Fuerteventura – El Cotillo

El Cotillo, Canary Islands, Spain

Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing, Surfing

Best time to go: July–August

El Cotillo is a fishing village on the north-west coast of Fuerteventura. South of the village, below the cliffs, the long beaches of Playa del Castillo and Piedra Playa face the open Atlantic and pick up swell from the west and northwest. To the north, rocky reefs shelter a series of small lagoons with calm water, used for swimming and, in the right wind, by kiters.

For surfing, the best season runs from about October to March, when Atlantic swells are most frequent; easterly winds blow offshore, and the shape of the sandbanks varies. The waves are powerful, with a strong shore break and rip currents, so these beaches suit experienced surfers. In the trade-wind months of spring and summer, the north to northeast wind blows along the coast, and kiters and windsurfers use parts of Piedra Playa for wave riding, while the northern lagoons give flatter water. Volcanic rock around the lagoons makes them unsuitable for beginners. Check local rules for kite zones. Water is around 18 °C in winter and 22 °C in late summer.

Month by month at Fuerteventura – El Cotillo

January: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 20°C, air 22°C (nights 16°C), 30 sunny days, 3 rainy days
February: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2.4 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 16°C), 28 sunny days, 3 rainy days
March: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 19°C, air 21°C (nights 16°C), 31 sunny days, 7 rainy days
April: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 19°C, air 22°C (nights 17°C), 30 sunny days, 6 rainy days
May: 17 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 20°C, air 23°C (nights 18°C), 31 sunny days, 2 rainy days
June: 20 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 21°C, air 24°C (nights 20°C), 30 sunny days, 3 rainy days
July: 24 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 15 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 22°C, air 26°C (nights 21°C), 31 sunny days, 1 rainy day
August: 25 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 23°C, air 27°C (nights 22°C), 30 sunny days, 1 rainy day
September: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 1.6 m, water 23°C, air 27°C (nights 22°C), 29 sunny days, 2 rainy days
October: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 23°C, air 26°C (nights 21°C), 30 sunny days, 3 rainy days
November: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 2.1 m, water 22°C, air 26°C (nights 19°C), 30 sunny days, 2 rainy days
December: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 2.2 m, water 21°C, air 23°C (nights 17°C), 30 sunny days, 5 rainy days

When is the best time to go kitesurfing, wingfoiling & windsurfing at Fuerteventura – El Cotillo?

July–August, when it is windy most often.

When is the best time to go surfing at Fuerteventura – El Cotillo?

January–April, November–December, when the waves are biggest.

How warm is the water at Fuerteventura – El Cotillo?

19°C to 23°C over the year: a shorty or lycra in the warmest month, a 4/3 full suit in the coolest.

How windy is Fuerteventura – El Cotillo?

About 182 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in August.

Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

Spots near Fuerteventura – El Cotillo

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