Windsurfing guide for Tarifa Spain

Information on courses, beaches, locations, repair services & schools in Tarifa

Tarifa is the wind capitol of Europe. Thanks to the perfect conditions and the unique flair of this place, Tarifa attracts the cracks of the windsurf scene for more than a decade yet.

In the early 80ies the windsurfers have discovered Tarifa and initiated the first touristic boom of this little town and its surroundings.

Several world cup events took place here, for example the PBA Windsurfing Speed Worldcup.

Besides a lot of action on the water, Tarifa offers amazing nightlife. In many of the bars in town windsurfing is the topic #1 and you might even get to meet some famous windsurfering stars from the worldcup circus, who like to come for training.

Winds in Tarifa - Poniente & Levante

Tarifa is known to be the windsurf spot with the most windy days in Europe. The winds Poniente and Levante guarantee variety on the water. Days without any wind in Tarifa can be counted on two hands.gilt

One of the two winds will certainly be blowing most of the days of the year.

Levante Wind in Tarifa

Wind direction	side-offshore from the east
Strength in beaufort	5-8 Bft.
Water	Flat water in the Atlantic, waves in the Mediterranean
Sail sizes	Wave/Freestyle sails, 3,5m² - 4,0m² - 4,5m² -  5,0m²
Board sizes	Wave/Freestyle/Speed Boards, 65 - 85 Liters volume
Best Levante months	May to October
Best Levante spots	Playa Chica, Dos Mares, Valdevaqueros, Bolonia
Poniente wind in Tarifa
Wind direction	Sideshore from west
Strength in beaufort	3-6 Bft.
Water	Wind waves in the Atlantic
Sail sizes	Freestyle/Slalom sails, 4,7m² - 5,3m² - 6,0m²
Board sizes	Slalom/Freestyle boards, 80 - 120 Liters volume
Best Levante months	November to April
Best Levante spots	Playa Los Lances, Valdevaqueros, Bolonia

The most comfortable solution for windsurf holidays in Tarifa is to book one of the offered holiday apartments right at the spot.

Here some recommendations for windsurf accommodations in the first line of the beach:

Windsurf holidays in Tarifa	Windsurf holidays in Tarifa	Windsurf holidays in Tarifa
Apartment Las Cañas (6-8 pers.) on the beach from 124,00 €.	Apartment Tortuga II (4 pers.) best location from 62,50 €.	Chalet La Peña (4 Pers.) 50m to beach from 100,00 €.

Windsurf spots and windsurf beaches in Tarifa and surroundings

Windsurf spot Playa Chica

In autumn, winter and spring we recommend the Playa Chica for great windsurfing with strong Levante. This beach is the only beach on the Mediterranean side of Tarifa, between the port and the Isla La Paloma.

Levante enters here with full power and brings some larger waves as well. Between June and September it is forbidden to windsurf here, because the beach is reserved for swimmers.

The police charges fines in these months if they see you windsurfing there.

Windsurf spot Playa Los Lances

Der Playa Los Lances extends from Isla La Paloma til the Rio Jara, 3 kilometers out of town in direction dune.

This is a good spot with Poniente blowing consistantly from the west and producing fun waves with about 5 Bft. winds.

With Levante it is not the best to go windsurfing. The buildings of Tarifa town create unpleasant wind shades making windsurfing quite uncomfortable.

Windsurf spot Hotel Dos Mares

This beach is separated in a windsurf zone, a kitesurf zone and a school zone. It begins at the river Rio Jara and continues until the Hotel Dos Mares, connected by a huge parking lot with plenty of space (3km) to park right by the beach.

The windsurf zone is marked with signs. The water is absolutely flat here and the Levante is a bit weaker than in Valdevaqueros (near the large sand dune).

Except for high season, this beach is never crowded and great for improving your skills.

Windsurf spot Valdevaqueros

The city beach is not recommendable for Levante days, as there's wind holes created by the hosues of town.

The other end of the bay, the Valdevaqueros, is certainly the better choice for those days. It's easy to find, just dirve from Tarifa in direction Cadiz and look out for the sand dune at the bottom of the mountain of San Bartolo.

This is where the most windsurfer can be seen. There is a windsurf zone and a kitesurf zone to handle the amount of people in the water.

The shape of the bay provides that the Levante reaches its strongest force at this spot. Further outside the Levante creates great waves for jumping.

Windsurf spot Playa Bolonia

On days with too much wind in Valdevaqueros, we recommend to drive to the next bay named Bolonia. Usually the wind looses 1-2 Bft. until it reaches Bolonia.

Kitesurfing is not allowed in Bolonia. A German windsurfing center has opened in Bolonia in 2006 offering quailfied lessons and rental equipment.

Windsurf shops in Tarifa	Windsurf schools in Tarifa
Big Fish Tarifa Sailboards Tarifa Bull Surfshop Surfeador	Club Mistral Skyrider, Hotel Hurricane Tarifa Smile, Valdevaqueros Planet Windsurf, Bolonia

Windsurf Video: Playa Chica with the wind Levante