Surf Guide • Famara since 2010 There is no sign at the entrance to the water and no referee in the lineup. The rules exist anyway, everyone around you knows them, and breaking them is how arguments and injuries start — usually in the crowded weeks of August, usually by someone who had no idea they were doing anything wrong. This page is the version our instructors give on the sand before a first session, plus what it means specifically at Playa de Famara. Learn the first rule properly and the other eleven follow from it. Lessons every day of the year in Famara since 2010 · usually up to 5 students per instructor · video analysis on 4-hour courses · lessons in English and Spanish · 4.8 Google · 4.9 Tripadvisor Surf lesson 2 h from €50 · 4 h from €70 · Surf Camp with accommodation from €229 / 3 nights One wave, one surfer. The person closest to the peak — the part of the wave that is breaking first — has the right of way, and everybody else waits. That single idea explains dropping in, snaking, paddling out and most of what people shout at each other in the water. The fastest way to learn all of this is to be in the water with someone who already knows it. Our coaches teach priority and positioning in the first session, not as a lecture on the sand — see the surf lessons, or start from zero with the beginner course. Famara is six kilometres long, which is the reason it stays friendly: there is room. Most of the friction happens in the few hundred metres in front of the village, where everyone parks. Walk five minutes along the beach and you will usually find a peak with nobody on it. Two practical local rules. Stay out of the school zones — the stretches where instructors work with beginners in the whitewater. Bodies are moving in every direction there, and an experienced surfer racing through it is genuinely dangerous. And remember that the inside whitewater belongs to beginners: if you are on a shortboard, the unbroken peaks further out are where you belong. The reefs around the island are a different world. They are shallow, sharp, surfed by people who have been on them for twenty years, and the tolerance for mistakes is far lower than on the sand. The Lanzarote spot guide says honestly which spots those are, and the level each one asks for. If you want the philosophy behind the rules rather than the rules themselves, read Shaun Tomson's The Surfer's Code. The 1977 world champion set out twelve lessons the ocean taught him, and most of them turn out to be about how to behave around other people rather than how to ride a wave. Riding a board you can actually control is part of etiquette too — a board that is too small means missed waves and bad positioning. Choosing your surfboard covers the volume you need, and rental in Famara lets you try before you buy. I spent about a week taking surf lessons! I have nothing but positive things to say about this experience! The instructors are very patient and knowledgeable, they're right there with you in the water, they give you real-time feedback, and they support you every step of the way to give you the best advice! The instructors are very kind and always have a smile on their faces. I highly recommend them; you'll leave with a smile! 3rd visit here, this time for the kids. Great lessons again from people who teach well. Sent my son on the intermediate lessons, had him taking off in some big swell, huge boost to confidence Excellent service from the lady who works there! We rented boards and the experience was fantastic!! Definitely recommend to anyone who is visiting! What an amazing and unforgettable experience\! 🌊🏄♂️ My 9\-year\-old son took just two surfing lessons, and we were absolutely thrilled with the results\! The instructor was incredibly friendly, patient, encouraging, and supportive\. He really helped my son build his confidence, and after only two lessons, he managed to surf on his own\! Absolutely amazing\! I highly recommend booking a lesson here, especially for children\. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience and the beautiful memories\. We will definitely be back\! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely perfect experience for my 10 year old son and 14 year old nephew. They learned a lot and had a wonderful time. Everyone at Red Star is great to interact with, and the instructors are great with kids. We will definitely be back for more lessons in the future. Highly recommend! The guys at RSS gave us a great week of surfing and fun in Famara. We were a group of 8 people, staying in their accomodation and taking the half day and full day surf lessons in their school. They divide everyone into groups based on their level and give so much attention to everyone. The progression can really be felt each day. Amazing team !!!! Thank you so much for the amazing surf lesson! It was my very first time surfing, and I had such a great experience. You made us feel welcome and helped us enjoy every moment. We’ll definitely remember it! 🌊🏄 We had such a great experience today! My sister and I took a surf lesson and absolutely loved it. The instructors were super friendly, patient and really good at explaining everything. We felt very comfortable and had so much fun during the lesson. We would definitely recommend this surf school to anyone looking for a fun and enjoyable surf experience! "The teachers are very nice, there is good teaching methodology that respects everyone's pace and there's no pressure. Thank you very much to Mariano for his good mood and for allowing me to finish the courses on a success. I can't wait to come back." We booked on to a two day course and could not fault the quality of the instructors across the days we were there. You cannot fault the scenary when out surfing with Famara cliffs in the background! We really appreciated the community vibes this surf school had created which made our trip highly memorable. We had a 2-hour lesson with the Red Star Surf guys on Friday and it was fantastic! We were surfing for the first time and the guys did a great job of getting us up on the boards and going on our first day. They were also very safety conscious. Would definitely go to them again. The surfer closest to the peak, meaning the part of the wave that breaks first. If two people take off on opposite sides of a peak, each goes their own way and both call their direction. Taking off on a wave in front of someone who is already riding it. It ruins their ride and is the most common cause of collisions in a lineup. Kick out of the wave straight away, raise a hand and say sorry. Everyone has done it; how you handle it is what people remember. Around the shoulder, outside the breaking section, even if it costs you two extra minutes. If a surfer is riding towards you, paddle behind them, never in front. Famara is relaxed by Canarian standards, especially away from the village. Some reef spots are protective, and the way in is the same everywhere: turn up quietly, give away a few waves, do not bring a crowd. Yes, at least the first rule. Most beginners spend their first sessions in the whitewater, but you share the water from minute one, and knowing who has priority is what keeps everyone safe. Surf Slang & Terms · Choosing Your Surfboard · Fitness for Surfing · Surfing Lanzarote
Surfing EtiquettePriority · Drop-ins · Respect
The unwritten rules that keep a lineup working
Nobody hands you these rules on the beach
Ready to try it in the water?
The rule everything else comes from
The twelve rules
Rule
What it means in the water
Right of way
The surfer closest to the breaking peak owns the wave. If someone is already up and riding towards you, that wave is not yours.
Don't drop in
Taking off in front of a surfer already riding ruins their wave and causes collisions. If you do it by accident, kick out at once and apologise.
Don't snake
Paddling around somebody to get closer to the peak steals their priority. It is the fastest way to make enemies at a break you will visit again tomorrow.
Don't hog the waves
Take a few, let others take a few. Sitting on the peak catching everything is noticed immediately, even when nobody says anything.
Paddle wide
Go out around the shoulder, never straight through the breaking section where people are riding. If you cannot avoid it, paddle behind the surfer, not in front.
Communicate
On a peak that breaks both ways, call “left” or “right” before you go. One word prevents most collisions.
Never ditch your board
Hold it or duck-dive it. A loose board on a five-metre leash is the most common cause of stitches on this beach.
Know your limits
If the surf is bigger than what you can paddle back out through, it is not your day. Nobody in the water is impressed by someone who needs rescuing.
Respect the locals
They surf here every day of the year. Give way generously in the first hour, and you will be treated as a regular instead of a tourist.
Help other surfers
If someone is in trouble, help. Small courtesies are how a lineup stays a decent place to be.
Apologise when you get it wrong
Everyone drops in occasionally. A raised hand and a word defuse almost every situation.
Respect the beach
Take your rubbish, park where you are allowed, and leave the dunes alone. Famara sits inside a protected natural park.
Etiquette at Playa de Famara
The Surfer's Code
Relaxed atmosphere, good waves and a really good time. Thanks to the entire team, we'll be coming back soon!🤙☀️🌊
Unbelievable spot !!!
Wonderful housing in the beach house !
A treasure !
Want to come back asap to learn more from Gerry, Umberto et Mariano !
Best classes ever !
Will never forget : Stance ! Balance!
Positioning ! Timing ! Looking where I wanna go !
Gerry, I swear I won’t lie to myself
Thanks mates
See you soonFrequently asked questions
Who has priority on a wave?
What exactly is dropping in?
What do I do if I drop in by mistake?
How do I paddle out without getting in the way?
Is localism a problem in Lanzarote?
Do beginners need to know etiquette on their first day?
Continue the guide
Written by local instructorsUpdated September 2026
Priority: the surfer closest to the breaking peak goes, everybody else waits
Dropping in: taking off in front of a surfer who is already riding
Snaking: paddling around someone to steal the priority that was theirs
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