Las Monjas (Los Giles)
- Advanced riders
- Best for
- Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- 10–20 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Las Monjas (also known as Los Giles) is an exposed reef break area near Las Palmas, where surfing is generally a winter-focused option. The spot is described as usually a safe bet in winter, but summer can be mostly flat. The wave is consistently framed as a right-hand reef break best at high tide. On the right conditions it can produce fast, hollow sections with good wave quality. For swell, northwest (and north) directions are described as most favorable, with the working swell window reported as roughly 1.0–3.0 meters. Wind matters for wave cleanliness: southeast winds are described as providing cleaner/offshore conditions for surfing, while north winds are onshore and messier. Wind performance is also reported as gradient-driven with a typical range around 10–20 knots, but reliability is noted as low in provider data and the spot is only dependable to a modest degree. Because the entry and exit involve rocky volcanic reef, the spot is not recommended for beginners. Hazards highlighted across sources include sharp reef, submerged rocks, and shallow water at low tide, with strong currents possible during larger swells. Practical guidance includes exiting before the tide gets too low and using reef booties if you are not experienced with rocky entries.
- Exposed reef break suited to winter sessions
- Best at high tide for surfability
- Southeast winds can help keep conditions cleaner
- Reliable winter reef surfing option when conditions suit the break.
- High tide is a key factor for best results.
- Potential for fast, hollow right-hand sections on northwest swell.
- Reef/rock hazards and shallow water at low tide increase risk.
- Rescue availability is not indicated at the spot level.
- Wind reliability can be low.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE
- Offshore directions
- SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Wind Type reported as gradient; also described as southeast wind providing generally clean offshore conditions for surfing.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March, November, October
- Shadow Zones
- Cliffs at Los Giles can create wind shadows if the direction is too westerly.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocks composition; obstacles include rocky terrain and sharp volcanic reef.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — One physical summary notes small surf; another describes wave size as medium depending on conditions.
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry requiring careful timing with sets.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Spot-level launch difficulty described as moderate in one dataset and difficult in another; overall entry/exit is challenging due to reef.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends when conditions are good; quiet during the week.
Rain is infrequent but most likely from November to February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed reef break near the Los Giles cliffs. Usually a safe bet in winter, while summer can be mostly flat. Known for right-hand reef waves and potential for fast, hollow sections on suitable swell.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- NW, N
- Swell Height
- 1–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — Best at high tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef break.
- Wind Effect
- Southeast winds provide cleaner offshore conditions; North winds are onshore and messy.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds significant size but becomes very heavy and expert-only.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Reported as powerful right-hand reef break with fast, hollow sections.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Also described as hollow on stronger days.
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Medium — Reported as medium; can offer rides up to 150 meters on optimal days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 80–120 m
- Ride Length Details
- Can offer rides up to 150 meters on optimal days; typical rides reported as 80–120 meters.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Las Monjas (Los Giles) in the full forecast view.
Las Monjas (Los Giles) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–11 ktsGusts 18 kts
- Direction
- E81°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2411 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.6 m10s period
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, Las Monjas (Los Giles) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 18 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 0.7–1.6 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
- Reef
- Sharp volcanic reef and submerged rocks
- Shallow water at low tide
- Strong currents
- Rocky entry/exit points
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level notes indicate no rescue availability; regional context indicates limited rescue across key urban beaches.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest medical facilities are in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. In Spain, the emergency number is 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Spot-level localism reported as none (and moderate in one provider’s notes).
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the peak and wait your turn.
- Not suitable for beginners due to hazard level.
- Be cautious of rocky bottom and exposed reef conditions.
- Exit the water before the tide gets too low to avoid the sharpest parts of the reef.
- Bring reef booties if you are not experienced with rocky entries.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Las Palmas
- Nearest Town
- Los Giles
- Parking
- Limited parking available in the residential area of Los Giles at the top of the cliffs; parking likely exists near the coast (details not specified).
- Access
- Access is via a steep path descending from the Los Giles cliffs or a long walk along the coast from nearby spots. Beach access may involve walking over rocky terrain.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Various hotels and apartments in Las Palmas; high density of accommodation along the shoreline within the city area (regional baseline).
- Food & Drink
- Local bars and restaurants in Los Giles or Las Palmas.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available in surf shops along Las Canteras beach (regional baseline).
- Gear Storage
- Several surf schools and local clubs in the La Cicer area provide board storage services for a monthly fee (regional baseline).
- Gear Repair
- Available 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 Las Monjas (Los Giles)?
The best overall months at Las Monjas (Los Giles) are December, January, February, March. The best wind months are December, January, February, March, November, October.
Which wind directions work at Las Monjas (Los Giles)?
Las Monjas (Los Giles) works with SE winds. Offshore directions are SE.
What skill level is Las Monjas (Los Giles) suitable for?
Las Monjas (Los Giles) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.