Surfing in playa famara

SURFERS´PARADISE

NEWBIES, BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATE SURFERS

Playa Famara beach is a good training ground for beginners and intermediates. Playa Famara has numerous peaks that work on different swell, tide and wind conditions.

The mellow nature of the waves in certain parts of the bay provide a safe environment to learn to surf. However there are other peaks that offer more challenging conditions for intermediates and experienced surfers. The local vibe is good and crowding is not generally a problem as there is always an empty peak further down the bay.

WARNING

Playa Famara can be mellow and fun to surf in summer but in winter it can get quite heavy with strong rips and even in summer there are days when there are strong currents. Zoco advise all Beginner and Newbie surfers to take a few lessons with a reputable surf school who can advise you on local conditions.

Many surf schools operate out of Caleta de Famara, but make sure your instructor is qualifed. Zoco Travel can organise surf tuition with a BSA qualified surf instructor from 42 Euros per day. www.zocotravel.com

ADVANCED AND EXPERIENCED SURFERS

From October to April powerful Atlantic swells produce heavy, consistent waves at the exposed spots. Average winter size is 6 to 10 feet, with waves of 30 foot plus not being uncommon (waves given in face height). La Santa, a 10 minute drive from Playa Famara, has a deserved reputation as one of Europe's hotspots. With six lava reef breaks in between the villages of La Santa and Caleta de Caballo there's usually a quality wave somewhere during the winter season. Wave types range from fun through heaving tubes to open ocean peaks.

The Famara region whilst not generally as heavy as La Santa has some high quality left reefs that can be epic. Each year the WQS surfing championships are held at San Juan in Famara. The village too, offers some good reef breaks like 'Harbour left (El Muelle)' and a few more that will not be mentioned here ;-). Big wave chargers may want to try the mysto spot, Las Bajas, rumoured to be Lanzarote's Mavericks!