Surfing Guide to Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

 

• Summary

• When to go

• Surf Camps

• Where to stay

• Getting there

• Safety/Things to know

• Surf spots

   

Summary

The surf in Gran Canaria is truly spectacular with a big variety of waves for surfers of all skills levels. Just like for the rest of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is blessed with amazing swells as well as year-round sunshine and warm weather.    Experienced surfers will have a blast cruising along the north side of the island, from Las Palmas to El Pagador. On this stretch, several surf spots catch most of the winter swells and provide amazing waves.   Beginners can also undoubtedly catch their first few waves on the north side of the island as there are many surf camps and surf schools in the Las Palmas area. However, the south side of Gran Canaria can provide smaller and softer waves, perfectly suitable for novice surfers.    

When to go

The best time to surf Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, is from October to April for bigger and more consistent waves. Beginners looking for smaller waves will probably have a better time from May to September, during the summer season.

	January-February	March-April	May-June	July-August	September-October	November-December
Suitable for:	All surfers	All surfers	All surfers	All surfers	All surfers	All surfers
Air temperature	18°C 64°F	19°C 66°F	21°C 70°F	23°C 73°F	23°C 73°F	20°C 68°F
Water temperature	19°C 66°F	19°C 66°F	21°C 70°F	22°C 72°F	23°C 73°F	21°C 70°F
Crowd	Fairly crowded	Few people	Few people	Fairly crowded	Few people	Few people
Swell Consistency	85%	85%	55%	40%	70%	85%
Swell height	7 ft	7 ft	6 ft	6 ft	6 ft	8 ft

   

Surf Camps in Gran Canaria

4 or 8-day Basic Beginner Surf Camp in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands Starts at US$131, including:

• Daily surf lessons
• Qualified surf instructors
• Various surf spots suitable for all levels
• Accident and liability insurance
• 3 nights accommodation
• Surfing equipment

      8-day Surf and Yoga Holiday in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands US$656

• 5 surfing lessons
• 7 energizing yoga classes
• Experience and certified instructors
• A visit to the Osorio farm and Canarian plantation
• Enjoy an amazing day trip around the island
• 7 nights shared accommodation

   

Where to stay in Gran Canaria

A great place to stay on a surf trip to Gran Canaria is in Las Palmas which gives you the best access to the island’s best surf spots.   Browse our interactive map to find the best accommodation deals in Gran Canaria!

 

Getting there

The two only options to get to Gran Canaria are by plane or by the sea. You can catch a domestic or international flight landing at Gran Canaria Airport or jump on a ferry from mainland Spain or any other islands in the Canaries.    

Safety/things to know

-Waves can get very powerful in winter. -Localism can be an issue. Always respect local surfers.    

Surf spots in Gran Canaria

El Confital Wave direction : Left and right Bottom : Sand and rocks Best tide : Any Skill level : Any Optimal swell direction : W Optimal wind direction : E   La Cicer Wave direction : Left and right Bottom : Sand and rocks Best tide : Any Skill level : Any Optimal swell direction : NNW Optimal wind direction : S   El Lloret Wave direction : Left and right Bottom : Reef Best tide : Any Skill level : Any Optimal swell direction : NNW Optimal wind direction : S