Windsurfing in Tenerife
Canary Islands, Spain · Advanced-Pro
By NP7 Crew · Updated
Atlantic trade winds and year-round sunshine at El Médano
Tenerife at a glance
- Best time
- All year
- Wind season
- Year-round (strongest May-August)
- Typical wind
- 15-25 knots
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced · wave & freeride
- Water
- Bump & jump inside, swell on the outside
Tenerife month by month
| Month | Avg wind | Session days | Air |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 kn | 74% | 19°C |
| Feb | 15 kn | 73% | 18°C |
| Mar | 16 kn | 72% | 18°C |
| Apr | 15 kn | 68% | 18°C |
| May | 17 kn | 78% | 19°C |
| Jun | 17 kn | 80% | 20°C |
| Jul | 22 kn | 95% | 21°C |
| Aug | 21 kn | 89% | 22°C |
| Sep | 18 kn | 82% | 23°C |
| Oct | 14 kn | 63% | 23°C |
| Nov | 15 kn | 70% | 22°C |
| Dec | 15 kn | 74% | 20°C |
Model data from Open-Meteo, Jan 2023 to Jul 2026 (about 3.5 years), daytime 9:00 to 18:00. Session days: days with at least 2 hours in a row of 11+ knots (or 16+ knot gusts) between 11:00 and 19:00. Not a wind meter on the beach.
Tenerife's south coast is the Canaries' wind machine. El Médano's bay picks up the Atlantic trade winds nearly year-round, serving up sunny sessions from flatter inside runs to proper swell outside, with the Wind Center Playa Surf right on the beach. Volcano views, café culture and warm water in January: winter training, solved.
Watch: Tenerife: is this Europe's best watersports spot?
What to wear in Tenerife
What riders wore here, by season
How windy Tenerife usually isYear-round (strongest May-August)Year-round (strongest May-August)
Each bar: how often it blew between 9:00 and 18:00 in that month, counted over about 3.5 years of weather records for this area. Not a wind meter on the beach: where hills or a gap speed the wind up (Canaries, Tarifa), it often blows more than this shows.
Which forecast works in TenerifeRiders trust ICON-EURiders trust ICON-EU
Which forecast nails it here? Vote the model you trust.
It's the forecast model. In any wind app (Windguru, Windy…) you can pick which one to show. Not sure? GFS is the safe global default; the high-res ones (ICON-D2, AROME…) are sharper at coastal & thermal spots.
Global models
High-resolution (thermal / coastal)
The spots (10)
Abades
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Mixed, Choppy
Near shore it's extremely gusty and a diving hotspot, so planing at full speed inside the bay is an absolute no-go. Outside, the current is strong, the waves are messy and the wind is punishing.
El Cabezo
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Waves
Powerful, punchy and for experts only. It's a PWA World Cup venue.
El Poris
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Waves
A small bay with onshore wind and shorebreak. No margin for error and, honestly, not much reason to go.
Harbor Wall
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Waves
Absolutely incredible wave sailing with a good safety margin: fall, and the waves drift you into the bay rather than onto the reef. The shallow reef gives the waves real punch and lets you push upwind.
La Caleta
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Waves
Comes alive when the northeast trades weaken and a westerly fills in. The entry is uncomfortable: a small, busy parking area, a rocky beach of big boulders with only narrow gaps, and a big shorebreak when it's windy.
La Jaquita
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Intermediate · Waves
A nearby hotel offers some protection, so the shorebreak is moderate with rolling swell outside. There's a sandy entrance from the apartments above.
La Tejita & Montaña Roja
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Flat water
Similar to the harbor: flat water in northeast winds because it's offshore here, with the occasional swell rolling in. Perfect for speed sessions along the beach when it's really blowing.
Las Américas (La Fitania)
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Advanced · Waves
The epicentre of tourism, so not the nicest vibe, but the La Fitania area is world-class for experts. Waves run one to three metres, the current is strong, and when a westerly brings the side breeze from the right, the sessions can be world-class.
South Bay (El Médano)
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Intermediate-Advanced · Mixed, Choppy
Year-round trade winds, warm water, world-class rental infrastructure: the go-to European escape for intermediates and above.
The Harbor
Tested by NP7: we've been here · Flat water
A large industrial pier blocks the swell, giving relatively flat water, but the same shelter makes it gusty, with wind patches everywhere. Foils glide through the holes; fins need it really blowing.
Near shore it's extremely gusty and a diving hotspot, so planing at full speed inside the bay is an absolute no-go. Outside, the current is strong, the waves are messy and the wind is punishing. One of the harshest sessions I've ever had on this island was here.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
Info from 1 rider
Powerful, punchy and for experts only. It's a PWA World Cup venue. The nearby hotel blocks the northerly component so it's gusty; usually rig a size bigger. The entrance is a narrow passage through the rocks and you have to waterstart fast, because drifting means hitting rock. When it's on you get insane sessions: the waves carry a lot of power and you can link two, three turns or more.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
How windy El Cabezo usually isWindy Apr-OctWindy Apr-Oct
Each bar: how many days a month there was a session, from NP7's own logs.
A small bay with onshore wind and shorebreak. No margin for error and, honestly, not much reason to go.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
Absolutely incredible wave sailing with a good safety margin: fall, and the waves drift you into the bay rather than onto the reef. The shallow reef gives the waves real punch and lets you push upwind. There's no launch here; you ride over from the South Bay.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
How windy Harbor Wall usually isWindy Apr-OctWindy Apr-Oct
Each bar: how many days a month there was a session, from NP7's own logs.
Comes alive when the northeast trades weaken and a westerly fills in. The entry is uncomfortable: a small, busy parking area, a rocky beach of big boulders with only narrow gaps, and a big shorebreak when it's windy. Good timing is essential.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
Info from 1 rider
A nearby hotel offers some protection, so the shorebreak is moderate with rolling swell outside. There's a sandy entrance from the apartments above. More of a wing-foil and free-riding spot than a pure windsurf wave break. Stick to the designated swimmer entry and exit points.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
How windy La Jaquita usually isWindy Apr-OctWindy Apr-Oct
Each bar: how many days a month there was a session, from NP7's own logs.
Info from 1 rider
Similar to the harbor: flat water in northeast winds because it's offshore here, with the occasional swell rolling in. Perfect for speed sessions along the beach when it's really blowing. It's a swimmer's beach with lifeguards; sailing is usually no problem at 30+ knots when nobody's in the water.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
The epicentre of tourism, so not the nicest vibe, but the La Fitania area is world-class for experts. Waves run one to three metres, the current is strong, and when a westerly brings the side breeze from the right, the sessions can be world-class. Make sure your skill level matches what the ocean is throwing at you.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
Year-round trade winds, warm water, world-class rental infrastructure: the go-to European escape for intermediates and above.
The main bay, sheltered by the town, so it's gustier but less severe than the outlying spots, and the waves stay smaller because the town blocks the bigger swell. Amateurs, rental clients and advanced riders all share the water. Four marked buoy zones keep swimming, surf, windsurf/wing and kite apart. The Canary Islands run on trade winds, strongest in summer but consistent year round. Temperatures sit between 18° in winter and 28° in summer, so you can sail comfortably any month. The rolling swell makes it tricky for absolute beginners, but for intermediates and above the conditions are outstanding. A huge choice of rental centres with current-season gear lines the promenade, and apartments right on the beach make this one of the easiest destinations in Europe to just turn up and sail.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
How windy South Bay (El Médano) usually isWindy Apr-OctWindy Apr-Oct
Each bar: how many days a month there was a session, from NP7's own logs.
A large industrial pier blocks the swell, giving relatively flat water, but the same shelter makes it gusty, with wind patches everywhere. Foils glide through the holes; fins need it really blowing. It's about 15 minutes north of El Médano via a dirt road, with a beach of massive rounded stones. Not an official spot, so there's no rescue service. Self-rescue is a must. The upside: loads of parking, a rarity on this island.
No one has said yet what to watch out for here, or how easy it is to launch.
- Best
- Works
- No-go
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