Surf's Up!
Let's go hang ten!
Conil and El Palmar have fantastic surfing conditions, pristine beaches, consistent waves that provide excellent conditions for all levels.
El Palmar, in particular, is renowned for its surf-friendly conditions and most of the surf schools are located here along the beachfront. El Palmar's sea bed drops off at a steeper angle than Conil's producing better surfing conditions. There are gentle waves perfect for beginners and more powerful swells that challenge experienced surfers.
Conil’s beaches offer gentle waves and super long stretches of beach with reliable surf throughout the year. For Kite-surfing the mouth of the Rio Salado forms a delta, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, this provides a large shallow area, ideal for learning to kite-surf.
The reliable winds of the region provide optimal conditions for windsurfing and kite-surfing. While Conil and El Palmar are excellent spots, Tarifa—just an hour’s drive away—stands out as one of the world’s most famous destinations for an adrenaline-filled kite-surfing experience. Strong, steady winds and expansive beaches draw professionals and beginners alike to the stunning natural setting of Tarifa.
El Palmar is the most popular surf beach in the area. At times in summer it can be a bit too busy for comfort and parking can be difficult.
The mouth of the Rio Salado at the start of Castilnovo beach is a popular area with wind-surfers.
Fontanilla is a popular place for surfers with campervans to park up surf and catch amazing sunsets from their vans. However, I see that now (2025) the local council has built a fence to prevent vans from parking up along the dirt track that runs from the car park up to Fontanilla.
Tarifa is Europe's kite-surfing capital of Europe. It's about an hour drive down the coast from Conil.
