Surfing La Santa

Left Reef · Best Oct-Apr · 2-10 ft · Crowd 3/5

Clean NW swell

La Santa is a small village on the north-west coast of Lanzarote, with several reef breaks around it, and the main wave is the La Santa left. It's hollow and powerful over sharp volcanic reef when a solid north-west swell arrives.

It's for advanced surfers. Wear booties, and expect a strong local crew. The village is home to Club La Santa, a big sports resort, and El Quemao and Morro Negro are a short walk away.

Left Reef · Best Nov-Mar · 4-15 ft · Crowd 3/5

Big NW swell

El Quemao is a left that breaks over a shallow lava reef right in front of La Santa village, on Lanzarote's north-west coast. On a solid north-west swell it pitches fast and throws a thick, hollow barrel, and it's one of the best-known heavy waves in the Canary Islands.

The takeoff is steep, the reef sits close to the surface and there's very little room for mistakes, so it's for experts only. When it's on, the local crew is out, and it isn't on very often. Watch it from the shore before you decide, and wear booties.

Right Reef · Best Oct-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

NNW swell, SE offshore wind

Morro Negro is the right at La Santa, on the north-west coast of Lanzarote, breaking on the other side of the same reef as the La Santa left. It's shorter and more hollow than the left, with a tight takeoff and a fast barrel section.

It needs a solid north-west swell and the right tide, and it's for experienced surfers. The reef is sharp volcanic rock, so booties help. A strong local crew surfs it, so be patient in the lineup.

La Santa is a small village with a few apartments, and most surfers stay in Famara, about twenty minutes away.

Right Reef · Best Oct-Apr · 2-8 ft · Crowd 1/5

Clean groundswell

Caleta de Caballo is a right over volcanic reef in front of the small village of the same name, a couple of kilometres east of La Santa on Lanzarote's north coast. It picks up the same north-west swells as the La Santa reefs but is usually less crowded.

It's a good wave for intermediate surfers on a clean swell, with less consequence than El Quemao or Morro Negro. The reef is sharp and the entry over the rocks needs care, so booties help.

It's best on a clean north-west groundswell in winter. If it's crowded, El Quemao and the other La Santa reefs are a couple of kilometres west, and Famara beach is about fifteen minutes away.