Beginners Surf Guide Bajamar, Tenerife: Recommended Lessons and More

Introduction to Surfing Bajamar

Bajamar sits on the north coast of Tenerife, a small and genuinely unpretentious coastal village just a few kilometres from Punta del Hidalgo that has quietly built a reputation as one of the most welcoming and beginner-friendly surf environments on the island. The beach here faces the open Atlantic and picks up swell with good consistency throughout the year, but it is the character of the waves that defines Bajamar as a destination by offering forgiving, accessible and well-shaped for those in the early stages of learning, with a sandy bottom that keeps things manageable and safe even on livelier days.

The village itself is refreshingly free of tourist infrastructure, with a pace of life and an authenticity that feels entirely removed from the resort towns of the south. For anyone arriving in Tenerife specifically to learn to surf, Bajamar and the north coast offer one of the most natural and enjoyable environments on the entire island to do exactly that.

Best Season to Surf Bajamar

• Winter Season — November to March: The Atlantic delivers its most consistent swell to the north coast during winter and Bajamar picks it up with reliable energy throughout the season. The waves carry more size and punch than the gentler months, though the sandy beach and the sheltered nature of the bay keep conditions manageable for progressing surfers.
• Summer Season — June to August: Smaller, gentler waves and warm Canarian sunshine make summer the most accessible and comfortable time for complete beginners to get their first experience of the Atlantic. The village is quiet, the water is at its warmest and the whole experience of surfing here during the summer months is as relaxed and enjoyable as learning to surf gets anywhere in the Canary Islands.
• Shoulder Seasons — March to May / September to November: A rewarding window for beginners and improvers alike, with building swell in autumn and a north coast that feels authentically Tenerife at its most peaceful. Both periods offer consistent, enjoyable conditions in a setting entirely free of peak-season crowds.

Surf Spots and Beaches in Bajamar

Bajamar Beach & Reef Lineup

Bajamar offers a variety of easy to ride waves, and with easy waves to learn and improve your surfing.

Surf Camps and Lessons

Mahalo Surf School

Javier, founder and owner, has teaching surfing in Tenerife for sixteen years, operating across both the north and south of the island as an officially certified school affiliated with the Federación Canaria de Surf, the Federación Española de Surf and the ISA. With a devoted following among students of all ages and abilities, described consistently in reviews as close, attentive and exceptionally clear in explaining how to improve.

What sets Mahalo apart is its itinerant approach. Rather than teaching from a fixed location regardless of the conditions, the team reviews the swell, the tide and the wind every morning and chooses the best sandy beach in the north or south of Tenerife for each session. Groups are capped at eight students maximum, free pickup is available from multiple collection points across the island and all equipment including board, wetsuit and insurance is included across every course. Private, semi-private and group lessons are all available, alongside surf and accommodation packages for those who want everything organised in one place. For anyone arriving in Bajamar or the north of Tenerife looking to learn or improve in the hands of an experienced, warm and genuinely committed team, Mahalo is the natural and most trusted starting point on the island.

Other Things to Do in Bajamar

• Natural seawater pools: Famous Bajamar piscinas carved from lava coastline.
• Anaga mountains: Laurel forest hikes in UNESCO biosphere reserve.
• Fishing village: Fresh Canarian seafood at local guachinches.
• Surfskate: Empty roads perfect for practicing turns between sessions.
• Teide views: Panoramic volcano vistas from coastal trails.

Conclusion on Surfing Bajamar

Bajamar is exactly the kind of place that first-time surfers should be introduced to the ocean with a unhurried, beautiful and entirely without pretension. The waves are forgiving, the setting is authentically Canarian and with Mahalo Surf School bringing sixteen years of patient, skilled instruction and a daily commitment to finding the best possible conditions for every student, there is very little standing between you and one of the most enjoyable and well-supported introductions to surfing anywhere in the Canary Islands. The north coast of Tenerife gives the experience a character and a beauty that the more developed resort areas of the south simply cannot replicate — and that stays with you long after the last session is done.

FAQ: Surf Travel to Bajamar

Wetsuit/booties?

3/2mm fullsuit + booties mandatory rocky reef entries.

Airport access?

Tenerife North Airport 25min; south airport 1hr 15min.

Are there other locations to do a Surf Camp or take a lesson in the Canary Islands?

Check out our Surfing in the Canary Islands Travel Guide if you’re interested in checking out other surfing locations.