Water Sports in Taiwan

Wai’ao, a long beach of dark sand in Yilan’s Toucheng township, is Taiwan’s busiest surf town, reached by train from Taipei in about 90 minutes. Surf shops and hostels line the beach road, rentals run from sunrise to sunset, and lessons cost around NT$1,500 including a board for the rest of the day. There are left and right peaks along the beach, but watch for rocks and hidden boulders at high tide. Just south, Honeymoon Bay at Daxi is a sheltered cove with a more local crowd and a better shape on bigger days.

The east coast faces the open Pacific and catches the most consistent waves in Taiwan. North of Taitung city, Jinzun is a crescent beach below a cliff-top viewpoint with powerful beach-break peaks, and it has hosted international surf contests. Donghe has a river-mouth break that is one of the best waves on the island when the swell lines up, and Chenggong, a fishing town further north, adds reef and point setups for experienced surfers. Dulan, between Taitung and Donghe, is the laid-back base, with surf hostels, cafes and a small arts scene.

Lessons in Taitung, usually with certified coaches, cost about NT$1,500 to 2,000 including the board. Get there by train to Taitung and a rental scooter or car up the coast highway, or by the coastal bus. The east coast picks up swell year round, with the best run from autumn to spring.

Kenting, at the southern tip of the island, is the summer surf destination: warm water, boardshorts weather and beginner-friendly beach breaks at Nanwan and Jialeshui. Waves are best during the southwest monsoon from about April to September, when the north coast is flat. Jialeshui, on the east side of the peninsula, has surf hostels that run two-day beginner packages, while Nanwan is busier, with jet skis and banana boats sharing the bay. Expect about NT$300 to 600 for a day’s board rental and NT$800 to 1,500 for a lesson. The Kenting Express bus runs from Kaohsiung’s Zuoying station in about two and a half hours.

Penghu is flat and exposed, and from October to March the northeast monsoon blows through the Taiwan Strait at around 25 to 35 knots, sometimes over 40. That makes it a destination for experienced kitesurfers and windsurfers, who base themselves around Magong and the beaches of Longmen and Shanshui, with downwinders along the reef-fringed coast. In winter the islands are cold, grey and almost empty of tourists. Beginners do better in summer, when lighter winds at Aimen beach suit lessons; a few schools near Magong rent kites and boards, and some ask for a large deposit. North of the main island, Jibei has a sand spit with jet skis and banana boats in summer.

Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest lake, sits at about 750 m in the hills of central Taiwan. Operators around Shuishe and Ita Thao rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and run early-morning tours, when mist sits on the water and boat traffic has not started. Swimming is normally banned, except during the Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival, an annual crossing of about 3 km held in early autumn that draws tens of thousands of swimmers.

Typhoons, mainly from July to October, bring big swell to every coast but also strong currents, closed beaches and cancelled ferries. Our best time to visit Taiwan page has the weather month by month, and our getting around guide covers the trains and buses to each coast.

Swim only at beaches with lifeguards and inside the flagged zones, which on most beaches operate only in summer. Rip currents are strong on the north and east coasts, and many beaches there are signposted as no-swimming. Surfers are generally allowed at the main surf beaches, but local rules and closures change after typhoons, so ask at a surf shop. Respect the line-up at crowded breaks like Wai’ao, and keep to beginner zones while learning.