Surf spot guide · Lanzarote, Spain
Outer submerged-reef big-wave peak in Famara bay, breaking top-to-bottom on solid W to N swells.
Las Bajas is a submerged uneven-reef peak that sits roughly 200m off the sand of Famara bay on the north coast of Lanzarote. The bottom rises sharply onto a shallow rock shelf, so on solid W through N swells the wave stands up as a wedging A-frame and breaks top-to-bottom with a hollow, freight-train wall on the open faces. Lines feel thick and bowly thanks to deep Atlantic energy refracting into the bay, and takeoffs are critical with little margin once the swell pushes past head-high. The break has built a quiet reputation as one of the most spectacular big-wave reefs in the eastern Atlantic, ridden mainly on tow during the largest northwest pulses of the winter season. A southeasterly offshore is the cleanest wind, and the spot will hold faces from around 1.8m up into the 9m-plus range. Access is from Famara village, with a long paddle out to the rocks past the inside beachbreak, and the lineup stays empty outside of the handful of crews who chase it.
Wedging A-frame 200m off Famara that stands hollow and thick on Atlantic winter pulses.
You’re seeing the next 3 days. A free account opens all 14, which is the difference between checking tomorrow and planning a trip.
Crowds are effectively non-existent, with only a small number of experienced chargers and tow teams sitting on the peak when it breaks.
Heavy outer-reef big-wave
Lanzarote
Six kilometre sand-bottom bay on the north-west of Lanzarote, the island's main learner beach with shifting peaks across the sandbanks.
Lanzarote
Dredgy, square left over shallow uneven reef on the Famara coast, lighting up only on solid W swell.
Lanzarote
Steep A-frame reef peak off La Caleta de Famara that fires a long, fast left wall on N-NW swell.
+9 MORE →Wait for solid W to NW pulses pushing through the bay before paddling for the outside reef
Pair the swell with a SE offshore to keep the faces clean
Watch the peak from the Famara cliffs first to read the sets and the rip lines
Plan a long paddle from the Famara sand and only commit when conditions match your level
Check for tow teams and ski traffic before sitting on the peak
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
Walk-in from Famara village onto the sand, then a long paddle of around 200m through the inside beachbreak to the outer reef. Free roadside parking around the village; no dedicated car park, surf shop or showers listed at the break.
Open in Maps