Moving north is Los Lances, a long stretch of beach from the city of Tarifa to just below the Hotel Dos Mares. It can get quite crowded in this area, and as the Levante usually blows offshore it is very gusty on these days. With Levante wind there are better spots in my opinion. Anyone who kites here in the summer can buy a “rescue certificate” to be on the safe side – the lifeboat is out there all day to get you and your equipment back to shore.
But the spot where I’ll be found most often is Valdevaqueros, a bit further north. With Levante the water here is flatter and a choppy slope is created. However, in good conditions in midsummer it is almost impossible to train, as it is simply too crowded, then it helps to go far out! Valdevaqueros has the Tumbao beach bar, the Bibo Beachhouse, Tangana, and other bars where you can enjoy your time off the water, eating and drinking well. There is always something going on in the summer, both in and out of the water.
The next spot north is Caños de Meca, nearly an hour from Tarifa old town. It is the right choice when it’s blowing over 45 knots. The spot usually works well if the Levante has already been blowing for a few days. In Caños there are excellent conditions on such days and in summer it can get full very quickly.
When the wind switches to Poniente you can go kiting almost anywhere in Tarifa (outside of the summer season when there are restrictions in place). Then it will blow onshore or side onshore. In summer it is good to ride at Valdevaqueros. Thanks to the thermals, the wind there often blows 10 knots stronger than at the other spots. In the winter months and on days with swell from western directions, good waves can often be found there, sometimes up to three meters. People who visit in the summer cannot imagine how big and powerful the waves can get from October onwards. Kiting also works well for the Poniente in front of the Campo de Fútbol on Los Lances (outside the summer season).
For flat water a lagoon forms on Los Lances. I don’t know if this spot should even be mentioned though as kiting is actually prohibited there because it is a nature reserve. Many birds nest there and the police often come and hand out tickets. A session can be very expensive! Some riders kite there despite the ban, but I avoid it.
I do also kite at my home spot in Estepona. With Levante, the wind in Estepona is weaker than in Tarifa, but what many people don’t know is that in a Poniente the wind is actually stronger than in the wind capital! Unfortunately, the spot only works with a south westerly wind. As soon as the wind turns a few degrees to the north, it’s over, and unfortunately this happens too often. A few degrees make the difference between dream conditions or total failure. But if it works, then it’s gold!
Heading east from Tarifa are more kite spots. Palmones is located between Algeciras and La Linea and, along with Caños, is a popular refuge when the Levante hits Tarifa too hard. Large tankers can be seen on the ocean and form an impressive backdrop. This is definitely a good alternative on days when it is too strong in Tarifa! Wherever you head in Tarifa, enjoy!
