Surf history and localism
In the early eighties a small group of local people started surfing in Fuerteventura. Sergio Fajardo Garcia of Ventura Surf was one of those pioneers. He surfed, toghether with his friends, most spots on the island for the very first time in history. Nowadays the ‘local surfers’ are a mix of people born on the island (Majoreros) and the ones who swapped Europe or South-America for this paradise many years ago. This cocktail of nationalities and an abundance of spots keeps localism to a minimum. Like on every spot on this planet: Respect the surfcode and surf priority at all times, and you will be respected.
Best surf season
The general rule is October till March for the best surf quality. But Fuerteventura delivers waves all year around! The end of August and the beginning of September the northeast trade wind starts to loose it’s force. At the same time the wind swell makes way for the first real ground swells. This is when the real summer starts in Fuerteventura: The water is at it’s warmest and the waves glassy! Everybody’s surfing in shorty or boardshorts. Only from November on will you need a 3/2 wetsuit. January till March delivers mostly a mix of some windy (offshore) days and some glassy surf. In April the tradewind is back. But no worry, you can still score waves all summer around. The windsheltered beachbreaks (El Cotillo, Esquinzo and La Pared) and the spots which need a wind swell (Glassbeach and Puerto Lajas) are now the places to be. In June shortys, boardshorts and bikinis are ruling the peak again!
Weather
The Canary Islands in general have two seasons: spring and summer. Fuerteventura is the most eastern and the driest island of the seven. Winter temperature vary around 16 to 25 degrees and summer up to 30 degrees. In winter you will need 3/2 wetsuit, in summer a shorty, boardshort or bikini.
Geographical
Fuerteventura is one of the seven Canary Islands (Spain) located in the Atlantic ocean. It is the second largest, and the nearest to Africa. Lying approx. 100 kms from the Western Sahara. It’s the least developed island of all and per square km the least populated (the last census was around 100.000 inhabitants). So it is not difficult to imagine how chill and uncrowded it is here. The island is about 150 km long and only 30 km wide, so it’s easy to find offshore wind just turning around the corner.
Getting here
Almost all European airports offer direct (low cost) flights to Fuerteventura. If you can’t fly straight to here, book a flight to Madrid or Barcelona and then fly lowcost to here with Ryanair. Or take the ferry in the south of Spain if you want to bring your van or car (Huelva / Naviera Armas).
Getting around
You need a car to get around: There are loads of different spots, so you will have to go and search! Luckily it will be all short distances. A small car with a roofrack will do. The cheapest car rental on the island you find here: www.topcar-autoreisen.com
Main picture: A classic day at the North Shore © Mauro Ladu / www.mauroladu.com
