Stormrider Guide to surfing Fuerteventura North Coast

Canary Islands, EUROPE

Fuerteventura surf at La Derecha, Jose Gonzalez

Summary

+ Powerful lava reefbreaks	- Sharp, shallow reefs
+ North track spot density	- Strong winds
+ Great weather and water temps	- Crowded banner spots
+ Good resturants and nightlife	- Wave-sailing crowds

Fuerteventura surf centres around the north coast which is packed with exposed reefs that pick up all the swells from W round to E and the waves range in intensity from the challenging tubes of Lobos to the mellow walls of Derecha de los Alemanes.

The Canary Islands consist of seven large islands and six smaller ones, stretching 500km east to west and 200km north to south. While Lanzarote is undoubtedly the best bet for world-class conditions, Fuerteventura conceals many short, sucky lava reefs alongside the long sandy beaches that attract so many kite and windsurfers.

When to Go

Both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura consistently pull in the best of the NW-N swells that arrive throughout the major swell season from Oct to March. Deep North Atlantic lows send 4-15ft swells onto the exposed reefs, occasionally topped-up by long distance W swells created by hurricanes or weather systems off the Atlantic coast of America. Summer trades can produce surprisingly big east coast surf, but it is usually very disorganised, short period and wind-blown, hence the popularity of kitesurfing. Small, well-spaced, but rare S swells can also materialise through summer. Wind strength and direction will govern where you surf more than anything else does. The best conditions occur in late autumn/early winter (Nov-Jan), when the NE trades are at their lightest and have a more ENE aspect. Winds tend to get stronger and more NNE towards the end of winter then right through summer. The tidal range hits 2.9m in Arrecife affecting all shallow spots.

Surf Spots

A good summer reefbreak, El Burro works on any big N swell and W winds. Lower tides will make the A-frames hollower, but it is more of a performance wave suitable for intermediates. Known as Glass Beach, the soft beach sand belies the hard reef although there are some beachbreaks nearby. Urchins, locals and flying wind/kitesurf rigs in the afternoons. The closest beach to Corralejo is Flag Beach, which works on any type of E windswell or a big N. When the NW winds blow offshore there are some easy cover-ups among the various peaks. Fairly mellow and easy for beginner/improvers on most days. Take a ferry to Los Lobos where world-class righthanders peel for up to 400m down the side of the island. Very sectiony when small, but a big N swell will line up 3 great tube sections and long rides. Always crowded with ruthless locals. Permits required to camp overnight and it’s a 20 min hike from ferry port. When the north coast is maxed-out on big swells, Bajo del Medio starts breaking outside as a big, bombora-style, right shoulder, but inside there’s a faster and shallower left. Long rides, deeper water and easy paddle-outs perfect for intermediates and longboarders. Critical left point/reef set-up at El Muelle that offers some fast barrel sections on a big NW swell and a dropping tide. The critical take-offs and uneven nature of the reef and line-up mean this is for more experienced surfers only. Bristol’s punchy, hollow reef is inside a bay protected from W winds. Prefers NE swells and is far less dangerous at higher tides. Always crowded with local bodyboarders, campers from the Shooting Gallery and travellers who don’t have a car. Watch out for urchins and rocks popping up at low tide. Close to the road but shielded by a hill, Generosa is a long, lazy wall perfect for longboards and intermediates. Handles W winds and lines up on NE swell. It’s well-covered with good length of ride so attracts regular crowds. Suicidios needs an overhead W swell and high tide to create an aptly named barrel-fest for experts only. Super fickle and rarely gets the weird combo of conditions. Only experts will make up the rare crowd. Mejillones swell-magnet, outer reef works well in a small, peaky W swell, but becomes a real challenge when it is double overhead plus. Shifty, powerful and some fast hollow sections, it’s always bigger than it looks. Tricky rock and urchin infested entry and exit. Low tide currents are strong. Sometimes crowded with protective locals. Majanicho picks up any N swell into the deep bay, creating long rides that shoulder off predictably and give plenty of cutback practice for intermediates and cruisers. Inside section will be half the size of outside peaks. The long paddle-out deters a few surfers but not the kiters when it’s blowing E. Most famous spot on the island and competition site La Derecha (aka The Bubble) is an explosive tubular peak with perfect bowly rights and peeling lefts over super-shallow reef. Mid to high tide only. Spiky reef, urchins and locals. Dawn patrol is only option for tube junkies to catch some set waves. La Izquierda is a much easier wave to ride with fuller walls and the odd hollow section. Handles some E wind, prefers NE swells and is always crowded. Very consistent and always crowded with travellers who don’t want the hassle of surfing next door. Blanket of urchins at low tide. Consistent, swell-magnet reef at Derecha de los Alemanes can even pull in a SW swell and the long, performance walls hold shape in light onshores. Long paddle-out and there’s strong low tide currents into the next bay. Las Lagunas short, shallow, thick-lipped barrels, require speed and skill to negotiate. Sensitive spot needing mid tide and headhigh swells, preferably from the N, to get the favoured rights working. Dangerous, helmeted, barrel-master spot formerly known as Spew Pits. Powerful Cotillo beachbreak forms barrel sections when sandbanks return after winter scouring. Often closes-out when swell is overhead or tide is wrong for the banks. There’s lots more wind and swell-exposed beachbreak down the west coast (Esquinzo, Pared, Cofete) and a few rare south-facing breaks like Las Salinas and Cruz Roja, but consistency is low, the roads are poor and journey times are long.

Statistics

dominant swell

W -N

W -

W -N

swell size (ft)

5-6

4-5

5-6

consistency (%)

dominant wind

N -E

N -NE

N -E

average force

F3-F4

consistency (%)

water temp (C)

wetsuit

3/2

springsuit

Travel Information

Weather
Being so close to the Sahara desert, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura enjoy a semi-arid subtropical climate, that hardly ever sees rain. It gets very hot in the summer and also when E winds (Leste) blow in off the desert, which are partly responsible for depositing white sand on the east coast beaches. The worst phenomenon is ‘La Calima’, a strong E-S wind bringing downpours and a coating of yellowish-brown dust. The cold Canaries current means that winter water temps will be between 18-20ºC (64-68ºF), requiring a 3/2 fullsuit to battle the high wind-chill factor.

Lodging and Food
Avoid all-inclusive deals in east coast resorts and look for hostels (fr $35/n) apartments and villas in eastern Corralejo. Inieka Surf Camp from $480/w. Good seafood, budget $15 for a meal.

Nature and Culture
Try the Glass Bottom Boat to Lobos, the Jandia Camel Safari or visit Fortaleza del Tostón. Many bars, pubs and clubs as well.