The Bunker (Playa Honda)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Flat, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
The Bunker (Playa Honda) is a local reef break in Lanzarote situated in front of an old military bunker, accessed from the southern end of Playa Honda. It is described as sheltered, but wave performance is often unreliable and depends strongly on swell size arriving so it can break properly over the reef. Surf hazards are a core feature of this spot: volcanic rocks, shallow reef sections, and sea urchins are reported, with extra danger at low tide when the reef becomes very exposed. Because of this, surfing is best limited to mid and high tides; even then, a long paddle from the car park at the end of Playa Honda is required to reach the reef breaks. Where it does work, it can produce short but punchy rides, with left-handers predominant and some right-hand sections when waves don’t fully link. The break is reported to handle east-northeast swell best, especially when the wind is more North for offshore conditions, while very large Atlantic swells can cause heavy closeouts. Seasonally, water temperature stays relatively mild (about 18°C in winter up to around 24°C by late summer), and the most consistent surfing conditions are noted in winter months for swell reliability. Busy periods can occur on weekends and when the swell is good, though crowding varies with conditions.
- Sheltered reef break in front of a bunker
- Left-handers predominant with some right sections
- Requires mid to high tide to reduce exposure to shallow rocks
- Best with east-northeast swell and light North/NW offshore winds
- Sheltered reef break with left and right sections (left predominant).
- Works best with east-northeast swell and light North/NW offshore winds.
- Close to the Playa Honda promenade with dining/urban facilities nearby.
- Reef hazards (volcanic rocks/shallow sections/urchins) require careful tide and condition checks.
- Waves can be unreliable; needs enough swell to break over the reef.
- More suitable at mid to high tide to avoid exposed, dangerous shallow areas.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW, NE
- Offshore directions
- N, NW, NE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Alisios trade winds from the N and NE; locally reinforced in summer by afternoon heating.
- Reliability
- High in summer; winter more dependent on frontal systems.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gust factor reported for the area.
- Best Months
- June, July, August
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with access to reef breaks offshore.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Medium — Medium swell conditions; summer can be flat.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Flat in summer per reports; otherwise wave behavior varies with swell and reef exposure.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach entry with paddle out to the reef break; also described as a long paddle from the car park.
Through the year
Busier on weekends and when the swell is good; generally quieter than main Lanzarote breaks on the north shore.
Rain is rare; most likely between December and February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Kitesurfing typically takes place further down the beach at Guacimeta, but riders occasionally cross into the area when conditions allow.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Used for freeride and bump-and-jump when North-East trade winds are blowing.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.7–6 m²
Possible when the tide is high enough to clear shallow reef sections; foil-friendly access is limited.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited foil-friendly conditions reported over the reef.
- Min Depth
- 1.2 meters recommended over the reef
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
A reef break in front of an old military bunker. It offers left and right handers (with left predominating) but requires enough swell to properly break over the reef; conditions are often unreliable. Works best when Atlantic swell arrives from the east-northeast with more North winds.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, NNE, NE, ENE, W, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid, High, All tides — Mid to high tide recommended to avoid the shallowest rocks; the reef can be very exposed at low tide.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Sheltered reef break.
- Wind Effect
- Best with light offshore North or Northwest winds; offshore wind directions help keep the reef waves cleaner.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out or become heavy with very large Atlantic swells.
- Wave Quality
- Poor — Wave quality reported as poor/average depending on conditions; unreliable waves.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power reported; varies with swell size.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling/rollable reef waves.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peeling, with medium peel speed reported.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Short but punchy rides over a volcanic reef.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride length reported as short but punchy, with medium total ride length.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for The Bunker (Playa Honda) in the full forecast view.
The Bunker (Playa Honda) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–15 ktsGusts 25 kts
- Direction
- NE51°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2415 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.2–0.7 m4s period
- Temperature
- 20–27 °C
Over the next 7 days, The Bunker (Playa Honda) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 25 kts. The prevailing direction is NE. Waves run 0.2–0.7 m with a period of about 4s. 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
- Volcanic rocks
- Shallow reef sections
- Sea urchins
- Rocks (reef)
- Crowds during peak swells
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported for this specific area.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Dedicated rescue coverage is primarily provided by local lifeguards during peak hours; maritime rescue handles emergencies in deeper waters.
- Emergency Info
- Universal emergency number 112; nearest major hospital is Hospital Universitario Doctor José Molina Orosa in Arrecife.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Moderate localism noted; riders should respect locals who frequent the break.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the locals who frequent this break.
- Surfing is best restricted to mid and high tides to avoid the shallowest rocks.
- Watch the tide carefully—at low tide the reef becomes very exposed and dangerous.
- Long paddle from the car park at the end of Playa Honda to the reef breaks (between the car park and El Tiburon).
- Park at the southern end of Playa Honda for the shortest walk.
- Best results require enough swell to break over the reef; waves are unreliable.
- Unreliable waves—plan for variability and keep a close eye on conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- San Bartolomé
- Nearest Town
- San Bartolomé
- Parking
- Car park at the end of Playa Honda (long paddle from there to the reef breaks). Street parking is also available around Playa Honda.
- Access
- Long paddle from the car park at the end of Playa Honda to the reef breaks; reef breaks are located between the car park and El Tiburon. A short walk from residential streets via the beach promenade is also referenced.
- Local Language
- Spanish
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous holiday rentals and apartments in Playa Honda and nearby Puerto del Carmen.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants and cafes along the Playa Honda promenade.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Playa Honda provides a promenade-town base for water-sports on Lanzarote’s east coast, with strong afternoon trade-wind influence and convenient access to the wider Arrecife area.
Long, vibrant coastal promenade for walking, cycling, and viewing due to its proximity to the airport.
Seafront walking and dining area that anchors the town’s coastal leisure scene.
Major retail and services hub serving the Playa Honda area.
Flat coastal terrain makes the area suitable for easy cycling and active sightseeing.
Volcanic landscapes and geothermal demonstrations in the heart of the island’s fire mountains.
The wider east-coast corridor is a practical base for kite, windsurf, and wingfoil travel.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at The Bunker (Playa Honda)?
The best overall months at The Bunker (Playa Honda) are November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at The Bunker (Playa Honda)?
The Bunker (Playa Honda) works with N, NW, NE winds. Offshore directions are N, NW, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at The Bunker (Playa Honda)?
Recommended equipment sizes at The Bunker (Playa Honda): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.7–6 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is The Bunker (Playa Honda) suitable for?
The Bunker (Playa Honda) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.