Lanzarote: dynamic surf lessons with friends or private lessons in Famara

Famara Surf Club keeps its lessons small, with no more than five people in a group. That matters in the water, where a crowded class can leave you waiting for help. Here, the lesson moves from a surfing warm-up to sand exercises and then into the waves, with instructors adjusting their advice to each student.

I like the individual attention and the fact that the class is built around practice, not just a quick explanation on the beach. I also like the flexibility: you can join a small group, book a private lesson, or arrange a session for your own friends. The main consideration is that weather and surf conditions can change the schedule, so you need to check timing by WhatsApp before booking.

Key points at a glance

• Maximum five people: Small groups give the instructor more time to watch your technique and correct mistakes.
• Private options available: You can book alone or arrange a private lesson for your group of friends.
• Two hours of actual instruction: The full visit takes about two and a half hours, including preparation and changing.
• Structured learning: The session includes a warm-up, theory, functional exercises on the sand, and water practice.
• Experienced local teaching: The instructors have 18 years of experience teaching in Famara and elsewhere.
• Gear is included: You receive a surfboard and wetsuit, and the lesson is led by an ISA-certified instructor.

Why Famara works for a first surf lesson

Famara Beach is one of Lanzarote’s main places for learning to surf. The setting gives the lesson a clear focus: you meet near the beach, prepare with the school, then take what you learned on the sand into the water.

For a first class, the change from land to water can feel quick. That is why the lesson’s order is useful. You first get your body moving, then practice the basic surfing actions without waves pushing you around. By the time you enter the water, you have already worked through the key movements.

The school has been teaching in Famara for 18 years. That does not mean every session will feel identical. Surf lessons depend on the day’s conditions and on your own fitness and confidence. But it does mean the instructors have long experience working in this beach setting and adapting a class when the sea changes.

The school’s stated aim is for you to catch waves from your first class. Treat that as a goal, not a promise. Your success will depend on conditions, timing, balance, and how comfortable you feel in the water. The small class format gives you a better chance of getting useful help when you need it.

Meeting the white van near the beach

The meeting point is not described as a conventional shop on the beach. You meet at the school’s large white Nissan NV400 van on the road to Famara Beach, at the intersection of the main road and Camino del Molino.

This is one detail to handle carefully. The exact location is shared through WhatsApp, so contact the school before setting out. You are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the lesson begins. That extra time is used to meet the instructor and receive your board and wetsuit.

The van meeting point is practical, but it may be less obvious than a fixed storefront. Do not assume you can simply walk along the beach and find the group. Save the WhatsApp contact, confirm the start time, and allow enough time to reach the road intersection.

You should also mention any surfboard preference before the lesson. That gives the team a chance to prepare the most suitable equipment available for your session.

The 15-minute welcome and equipment fitting

The visit starts before the two-hour lesson clock. During the first 15 minutes, the team introduces you to the equipment and provides a surfboard and wetsuit.

This is a useful part of the process, especially if you have never handled surf equipment before. You can ask about the board, get organized, and avoid using lesson time for basic preparation. Bring your swimwear underneath the wetsuit, plus a towel, sunscreen, and flip-flops.

The equipment is included in the $59 price. That makes the cost easier to judge because you are not paying separately for a board rental or wetsuit hire. The price also covers the instructor and the land-based exercises, not just time in the water.

You should tell the school about your board preference in advance. The supplied information does not list specific board types, so the best approach is to ask what is available and explain your experience level.

Warm-up first, then surfing movements on the sand

The lesson begins with a warm-up designed for surfing. This is not filler. Surfing asks you to move quickly from lying on the board to standing, while keeping your balance and responding to the wave. A short preparation helps you focus on the movements before you are in the water.

After the warm-up comes a theory lesson and functional surfing exercises on the sand. This is where you learn the basic sequence and rehearse it without having to manage a board, a wave, and other people at the same time.

I like this land-based structure because it gives beginners a simple routine to repeat. You can pay attention to foot placement and body position before the sea adds pressure. The instructor can also watch your practice and make adjustments before you try the same action in the water.

The phrase functional training may sound more formal than it is. In practical terms, expect exercises tied directly to surfing rather than a general fitness class. The point is to prepare your body and help you understand what to do when a wave arrives.

Two hours in the water with more time for corrections

The water session is the heart of the class. You put the sand exercises into practice and work toward catching waves. The school emphasizes personalized teaching, and the maximum group size of five makes that more realistic than a large beach class.

A small group does not mean the instructor can watch every second of every attempt. You will still need to listen, wait your turn at times, and practice independently. But you should have more opportunity to receive corrections than in a crowded lesson.

This is where the private option may be worth the extra cost if one is available at a different rate. Private instruction can suit a person who wants a focused lesson, a pair with very different abilities, or a group of friends who want the session organized around them. The supplied price is $59 per person for the listed activity, but private pricing should be confirmed directly with the school.

The instructor languages are English, Portuguese, and Spanish. That gives you a useful choice when discussing technique or asking questions. Clear communication matters in surfing because small changes in body position can affect the whole attempt.

The school’s teaching approach is summed up by its reminder that the best surfer is the one who has the best time. That is good advice for a first lesson. You are not there to perform perfectly. You are there to learn the basic movements, try the waves, and leave with a clearer sense of what to practice next.

What past experience suggests about the instruction

The strongest pattern in the available feedback is the quality of the teaching and the small class size. One person described a session with only three students and said the instructor, Marcio, worked through the details of each person’s surfing. Another person specifically praised instructor Alessandro for being kind and friendly.

Marcio receives especially strong praise for a different teaching style. A person who had already taken lessons in northern Spain and surfed in Australia felt that a couple of hours with him taught more than previous sessions. That is a useful sign for anyone who has tried surfing before but still feels stuck at the beginner stage.

Another account described the class as feeling almost private, even though it was not necessarily booked as a private session. That is the real value of the five-person limit. You are not simply paying for access to a beach and a board. You are paying for a better chance of getting specific advice during a short lesson.

The overall rating shown for the activity is 5 out of 5 from six reviews. That is encouraging, but it is still a small sample. I would put more weight on the repeated details: friendly instructors, good communication, small groups, and a teaching approach that feels more personal than a mass class.

The beach setting and the changing schedule

Surfing depends on the sea. Famara Surf Club may adjust the class time when weather conditions do not support a good lesson. This is an important practical point, not a minor footnote.

A schedule change can be inconvenient if you have arranged a tightly packed day. It can also protect the quality of the class. An instructor may choose a different time to give you safer or more useful conditions rather than forcing a session at a poor moment.

Contact the school through WhatsApp before booking to check availability and the schedule. The school works with small groups, so it may not run every possible time slot. A little flexibility will help you get the most from the experience.

You should also avoid placing this activity immediately before another fixed appointment. The lesson itself lasts two hours, but the total visit takes about two and a half hours. The first 15 minutes are for meeting and preparation, and the final 15 minutes are for returning equipment and changing.

Is $59 a good value?

At $59 per person, the price is reasonable for an organized two-hour lesson that includes the board, wetsuit, land exercises, water practice, and an ISA-certified instructor.

The group limit is the key value factor. A cheaper class with a large number of students might give you less direct feedback and more waiting time. Here, the school limits groups to five and also offers private lessons, so the price is tied to personal attention as much as to equipment.

The activity is less attractive if you only want to rent a board and spend the day surfing on your own. That is not what you are buying. This is an instructional session, with a set progression and an instructor watching your technique.

For a first experience, or for someone who has tried surfing but wants clearer guidance, the included instruction makes the price easier to justify. The feedback about Marcio is particularly useful for returning beginners who want more than a basic introduction.

Who should book this lesson

This class suits adults and older teenagers who want an active introduction to surfing in Famara. Children under 14 are not accepted, and non-swimmers should not book.

It is a good match for you if:

• You want a small class instead of a large beach group.
• You prefer an instructor who can give direct corrections.
• You are traveling with friends and want a private session for your group.
• You have surfed before but want help improving your technique.
• You can keep your schedule flexible in case weather changes the start time.
• You are comfortable communicating in English, Portuguese, or Spanish.

The class may not suit you if you need a fixed start time or if you are looking only for equipment rental. It also is not suitable for non-swimmers, and the minimum age of 14 rules out younger children.

What to bring and how to prepare

Wear swimwear and bring a towel. Sunscreen and flip-flops are also listed as essentials. Lanzarote’s sun can be strong, so apply sunscreen before the lesson and be ready for time on the sand as well as in the water.

Arrive 15 minutes early at the white school van. Confirm the exact meeting point on WhatsApp because the van is located on the Famara road rather than described as a fixed beach office.

Tell the school about any board preference ahead of time. Most important, check the schedule before booking. The class is planned around the sea, and the school may adjust the time to protect the quality of the session.

Cancellation is flexible up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Lanzarote plans are still taking shape.

Should you book Famara Surf Club?

Book it if you want a small, instruction-focused surf class rather than a crowded introduction. The best reasons are the five-person limit, the structured warm-up and sand practice, the included equipment, and the chance to work with instructors such as Marcio or Alessandro.

I would be especially interested in this lesson if I had already tried surfing elsewhere but felt that previous classes moved too quickly. The feedback about detailed corrections and a nearly private feel points to the school’s strongest feature: personal teaching.

Skip it if you are a non-swimmer, under 14, or unable to adjust your schedule when weather conditions change. For everyone else, $59 is a fair price for two hours of teaching and about two and a half hours of total time, particularly when you value a small group and direct help in the water.

FAQ

How long does the surf lesson last?

The lesson includes two full hours of surfing instruction. The total visit lasts about two and a half hours, including 15 minutes before the class for meeting and preparation and 15 minutes afterward for returning equipment and changing.

What equipment is included?

A surfboard and wetsuit are included. The lesson also includes a warm-up, functional surfing exercises on the sand, and practice in the water.

How large are the groups?

Groups are limited to a maximum of five people. Private lessons are also available for individuals or groups of friends.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at the Famara Surf Club school van, a large white Nissan NV400, on the road to Famara Beach at the intersection of the main road and Camino del Molino. Contact the school by WhatsApp for the exact location.

Which languages are spoken?

The instructors teach in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Can the class time change?

Yes. Weather conditions may affect the schedule, so you should check availability and timing through WhatsApp before booking.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and flip-flops. You should also tell the school in advance if you have a surfboard preference.