La Derecha (Las Américas)

Surfing
Shortboard, Advanced riders
Best for
Expert
Skill Level
Flat, Swell, Ocean
Spot Type
Crowded
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

About

La Derecha (Las Américas) is a high-performance right-hand reef break in the Playa de las Américas resort area, known for hollow, fast, and powerful surf that’s considered a regional classic. It breaks over a shallow volcanic reef/ledge and can deliver very strong, high-demand sections—conditions that are best suited to experienced surfers. The wave is typically described as reef-rocky with excellent quality, and it holds size well. Multiple guides note it can start working from below 1 m and continue holding up to around 4 m+ on the larger swell end, with the break becoming more intense and potentially more dangerous as swell increases. Optimal swell direction is generally given as north to north-northwest. Because it is a reef spot with sharp volcanic rock and sea urchins, safety is a major focus. The lineup is also described as crowded (often more so on weekends and during winter peak), and localism can be heavy. Respecting the right of way and following strict surfing etiquette are emphasized, including using the enforced surfing zones that separate riders from swimmers. From a logistics perspective, access is straightforward from the seafront promenade, and amenities (food, drink, and facilities) are nearby in the resort strip. Practical guidance repeatedly highlights wearing protective booties due to the rocky bottom and entering/exiting carefully through the rocky gaps in the reef, and avoiding extreme low tide when the reef is more exposed.

  • Hollow, fast, powerful right-hand reef sections
  • Holds size well into ~4 meters and beyond
  • Sharp volcanic reef/urchins + heavy localism
  • Urban, walkable access with nearby amenities
Great for
Surfing shortboardAdvanced riders
What's great
  • Iconic, regional-classic reef right-hand wave with hollow, fast, powerful sections.
  • Urban access with nearby amenities; easy walking access to the water.
  • Works across tides (mid tide often highlighted) and holds size into larger swells up to ~4m.
Heads up
  • Heavy localism and strict etiquette; competitive lineup.
  • Sharp reef/rocks and sea urchins; shallow reef at low tide can increase risk.
  • Very crowded conditions (especially weekends/winter peak).
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
E, SE, S
Offshore directions
E, NNE, NE, ENE
Wind Range
5–15 kts
Reliability
Moderate for surfing (needs light or offshore winds)
Gust Factor
Light gusts — Light gusts are noted; wind can be shadowed by nearby high-rises.
Best Months
January, February, March, April, November, December, October
Shadow Zones
Significant wind shadow from nearby high-rise hotels for North and Northeast directions
Thermal Window
Afternoon · Dir: N, NNE, NE, ENE · Light afternoon sea-breezes are common but often reduced/shadowed by buildings.

Water & beach

Water Type
Flat, Swell, Ocean
Beach
Reef — Reef/rocks at the break.
Beach Size
Small
Waves
Medium — Working window often stated from less than 1 m to ~4 m+; cited as medium in one provider.
Launch
Medium — Rocky entry point directly off the promenade.
Launch Difficulty
Difficult — Rocky entry and shallow reef at low tide make launching/entry difficult.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
18–24 °C
Water Temperature
18–30 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Nov–Apr: 3/2mmJun–Oct: shorty or rash guard
Crowds by Season

Very crowded year-round, peaking in winter and on weekends.

Storm/Rain Season

Rain is rare, but most likely between December and February.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

Reef-rocky right-hand wave with hollow, fast, powerful sections; a regional classic/high-performance break that’s suited to experienced surfers.

Reef break
Wave Direction
Right
Optimal Swell
N, NNE, NW
Swell Height
1–4 m
Optimal Tide
All tides — Some guides state mid tide is best; others note it works on all tides—ride quality and access can vary with reef depth.
Shelter
Exposed — Exposed to conditions at this open urban reef segment.
Wind Effect
Best with offshore winds from the East/Northeast; can handle light South winds. Wind can be shadowed by buildings.
Bigger Swell
Holds size well up to 4 meters, becoming more powerful and dangerous; can take very large surf (reported up to 4m+).
Wave Quality
Excellent — Regional classic / excellent wave quality.
Wave Power
Powerful
Wave Shape
Hollow
Peel Speed
Fast
Ride Length
Medium — Normal rides range from 50 to 150 meters on good days.
Typical Ride Length
50–150 m
Ride Length Details
Normal rides typically 50–150m on good days; typical ride length cited around ~100m.
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Derecha (Las Américas) in the full forecast view.

La Derecha (Las Américas) wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
3–10 ktsGusts 17 kts
Direction
ENE72°
Strongest day
Thu, Oct 2910 kts
Windy days
0/712 kts or more
Waves
0.5–1.0 m10s period
Temperature
22–29 °C

Over the next 7 days, La Derecha (Las Américas) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 17 kts. The prevailing direction is ENE. Waves run 0.5–1.0 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

  • Rocks
  • Sea urchins
  • Reef exposure at extreme low tide (very shallow reef)
  • Heavy localism
  • Crowds
Ability Level: Expert
Recommended Safety Gear
BootsLeashWetsuit

Rescue & support

Lifeguard
Seasonal — Lifeguards are seasonal; rescue availability is limited.
Rescue & Self-Rescue
Limited
Emergency Info
Nearest hospital noted: Hospiten Sur (Playa de las Américas). Universal emergency number: 112.
Localism / Vibe
Heavy — Heavy localism is noted; surfing etiquette is strictly enforced.

Rules of the spot

Respect right of way / strict surfing etiquette required; designated surfing zones are enforced to separate riders from swimmers.

Restrictions
  • Surfing only zone at this specific peak; no kitesurfing or windsurfing allowed at this peak.
Local Tips
  • Wear booties due to rocky/reef bottom.
  • Enter and exit carefully through rocky gaps in the reef.
  • Avoid surfing at extreme low tide when the reef is exposed.
  • Respect the local competitive hierarchy (localism exists and can be heavy).

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Arona
Nearest Town
Playa de las Américas
Parking
Paid street parking or parking lots available in the nearby 'Golden Mile' shopping district.
Access
Direct access from the Paseo Marítimo promenade in front of the H10 Conquistador hotel area.
Cost Level
Moderate
Local Language
Spanish
Amenities

What's on the beach

Showers
Toilets
Parking
Restaurant
Bar
Accommodation
Nearby town — High concentration of hotels and apartments across the resort strip.
Food & Drink
Numerous restaurants, bars, and cafes along the promenade.
Equipment Rental:
Available at many surf shops along the promenade and nearby side streets.
Gear Storage
Offered by some surf schools for a daily fee.
Gear Repair
Several surf shops in Las Américas offer reef-ding repairs.
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 La Derecha (Las Américas)?

The best overall months at La Derecha (Las Américas) are October, November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, November, December, October.

Which wind directions work at La Derecha (Las Américas)?

La Derecha (Las Américas) works with E, SE, S winds. Offshore directions are E, NNE, NE, ENE.

What skill level is La Derecha (Las Américas) suitable for?

La Derecha (Las Américas) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Expert.