Want To Catch Waves? These Are The 9 Best Spanish Beaches For Surfing

Cabopino (Artola Beach), Marbella

If you're new to surfing then there's no better place to try your hand at the sport than Artola Beach. This beach is known for its stunning scenery but, perhaps more importantly from a surfer's point of view, it has consistent and gentle waves, making it a great spot for new and intermediate surfers.

Playa Malapesquera, Benalmádena

This incredible beach has a reputation as being one of the best beaches in the Benalmádena area. It is a Blue Flag beach and attracts water sports enthusiasts in huge numbers. SUP boards, pedalos and kayaks can all be hired here but, most importantly, the beach boasts its own highly regarded surf school. You can either hire boards or take lessons here.

Playa de Los Lances, Tarifa

Playa de Los Lances is a big beach with a vast expanse of sand, but perhaps more importantly it has incredible wave conditions for surfers, especially during the winter months. The waves here are so powerful because the beach catches swells from the Atlantic. This is a great spot for surfers of all ability levels, but it's particularly attractive if you're looking for big waves and long rides.

Las Américas beach, Tenerife

Perhaps the best places to surf in Spain, and wider Europe, are the Canary Islands. The islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria all attract big wave surfers but also have beaches that are suitable for beginners too. The beach that's considered the best for year-round surfing on the island of Tenerife is Las Américas. This is located to the southwest of the island, and offers an exposed beach with a reef break that is particularly powerful in the winter.

El Palmar beach, Cádiz

One of the lesser-known beaches on this list, El Palmar beach is located 11km away from the town of Vejer de la Frontera. This is a wide beach that doesn't have a huge amount of tourist infrastructure in place, but what it lacks in development it makes up for in quality surf. O'Neill host their surf academy here, and there are several surf schools too. You'll find powerful and consistent waves, especially in the winter season between November and March. This is a great surf spot for intermediate to advanced surfers.

Lugar Secreto, Costa del Sol

Another relatively hidden beach, this spot is located between Bolonia and Las Dunas beaches. The waves hit the beach consistently from either the south or the southeast here, leading to strong, powerful, and consistent surf. Once you're in the area you'd be wise to ask for directions to this hard-to-find spot: Lugar Secreto translates to mean "secret place" in Spanish, and the beach was given this name for a reason. Keep an eye out for the rocks on the coastline, and it's worth noting that these rocks also mean the beach isn't a great spot for beginners.

Santa Marina beach, Asturias

Santa Marina is a very pretty fishing village, but if you're expecting a quiet spot then you'll be disappointed. Every day hundreds of surfers flock to this spot. It's a great spot for beginners, and you'll find children and new surfers learning here, but a little further out from the shoreline, experienced surfers hunt out bigger waves. There is a long surfing tradition here, so if you want to immerse yourself in a surfing community then this is a great place to be.

Somo beach, Cantabria

You'll be spoilt for choice of surfing beaches and surfable waves in the Cantabria region, but the best of the best is the beach attached to the village of Somo. This is a great spot for beginners, intermediate, and experienced surfers. The beach stretches 2km long here and the waves are strong. The beach is located at the entrance to the Bay of Santander, meaning that you'll get a great consistency of powerful waves here.

Pantín Beach, A Coruña

Finally, if you're looking for great surfing in the region of Galicia then there are several great beaches to choose from. Galicia isn't known as a popular capital for surfers, but one beach stands out from the crowd. Pantín beach, located in the municipality of Valdoviño, boasts epic surf thanks to its strong waves and powerful wind. In fact the waves here are so good that the beach hosts annual surf competitions and hosted the World Surf League in 2021.

Are you thinking of taking the plunge and moving to Spain? Want to be a resident and hit the stunning surf as often as possible? If you've always dreamt of relocating but don't know where to start, then our local property experts are perfectly placed to help you find the Spanish property of your dreams. Why not get in touch today?