost
About £705–£1,300 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to SEA, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £215–£445 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £705–£1,300 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Port Renfrew
- Renny's Highway 14 Old School GrubComfort food · 0.4 km from the centre
- Bridgemans West Coast Eatery0.7 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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