Surfing in Canary Islands – Our 2026 Guide

Lanzarote

Lanzarote has risen and risen to become one of the standouts of the Canary Islands in recent decades.

A Mars-like island that pulls in some lovely swells from the Atlantic, it’s perhaps best known for the long sweep of sand that is Caleta, which I rank firmly among the best beginner destinations in Europe.

Go there to learn and you’ll enjoy loads of beach-break peaks in a really cool-chill surf town with ample camps/schools.

At the other end of the spectrum is El Quemao and La Santa – one of Europe’s major XL breaks that fires big in winter.

On the east coast, there are other surf spots that are usually not as popular. A few point breaks north of Costa Teguise take the biscuit, but any further south that than is all resorts.

>>Read our full ultimate guide to Lanzarote surf

Tenerife

Surfing Tenerife is a whole different affair to Lanzarote.

Welcome to the most built-up and bustling of the islands. It’s certainly got the après surf. You’ll even catch breaks rolling right into seaside promenades dotted with Burger King and sunset bars around Fitenia.

The coastline close to that gives way to the colossal Los Gigantes, which also overlook some seriously awesome breakers. And the south hosts Playa de las Americas, a bumping resort town with some reefs that are good for beginners but also pros on certain days.

Of course, there are places to go to find empty line ups. In the wilder region of Punta del Hidalgo up north, for example, there are lava reefs that produce consistent breaks at El Roquete. The desolate coastline of Benijos Beach is also worth a look. The rocks are a ding factory, but the waves usually aren’t crowded.

Tenerife has arguably the best array of surf camps in the Canaries, and one of the best selections of low-cost surf hostels.

>>Read our full ultimate guide to Tenerife surf

Fuerteventura

Most people come to Fuerteventura for the stunning beaches. They are considered the very best in the whole chain. Expect white sand, high cliffs, and waters that are Greek blue.

As far as the surfing goes, it’s the northern half of the island that comes up trumps.

Three towns – and a few smaller fishing villages – are now converting into surf hubs there.

There’s the resort of Corralejo, which has most of the surf schools, and is heavily developed after years of catering to families. Reef breaks sit right off the harbor, with beach breaks stretching south.

Further west is El Cotillo. It’s known for its paradise-looking Shell Beach, but has some very consistent beach breaks that work all year round. In the middle are the towns of La Oliva and Majanicho, which offer loads of rustic/boutique surf stays and good proximity to breaks on east-, west-, and north- facing coasts. It’s really impressive!

I’d say that Fuerteventura has the best surf schools in the Canaries. There’s no doubt about that. The accessibility of the beaches and the abundance of beginner waves ensures it’s the best place to learn overall.

>>Read our full ultimate guide to Fuerteventura surf

Gran Canaria

Surfing Gran Canaria really revolves around the island’s capital, Las Palmas. A break called La Cicer has helped more beginners than you can shake your patatas bravas at into the water. It’s still a kook fest to this day, but hugely fun when the swell is tidy.

More challenging reefs at La Barra and a the rocky-bottomed La Guancha area add to the mixture of options around the city and to the north. Continue down the east coast and you can find lazy wedges that are nice for intermediate improvers at Playa del Hombre. Meanwhile, the monster at El Frontón promises huge challenges, no matter if you’re a veteran of Oahu North Shore or not.

Localism can be rife in Gran Canaria, especially in famous spots like El Confital. It’s a shame, because there only seem to be good vibes in the beer bars after a day on the water.

>>Read our full ultimate guide to surfing in Gran Canaria

La Gomera

La Gomera is often overlooked by surfers, and travelers for that matter. We don’t understand the latter but we get why you wouldn’t come here with the board. It’s one of the least gifted of the chain for swell and spots, but still has a few potential secrets along a stunning northern coast and one big, big slab reef break.

>>Interested? Read our guide to the surfing in La Gomera

La Palma

The upside-down triangle of an island that is La Palma is well exposed to all dominant swell directions in the Atlantic – it’s one of the most westerly of the chain, after all. Sadly, the topography of the island lets it down a touch, and recent volcanic eruptions have done thier bit to keep travelers at bay. There are some good locations for more adventurous surfers, plus nice country hotels in tropical forests.

>>Read our guide to the surfing in La Palma

September – March

Wear: It’s 3/2 or 2mm full suit time at this period, but some also go for rash vest and swimwear – just depends on the weather.

The peak season for surfing Canary Islands waves. You just can’t beat the dominant N-NW swell direction and the prevailing offshores. The further you are from Christmas the more likely it is you’ll have mild conditions. This is no Nazare – things don’t switch on overnight come October. In fact, there’s a waiting game to be played down on The Slab when the midwinter kicks in.

That said, some places are famously reliable. La Caleta de Famara in Lanzarote hardly has an off day the whole of the season. Yes, surf schools flock in, but the beach is so long you’ll always find somewhere to yourself. El Cotillo over on Fuertaventura enjoys nearly 80% groundswell from December to January. La Cicer in Gran Canaria is even better.

Put simply, come surfing Canaries for the winter to soak up the sun and enjoy some of the most reliable surf conditions anywhere in Europe.

April – August

Wear: 2mm shorties or rash vest/swimwear

Reading the above, you might think there’s zero surf in Canary Islands during the summer months. Not so…

It’s true that things get smaller and less consistent. But there’s still an average of over 50% surfable days across the islands. That means popular surf towns like Caleta de Famara and Cotillo are sure fire bets. You’ll rely more wind swell, for sure, so don’t come expecting huge periods of >15 seconds. But that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re after whitewash to practice on or are sharing your summer hols with a little surf trip on the side.

Generally speaking, the two ends of the summer season are best for those who want a real Canaries surf trip. The middle months are scorching hot, a little windy, more busy, and can be a bit of a waiting game.

Quick facts

• Currency: Euro (EUR/€)
• Population: 2.12 million
• Biggest island: Tenerife

Where exactly are the Canary Islands?

The Canary Islands sit out in the Atlantic Ocean. They are way nearer to Africa than to Europe. In fact, Morocco is just 62 miles east at the closest point. The south coast of Spain, meanwhile, is a whopping 807 miles to the north!