Kitesurf Tarifa - The Finest Year Round Kitesurfing Destination on the Planet

Standing at the meeting point of two great seas and two continents, Tarifa is the European kitesurf capital. For anyone wanting to learn to kitesurf Tarifa is perfectly placed. With kilometers of beach within walking distance and two of the worlds most consistent winds blowing through the straits with an amazing regularity it is one of the worlds premier spots to learn this amazing sport. With some the worlds most beautiful beaches and a mind boggling choice of conditions depending on which wind is blowing and what your into on that particular day. Stay in Tarifa to pick up the famous levante of Tarifa, head east and you will generally find flatter waters and slightly calmer conditions or turn west up to Caños and discover some of the best waves Europe has to offer.

Tarifa is generally seen as a summer kitesurf destination and obviously, most people prefer to kite surf in the summer, for one thing the temperature is more bearable. Summer also brings some very reliable thermally driven winds. (Winds affected by the heating of the earth and sea.) These winds are so constant that for four or five months out of the year you can get out practically every day. During winter, kite surfers rely much more on low-pressure systems to bring the wind, though, this can be less reliable. That’s not to say that winter kitesurfing is impossible, in fact, Tarifa provide one of the worlds’ best winter kitesurfing locations due to its reliable year round winds and comparably warm climate.

Tarifa is a town which has achieved world fame for its kitesurfing conditions. Tarifa’s fame began when it was discovered as a ‘Mecca’ for windsurfers in the 1970s. Over the last six years it has steadily transformed into a kitesurfing playground without equal. With approximately 20 kitesurf shops and 40 supporting businesses hustled into the two-km stretch of the main street, and with up to 1,000 kiters on the water on a summers’ afternoon - Tarifa is the worlds’ most popular kitesurf location.

Tarifa has two main prevailing winds. The Levante, which comes from the east and is the wind that has made this area famous. It blows anything up to a force eight and can last up to a month, day and night, even the keenest kitesurfers and wind surfers can find themselves wishing it would drop off just for a moment so they can hear their TV over the sound of the windows rattling. The Poniente wind comes from the west, is generally the more pleasant wind, bringing about clear skies and constant winds. Poniente winds are usually between a force three or six; perfect for kite surfing!