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Playa de Vargas kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

Spain · Canarias

Spot currently openAdvanced levelAltitude 1 m 27.89 | -15.39

Overview

Playa de Vargas is a world-class wave riding spot on the east coast of Gran Canaria, between El Burrero and Arinaga. Similar wind to Pozo Izquierdo but slightly lighter, with bigger and better-formed waves — making it one of the best down-the-line wave spots on the island.

The beach is stony (strip of sand at low tide only). Zoned: swimmers left, windsurfers centre, kitesurfers south where waves are biggest. Philip Köster (multiple PWA champion) grew up riding here.

Take care at high tide when waves break directly onto the stony shore. Entry and exit require experience.

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Spot forecast for Playa de Vargas

Sunrise 08:04 · Sunset 19:28

Open-Meteo

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 2.4 km from the spot.

6:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:006:0012:0018:00Mon 19Tue 20Wed 21Thu 22Fri 23 Now01:461 m08:341.6 m15:150.9 m21:381.5 m03:251 m09:571.7 m16:250.8 m22:421.6 m04:310.9 m10:511.8 m17:110.7 m23:251.7 m05:170.8 m11:311.9 m17:480.6 m00:011.9 m05:550.6 m12:072.1 m18:210.4 m
  • Monday 19 October Low tide · 1 m High tide · 1.6 m Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 1.5 m
  • Tuesday 20 October Low tide · 1 m High tide · 1.7 m Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 1.6 m
  • Wednesday 21 October Low tide · 0.9 m High tide · 1.8 m Low tide · 0.7 m High tide · 1.7 m
  • Thursday 22 October Low tide · 0.8 m High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.6 m
  • Friday 23 October High tide · 1.9 m Low tide · 0.6 m High tide · 2.1 m Low tide · 0.4 m

Playa de Vargas: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

464h

in July · 30.5 rideable days

The season runs from April to September, peaking in July: 28 rideable days a month and 464 hours of usable wind, at 26 °C. The low point is November, at 15.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 40 January: 16 rideable days J February: 21.5 rideable days F March: 18.5 rideable days M April: 24 rideable days A May: 27.5 rideable days M June: 28.5 rideable days J July: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d J August: 30.5 rideable days A September: 29.5 rideable days S October: 23 rideable days O November: 15.5 rideable days15.5 d N December: 19 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 40 January: 16 rideable days J February: 21.5 rideable days F March: 18.5 rideable days M April: 24 rideable days A May: 27.5 rideable days M June: 28.5 rideable days J July: 30.5 rideable days30.5 d J August: 30.5 rideable days A September: 29.5 rideable days S October: 23 rideable days O November: 15.5 rideable days15.5 d N December: 19 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 31%13-20 knots · 64%21-30 knots · 5%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 13 and 20 knots — 64% of rideable hours. That is the most versatile range, where most kites work. The coldest month is January, at 21 °C. The wettest month is March, with 32 mm.

Monthly averages: Playa de Vargas
Monthly averages — Playa de Vargas — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 16.0 163 h 21 °C 8 mm
February 21.5 252 h 21 °C 1 mm
March 18.5 199 h 22 °C 32 mm
April 24.0 315 h 23 °C 20 mm
May 27.5 384 h 24 °C 1 mm
June 28.5 432 h 25 °C 2 mm
July 30.5 464 h 27 °C 0 mm
August 30.5 445 h 29 °C 0 mm
September 29.5 401 h 27 °C 2 mm
October 23.0 265 h 25 °C 13 mm
November 15.5 167 h 25 °C 11 mm
December 19.0 215 h 21 °C 17 mm

Photo gallery of Playa de Vargas

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Technical details of Playa de Vargas spot

N: Rideable NNE: Rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Depending on conditions E: Depending on conditions ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Not rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Not rideable WNW: Not rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, NNW.

Depending on conditions: ENE, E.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot functioning

Wave riding (down-the-line). Zoned: kite area to the south. From Vargas you can sail upwind to reach Erizo, one of the best down-the-line spots on the island (accessible only by water).

Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round

Year-round. Best wind May–Sept. Best waves with N/NE swell.

Required level
Advanced
On the water

Waves 0.5–3m+, well-formed. Rocky/stony bottom near shore, sandy further out. Water 18–22°C. Boots essential.

Parking

From GC-191 between El Carrizal and Cruce de Arinaga, follow signs. Large parking right by the shore. Campsite nearby (popular with wind sports visitors). ~25 min from airport.

Wind specificities

NE trade wind, slightly lighter than Pozo but still strong (15–25+ knots). Side-shore to side-offshore. Kites 7–11m. Best May–Sept.

Hazards

Stony beach: rocky entry/exit, especially treacherous at high tide with shorebreak on stones.

Waves: bigger than at Pozo, breaking close to shore.

Currents: strong lateral currents. Board leash essential.

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LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA/GANDO3.8 kmsource metno

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Additional stations

  • GCLP5.1 km

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    source CWOP / APRS-IS

  • CANAVIA GCLB16.4 km

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    source weathercloud

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