La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
La Caseta del Telegrapho is an exposed north-coast surfing spot near Garachico/Los Silos that’s known for fast, powerful waves with both lefts and rights. The setup is described as very consistent, with workable surf starting around roughly 1.5–2 meters and holding up to about 4 meters and beyond. Conditions are most often tied to north or north-northwest swell. Offshore southerly winds are repeatedly noted as the key to cleaner, better-formed wave faces. While some sources mention ideal conditions at low to mid tide, the spot is also reported to be rideable across stages of the tide—though takeoff and closeout behavior can change noticeably as conditions vary. From a safety perspective, the standout concern is hazards from rocks in/around the lineup (and scattered rocks near the beach edges). The spot can also produce strong shorebreak and rip currents, particularly when swell builds (one source flags heightened rip risk when swell exceeds about 2 meters). Extra caution is advised around the sea wall area near high tide, where water movement can be strong. Crowd-wise, it’s characterized as unlikely to be too crowded even when surf is up, though weekend crowding with locals is mentioned when conditions are optimal. Practical local guidance includes aiming for low to mid tide, checking the sand/takeoff zone after big winter storms, and keeping a close eye on rocks before committing into the lineup.
- Very consistent surf (reported around 150 days/year)
- Left and right options
- Works from autumn through winter with north/north-northwest swell
- Normal ride length commonly reported around 50 to 150 meters
- Exposed but consistent surfing with left and right options.
- Works in a wide season, with strongest/most reliable periods around autumn through winter.
- Powerful waves with a regional-classic reputation and normal ride lengths reported around 50–150m.
- Rocks in the lineup/shore and powerful shorebreak—hazard management is critical.
- Best conditions depend strongly on tide, swell, and offshore wind setup.
- Wind reliability is described as low at times, so plan around forecasts/spot checks.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE, SW
- Offshore directions
- S, SSW, SW
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Alisios-style regime is referenced regionally; spot-level notes include offshore/southerly winds grooming conditions. Some sources describe wind as variable/low-reliable at times.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Steady
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs to the south can create wind shadows in light conditions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Mixed
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocks/reef elements are noted in/near the surf zone; some sources also describe sandy beach approaches with rocky hazards at the edges.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Reported as working from ~1.5–2m and holding up to ~4m+.
- Launch
- Medium — Direct shore access to the surf zone.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Reported as moderate difficulty in reef/hazard context; another source indicates easier entry/exit from the beach depending on conditions.
Through the year
Quiet on weekdays; can become crowded with locals on weekends when conditions are optimal.
Occasional rain between November and February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed, powerful surfing spot with lefts and rights that can stay rideable through the year, especially with north-northwest swell and offshore south winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low, Mid — Best at low to mid tide; many sources note it works across tides, but optimal ride/takeoff is commonly described around low to mid.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed surf zone with direct exposure to the North Atlantic.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore south winds improve wave shape; southerly/offshore conditions groom faces, while other wind directions can make the wave less clean.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size up to around 4 meters and remains surfable; above roughly 3 meters it can become very heavy/challenging and may start to close out depending on tide and takeoff configuration.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Wave quality described as a regional classic.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Sources describe reef/power setup as well as hollow/faster sections at beach-break periods; overall shape reported as mixed.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Fast, punchy wave sections when offshore southerly winds groom the faces.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal rides reported around 50 to 150 meters depending on conditions and tide.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal rides reported in the ~50 to 150 meters range.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) in the full forecast view.
La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–16 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- NE55°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2416 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–2.2 m10s period
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.9–2.2 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
- Rocks in the lineup (submerged/reef hazards)
- Powerful shorebreak and strong water movement near the sea wall
- Rip currents (especially when swell exceeds about 2 meters)
- Scattered rocks near the edges of the beach
- Sea wall hazards near high tide
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — No dedicated on-water rescue is confirmed; maritime rescue is handled via emergency services (112) through the local system.
- Emergency Info
- Use emergency number 112. Nearest primary care is in Los Silos; hospital services are in Icod de los Vinos.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Local surfers are described as present/part of the crowd pattern on weekends when conditions are optimal.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; watch for fast-moving waves and respect locals when it’s firing.
- If conditions are very powerful/heavy (e.g., above ~3 meters), treat the spot as challenging due to wave heaviness and closeout risk.
- Best at low to mid tide; at high tide the wave may close out or hit the wall.
- Check sandbar/takeoff conditions after big winter storms since takeoff zones shift.
- Take extra care around the rocks in the lineup.
- If swell exceeds about 2 meters, be particularly cautious of rip currents.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Garachico
- Nearest Town
- Los Silos
- Nearest Airport
- Tenerife North Airport (TFN)
- Parking
- Street parking available near the beach access path.
- Public Transport
- Intercity bus access via TITSA network (connections involving Puerto de la Cruz and Icod de los Vinos).
- Access
- Accessible via the TF-42 highway, turning toward the coast at La Caleta de Interian.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Local apartments and small hotels in La Caleta de Interian and Los Silos; accommodation also across Garachico.
- Food & Drink
- Several seafood restaurants and cafes within walking distance in the village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited on-site availability for sport gear region-wide; many rentals for surfing/foil gear are found in nearby Icod de los Vinos or Puerto de la Cruz. One source also states no rentals directly at the beach.
- Gear Repair
- Minor ding repairs are available via local workshops in the Icod/Garachico area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Garachico/Los Silos area combines a historic coastal town with volcanic landscapes and natural ocean pools, set against an exposed North Atlantic coastline.
Natural volcanic swimming pools formed by the 1706 lava flow.
A major regional draw formed by lava meeting the ocean, widely associated with Garachico’s coastal visitor area.
Historic coastal fortification and a well-known landmark in Garachico.
Rugged trails through ancient laurel forests and volcanic ridges.
Cliff-and-coast walking routes are a prominent way to explore the region.
Traditional Canarian cuisine in the heart of Garachico.
A life-size Boreal Whale skeleton displayed on the coastline as a natural monument.
Volcanic pools are a major family-friendly leisure attraction.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico)?
The best overall months at La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico)?
La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) works with S, SSE, SW winds. Offshore directions are S, SSW, SW.
What skill level is La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) suitable for?
La Caseta del Telegrapho (Garachico) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.