Malaga surf isn’t going to match what’s on offer up in northern Spain but it’s not all that bad when big winter pulses and windswells get rocking.
An introduction to Malaga surf
Malaga isn’t the prime beef of Spain’s surf country. Hell, it’s not even close.
The time-honored spots of Asturias, the Basque Country, and Galicia are a looonnng way from here. But don’t discount the old gateway to the Costa del Sol just yet.
There are waves on offer, usually brought in by strong winter or fall windswells that churn up the Med into something that the sunbathers ain’t so happy with.
What’s more, if you are lucky enough to come by when there’s water moving around the jetties and catch a ride in Malaga then count yourself anointed, because the town can add a cherry on top in the form of Mudejar churches that blow the mind and paintings by none other than Pablo Picasso (heard of him).
We’ll say about surfing in Malaga what we say about surfing in across almost all of the Spanish Mediterranean. Don’t come expecting Hossegor. Do come looking for a trip that’s, maybe, 20% wave riding and 80% sierras, pueblos blancos, and glorious beaches.
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!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Spain
Malaga surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Malaga surf?
Where is Malaga?
Málaga is a port city on the Costa del Sol in the southern part of Spain. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia, which is one of the main tourist centers of the country. The surf here mainly takes place to the south of town, where the costa bends first south (AKA – east-facing beaches) and then west (south-facing beaches).
How to get to Malaga?
Getting to Malaga should be easy – this is one of the most-visited corners of Europe, remember? The Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is the main international airport serving Málaga and the Costa del Sol region. Many airlines operate flights to Málaga from various cities around the world, especially from European destinations like London and Berlin.
If you’re in Spain or nearby countries, traveling by train can be a good option. Spain’s high-speed train service, AVE, connects Málaga with cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville. We use Omio to search and book train travel in Europe in advance, when it’s cheaper.
Do I need to hire a car to surf in Malaga?
A car hire is definitely a good choice for surf trips to south Spain. There’s no better way to hop from beach to beach and put together that Andalusian adventure we mentioned – public links can’t be relied upon to get to the mountains, the white-painted highland towns, and the surf spots.
Use RentalCars for hires in Spain – they’re the best in Europe if you want our two cents.
Malaga surf spots
Most of the better and more consistent spots in Malaga line up along the Costa del Sol to the south of the city. Get to those with your own car, since the public transport here is okay but usually busy.
Nerja
Basically the only spot in the lovely Andalusian port town of Nerja – a real favorite with the sun seeking crowd – is the beach of Playa de Salon. We’ve never, ever seen it working but a local mate assures us that there’s a pounding beach break that pops up in the mid-winter swells. It’s more of a bodyboard spot than something surfable but nonetheless doable if you don’t mind risking snapping the stick. Our advice would be pack a cheap foamie and just enjoy the scenery – the white-painted villages of the Andalusian sierras top the hills just above here. It’s cool.
Benajarafe Beach
Benajarafe Beach in Málaga offers modest surfing potential compared to northern Spain’s iconic breaks. Best surfed during the winter months, the beach can harness powerful pulses and wind swells. For optimal conditions, look for southern and southwestern swells, especially when coupled with northerly or northwesterly offshore winds – usually a winter combo. Strong levante winds will also give sloppy knee-high waves for practicers here.
El Chanquete Beach
The locals refer to El Chanquete Beach as El Dedo. We have no idea why but the only thing you need to know is that this is the prime spot in the Malaga area. Most of the summer it’s flatter than a Spanish omlette. But good S winds or E levante winds bring good swell potential, and there’s an angle here that sucks up refracting groundswells from the Atlantic. The output is often the same – think wedgy A-frames up and down the sand with a touch of punch to them. It’s usually a good vibe here because it’s a beginner playground for visitors to Malaga, and within walking distance of the urban promenade.
Los Alamos
Los Alamos is one of the main urban beaches of the good-time family resort of Torremolinos. If you can look past the rows of huge resort hotels and their gaudy pools and high-rise blocks of apartments, then some of the best easterly windswells occur along this stretch. That means waiting for the levante, which typically blows hardest in spring and fall, bringing damp air conditions across from southern France. When it happens, Los Alamos will offer mushburger peaks the whole way along, which might occasionally shape into something rideable if you’ve brought extra volume. What this beach does fantastically is tick the boxes for complete beginners, hence the local surf school.
Fuengirola Beach
When big winter storms cut across the Med between November and March, there’s nowhere to be but Fuengirola. There are two manmade breakwaters here that hoover in the windswell on the water but offer a touch of protection from the wind itself. Inside and outside the harbor walls, it’s possible to nail down wedgy peaks that can offer rides of 40-50 meters, maybe 60 on a decent day. The best conditions send 5 foot pulses in and they should be ridden with a shortboard and a willingness to pump and turn off the lip to really squeeze everything out of every ride.
Marbella
There are a couple of spots that actually work fairly well in the chic yachters haven of Marbella. They almost never push past 5 foot but are a rare option that works well in the summer months, when the sun is ALWAYS shining and that Med H2O is bath-warm. We’ve got a complete guide to all this but suffice to say that the two standouts are Cabopino Beach, a nudist stretch that gets lippy peaks, and the reefs out front of the mouth of the Río Guadaiza, which could just be the best spot in the whole of the Costa del Sol – think rippable lefts that drag across the cobblestones in line with Marbella’s iconic maritime walkway.
Check our complete guide to surfing in Marbella.
Where to stay when surfing in Malaga?
The gazillions of visitors that come in search of tapas, sunbathing, parties, and Picasso art ensure there’s no shortage of hotels in Malaga. We’ve picked out ones that put you within striking distance of at least one of the surf breaks mentioned above…
- MalagadeVacaciones – Muriel – A breezy and bright self-contained flat with a sunny terrace and stylish interiors. This will put you literally across the road from the most consistent break in Malaga town.
- Sea View with Parking by LU&CIA – Another very high-quality self-catering option with sea views from the lounge and garden over the main surf beach in Malaga.
- Las Ranas CASASOLA BEACH & GOLF VILLA – Get the full Costa del Sol experience by booking this big villa outside of Marbella. It’s quite far from Malaga but does mean you can surf the beaches of Marbella – the most consistent around – and have golfing right on the doorstep. It’s luxury, too, and sleeps up to 15 people at once!
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Malaga?
Because wind swell is the engine to the surf breaks up and down the Costa del Sol, you’re going to get way better action in the late fall and winter months. The late fall tends to be better for east-facing beaches, because it’s when the levante blows off France.
For the biggest swells of all, hold off until Jan and Feb, when there can be push-through pulses off the Atlantic that get Fuengirola firing. The most reliable option for summer is definitely Malaga, which has the exposure and reefs to work on even the smallest of S windswells.
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!
