Bocabarranco

Gáldar · Western Canaries · Spain

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Bocabarranco (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/galdar-bocabarranco.

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A 300 m beach of sand and rock at the mouth of a ravine below Gáldar, on the north-west corner of Gran Canaria. It catches north swells well and gives fast, powerful peaks both ways, and it breaks often. Surf guides warn that the water quality is poor at times, and red flags go up for pollution.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m north-northwest swell with a south wind, at mid to high tide on the falling tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Flat in summer, and closed when red flags are up for pollution.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • pollution
  • localism

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March, April

Local tips

Check the flags before you paddle out. Respect the locals and you'll be left alone.

Getting there

From the GC-2 motorway take the Gáldar exit and follow the road down towards the El Agujero archaeological site, then the coastal track. Parking is right above the waves.

Travel notes

How often it works
One of the most consistent spots on the north coast in winter.
Crowd and vibe
Few surfers on weekdays. Localism is reported but the mood is fine if you show respect.
Camping and vans
Wild camping is not allowed on Gran Canaria. The island council (Cabildo) runs camping zones that need a permit booked online, and the closest legal option to camping by the sea is the campsite at Playa de Vargas on the east coast. The Canary Government's draft decree would ban tourist overnight stays in vans outside official campsites.
Facilities
Parking in front of the break. Shops and cafés are in Gáldar and Sardina.
Water quality
Surf guides warn about pollution here: wannasurf calls it one of the more polluted spots and says to watch for red flags, and surf-forecast calls the water quality suspect. In the 2025 EU bathing-water results, the nearest official point, El Agujero about 500 m away, was rated excellent.

Ideal conditions

Swell
NW–N best, WNW–NNE works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 2.5 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore SSE–SW; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, on the falling tide
Faces
NNW (330°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Western Canaries · All spots

Sources