Kitesurfing, wing foiling and foiling at Tarifa (Los Lances Norte)

Los Lances Norte is the north-western part of the beach of Los Lances, and further south-east, at the lagoon inside the Paraje Natural, you cannot go on the water at any time of year. The beach faces sixteen degrees further west than Valdevaqueros, and you notice that with Tarifa's two winds: the poniente from the west comes in side-on here, while the levante from the east is side-off and pushes you away from the beach. Only from east-south-east does the levante blow side-shore, and if it swings round to north-east Windulu gives a no-go. The tide matters here too. The AEMET station is six and a half kilometres to the south-east and reports once an hour, so on a levante day keep a close eye on the direction in the forecast.

From 15 June to 15 September free riding is only allowed via the lane for free riders; the south-eastern part is then for schools. Further south, by the Los Lances lagoon (Paraje Natural), kiting, windsurfing and surfing are banned all year. Free riding requires the level III card and a helmet, impact vest and GPS or radio beacon. Source: Tarifa town council, beach ordinance 2018 and beach plan 2024-2027; Junta de Andalucía, Decreto 130/2024.

Wind directions & safety

The open water at Tarifa (Los Lances Norte) faces SSW (210°). The safest wind directions to get on the water here are south, southwest and west (onshore or cross-onshore). With the wind from the north, east, southeast and northwest, it runs cross to cross-offshore: doable, but mind your position and don't go alone. With the wind from the northeast, it blows offshore and is dangerous: you'll be pushed off the beach onto open water (no-go).

On this page you'll find the live wind, the hourly forecast and a personal go/no-go for Tarifa (Los Lances Norte), plus your ideal kite or wing size and (where available) a live beach webcam. Wind data: ICON-EU via Open-Meteo.