El Cotillo
El Cotillo is a charming fishing village on Fuerteventura's northwest coast with multiple surf spots. The main break produces fun lefts that peel along a cobblestone bottom, with a dramatic shipwreck visible from the lineup. The village has become a surf town, with cafes and accommodation catering to wave riders.
El Cotillo surf forecast
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (330°)
- Direction range
- 300° - 360°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.3m - 1.7m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 100° - 180°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 2m
Water temp
20°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
5/10
Access: Lefts peeling over cobbles beside shipwreck in port.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is El Cotillo?
El Cotillo is a beach break in Fuerteventura, Spain, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at El Cotillo?
El Cotillo picks up swell from the WNW round to the N, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NNW. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.3 to 1.7m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at El Cotillo?
A SE wind is dead offshore at El Cotillo, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at El Cotillo?
El Cotillo has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.3m to 2m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf El Cotillo?
The most reliable run of swell at El Cotillo comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Apr to May and Sep too. Year-round swells. Left peeling over cobbles beside shipwreck in port.
How cold is the water at El Cotillo?
The water at El Cotillo averages around 20°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is El Cotillo good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (5/10) when it's on. Lefts peeling over cobbles beside shipwreck in port.
How do I get to El Cotillo?
The nearest airport on our list is FUE, then it's roughly a 35-minute drive. Lefts peeling over cobbles beside shipwreck in port.
What other surf spots are near El Cotillo?
The closest breaks we track are Spew Pits (1.6 km), El Hierro (The Bubble) (8.6 km) and Los Lobos (21 km), handy when El Cotillo isn't working. We track 4 spots around Fuerteventura in total.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, May, Sep
Year-round swells. Left peeling over cobbles beside shipwreck in port.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Spew Pits
🦔 Urchin-covered reef • Fast barrels • Respect the spikes
El Hierro (The Bubble)
💀 Europe's Pipeline • Heaviest Canaries wave • Pros only
Los Lobos
🐺 Canaries' longest wave • 500m rides • Boat access island
La Santa Right
🏋️ La Santa sports hub • Lanzarote quality • Dawn patrol essential
El Quemao
🌋 Canary Islands slab • Lava reef carnage • Experts only
Famara
🏔️ 6km beach break • Cliff backdrop • Lanzarote's surf hub