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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

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
Great for
Advanced riders
What's great
  • Consistent exposed reef surfing compared with many nearby summer periods
  • Winter/swell season supports powerful, hollow right-hand waves
  • Grooming effect from south winds
Heads up
  • 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)
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Practical spot guide

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

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
Wetsuit Guide
Nov–Apr: 3/2mm or 4/3mm full suitMay–Oct: 2/2mm shorty or spring suit
Crowds by Season

Can be crowded with local surfers when conditions are good, especially on weekends.

Storm/Rain Season

Occasional rain and storms from November to February (rainfall generally low).

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

Exposed reef break with consistent surf, but summer tends to be mostly flat. High-performance, hollow right-hand reef break with fast, demanding conditions.

Reef break
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.
Forecast

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.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

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
Ability Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Recommended Safety Gear
WetsuitBoots

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.

Restrictions
  • Consider the spot highly demanding due to shallow reef/urchins and localized surf context.
Local Tips
  • 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
Amenities

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.
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

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.