On a wild and Mars-like island, you’ll find waves of all sorts. Welcome to the world of Lanzarote surf, where reefs match Hawaii and beaches are perfect for beginners!
An introduction to Lanzarote surf
Lanzarote might look like a desolate desert, but it’s got rich picking when it comes to waves. Yep, they call this one the Hawaii of Europe. Rugged walls of volcanic rock descend straight into a lashing ocean. Along the coast, some seriously awesome swells entertain everyone from the complete novice to the barrel-hunting pro.
The mainstay of the scene is in Caleta de Famara. Once a quaint fishing town, it’s rise has been astronomical in recent years. That’s mainly down to its 3-mile long length of sand, which braces the Atlantic and gets regular swells and whitewash. If you’re after any surf school Lanzarote trips then that’s the likely playground.
Of course, there’s much more than that. You’ve also got the brutal tubes of La Santa and all the lesser-known point breaks of the east coast, not to mention the rocky bays up north. With such variety, it’s easy to see how something is pretty much always working in these parts. Whether it’s the dominant W swells or the strong Sirocco winds that make the waves, finding something to ride is rarely a challenge.
Off the waves, Lanzarote is a stunning place to be. After you’ve put away the board, evenings of volcanic-grown wine and spicy mojo potatoes can take over. Elsewhere, there are hiking adventures to cloud-haloed mountains and trips to lava fields.
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This is a part of our greater guide to surfing in Canary Islands
Lanzarote surf at a glance
Wave type: Beach break and reef breaks // Level: One spot for beginners, many for experts // Season: All year but winter is best
The good:
- Always sunny and warm.
- Pretty consistent.
- Some hardcore breaks – it’s not the Hawaii of Europe for nothing!
The bad:
- Some localism, especially in the more advanced Lanzarote surf spots.
- Still not warm enough to surf without a wetsuit.
- Those touristy resorts on the south coast.
What you’ll find in this guide
Where is Lanzarote?
Lanzarote is the easternmost of the Canary Islands. It’s only 75 miles or so from the coast of Africa at the closest point, which means it picks up the same uber-reliable Atlantic trades and swells as Morocco. The island of Fuerteventura is the nearest neighbor (apart from the tiny isle of La Graciosa) – you can even catch a ferry there from Playa Blanca in the south.
Surf Lanzarote: A complete spot guide
Lanzarote might just be the most surfable of the Canary Islands. It’s got beaches, reefs, point breaks, and whitewash up its sleeve. But all that’s spread right across the island, so you’ll need to know where to go to find the waves you want the most.
Caleta de Famara
Caleta de Famara is the town that sits at the end of long Playa de Famara. It’s the longest beach on the island, coming in at nearly three whole miles. It also gets swell from both the north and the west, so it’s perhaps the most reliable spot going in Lanzarote. That shows. There are surf schools everywhere, and not a morning goes by that you don’t see a crowd with their foamies and rash vests playing in the whitewash.
But don’t go thinking that Caleta de Famara is only for beginners. It’s definitely not. There can be some very punchy swells here, particularly if you make for the middle of the beach where things are stronger. The wave is a peaky beach break that suffers a lot from cross shore wind. But when the trades die down, you can get long rides that go both and left. Works on both low and high tide, but watch out for seaweed when the water’s in.
Read our full guide to Caleta de Famara surf right now!
La Santa
La Santa is the break that’s really put Lanzarote surf on the map. With enough pizzazz to match even the tubes of Hawaii, it’s drawn pros from all four corners, shortboards in hand. Put simply, this is not a break for beginners or even intermediates. When it works, it’s unforgiving. It rolls straight over a shallow volcanic reef, creating one of the best barrels in the hemisphere. Offshore winds help matters, but you’ll need to prep for one of the fastest rides of your life if you’re brave enough to paddle out.
Orzola
Like Caleta, Playa de Orzola is a beginner-friendly beach break. It sits on the northern end of the island, but is a tad more exposed than its compadre. That means the surf schools tend to desert the place when the waves and the wind get high, especially as the rides aren’t as long and the swells not as consistent. For an extra challenge, move to La Canteria. It’s just around the headland, forming into a nice, fast left when the tide comes up.
Jameos del Agua
Jameos del Agua might be better known for its caves and cacti plantations than its surf, but the waves here are probably the best on the east coast. Pretty exposed and breaking over a relatively deep reef, the wave is a point break in essence. When the stars align it’s a lovely left-hander that can actually be a long ride of over 100 metres or more. Be wary of localism.
A guide to the Lanzarote surf season
It’s super-important to know the different surf seasons in Lanza before you dive in and book your trip. That’s because the changing swell directions and wind strengths can make summer a whole different kettle of fish to the winter. To put it another way, you won’t want to paddle out to La Santa in December expecting a mellow longboard wave!
March-May
For intermediates and improvers, the springtime might just be the best Lanzarote surf season of all. There’s a nice mix of winter swell power subsiding into the lighter summer waves. What’s more, the increasing heat hasn’t brought the Sirocco winds just yet, so it’s just the trade winds that are there to create a mess. As for reliability, we recently spent a whole month surfing in Caleta de Famara in April and there was just one day when the conditions weren’t suitable.
Wear: 3/2 Vissla 7 Seas is a great pick (men). O’Neill 3​/2 Bahia Back Zip Wetsuit (women)
June-August
The hottest months of the year in the Canary Islands see the waves dip to their lowest. Don’t believe the Lanzarote surf forecasts entirely, though. Many an excellent surf trip to Caleta de Famara has happened when there’s apparently nothing happening in the ocean. Generally speaking, everything is tamer from around June onwards. It’s the perfect Lanzarote surf season for anyone trying out the sport for the first time, but just be sure to bring the SPF stick and the sunscreen!
Wear:2mm long-sleeve shorty (men). 2mm long-sleeve shorty (women)
September-October
The late summer and the autumn see the crowds dip in Lanzarote. There’s also an uptick in the groundswells that roll into the popular spots on the north-west coast. Around 50% of the days in September are rideable in Caleta de Famara at this time of the year, so there’s plenty of water time up for grabs. That only grows the closer to winter you get, aside from when the Sirocco winds chop up anything that starts to rise when they’re at their strongest at the start of November.
Wear:2mm long-sleeve shorty (men). 2mm long-sleeve shorty (women)
November-February
This is when the energy of the Atlantic really kicks in. Prevailing swells switch N-NW and bring punch to the reefs of the coast around Caleta de Famara. But it’s La Santa that draws the crowds at this time of year. It gets rolling with triple overheads or higher, drawing veterans of the North Shore to try out something in Europe. Of course, the extra ferocity means that pretty much everywhere has consistent surf in the wintertime. It’s a little less clean than on days when it gets working in the summer, but the waves are strong, powerful and challenging. You’ll need a 3/2 and booties if you’re hitting the reefs.
Wear: 3/2 Vissla 7 Seas is a great pick (men). O’Neill 3​/2 Bahia Back Zip Wetsuit (women)
How difficult is the Lanzarote surf?
Lanzarote is a whole island, so there’s no hard and fast rule about how hard the surf is. That varies from spot to spot and season to season. The good news is that there’s something for basically all levels here, though overall we’d say that it’s skewed towards the more experienced end of the spectrum.
Don’t let that put you off coming for a surf camp. It really shouldn’t, mainly because Lanza still happens to play host to arguably the very best learner spot in the whole Canaries chain: Caleta de Famara. It’s now packed with surf camps and surf schools and has waves virtually all year for everyone from total newbies to experienced intermediates.
Thing is, Famara is actually one of the rare beach breaks here. Away from that fantastic learning town, the coast is more rocky and reefy. It gives harder point breaks and even mega XXL waves like the one in La Santa. They are breaks that you won’t want to mess with, especially on those heavy winter NW Atlantic pulses between November and March!
Where to stay for surfing in Lanzarote
Lanzarote was a holiday island long before it was a surf mecca. That means there should be all sorts of accommodation on the menu. From family villas with glinting pools to salt-washed fishing cottages right by the beach. Some of the best recommendations if you want to be near to the waves are:
Lanzasurf
This is a fully-fledged surf camp package that’s run by what we’d say is the leading lodge on the island: Lanzasurf. It includes five days of surfing and four hours of surf tuition. You’ll stay in the uber-fun surf house that’s right on the beach. The vibe is usually great fun and the instructors are all internationally qualified.
Seaview Famara Beach
A romantic little pad with enough space for up to five people, this cottage on the edge of Famara town is perfectly suited for a Lanzarote surf holiday by the main beginner beach. You’ll get a balcony from where you can check the swell, a comfy living area, and walking access to the local surf schools and rental points.
Villa Daniela
Treat the whole family to a pad in the stylish urbanization area of Caleta. Cue Villa Taguluche Famara. In the main house, there’s enough to sleep up to 5 people. It’s got a large living space and fitted kitchen, along with big gardens with sea views. The best part? The waves of Caleta de Famara beach are less than 10 minutes’ walk from the front door!
Where to eat in Lanzarote
Lanzarote is all about the Canarian food and wine, with a touch of Spanish tapas and a few good pizza joints thrown in for good measure.
Beach Food Las Bajas
Chilled and easy-going Las Bajas is a cyclist’s and surfer’s mainstay in Caleta de Famara town. There’s a mix of sliders and salads on the menu, along with cold beer and local wines. A few choices for veggies add to the mix. On sunny mornings, grab a coffee and sit outside to watch the surf schools prepping for a day on the water.
Mama Africa
A mix of Mediterranean meat and salad joins with some eastern and African dishes in this lovely eatery in La Santa. The vibe is pretty gourmet, so be sure to dress up nice (no wetsuits allowed). Service is sleek and efficient. The setting is cosy with a dash of the romantic.
Things to do when you’re not surfing in Lanzarote
You don’t have to twiddle thumbs when waiting for waves in Lanzarote. There’s plenty to do, from trekking up volcano cones to driving under hulking mountains made of fire. Here’s just a taster…
Risco de Famara
Pull on the walking boots and hike the cliffs of Risco de Famara. The trailhead is in the town of Caleta de Famara, so most surfers should find it easily. The trek is an awesome one. It zig-zags through a deserted valley, past wild cacti and shrubs, then over a rocky ridge onto a plateau where you’ll see the highest point on the island and the observatory. The reward? Sweeping panoramas of the surf beach and the volcanos inland!
Timanfaya National Park
No trip to Lanzarote could be complete without a day at the amazing Timanfaya National Park. A desolate land that looks plucked from the surface of Mars, it was formed by the eruptions of volcanos centuries ago. These days, you can head there for scenic drives around the craters and even taste Canarian meats grilled above open magma chambers.
Playa del Risco
Simply stunning Playa del Risco is only accessible after a long hike down a hair-pinning trail. That means it’s often deserted. But if you’re up for it, the result is a spot to call your own on glistening white sand that’s lapped by acquamarine water, all facing the beautiful island of La Graciosa.
How to get to Lanzarote
Lanzarote is an island, which means the best way to get in is by air. Thankfully, it’s also a super-popular place for holidaymakers. That means there’s almost always a good deal on low-cost flights into the main local airport in Arrecife. Be sure to check out connections from the UK with Ryanair and easyJet – they are usually the cheapest. We typically use Skyscanner for that. It lets you select a whole month and will reveal the cheapest departure.
How to get around Lanzarote
There’s really limited cross-island transportation links, so we always recommend getting a car. Thankfully, in Spain and the Canaries, they are super-cheap. A recent month-long rental out of Lanzarote airport, complete with a surfboard rack and bigged-up boot space cost us in the region of just €350/$350! Yep, a month of car rental for 350.
Now that’s actually a VERY good deal so don’t go counting on that every year. Plus, the pandemic seems to have cranked up the cost of car hires in Europe across the board. Either way, the best chance of getting a good deal on car hires in Lanza will be with Rental Cars. They’re our go-to booking portal for wheels and – at least in our opinion – offer the most flexibility since the cars are usually totally cancellable up to something like 24 hours before.
This Ultimate Guide to Lanzarote surf is always being updated and changed. If you think we’ve missed something or gotten something wrong, we’d sure love you to get in touch. You can use email or just drop a message in the comments below.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
2 comments
Other recommendation in Lanzarote since 1996, surf school and surf camp with differents activities (surf, yoga, dive, kite and trekking) with comfort surf house just 100 meters from the paradise Famara beach. http://www.lanzarotesurf.com
Cheers Maike! Hope you’re finding time to surf during lockdowns!