El Circo (Moya)
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Range
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
El Circo is an exposed reef break on the Moya coast of Gran Canaria, known for producing consistent surf when swell and wind line up. While summer can be mostly flat, the spot’s best window is in autumn—especially October—when conditions typically become more reliable. Surf is described as a high-performance right-hand reef break with fast, hollow, and powerful sections. The wave is considered especially demanding due to the shallow volcanic reef and the way conditions can become heavy on larger swells. For ride quality, south winds are favored as they tend to be offshore and help groom the wave faces. Access is rocky and can be tricky, with a narrow channel/launch approach and a reef environment that creates additional risk. Strong currents (including rip-current type conditions) are possible, particularly on bigger swells, and the reef is specifically noted as sharp and covered with sea urchins. Sharks and pollution are also listed among the hazards. This is a localized point, so meeting local expectations and surfing etiquette matters. Entry and exit should be planned carefully after observing conditions, and protective foot protection (booties) is strongly recommended for the reef and urchins. There is no lifeguard presence noted at the spot, so riders should prepare accordingly and use local emergency resources if needed.
- Consistent exposed reef surf (with summer often flatter)
- Hollow, fast right-hand reef break
- Best in October; south winds can groom the face
- Sharp reef/urchins + localized surfing context
- Consistent exposed reef surfing compared with many nearby summer periods
- Winter/swell season supports powerful, hollow right-hand waves
- Grooming effect from south winds
- Demanding access and hazards on a sharp reef with sea urchins
- Localism can be heavy; strict etiquette is required
- Higher-risk conditions possible (strong currents; sharks and pollution noted as hazards)
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE
- Offshore directions
- S
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Trade-wind influence (Alisios) with complex local patterns; spot-level sources describe gradient wind.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Described as light gusts.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs and terrain to the south can create wind shadows.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocky reef environment.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Medium wave conditions reported; reef breaks can turn powerful with the right swell.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry through a narrow channel or jumping from the reef.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Difficult rocky entry/jumping from the reef; tricky access due to reef/urchins.
Through the year
Can be crowded with local surfers when conditions are good, especially on weekends.
Occasional rain and storms from November to February (rainfall generally low).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break with consistent surf, but summer tends to be mostly flat. High-performance, hollow right-hand reef break with fast, demanding conditions.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — High tide is preferred.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break.
- Wind Effect
- South winds are offshore, grooming the wave faces; North winds are onshore and can ruin the shape.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles size well but can become extremely heavy and expert-only on bigger swells.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Consistent surf with high wave quality when conditions line up.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Hollow, fast, and powerful walls; one of the more demanding waves on the north coast.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow right-hand reef break.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast sections.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast sections can link for a decent ride.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast right-hand sections can link up for a decent ride length on the right swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for El Circo (Moya) in the full forecast view.
El Circo (Moya) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–15 ktsGusts 22 kts
- Direction
- ENE70°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2415 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.7 m10s period
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C
Over the next 7 days, El Circo (Moya) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 22 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.7–1.7 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Sharks
- Pollution
- Sharp reef
- Sea urchins
- Strong rip currents possible, especially on larger swells
- Rocks
- Heavy localism
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated on-site rescue for most spots.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Santa María de Guía or Las Palmas. If needed, emergency response is coordinated via the region; general emergency number is 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- Heavy — Described as heavy localism; strict etiquette required.
Rules of the spot
Strict surfing etiquette is required due to the competitive and localized nature of the spot.
- Consider the spot highly demanding due to shallow reef/urchins and localized surf context.
- Respect local surfers; this is a highly localized peak.
- Watch the entry and exit points carefully before paddling out.
- Booties are recommended to protect against the reef and urchins.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Santa María de Guía de Gran Canaria
- Nearest Town
- Moya
- Parking
- Limited parking available in dirt pull-offs along the coastal road.
- Access
- Accessible via the GC-2 highway, with a short walk down to the rocky shoreline.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Vacation rentals in San Felipe and hotels in Las Palmas; rural houses in the hills of Moya are also nearby.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and cafes are available in the nearby village of San Felipe.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals at the spot; surf shops are located in Las Palmas.
- Gear Storage
- Limited on-site storage; most visitors rely on vehicle storage or facilities provided by schools in the capital.
- Gear Repair
- Specialized surfboard and wetsuit repair services available in industrial zones and surf shops in Las Palmas.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at El Circo (Moya)?
The best overall months at El Circo (Moya) are October. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at El Circo (Moya)?
El Circo (Moya) works with S, SSE winds. Offshore directions are S.
What skill level is El Circo (Moya) suitable for?
El Circo (Moya) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.