Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Spanish archipelago, the Canary Islands, and as such it accounts for 40% their population. It is situated just to the north west of Africa. Its brilliant sandy beaches, year round sunshine and good trade winds has given this island the nickname "Hawaii of the Atlantic" because it is such a good spot for surfers.
The comparison with Hawaii is a good one. Both islands are volcanic, and are set deep in the ocean. This means that they both receive waves from a long way off, meaning they roll across the ocean uninterrupted gathering momentum, until they hit the volcanic shelf at which point they become surfable waves that break with immense power onto the beaches of the islands. What follows is a brief guide to surfing on Gran Canaria.
The majority of the waves come in from the North West to the North East, which means the place to be is the North Coast or Las Palmas. What is widely regarded as the islands best wave is the El Confital, which is also the hardest wave to surf. It is actually considered to be the best right-hander in Europe by many surfers. It is a fast and hollow wave. And yet, you should only try to surf it if you are experienced, and even if you are, it's important to be humble and respect the priority of the skilled locals.
If you fancy something a little more accessible, then why not head to Los Enanos where you will find a fairly small wave with a beach break over a stone and sand bottom. The conditions of this are quite hard to gauge, though, as depending on the size of the swell, the tide needs to be further in or out. The bigger the wave, the more water is required.
If you fancy one that is more available then the Boquines wave is said to be the most consistent, and available at every tide. It is a right-hander point-break which, when the tide is in gets better at the cost of breaking very closer to the shore, so you have to be careful of the whitewash. There are many more waves to catch than this, so Gran Canaria is clearly a Surfer's paradise.
The comparison with Hawaii is a good one. Both islands are volcanic, and are set deep in the ocean. This means that they both receive waves from a long way off, meaning they roll across the ocean uninterrupted gathering momentum, until they hit the volcanic shelf at which point they become surfable waves that break with immense power onto the beaches of the islands. What follows is a brief guide to surfing on Gran Canaria.
The majority of the waves come in from the North West to the North East, which means the place to be is the North Coast or Las Palmas. What is widely regarded as the islands best wave is the El Confital, which is also the hardest wave to surf. It is actually considered to be the best right-hander in Europe by many surfers. It is a fast and hollow wave. And yet, you should only try to surf it if you are experienced, and even if you are, it's important to be humble and respect the priority of the skilled locals.
If you fancy something a little more accessible, then why not head to Los Enanos where you will find a fairly small wave with a beach break over a stone and sand bottom. The conditions of this are quite hard to gauge, though, as depending on the size of the swell, the tide needs to be further in or out. The bigger the wave, the more water is required.
If you fancy one that is more available then the Boquines wave is said to be the most consistent, and available at every tide. It is a right-hander point-break which, when the tide is in gets better at the cost of breaking very closer to the shore, so you have to be careful of the whitewash. There are many more waves to catch than this, so Gran Canaria is clearly a Surfer's paradise.