Surf spot

El Risco

Forecast conditions and map view for El Risco in Canary, Lanzarote. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Canary, Lanzarote
Coordinates: 29.2078, -13.4976

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.9	0.9	1.1	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Wave direction	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNW	N	NNW	NNW	NNW	NNE	NNE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	N	NNE	NNE	N	NNE	NNE	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Wave period (s)	5.7	5.5	5.7	5.3	6.2	6	5.9	5	4.9	5	5	5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.3	5.3	5.5	5.1	5.3	5.3	6.9	6.8	7.3	7.1	8.4	8.3	8.3	8.1	7.3	5.9	5.6	5.6	4.2	4.3	5	5.1	5.3	5.5	5.7	6	6.5	6.6	6.7	7	7.1	5.8	5.7	5.8	5.8	5.7	7.6	7.5	7.6	7.5
Wave energy (kJ)	140	128	108	115	144	143	140	92	89	90	82	74	104	95	86	76	63	54	44	38	38	29	47	36	43	41	47	46	46	44	36	27	21	21	15	19	20	25	34	37	49	58	104	130	161	163	165	132	144	145	137	131	195	199	189	181
Wind speed (km/h)	30.1	32.2	29.2	30.1	31.1	31.4	25.6	28.3	17.2	16.9	17.3	12.3	6	8.2	0.4	8.7	13.4	5.8	6.6	2.9	7.1	14.3	10.6	6.8	9	10.3	9	15.6	23	20.4	22	19.8	15.8	18.1	23.5	30.4	34.2	36.2	35.5	34.9	35.5	36.5	33.1	38.5	37.4	37.1	36.8	35.3	28.8	29.4	26	21.1	26.3	26.6	27.7	22
Wind direction	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NCross-on	NOnshore	NOnshore	NNECross-on	NOnshore	NOnshore	NNECross-on	SSEOffshore	SWCross-off	WGlassy	SEOffshore	ENECross	ENECross	ECross	EGlassy	NWOnshore	NNECross-on	NNWOnshore	NNWOnshore	NOnshore	NNECross-on	NOnshore	NOnshore	NCross-on	NCross-on	NOnshore	NNECross-on	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NNEBlown out	NNEBlown out	NNECross-on	NBlown out	NBlown out	NOnshore	NBlown out	NBlown out	NBlown out	NBlown out	NBlown out	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NNWOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore	NOnshore

El Risco is one of Lanzarote’s more powerful and scenic surf spots, located on the northwestern coast of the island near Famara. It’s a reef break known for its heavy, often fast waves and dramatic volcanic backdrop, making it a standout spot in the Canary Islands.

Spot character

Wave type: Mostly a reef break with strong, punchy waves
Direction: Exposed to the Atlantic swell, so it works best with consistent northwest to north swells
Power: Can get very hollow and demanding, especially on bigger days
Skill level: Best suited for experienced surfers; not ideal for beginners

Conditions

Best wind: Light offshore or calm winds
Best swell: Northwest/North, with medium to large size
Tide: Tide sensitivity can be important, and the spot may work better on certain stages depending on the reef and sand/rock setup
Crowd: Can be relatively quiet compared with more famous Lanzarote breaks, but that depends on conditions

What it’s like

Surfing El Risco usually means a raw, rugged experience: powerful Atlantic energy, volcanic cliffs, and a serious wave that rewards good positioning and confidence in the water. The setting is beautiful but remote-feeling, so it has a more adventurous vibe than some of the island’s easier-access surf spots.

Important notes

Sharp reef and rocks can make wipeouts more dangerous
Currents can be strong
Local conditions can change quickly
It’s wise to check with local surfers or guides before paddling out