Kiteboarding in Vargas Beach, Gran Canaria, Spain

World • Europe •

Spain • Canary Islands

Popular Kite Spot

Water type

sea

Beach type

rocks, pebble, mix

Crowd

none, reasonable, medium

Rider level

all

Tide dependent

yes

Better in low or falling tide. It’s possible to kite in high tide, but waves are a lot stronger and you have to walk over more stones in water.

Waves

choppy, small, medium, big

Overview

No 1 beach by the locals in Gran Canaria. Very clean and strong wind (it gets gusty with the clouds). While the beach is covered with big volcanic stones, the bottom is sandy – in low tide, you can walk on it. Stones might be a bit painful to walk over, so bring “crocks” – anyways there are just a few steps to walk to reach the water.

Usually choppy or with some (bigger or smaller) waves, especially if you’ve never kited in open water before, you might think you not gonna make it. It’s not that terrible as it seems. It’s better in a low or falling tide when waves are not that strong.

In summer, bring the smallest kite you have as wind can regularly reach 30+ knots (add some thermic to that). This means 4 or 5 m kite if you’re a woman, there is no such a thing as depowering your 6 m!

There is a special arrangement of how to launch the kite. If you’re new to the beach, kindly tell the local kiters there and they will help you. Launch slowly, make sure you’re not launching in the full wind direction and keep another hand on your security! We’ve seen quite some accidents simply made by mistakes of firstcomers to the beach – please tell that you’re new.

While local kite schools give classes there in the winter (when the wind is not that strong) – if you’re a beginner make sure you have someone to keep an eye with you and you don’t go too far downwind as after the beach there are just cliffs.

There is nothing at the spot – except the artificial grass to launch and land the kites. Half of the bay belongs to windsurfers, please respect that. There is a Camping in the near, they have a restaurant too.

Wind

Strong and very consistent wind in the summer (25-40 knts). Add another 10-15 knts of what windguru says. Wind direction needs to be 20-30º that wind can enter the beach. If it is cloudy it can be really gusty, as the sun adds the thermal wind on the top of already strong wind.

In winter regular 15-30 knots.

Dangers

Strong wind!

Stones on the beach.

Be careful when launching and landing the kites and launch a kite slowly! Keep a hand on security, and if at any moment you don’t feel safe, release. Beach is stony and you gonna get injured if the kite pulls you.

It is your responsability to check whether kitesurfing is allowed at the spot; you might need a 'special permit' or membership from a local kite organization, etc. Local rules can change. Respect others - kiters or not; kite safely and enjoy the wind!