El Cotillo is mostly about Piedra Playa: a long wild beach below the cliffs, just south of the village of El Cotillo on the northwest coast of Fuerteventura. The waves break as left and right peaks over sand.
The spot changes completely with the seasons. In summer, in small swells, surf schools bring beginners here. In winter, west and northwest swells turn it into a powerful, hollow beach break for good surfers only.
At a glance: El Cotillo
| Wave type | Beach break, A-frame peaks, lefts and rights |
| Bottom | Sand |
| Best tide | All tides |
| Swell direction | Northwest, west or north |
| Best wind | East (offshore) |
| Level | Beginners in summer in small swells with a school; intermediates and experienced surfers in winter |
| Crowd | The most surfed spot on the west coast |
| Best season | Spring and summer to learn, October to March for waves |
El Cotillo surf spot (Fuerteventura)
According to Fuerteventura Playas, Piedra Playa is a sandy beach break with left and right peaks that works at all tides with a northwest, west or north swell of about 0.5 to 2 m and an east wind. The Surf Atlas describes A-frame wedges and notes that the spot closes out when the swell gets too heavy.
Surfertoday also mentions hollow waves, shifting currents and closeouts in winter with big swell or the wrong tide. Our sources disagree on the level: The Surf Atlas rates it for experts, with a summer option for beginners; Fuerteventura Playas says it suits beginners to experienced surfers depending on wave size.
When to surf El Cotillo?
Spring and summer are the best time to learn: swells are smaller and surf schools use the spot for first whitewater rides. From September to March, El Cotillo takes the winter swells head on and gets demanding: fast, hollow waves and frequent closeouts.
Surf calendar El Cotillo: intensity by month
El Cotillo forecast
Before you paddle out, check today’s conditions:
- Windy weather map (28.6817, -14.0097): swell, wind and live conditions.
- Windguru forecast for El Cotillo below: wind, gusts and rating over 7 days.
El Cotillo: which surf level?
Beginners: in summer, with a school
In small swells, from May to August, the whitewater zone is wide and the bottom is sand: a good time to start with a school. Avoid big swell days, even near the shore.
Intermediates: on medium days
In spring and autumn, with a medium swell, the peaks open up nicely. Watch the currents and spot where it closes out.
Experienced surfers: in winter, when it barrels
With a west swell and an east wind, El Cotillo becomes a hollow, powerful beach break. Watch out for closeouts in big swells.
How to get to El Cotillo
Piedra Playa is about 500 m south of the village of El Cotillo, below a large cliff. According to Fuerteventura Playas, the beach is split into zones: two for surfing, one for kitesurfing and one for windsurfing. Enter the water carefully in powerful waves.
Spot location
GPS coordinates (approximate): 28.6817° N, 14.0097° W. Piedra Playa, south of El Cotillo, northwest coast of Fuerteventura.
Open the full map on OpenStreetMap
Where to stay near El Cotillo?
El Cotillo is a quiet village with holiday apartments and a few surf schools. Lajares, a few kilometres away, is the other surf village in the north, with cafés and a surf vibe.
What to do near El Cotillo?
The lagoons and La Concha beach, north of the village, are perfect for swimming on flat days. The Tostón lighthouse and El Cotillo’s old fort are also worth a visit.
FAQ: El Cotillo (Fuerteventura)
Yes in summer, in small swells and with a surf school. In winter the spot gets powerful and hollow, better for experienced surfers.
Spring and summer to learn, October to March for bigger, hollower waves.
The spot works at all tides. In big swells the tide can make it close out: check the forecast.
In short
El Cotillo (Piedra Playa) is a sandy beach break on the northwest coast of Fuerteventura. Easy in summer in small swells, it gets powerful and hollow in winter with west swells and an east wind. Nearby, check out Flag Beach (Corralejo) and Lobos. See all the surf spots in Fuerteventura and our guide to surfing in the Canary Islands.
Sources: Fuerteventura Playas, The Surf Atlas, Surfertoday, Surf-Forecast.