Calling the Canary Islands the surfing capital of the world wouldn’t be accurate; there are many countries with better spots. But thanks to the ocean, strong winds, and waves, kite surfing and surfing in the Canary Islands have a place. These sports are popular here, with schools and beaches perfect for beginners. Keep reading to learn more useful information.

Kite surfing and surfing in the Canary Islands: common points

First, let me make it clear: I’m not a surfer or a kite surfer, so I don’t know which winds are best or where the waves are gnarlier. But I’m an expat who travels extensively across the islands, and I have surfer friends.

Here are the main points about kite surfing and surfing in the Canaries:

  • The ocean water is cold year-round. Without a wetsuit, you’ll get chilly in about 15 minutes.
  • There are quite a few surfing schools where you can rent equipment or join group lessons. You can also opt for private lessons with a coach.
  • If you rent a board, the wetsuit is often not included in the price; you usually have to pay extra for it.
  • Prices vary from beach to beach and island to island, but here’s a rough estimate: board rental is around 20 euros per day, wetsuit rental is 5-10 euros per day, and a two-hour group lesson with all equipment included is 40-50 euros. Discounts are available for multiple lessons paid upfront.
surfing in the Canary Islands price
These are average prices in euros for rentals and lessons at surfing schools in the Canaries.

Useful to know:

All schools operate on a “show up, pay for 1-3-5 lessons (however many you want), and start training in a group on the same day” basis. Groups are small, usually 5-10 people, so the coach can work with everyone, even if their skill levels differ. So, you can come for a holiday, find a school, and buy a few lessons on the spot for the next couple of days.

The same goes for kite surfing, but prices are three times higher, and there are no group lessons. Typically, kite surfers train outside populated areas, each with their own personal coach.

  • The favorite app of all surfers and kite surfers, where they check weather forecasts, wind strength, and direction: https://www.windy.com
  • For surfing, wind direction isn’t crucial; waves are what’s needed, so surfers can be found around the perimeter of any island where possible. But for kite surfers, wind is crucial, and one peculiarity of the islands is that there’s almost no wind in the south. Kite surfing spots are usually in the northwest or northeast of the islands. For weather, water temperature by month, and winds in the Canaries, check the article linked.

Beaches for kite surfing and surfing in the Canary Islands: photos, coordinates

Below are a few beaches, just a small fraction of the hundreds where surfers can be found. In reality, there are many beaches for kite surfing and surfing in the Canaries. But you’ll get some idea of where to find waves and boards.

I recommend reading an article about the best beaches in the Canaries. It covers beaches for leisure as well as a lot of information about the coastline, breakwaters, and the types of beaches on the islands. You’ll get a complete picture of beach recreation, including wild beaches.

tenerife surfing
This is a typical beach on almost any resort in the Canaries. These beaches are sheltered from wind by rocks and breakwaters. There’s no opportunity for surfing or kite surfing here; there are no surf schools on such beaches. If surfing is important to you, choose your resort carefully; not every one is suitable.
  • Surfing in Tenerife (there’s an option to book online) is available on the south coast between the main resorts of Los Cristianos and Las Americas. This isn’t for beginners; the waves here can be very strong.

There are also many beaches with waves along the entire northern coast of Tenerife. Below are the options to book an online surfing lesson in Tenerife:

canaries surfing
I took this photo right at the coordinates above. It’s a long coastline with consistently great waves.
  • Surfing in Gran Canaria – the best beach on the island is Las Canteras Beach. It’s unique, with areas for both families and surfing. Las Canteras Beach is in the capital city of Las Palmas. It’s a three-kilometer beach with a cool promenade and all the necessary infrastructure. Surfers hang out on the southern part of the beach, as indicated below. There are schools and board rentals here; the beach is perfect for beginners.
best surfing in canaries
Las Canteras Beach is suitable for everyone; it’s an excellent resort where you’ll find surf schools right on the beach and great waves. You can come here with the whole family; there’s something for everyone, including children. It’s the best beach for surfing in the Canaries for beginners without a car.
surfing lanzarote
The plus side of Playa de la Garita is that there are usually small groups and tiny waves for first-timers. In the photo, you can see beginners in the water.

Kite surfing in the Canary Islands is much more challenging. There are fewer beaches and spots compared to surfing. The kite surfing capital of the Canaries is considered to be Fuerteventura, where there are the most suitable beaches and excellent wind due to the island’s lack of high mountains, allowing the wind to flow freely. Read about Fuerteventura and the best beach resorts.

Below are beaches where I often see kite surfers

  • All central beaches of the Corralejo National Park, such as Playa Alzada, Playa del Moro – links will open maps.
  • By the way, there are often surfers there too.
  • Also, a very good area for kiters is Playa de Sotavento de Jandía and everything within a radius of 2-3 km from this point: 28.11963245192942, -14.251062613453161. This location is only for kite surfing; sometimes there are windsurfers. These are wild beaches with good wind, no waves, and a vast expanse of water. There’s no place for surfers here. You need a car to get here.
  • Regular surfing on a board is also available on Fuerteventura. You can book lessons with an instructor or rent a board through the link. They also offer kite surfing and windsurfing lessons there.
fuerteventura surfing
Specifically in the photo is Playa Alzada. All beaches in Corralejo National Park are suitable for surfing and kite surfing. In the photo, between the two kiters, you can see two more surfers.

Travel Tips

A few general tips about surfing in the Canary Islands and kite surfing:

  • Kite surfers often fly in with their own wings. Rentals are available, but there’s less choice of schools and equipment compared to surfers.
  • Surfers, on the other hand, typically rent everything on-site.

The most important advice for beginners:

If you’ve never tried surfing but really want to, you can always take a single lesson at any school in the Canaries. But that’s not nearly enough. To conquer the first small waves, you need 3-5 lessons of 2 hours each. And after the fifth lesson, when you return home, you can confidently tell everyone that you’re a surfer! 🙂

For those planning to rent a board or kite and explore spots around the island – a car is a must. Learn all about car rentals in the Canaries, including specific articles about rental peculiarities and driving on each island.

In conclusion: there are many places in the world where surfing is better. Surfing in the Canaries is ideal for beginners who want to learn, who want to give it a try; you can confidently stand on a board within 2 weeks of your vacation. And then you can travel the world and conquer higher waves.

Useful links to help you plan your dream trip to Canary Islands:

  • Car Rental: LocalRent or DiscoverCars – the most popular car rental platforms.

  • Accommodation:
    • Trip.com – the largest accommodation booking platform.

    • or TripAdvisor – to compare prices among other platforms and choose the best one.

  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Spain and Canary Islands: CheapOair.

  • Tours and activities: GetYourGuide or Viator – hundreds of offers, whales and dolphins, entrance tickets with discounts.

  • eSIM and internet: Airalo.

  • Flights: WayAway compares prices among dozens of companies.

  • Travel Insurance: EKTA.