Best surf spots in Lanzarote

duda • 8 June 2022

Tarnya and I moved from the UK to Lanzarote more than 15 years ago. Having spent many holiday trips here, I had a primary reason for visiting, SURF...

Here in Lanzarote the surf scene is pretty small and focussed around a number of well known and respected reef breaks. El Quemao is probably the most revered for its shallow barreling waves breaking over lava rock that is frequently compared to the hugely famous Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii. In fact Lanzarote is also known as the Hawaii of Europe. The annual invite only surf competition, Quemao Class is held here and makes for some spectacular footage:

Joss's Quemao Class footage.

Having said this, you don't have to be Kelly Slater to enjoy riding waves here. Lanzarote has a wealth of options from heavy reefs to mellow beach breaks. La Santa and Famara are the two hotspots but Lanzarote has many more options too. For intermediate & advanced riders there are many reef breaks to get your teeth into and La Santa is the most well known, home to rights and left and also home to El Quemao.

Famara is known more for its kilometres of long golden sandy beach breaks, surf schools and mellower surf - Also good for those who don't surf to hang out in the sunshine with a good book! However, Famara can offer up some heavy surf when the swell size increases and also has some surrounding reef breaks such as San Juan, an amazing a frame peak with a long left and short right.

A blessing for surf options is that Lanzarote is long and narrow so you can move around west, north and east coast very quickly to take advantage of the best wind conditions.

Finca Malvasia offers you the opportunity to stay in stylish surrounding within easy reach of waves, beginner, intermediate or expert at Finca Malvasia we can offer advice to make your trip a memorable experience!

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The Influence of César Manrique at Finca Malvasia

by Richard Norse Evans • 25 June 2026

No individual has shaped the character of Lanzarote more than César Manrique. His vision was simple yet revolutionary: architecture should never compete with nature, but exist in harmony with it. Across the island, his influence can be seen in the whitewashed buildings, natural materials, volcanic stone and thoughtful integration of architecture into the landscape. His work helped preserve Lanzarote’s unique identity and established a legacy of sustainable design that continues to inspire today. Finca Malvasia shares this philosophy. The estate is a traditional Lanzarote finca, thoughtfully restored to celebrate its heritage while offering contemporary comfort. White walls, timber, volcanic stone and large picture windows reflect the island’s architectural language, allowing the surrounding vineyards and dramatic volcanic landscape to take centre stage. Adding to its unique story, the restoration and architectural vision for Finca Malvasia was guided by an architect who connected to César Manrique, bringing his principles of simplicity, authenticity and respect for place into every detail of the estate. Today, staying at Finca Malvasia is about more than beautiful accommodation. It is an opportunity to experience a piece of Lanzarote’s architectural and cultural heritage—where design, landscape and history come together in one of the island’s most remarkable settings.