Our Super Sweet South Tenerife Surf guide 2024

The 5 Las Americas Surf Spots

Let's start with the South. Las Americas.

This surf spot is truly amazing. There are multiple incredible breaks that we will cover in depth here.

Las Americas: introduction to the five surf spots here on the Southern tip.

If you are new here, take at least 10 minutes to see how big the main set is before entering. The reason it is like this, is the fact that we are closer to the equator here, therefore closer to the moon. The moon controls the rising and falling tides, so we get more affected with wave frequency than many other surf spots around the world, further from the equator. This is on a similar line with Hawaii. I am not saying the Canaries are Hawaii, they are very good, but I have been to Hawaii North shore, and that is some next level sh*t. You can still catch some great swell here

What is the best time to surf in Las Americas?

Best time of the day to surf? Mid high tide going up to high, or, less good, mid low tide going down. Too high is a washout, too low can make the reef too shallow. See video on Youtube of me nearly hitting the reef at El Dedo.

More about the Las Americas town in general.

There is a strong surf and skate culture here. The buildings are modern and designed for tourism. This side of town is designed to accomodate mass sun seeking lizards. I do like an old alleyway with a hidden cocktail bar myself, therefore I prefer Los Cristianos to live in, it has more charm. If you don't care about that sort of thing, there are lots of properties to rent (short term and long) very close to the surf spot BUT it is quite expensive and sought after, because of the glorious sunshine (Tenerife boasts debateably the best best climate world wide (amongst 5 others)). Try to book as far in advance as you can. Look for deals on idealista.com and Pisos.com , I like to set alert notifications there. You can also try asking co-working spaces or Facebook Marketplace.

Dangers of the 5 surf spots on Las Americas:

Be Careful, this is pro stuff here when it gets over 2 meters.

Don't surf La Derecha and El Dido if no one is in the water (except sunrise obviously). I learnt the hard way. If the wind is very onshore (which is rare by the way, maybe 1 day in 20 days all year) and no one is surfing, it is because the wind has made the reef too exposed. I nearly destroyed myself scrambling between the rocks alone, and no one told me. I should have figured it out but I had just woken up and was a bit drowsy.

About the La Fitenia surf spot:

This is the spot next to the beautiful El Camison beach. This spot works best around March until September, those are the Summer months when big surf here is rare. Like I said an occasional Southern or South Eastern swell can hit and provide some short lived glory for the hungry fiends like myself. There is a left racing along the large El Camison pier. It doesn't often work big. You can actually use the pier current to the get to the break without hardly paddling. Be mindful when it is big though, you don't want to risk hitting the peer in the white water. Trust me that would suck.

Take your time to observe before entering

Always take your time and observe. Opposite that break is a right that rears its head occasionally and I love it. I am regular footed and I love rights, front side. I have caught some bombs here. YOUTUBE LINK! There are no dangerous hidden obstacles at this spot except the classic reef base layout.

About the El Camison Surf Spot:

I once saw the Southern swell hit Las Americas in epic proportions, I am talking once every ten years proportions. There was a tiny novelty rare wave that was perfect for a pristine longboard glide over the crystal clear juice that the sheltered bay of El Camison provides.

About the La Derecha surf spot:

Pretty much located exactly opposite the Metropolis Cafe, you will find the bomb right called La Derecha. There is a main car park in that area, spots are busy, try in the evening. Speaking of the car park this is an excellent parking spot for surf vans. Getting a free spot on the beach front will be tough, lots of circling involved. Best time to get a spot in this car park is late in the evening, which is perfect to sleep in your van and surf at sunrise on one of the best spots on the island. I absolutely love this wave, it is insanely good. A long barreling right when it works well. There is also a left when it gets really big, too big for me, that left ends on a shallow super reef, so you have to be a nutter. In fact anything over 2.5 metres here becomes an absolute Hawaiian North shore facial dismantler. PHOTO FROM CAR PARK HERE!!

The problem with La Derecha is the crowds, it it so good for regular footed surfers and goofies that the crowds are compact and aggressive. You cannot surf here unless you are good.

About the El Dedo (the finger) surf spot in Las Americas:

I surf here a lot because it is ultra shallow and less crowded. The waves are opposite the Rip Curl Shop. You also have to be an experienced surfer here, and know when to pull out before you turn into crab food. There is a nice left here, but also a faster right from the peak, which ends in the shallows. This is my spot of choice in the south, simply as it is less crowded. Careful entering the water by the Finger here.

Things can get rough quickly when it is big. Be careful at low tide here too, it gets very shallow in some spots and there is a Big reef slab (watch the video!) at low tide. In between El Dedo and La Derecha, there is quite a dangerous rock. It is pretty much the only rock on amongst all the surf spots, although El Dedo does have a big reef slab that is nasty at low tides, like you have seen in my video link.

About the La Izquierda surf spot:

To be honest I have never surfed this wave. Firstly because it is a left and I am a regular stance so i would be surfing backside. THe waves have to be really big for this beautiful left to work. The wall is big and thick and steep.

I have been told by the locals not to bother trying to surf here as it is localism city apparently. It is not the biggest nor is it a right, therefore I stay clear of this one. looks really good when it is massive. Strangely, to the left of the aggressive on all fronts Izquierda is the beginners surf school spot. This is a slightly bizarre layout, you wouldn't expect the pro spot to be 100m from the beginner foam balls... Such is nature near the equator.

About the beginner beach: El Medio, starting to the right of Mac Donalds:

El Medio is the main beginner beach, despite having reef, it is quite flat reef. All the surf schools are out here. There is like 100 foam boards out there by 9 am in the high surf season. El Medio gets intense when the other spots are too big, all the intermediate surfers move over to El Medio, which is usually about 40% smaller than the biggest wave, which will be La Derecha and El Dedo when it is massive.

Next to the beginner beach to the left, before la Derecha: El Bunker:

El Bunker is to the left of the main beginner beach, there is a shallow left, don't take the right unless you are sure, it is quite shallow , don't go straight. El Bunker gets good when the other spots are too big (over 2m), at that point in time, all the intermediate surfers move over to El Bunker or even smaller, to El Medio... and it gets packed like a sardine can on steroids.

About when the waves get epic

Speaking of massive, too big for me here is over 2.5 metres because it is hollow and fast, plus the big sets are crushing. El Medio has strong currents pulling you parallel to the shore in the Northern direction, when the waves get heavy.

About the Punta Blanca surf spot, you'll need a car, 20 minutes from Las Americas in the south.

Punta Blanca is another surf spot south of Los Gigantes. It will be less crowded, but there is also less space. I don't know about localism here, I have only watched this spot. Gets really good for body boarding, with a big shallow slab shorebreak. I think the swell has to be from the West to work here.

Conclusion about surfing the south of Tenerife

The bombs are available in the south sunny Jim, one epic day per 5 days of crud, from October to March.Over 1.5m that is dear chap. For the noob crew, you can surf every day.