Surf spot

El Medano

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

Country: Canary, Tenerife
Coordinates: 28.0396, -16.5421

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)	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.9	0.7	0.9	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.4	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3
Wave direction	ENE	NE	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	S	S	S	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	E	E	E	E	ENE	ENE	E	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	S	S	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	S	S	SSE	SSE	SSE	S	S
Wave period (s)	4.3	4.3	3.8	3.4	3.4	6.3	6.2	5.7	5.5	5.3	5.5	5.5	9.2	9.2	9.2	9.2	11.7	11.6	11.4	11.3	11.2	11.2	11.1	10.2	10.1	9.8	9.3	11.3	11.3	8	6.8	7	7.2	7.3	5	4.8	7.5	5.5	5.4	5.2	5	4.5	4.3	8.8	8.8	4.2	4.3	4.2	5.8	9	8.8	7.5	7.5	7.5	8.1	8
Wave energy (kJ)	25	16	12	6	5	11	12	14	13	12	10	10	24	22	22	22	40	39	38	37	36	36	36	24	24	19	16	20	37	16	13	17	24	32	22	36	50	44	56	53	43	29	22	25	22	17	20	20	16	23	22	24	20	20	15	15
Wind speed (km/h)	15.5	12.3	10.1	1.1	12.3	11.8	10	10.8	5.7	9.7	0.8	6.5	14.6	17.3	4.6	5.9	12.7	17.6	9.7	5.4	6.6	7	0.7	10.3	5.2	10.8	7.5	20.5	15.5	20.9	31.1	28.1	22.7	10.8	30.3	36.7	48	44.9	36.2	23.7	21.4	13.9	3	4	10	8.3	10.2	3.4	4.7	6	2.6	6.2	11.8	17.7	24.9	23.5
Wind direction	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	WSWOffshore	SSEGlassy	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	SWCross-off	SECross-on	ENEOnshore	ENEGlassy	SWCross-off	SSWCross-off	SWCross-off	SEGlassy	NNECross	NECross-on	NECross-on	NNECross-on	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	NGlassy	NNECross-on	NNECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	ENECross-on	NECross-on	NECross-on	ENEBlown out	ENEBlown out	ENEBlown out	ENEBlown out	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEOnshore	ENEGlassy	EGlassy	SECross-on	SECross-on	SWCross-off	SSWGlassy	EGlassy	WSWOffshore	WNWGlassy	SCross	ESECross-on	EOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore

El Médano, Tenerife (Canary Islands) is one of the best-known surf and wind sports spots in the Canaries, located on the southern coast of Tenerife near the town of El Médano.

Quick description

Wave type: beach break with shifting sandbars
Best for: surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing
Conditions: often windy, with consistent swell exposure
Skill level: can work for beginners on smaller days, but can become challenging and powerful when the swell picks up
Atmosphere: lively surf town with a laid-back, international vibe

Surf conditions

El Médano is not a single wave but a stretch of coastline with several peaks and sections. The waves are usually fast and wind-affected, which makes it more famous for windsports than for perfectly clean surf. On good swell days, it can deliver fun, punchy beach-break waves.

Best time to surf

Autumn to spring usually brings the most consistent swell
Summer can be smaller, but still surfable depending on conditions
Wind: common year-round, so early mornings are often best for cleaner surf

What to expect

Fun, energetic beach-break waves
Crowds when conditions are good
Strong wind at many times of year
A very scenic setting, with views of Montaña Roja nearby

Tips

Check the forecast carefully for swell direction, tide, and wind
If the wind is strong, consider going early or choosing a more sheltered spot
Respect local rules and other water users, since the area is shared heavily by surfers, kiters, and windsurfers