El Palmar Surf & Travel Guide – South Spain’s Secret Surf Town
El Palmar surf could just be the star of the Spanish surf scene that you’ve never heard of. It gets the same W-NW wrapping swells that the Portuguese Algarve gets but is uniquely set up for beginner surfers on account of its miles and miles of sandy beachfront. Here’s our guide…
As the incessant search for new surf towns along the Atlantic-exposed Iberian coast marched on past the Portuguese border it seemed kinda’ obvious to us that, at some point, little El Palmar de Vejer would enter the limelight.
We went before it was cool. Just saying. That’s not a boast, because, to be honest, the surfing is a bit better now. A nascent scene headed by two or three boutique and independently owned surf camps dovetails nicely with a chilled Andalusian coast vibe, helping El Pal hit that just-right balance between R&R and fun.
The most popular waves break on the main playa. It’s a sweeping run of just under three miles that has peaks and peaks and more peaks up and down its whole length. There’s never any competition for space; always enough room to score yourself a little take-off zone, provided you’re willing to walk for it.
Those with a car rental can also drive north and south to other bays in the region of Cadiz to score all sorts, from cruisy log points to punchy beach breaks with the potential to get hollow.
El Palmar really lends itself to the more beginner end of the spectrum at heart. The chilled beach hotels and surf lodges that now line the shore are focused on offering small-group experiences for learners, almost all waves are sand bottomed, and the swell is usually a few feet smaller than what it is on the exposed Western Algarve.
Oh yea, and the weather is nice here in December while it’s wazzocking it down in the UK and parts of the US. Pack the SPF!
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Spain
El Palmar surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
FAQs about surfing in El Palmar
The most consistent waves hit El Palmar between October and April, when Atlantic swells roll into the long sandy bays that line the town. Winter brings the biggest surf, while autumn and spring offer a good mix of swell, lighter winds, and warmer water. Summer is smaller and better for longboarding or learners.
Yes – El Palmar’s sandy bottom and variety of peaks make it very suitable for learners, especially on smaller days. The beach is lined with surf schools offering lessons and board rentals. Just be aware that in bigger winter swells, the rips can get strong and the waves punchy. Summer is best if you’re a beginner.
In winter, a 4/3mm wetsuit will keep you comfortable as water temperatures sit around 15–16°C. In spring and autumn, you can usually drop to a 3/2mm, and in summer, many surfers trunk it or wear a shorty for early sessions.
What’s in this guide to El Palmar surf?
Where is El Palmar?
El Palmar, or El Palmar de Vejer to give it its full name, is in the area of Vejer de la Frontera south of the city of Cadiz. That makes it a part of the huge region of Spanish Andalusia.
However, there’s a kicker here that means this one is a MUCH better surf towns than other destinations nearby: The big, wide Atlantic Ocean spreads out on the doorstep. Most of the rest of Andalusia is on the Mediterranean Sea, where there’s not all that much swell on offer.
The nearest airport is in Jerez de la Frontera. It’s just under an hour’s drive to the north and is also where you find the train station with links to Seville and other major Spanish cities.
Personally, unless you’re planning on doing a surf camp, I’d hire a car at Jerez and drive down. It gives you the freedom to explore this whole coastline, to hop up to neighboring Conil de la Frontera to sample the surf there, or go inland for hikes and visits to medieval towns.
(Use DiscoverCars to book your hires – I find them to be among the cheapest in Spain.)
El Palmar surf spots
El Palmar itself spills right onto its own long, long beachfront. That’s where you’re likely to spend most of your days in the water here, since it’s got peaks of all different shapes and sizes, lefts and rights. There are also one or two other named spots in the region. We’ll take a look at the whole lot here.
Cadiz
There are spots right below the old walls of this incredible city – places like Playa de Santa María del Mar, where there’s always a local crew and can be fast, hollow rights and lefts off the groynes. It’s an option if you want a city break and don’t want to leave town to get a bit of surf in, but the localism can be bad. You’re much better off heading north to Redes or south to Roche, Conil, or Palmar itself if you ask me.
>> Read more about surfing in and around the city of Cadiz
Conil de la Frontera
Conil de la Frontera is a really lovely whitewashed town, one of my favs on this stretch of Andalusian coast, in fact. It’s got chilled vibes and some great beach breaks of its own. They come to life in autumn really, a lot like El Palmar but are excellent for beginners in summer.
>> Read more about surf and travel in Conil de la Frontera
Playa El Palmar
There’s no getting around the fact that Playa El Palmar is a popular spot. It’s been called the “most famous surf spot in Andalusia,” and it’s hard to disagree.
The main urban run of sand is just under three miles long. That provides ample space and means that you’ll never be surfing on top of someone else – something that’s not the case in many learner surf destinations around Europe.
The waves vary a lot from season to season. We’ll dig into the right time to surf here a little later, but for now suffice to say that summer is often pancake-flat for weeks on end. Winter, spring, and fall reign supreme, with the larger sets rolling in from December through to Feb.
When it’s 5-7 foot+ then it can be messy, especially with big N winds at play. But when it drops under that and you get a winter E wind then things can shape up and there should be lots of A-frame peaks to play with. Some big days will hold, to give hollowish walls with the potential to be double overhead.
Playa El Palmar is also a bit of a whitewash factory. There’s never any shortage of mush to play on on the secondary swell, which is why we give a lot of kudos to this town for beginner surf trips.
It’s got a rare combo of manageable waves and good weather in the winter and there’s hardly a rock to be seen under the water.
Playa de Faro
You can hunt for waves along Playa de Faro, the point that juts out into the Atlantic channel just south of El Palmar. It’s flat most of the year but huge winter swells can create some big right handers on the outer reef. They’re short rides and drop you into deep paddle channels spotted with boils.
Playa de la Hierbabuena
A bowling right hander will curve off the reef at the end of the point here to give longish walls that mimic Noosa. Some say it’s the best logger wave in Spain on its day.
We’ve never really seen it shine because the wind loves to mess about, swirling NE-E during the winter. When that calms, reports are that Hierbabuena churns out lovely trimming shoulders on a deserted run of sand.
Tarifa
Tarifa is better known as a windsurfing spot but there are also long runs of sand-bottomed break typical of the Costa Luz, along with a growing number of local surf camps to enjoy. It’s a great choice for learners actually, but try to avoid the main wind season – Jan to March.
>> Read a complete guide to surfing in Tarifa right here
Surf lessons in El Palmar
You’ll find plenty of surf school options in town and there’s rarely an issue booking once you get into El Palmar.
If you did want to pre-book to ensure you get a space, then…
The guys at the Hurley Surf Club run a really highly rated offering down in El Palmar. They’ll sort you into groups depending on experience level and have equipment to match. All lessons are on the main El Palmar beach and their surf shack is literally on the sand, so it’s super fast from wetsuits to waves. They’re really welcoming, open most of the year, and have experience with a wide variety of customers, solo travelers, families and the like.
When to surf in El Palmar?
The best time to surf in El Palmar is between November and March. That’s the winter season, when the strongest NW-W swells are pushing through the Atlantic Ocean.
Because it’s tucked so deep into the Atlantic channel from the end of the Portuguese Algarve, El Palmar needs bigger winter swells to push through to get the waves a-rolling. That typically happens around November-March, when the forecasts offer something in the region of 70-80% surfable days.
Now, that’s not to say you can’t get skunked in the winter. You can, just it’s a whole load less likely than it is in summer.
Talking of summer…this can be flat for days on end between May and August but it’s not without surf. There will be days when it works, though it’s almost always better for beginners and groms, since it’s largely small swell or whitewash. A great time to do a surf camp in El Palmar TBH.
Where to stay (for surfing) in El Palmar?
Surf camps in El Palmar
We’re already witnessing the beginnings of a surf camp boom in the region of El Palmar.
The town now boasts some great options. They are mainly good for beginners and intermediates looking to improve, since this is a whole stay aimed at smoothing your way into the water. They’ll have onsite boards, in-house teachers, and things like that.
Check out these for El Palmar…
- A-Frame Surf & Yoga Camp – Everything you’ve been dreaming of. These guys have a fine location right on the beach, packages that include high quality ISA-led teaching, delicious and healthy meals, a beautiful yoga house with ocean view, and just an all-round great vibe. It’s the camp we’d go for in El Palmar.
- Nexo Surf House – Under 10 minutes’ walk to the beach, Nexo Surf House is a big, spacious modern villa with an adjoining surf camp. You book accomodation only here and then just add on lessons and things before you arrive (with a message) or when you check in. It’s good tuition, they do daily lessons, and the place comes with nice additions like an on-site yoga room.
Hotels and other accomodation in El Palmar
If we had to pick one surf town in Spain to keep our eyes on in the next 5 years or so, El Palmar would be it. It’s one of the few places in the country that can offer that warm-water and Atlantic swell combo that’s made south Portugal such a star.
And the hotel scene is cracking…Seems like every year brings another surf shack of cool surf lodge on the beach that’s worth writing home about.
- El Acebuche – This is one of the best couples’ surf boltholes I’ve come across in Europe. It’s cozy, authentic and peaceful. Set just back from the beach, it offers a little garden and private plunge pool. Perfection for a chilled surf stay.
- Casa Orilla Sur A – A bit more modern, great for families, lovely pool. Oh, and walking access to the beach, of course.
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!
