Kitesurfing Playa de la Garita · Arrieta

Wind & Conditions

Large open beach on Lanzarote's NE coast near Arrieta village; ENE-facing shore with the NE Alisios trade wind cross-onshore. Outside swell with moderate shorebreak in the southern section makes this an intermediate spot. Partly sheltered by a small harbour structure. Good alternative when Famara is overcrowded.

About Playa de la Garita · Arrieta

Playa de la Garita sits on Lanzarote's northeast coast, just a short reach from the fishing village of Arrieta. The beach is large and open, facing ENE — which means the island's signature NE Alisios trade wind arrives cross-onshore here, a reassuring angle that keeps riders working the water rather than drifting toward a downwind hazard. The approach to Arrieta is straightforward; the village is small and the beach easy to find. Parking is typically close to the sand, which keeps the walk from car to launch manageable with a kite bag and bar in hand. The northern part of the beach gets a degree of shelter from a small harbour structure, so if you want a calmer launch and slightly smoother water for your first run, set up there. The southern section is more exposed — outside swell pushes through and builds a moderate shorebreak that demands your respect on the way in and out. That shorebreak is the main reason this spot sits in the intermediate bracket; it's not for people still working on their body drags. In the water, expect a mix: the cross-onshore trade wind is consistent when it's blowing, and the open northeast fetch gives you real chop once you're past the harbour shadow. It's a proper Atlantic beach session — not a flat-water lagoon, not a heavy wave spot. If you're comfortable with uneven water and can handle a shorebreak landing, you'll be well set up. Because Famara on the west coast pulls most of the island's kite traffic, Garita tends to be noticeably quieter. On days when Famara is packed with schools and intermediates lined up on the same patch of sand, Garita is the sensible move: same Alisios wind system, far less chaos. After your session, Arrieta village has you covered. Restaurants and bars are close by — La Nasa, El Marinero, El Pisquito, and Casa Paco among them — with straightforward local food and the kind of terrace seating that suits a wet neoprene debrief. If you're staying locally, Finca de Arrieta and Location d'apartements are nearby options, worth locking in early when Lanzarote fills up. Gear-wise, stay honest about conditions. The usable kite window runs from 345° through to 145°, comfortably covering the typical NE Alisios direction, but the cross-onshore angle means any downwind drift puts you toward shore. Leave a real margin when launching from the southern section. One more thing before you drive over from the south: Lanzarote's northeast coast can behave very differently from the west coast spots, and Garita's ENE orientation means it sometimes catches wind when the west coast doesn't, and vice versa. When conditions line up, it earns its place as one of the island's underrated sessions.

Best Season

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World Ranking

Not globally ranked, but a kitesurf destination — a local favourite worth a check when the wind lines up.

Location

Playa de la Garita · Arrieta, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Spain

Lat: 29.12, Lon: -13.47