Why not all spots are the same
When someone asks me where to kitesurf in Tenerife, the answer is never simply "at El Médano". It's more nuanced than that. The south of the island has several spots, each with different conditions, wind direction and recommended skill level. Going to the wrong spot for your level can ruin a session — or something worse.
I've been kitesurfing and teaching in this area for over a decade. I know the spots well, how they vary by time of year and what kind of rider works best at each one. This guide is what I explain to every student before their first session.
Spot 1 — El Médano Beach: the heart of kitesurfing in Tenerife
El Médano is the reference spot. Full stop. If you're coming to Tenerife to kitesurf and only going to one place, this is it. Over 300 wind days a year, mature infrastructure with schools, shops and services, and conditions that work for all levels.
El Médano's main beach is around 500 metres of fine sand. The wind comes in from the northeast — the so-called trade winds — almost perpendicular to the coastline. This matters for safety: if the kite pulls you downwind, you end up on the beach, not out at sea. For someone learning, that detail matters a lot.
The bottom is sandy and depth increases gradually from the shore. You can be fifty metres from the sand and still have the water at your waist. In the early stages of learning, that gives you an enormous safety margin to recover from mistakes.
The northern end: where beginners learn
El Médano beach has two zones with slightly different conditions. The northern end, near the village, has flatter water and a touch less wind. Waves are minimal — especially at low tide — and there's plenty of clear space. This is where I work with beginner students. There's room to manoeuvre, the wind is consistent without the stronger gusts that sometimes appear further south, and the logistics are straightforward.
In high season you'll find the beach quite active — kites in the air, windsurfers and swimmers. Learning to share the water with other users is part of the process, and El Médano has a culture of mutual respect between riders that makes it work well even on the busiest days.
The southern end: choppier water for intermediate riders
As you move south along the beach, the wind picks up and the water has a bit more chop. For someone who already controls the kite and wants to work on their riding, this zone offers more variety. On strong summer wind days — 25 knots or more — the southern end can have waves up to one and a half or two metres, which allow for small jumps or working the chop.
For advanced riders looking for more technical conditions, El Médano can feel limited in terms of waves. That's where El Cabezo comes in.
Wind and season at El Médano
The trade winds blow mainly from the northeast between June and September, with the strongest consistency in July and August. Typical strength ranges from 15 to 30 knots, with some days exceeding 30. That variability within the season means there are perfect days for beginners — 18 knots, steady — and more demanding days — 25-30 knots with chop — that require a higher level.
Outside the trade wind season, from October to May, wind exists but with less regularity. There are excellent days and flat days. For a casual session or someone with schedule flexibility, winter at El Médano is still a solid option. For structured learning with fixed dates, summer is the safe bet.
Spot 2 — El Cabezo: experts only
El Cabezo is a few minutes' walk south along the coast from El Médano's main beach. It's a different world.
El Cabezo is a wave spot. The wind comes in stronger — it can reach 45 knots on the worst winter days — and the water has real swell and currents. The bottom changes from sand to rock in some areas, adding a variable that doesn't forgive mistakes.
Why mention a spot that's not suitable for beginners in a guide about where to kitesurf? Because you need to know it exists and why you shouldn't go there if you're not at the right level.
What conditions El Cabezo has
Wind at El Cabezo comes in NE with more force than at the main beach. The combination of strong wind with one-to-three-metre waves creates perfect conditions for advanced manoeuvres, jumps and wave riding. It's the spot where the world's best kitesurfers come to compete.
The spot regularly hosts the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup — one of the most prestigious competitions on the world circuit. If you're visiting El Médano during a competition, watching from the shore is an experience worth having. The conditions at El Cabezo are among the most demanding on the circuit.
Who El Cabezo is for
Riders with at least two full seasons of kitesurfing, comfortable in 20+ knots of wind and with experience in waves. If you're unsure whether your level is there, it probably isn't yet. El Cabezo is not a spot to explore without prior experience in waves and strong wind.
If your level is growing and El Médano is starting to feel manageable, the natural progression is to work on higher-wind days at the main beach before making the jump to El Cabezo.
Spot 3 — La Tejita: calm sessions by the Red Mountain
La Tejita is a long beach — over 500 metres of fine sand — situated next to the Montaña Roja, an extinct volcano that defines the landscape of this part of the coast. Visually, it's one of the most beautiful spots in Tenerife.
As a kitesurfing spot, La Tejita has an important characteristic: it works mainly with southwest wind, which is less frequent than the northeast trade winds. This means the best days for kitesurfing at La Tejita don't always coincide with the best days at El Médano. When southwest wind arrives — usually in certain winter weather patterns — La Tejita offers very flat water and fewer riders on the water.
Conditions and recommended level
La Tejita is suitable for intermediate and advanced riders. It's not recommended for beginners: the southwest wind can be more variable than the trade winds, there's less rescue infrastructure in the area, and the spot requires more experience to read conditions correctly.
For a kitesurfer with a solid base who wants a quieter session, fewer people on the water and spectacular views, La Tejita is worth keeping in mind when the wind cooperates.
Comparison table: which spot to choose by level
| Level | Recommended spot | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (first lessons) | El Médano north | Side-onshore wind, flat water, gradual sandy bottom, full infrastructure |
| Novice (first solo sessions) | El Médano north/centre | Get familiar with the spot, build confidence with real wind |
| Intermediate | El Médano / La Tejita (SW wind) | More variety, choppier water, greater autonomy |
| Advanced | El Médano south / La Tejita / El Cabezo | More demanding conditions, waves, stronger wind |
| Expert | El Cabezo | World-class wave spot, strong wind, advanced manoeuvres |
Best time of day to kitesurf at El Médano
Wind at El Médano tends to follow a fairly predictable pattern in high season: it starts to build between 10 and 11 in the morning, peaks between 1pm and 4pm, and gradually drops towards sunset. The early morning hours — before 10am — are usually calmer.
For beginners, the first sessions on the spot work well mid-morning, when wind is already present but hasn't yet reached its maximum strength. For experienced riders who want the best wind of the day, the afternoon peak is the moment.
That pattern isn't absolute — wind can arrive earlier or last longer depending on the day — but it works as a planning reference. Apps like Windy or the local wind reports from iWindsurf give pretty accurate forecasts for El Médano.
Getting between the spots
The three main spots are within 5 kilometres of each other. Moving between El Médano and El Cabezo is a few minutes' walk along the coast. La Tejita is 5 minutes by car.
If you're flying in without your own equipment, El Médano has several shops and schools where you can rent complete kit or buy new or second-hand equipment. It's one of the most active second-hand kitesurfing markets in southern Europe — which makes sense given the volume of riders who pass through each year.
Practical tips before hitting the water
Whatever the spot and level, there are a few things worth doing before launching the kite.
Check the wind forecast the day before. Windy.com and iWindsurf are the go-to references among El Médano riders. Pay attention not just to strength but to direction and whether gusts are forecast.
Choose the right kite size for the day's wind. A kite that's too big for conditions is one of the most common causes of accidents. If in doubt, ask at the school or another rider on the spot before rigging up.
Observe the spot before entering. Look at how the water is, where other riders are, which direction they're moving and where the busier zones are. Five minutes of observation can prevent problems.
Check your equipment. Tangled lines, safety systems that don't activate smoothly, kites with air leaks — these are problems you find on land, not in the water.
If you're a beginner or haven't been riding long, always look for the supervision of someone experienced in your first sessions at any spot. El Médano has an active kitesurfing community that's generally welcoming to newer riders.
The final call: which spot is right for you?
If you're starting out or looking to learn, the answer is clear: El Médano beach, northern end. Conditions are the most predictable, infrastructure is the best, and the chances of having a successful, safe session are highest.
If you have a solid base and want to expand, La Tejita on southwest wind days adds variety. And if your level has reached the point where El Médano no longer challenges you, El Cabezo is there — with everything that implies.
If you're unsure what your current level is and which spot makes most sense for you, message me on WhatsApp. I reply in English, Spanish, German or Italian and we can talk through what makes sense for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best kitesurfing spot in Tenerife for beginners?
The northern end of El Médano beach is the best spot to learn kitesurfing in Tenerife. The wind comes in from the northeast in a side-onshore direction, the bottom is sandy, depth increases gradually and there's plenty of room to manoeuvre safely. It's the spot I use for all beginner lessons.
Can you kitesurf in Tenerife all year round?
Yes. The south of Tenerife has wind practically all year, though the most consistent season runs from June to September with the trade winds. In winter the wind is also there and can be even more constant, though with greater variability day to day. El Médano has over 300 wind days per year.
What's the difference between El Médano and La Tejita?
El Médano works with northeast wind and is the main spot for all levels — especially beginners. La Tejita sits next to the Red Mountain and works best with southwest wind, which is less frequent. It's quieter and less crowded, but not recommended for beginners due to the spot's characteristics.
Where are the kitesurfing spots in Tenerife?
The three main spots are all in the south of the island, near the municipality of Granadilla de Abona: El Médano beach (the main one), El Cabezo (experts only, next to El Médano) and La Tejita (next to the Red Mountain). All are within 20 minutes of Tenerife South Airport.
Can I watch kitesurfing competitions at El Cabezo?
Yes. El Cabezo is one of the most spectacular wave spots in Europe and regularly hosts international competitions including the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup. You can watch from the shore for free. Dates are published in advance on the GKA website.