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Valdevaqueros

Andalusia · Tarifa · Campo de Gibraltar

also known as Playa Valdevaqueros, Playa de Valdevaqueros, Punta Paloma and Valdevaqueros

Part of Tarifa →

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

beginner-friendlyhigh crowds

On this page

The spot
Wind
Forecast
Month by month
Water
Level
The scene
Launch
Schools
Tips
Getting there
Photos
FAQ

Riding essentials

Season

Mar–Oct

Months riders and schools name

How windy

12-22 knots

Character: mixed

Room to launch

access rules on record, below

Water

mixed

22 °C in summerPoniente usually gives chop and small waves or beach-break swell

Hazards

Reported by riders

Level

Beginner to advanced

With a caveat: see Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Crowds

high crowds · busy Jun Jul Aug Sep

Schools

named at this spot

From the airport

Gibraltar (GIB)

Transfer times under Getting there

When it fills in

Poniente is thermally reinforced on spring, summer and autumn afternoons, so the useful hours usually start early afternoon and hold to evening. Levante is a gradient wind rather than a thermal one and can be up at any hour, including overnight. No published clock times exist for the beach itself, and the wind can be much gustier at the sand than 200 m out.

Nearbystraight-line distance

Backup spotsWhere riders go when the wind doesn't work here.

Los Lances Norteno page yet
Los Lances Surno page yet
Rio Jarano page yet
Arte Vidano page yet

The spot

Location and winds

Valdevaqueros is the dune-backed kite beach on the coast west and northwest of Tarifa, about 10 minutes by car from town. It runs on both of Tarifa's winds. Poniente comes in cross-on and steadier, cooler too, and it is the one to learn on or ride small waves in; Levante is stronger, side-off near the sand and gusty there, and it flattens the water for freestyle and big air.

Beach conditions

The beach is long and sandy under the Punta Paloma dune, it narrows in places, and in summer it is packed. Kitesurfing is allowed all year, with kite, windsurf and bathing zones marked from 15 June to 15 September.

Water and swell

This is open Atlantic and not a lagoon: chop and beach-break on Poniente, flatter water on Levante, with stones and the odd rock toward the southern end.

For beginners

Beginners belong in a school and on a Poniente day. A hard Levante is not the place to find out you cannot go upwind, because the wind blows away from the beach and a pick-up without a rescue card is billed by how far out they had to look.

The wind

locals call it Poniente and Levante

Direction

cross-oncross-offwind blows away from land — rescue cover matters here

Direction to shore

cross-on|cross|cross-off|offshore

Kite sizes

45678910111213141516

metres · typical quiver highlighted

Poniente

Levante

The quiver, in words

Poniente days run on 8-14 m, Levante days on 5-9 m.A 75-85 kg rider who wants to ride whatever the week delivers needs the full 5-14 m spread in the car, because the beach can swing from a 22-knot Poniente to a 35-knot Levante inside 48 hours.

Character

mixed

When it fills in: see above ↑

Average strength

12-22 knots in Poniente, 20-40+ knots in Levante, from Tarifa-wide statistics; no monthly average is published for the Valdevaqueros station itself.

Typical strength

Poniente averages 12-22 knots, Levante 20-40 knots and more. Over 300 days a year blow above 15 knots across the Tarifa beaches, and Levante accounts for roughly 60 percent of the windy days against 40 percent for Poniente.

Poniente is cooler, steadier, cross-on/side-on and better for learning, freeride and small-wave sessions.
Levante is warmer, stronger, usually side-off to side-shore at Valdevaqueros, often flatter on the water but can be unstable and gusty close to the beach, especially with a NE component or dune/terrain effects.

Tarifa is kiteable all year, with over 300 windy days above 15 knots. March to June is the most versatile stretch, Poniente and Levante alternating and the beach nothing like August.

July to October has the highest wind probability, dominant Levante and full summer and autumn crowds. November to February is quieter and more changeable, more technical, with winter swell in the mix.

Forecast

Live forecast

Windguru Windfinder Windy

Month by month

10 ktJan16°
11 ktFeb16°
11 ktMar16°
10 ktApr16°
9 ktMay18°
9 ktJun19°
9 ktJul21°
8 ktAug22°
9 ktSep21°
9 ktOct20°
10 ktNov18°
10 ktDec17°

avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted

Modelled monthly averages. Highlighted: the months riders and schools name (Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct).

Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (1980-2016), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds.

Every figure, month by monthKnots · Wind from · Air · Water

Month	Knots	Wind from	Air	Water
Jan	10.1 kt	W (Poniente)	13.3 °C	16.1 °C
Feb	10.5 kt	W (Poniente)	13.9 °C	15.6 °C
Mar	10.5 kt	E (Levante)	15 °C	15.6 °C
Apr	10 kt	W (Poniente)	16.1 °C	16.1 °C
May	9.3 kt	W (Poniente)	18.3 °C	17.8 °C
Jun	8.9 kt	W (Poniente)	21.1 °C	19.4 °C
Jul	8.9 kt	E (Levante)	23.3 °C	21.1 °C
Aug	8.4 kt	E (Levante)	23.9 °C	22.2 °C
Sep	8.8 kt	E (Levante)	22.2 °C	21.1 °C
Oct	9.2 kt	E (Levante)	19.4 °C	20 °C
Nov	9.9 kt	E (Levante)	16.7 °C	18.3 °C
Dec	10.2 kt	E (Levante)	14.4 °C	17.2 °C

How this is modelledmodelled · 1980-2016

A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.

The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.

Tarifa town · Weatherspark (NASA MERRA-2 reanalysis, 1980-2016)

The water

Type

mixed

Standing depth

Open Atlantic beach with a sandy seabed, small stones in places, and occasional rocks only at the extreme southern end; no beginner-style standing-depth area is confirmed.

Tides

Semidiurnal, two highs and two lows a day, with a modest range for an Atlantic beach: around 1.4 m at spring high water against 0.2 m at low, and roughly 1.1 m high against 0.25 m low on an average day.The tide matters more for the wind than for the sandbanks. Poniente tends to soften as high water arrives and picks up again about an hour later; Levante strengthens on the rising tide and turns gusty for an hour to an hour and a half around high water.

Temperature

Summer (°C) 22+

Winter 16 °C

Modelled monthly average: 16–22 °C

Wetsuit

Summer: thin wetsuit/2-2 shorty to 3/2 depending on wind chill and cold sensitivity; outside summer: 4/3, with 5/4 sometimes used in January-February Poniente sessions.

Currents

localized current near the rockier south end

Conditions

Poniente usually gives chop and small waves or beach-break swell; Levante usually flattens the water but is stronger and gustier near shore.

With medium to strong Atlantic swell, the southern part can produce surfkite waves. The beach is mostly sand, with small stones in places and occasional rocks reported at the extreme south.

Your level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Schools teach here every day, and on a steady Poniente with supervision it is a sound place to learn.

Levante is the opposite: strong, gusty, side-off near shore, on a beach that narrows and fills with people in summer. If you are still fighting to stay upwind, wait for Poniente.

The scene

What riders come here for

freestylefreeridewavesbig airwingfoilwindsurf

Who it suitslearning

One of Tarifa's most popular and social wind beaches: schools, beach bars, tourists, windsurfers, wingfoilers, kiters and summer bathers all concentrate around the dune-backed bay. Spring and autumn are still active but generally less saturated than August; winter is much quieter and more local.

Launch and rules

three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you

With a school or a boat

23 schools name this spot

See who they are

On your own

Room to launch: ok

Read the access rules

Somewhere else

8 spots nearby

All 8 spots within 40 km are under Nearby

Rescue

+34 633 95 31 88VHF channel 76

Rescue — full text1 min read

Coverage and hours

A private sea-rescue service runs boats from Los Lances Norte, near the Agua beach bar, and from Valdevaqueros, covering a safety zone out to about 1 km from the beach. It operates all year: 11:00-20:00 June to September, 11:00-19:00 in October and 11:00-18:00 after the clocks change, 11:00-17:00 November to February, 11:00-18:00 March to May.

Three RIBs of 4.8-5.5 m are on call. Emergency contact is +34 633 95 31 88 and VHF channel 76.

Rescue pricing

A rescue card buys 1, 2 or 5 rescues; without one, a single pick-up costs 50, 100 or 150 EUR depending on how far out the search goes, a departure from the port outside service hours costs 300 EUR, and rescues off Balneario/Bajeta are quoted at 200 EUR, or 100 EUR for transport alone when the gear is already safe.

Municipal lifeguards are a separate service and only cover the summer window.

Launch

Long sandy Atlantic beach under the Punta Paloma dune, reached from the N-340 with parking close to the sand and beach bars: Tangana, Tumbao, Bibo, Volare.The beach is big overall but narrow in places, so pick a launch zone rather than taking the first gap, and respect the marked kite, windsurf and bather areas in summer.

Hazards riders report 16 reported

Wind

strong gusty Levante
high rescue-boat fees noted during Levante
Strong Levante wind that can be side-off/side-shore and gusty close to the beach
North wind comes through gusty at this beach.
North wind is gusty here
Levante blows away from the beach; Punta Paloma sitting upwind reduces but does not remove the downwind risk

Crowds and zones

very crowded main beach in summer
Very busy water and beach in summer, with many learners, windsurfers and bathers sharing zoned areas
The summer free-practice kite area sits toward the rockier end of the beach, is small and crowded, and has rocks on the sand and underwater
Rescue-boat cover stops at 17:00-20:00 depending on the month, and an out-of-hours call-out costs 300 EUR

Bottom

rocky sections at the south end
Occasional rocks or stony seabed at the extreme southern end

Waves and currents

Poniente can create chop, shore break and 1-2 m beach-break waves; stronger winter swell can be larger
No current pattern on record; ask a local school/rescue team about current on the day

Other

Beach can be narrow in some places, especially important for launch and landing
Municipal lifeguard cover is weekends only from 15-30 June and 1-15 September, so early-summer weekdays have no beach guard

Rules & access

1 min read

Zones and channels

2024-2027: the municipal beach plan for Tarifa maps Valdevaqueros with buoyed, signed zones on both the sand and the water: exclusive kitesurf-school areas (six are listed for this beach, three with a permanent module), an exclusive windsurf/paddle school area, bathing-only zones, safety channels and an exclusive entry-and-exit channel for free kitesurf and windsurf practice.

A 200 m line of buoys runs the full 1,907 m of the beach frontage, and teaching is only allowed where a designated zone exists. Two nautical channels are marked, one just south of the Tumbao beach bar and one in front of the Valdevaqueros car park, plus a rescue-boat channel and an S.O.S. rescue module near the parking access.

Summer zoning

2026: the summer zoning for kite, windsurf and bathers runs 15 June to 15 September, with the free-practice kite area around the Bibo beach bar; outside that window riding is open along the beach, away from the protected dune.

Seasons and access

The municipal beach seasons are 1 July-31 August (high) and 18 March-30 June plus 1 September-31 October (medium), with municipal lifeguard cover only at weekends from 15-30 June and 1-15 September, so weekday cover before July is thin.

Insurance and permits

The 2018 Tarifa beach ordinance requires liability insurance for wind- and water-sliding sports; the Tarifa Watersports Pass floated in 2025 remains a proposal, not a permit.

Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.

Rider tips

Climb the Punta Paloma dune before you rig. You read the whole bay from up there, and on a northwest Poniente you can see whether the dune is disturbing the wind.
On Levante, check the sand and the water 200 m out; it is often far gustier at the beach than it is outside. Ride the southern section for waves when there is Levante swell.
Carry roughly 4-14 m. The beach can swing from a 22-knot Poniente to a 35-knot Levante inside 48 hours.
Buy rescue cover before riding Levante on your own. Save +34 633 95 31 88, the boats listen on VHF 76, and cover ends at 17:00 in winter and 20:00 in high summer.
In summer launch only inside the kite zone. The free-practice area sits toward the rockier end, so walk it at low water first, and remember Levante builds on the flood and gusts hardest for the hour around high water.
Arrive early in July and August for parking and launch space, and pack a thin wetsuit even then: Poniente plus wind chill feels colder than the water reads.

Getting there

Airport

Gibraltar (GIB) is closest by distance; Malaga (AGP) is commonly recommended as the most convenient international hub. Jerez (XRY) and Seville (SVQ) are alternatives.

Route

Drive the N-340 west and northwest out of Tarifa and use the signed beach accesses and parking. Bike or taxi from town works for a light day, but with a full quiver a rental car is the difference between riding and negotiating.

Transfer

About 10 minutes from Tarifa town; about 50 minutes from Gibraltar Airport, about 1h45-2h from Malaga Airport, about 1h20-1h40 from Jerez, and about 2h15 from Seville, depending on source and route.

Cost level

medium-high

Staying

Stay in Tarifa town for the restaurants and bars and drive out, or stay on the N-340 around Valdevaqueros and walk to the sand. Hotel 100% Fun is a few steps from the beach; there are other hotels and camping nearby.

No-wind days

Surf/SUP on no-wind or wave days, walk up the Punta Paloma/Valdevaqueros dune, visit Tarifa old town, Bolonia and Baelo Claudia, go cycling/e-bike, snorkel/diving in suitable conditions, or take whale-watching/sailing trips from Tarifa.

Photos

FAQ

When is the best time to kite Valdevaqueros?

Local schools cite Tarifa as kiteable all year with over 300 windy days above 15 knots. Spring, from March to June, is the most versatile period with alternating Poniente and Levante and less crowding than August.

Is Valdevaqueros suitable for beginners?

Yes with Poniente and school supervision, since it is cross-on and steadier. Levante requires more caution because it can be strong, gusty and side-off close to shore.

What is the wind like at Valdevaqueros?

Poniente runs about 12-22 knots, cooler and steadier, good for learning and freeride. Levante runs about 20-40+ knots, warmer and often flatter on the water but gustier near the beach.

Are there kite schools near Valdevaqueros?

Liam Whaley Pro Center, Tarifa Spin Out, Adrenalin Kite Area, Laduna Tarifa and Kite and Roll Tarifa all operate at or near the spot.

Are there rules or restricted zones at Valdevaqueros?

Kitesurfing is permitted year-round, with marked areas for kitesurf, windsurf and bathers from 15 June to 15 September, and local sources cite a requirement for liability insurance under the Tarifa municipal beach ordinance.

The bigger pictureEverything about Tarifa

Last updated: August 2026