Canary Islands

Where to surf in Canary Islands

More Africa than Europe, the Canary Islands are blessed with warm water, volcanic reefs and a winter swell pattern that has earned them constant comparisons with Hawaii. The islands enjoy perfect bathymetry and abruptly focus the deep ocean swells onto the shallow lava reefs. The winter swell pattern extends from the W around to the N and summer sees constant N to NE trade-wind swells and onshore conditions for the north and east coasts. The 2m tidal range is enough for high or dry conditions on many of the volcanic slab reefs while the beachbreaks usually break through the tide. While the strong Latino culture can cause localism problems at some spots, there are plenty of options around all the islands to get away from the crowds and go surfing “island style”.

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

The two easternmost islands in the chain present an arid, almost lunar landscape influenced by winds from the Sahara.

It’s the power and magnificence of the autumn, winter and spring swells that really have given Lanzarote its “Hawaii of Europe” renown. The predominant NE trade winds can be a problem and grow in intensity in summer, when only a few spots remain rideable.

Fuerteventura is home to far more sandy beaches than the other islands. Strong winds are part of the deal, making this island a world-renowned kite/windsurfing spot, but there are plenty of waves to be found in the calmer winter months with it’s North Coast being the epicentre.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria may have the best weather in the world and it is also blessed with good surf.

The most popular surfing area is Las Canteras with a variety of beach and reefbreaks, from El Confital to El Lloret. Countless spots can be seen along the north shore but many of them are dangerous and have difficult access like the slab reefs around Galdar. This coast is a swell magnet and can pick up small summer swells at beaches like Los Enanos, El Roque and Vagabundos.

The west coast is a wall of sea cliffs so surf spots are almost non-existent. Tauro, Arguineguin and Maspalomas are the best spots in the south, working on large W swells, but this area is nowhere near as consistent as the north.

The east coast breaks receive swell all year round and offers many good quality spots, including La Izquierda del Muelle, which works in the dominant NE winds.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the biggest and most populated island in the chain, towered over by the snow-capped Pico de Teide (3718m) and countless coastal high-rise tourist developments. The two main surf zones couldn’t be further apart.

Bajamar in the northeast is home to some solid reefs in N swells and S winds plus the reliable beachbreak at Almáciga.

Down on the southern tip lie the waves of the overdeveloped Playa de las Americas resort. This area is crowded both on land and in the water and localism is rife at the famous La Izquierda reef. The NW swell window is narrow but the NE wind is almost dead offshore so clean conditions are commonplace.

There are more spots to search for on the south-facing coast especially in summer SE-SW windswells. The east coast is largely poor to average beachbreak, but it gets a lot better way up north at Igueste de San Andres.

La Palma, Gomera and Hierro

The western group of Islands are less touristy and harder to get to and consequentially, have remained off the Canaries surf radar.

La Palma’s volcanoes are still active and plunging sea cliffs are one obstacle to surfing on the north and west coast. The black sand beaches in the Porto Naos area like Los Guirres are worth a look for both beach and reef peaks in W–N swells. The coastal plain on the east coast is jagged and twisting, leaving few options for quality waves. On the NE-facing coast Nogales beach has some peaks that are difficult to get to but break all-year-round.

Gomera is even more cliffy, so quality surf spots are few and far between. There are pocket beaches around the island that might have the odd wave but the main spot to check is the various peaks at Hermigua.

The story is the same for Hierro with some rocky beaches on the northwest and east coasts that rarely offer quality, but west of Restinga in the south is a righthand reef at Tacoron worth searching out when the trades are blowing.