Lanzarote Surfing Session

Famara Beach is the right place to try surfing on Lanzarote: a broad North Coast beach, steady Atlantic energy, and an instructor beside you in the water. You’ll learn the basics on sand, warm up, then work on standing and steering in real waves. No experience is needed, and the lesson is built for first-timers.

I like the in-water coaching, since your instructor can help when a wave is coming instead of watching from shore. I also like the practical extras: hotel pickup from selected Puerto del Carmen hotels, wetsuits and boards, bottled water, snacks, insurance, and GoPro photos or videos when conditions allow.

The main thing to consider is timing. The advertised session lasts about two and a half hours, but that includes transport and may finish early if the group is tired. Pickup is offered only in some areas, and a van may run late, so patience and a little flexibility help.

Key points before you book

• Famara Beach is the main stage: You’ll surf on Lanzarote’s North Coast after a short ride from Puerto del Carmen.
• You do not need prior experience: The session begins with theory and a beach warm-up before you enter the water.
• The instructor stays close: Certified coaches work in the water, help with safety, and push you toward your first waves.
• Useful extras are included: Expect a board, wetsuit, bottled water, snacks, insurance, and photos or videos if the weather permits.
• Small-group attention is part of the promise: Groups may include adults and children, with coaching adjusted to ability.
• Allow for pickup flexibility: Selected Puerto del Carmen hotels receive pickup, while people staying farther away may need to meet at a nearby point.

From Puerto del Carmen to Famara Beach

The day begins at School3S Surf Sup y Soul, at C. la Graciosa, 5, in Tías. If you are staying at a selected hotel in Puerto del Carmen, pickup and drop-off are included. The drive to Famara takes about 30 minutes, so transport uses a noticeable part of the roughly two-and-a-half-hour outing.

That is worth knowing when you judge the price. You are not paying only for time standing on a board. The $60.34 fee also covers transport in the pickup area, equipment, instruction, insurance, water, snacks, and the recorded images when weather conditions allow.

Pickup is not offered everywhere. If your accommodation is outside Puerto del Carmen, you may be given a meeting point closer to the school. The operator asks you to be punctual, but also warns that vans can be slow when people are delayed. I would keep your morning or afternoon free of tight plans.

Once you reach Famara, the group carries the equipment down to the beach. This is a simple start, but it helps you understand that you will be handling a real surfboard and wetsuit rather than arriving at a polished poolside activity. Bring only what you need and dress for changing on the beach or near the vehicle.

Beach theory before the first wave

The lesson starts on the sand with an explanation of how the board works and what to do in the water. You will cover basic positioning, getting up, and the practical points that help you stay safe. The beach briefing is especially useful for first-timers who have never handled a board or watched the timing of a breaking wave.

A warm-up follows. This prepares your body for repeated paddling, pushing up, standing, and falling back into the water. Surfing can be tiring even when the lesson looks relaxed from shore, so the warm-up is not filler. It also gives the instructor a first look at how the group moves.

The group may include adults and children together. One family session included children aged seven and nine, with the instructors helping them get upright on the board despite a language barrier. That points to a useful strength of the school: the lesson can work for mixed ages and abilities, but you should still make sure the booking details suit your own children.

The school has worked with instructors named Paolo, Diego, and Andrea. Paolo is described as checking wetsuit sizes and pickup details before the lesson, while Diego and Andrea have worked with younger children. Instructor assignments can change, so treat those names as examples of the team rather than a promise that one specific person will teach your class.

Learning in the water at Famara

After the sand lesson and warm-up, you take the board into the sea. The key feature is that the instructor stays in the water with you. That allows the coach to give advice as you line up for a wave, help you choose an easier one, and encourage you to try again after a fall.

For a beginner, that close support matters more than a long speech on shore. You need advice at the exact moment you are deciding when to paddle or push up. The instructor can also keep an eye on safety while helping each person make progress.

The teaching style is active but not overbearing. One participant described having plenty of time to try independently rather than being watched constantly. That can suit you if you want guidance without feeling crowded. At the same time, the promise of personalized attention should be read alongside the stated maximum of 60 people for the activity. Your actual lesson may feel smaller, but the full booking limit is not a tiny private class.

The lesson is suitable for people starting from zero. You are not expected to arrive knowing how to stand, paddle, or read the surf. Your realistic goal should be to learn the basic movements and catch some small waves, not to leave as a polished surfer after one session.

The Atlantic can be tiring. After the main water work, there is usually a short break of about 10 minutes, not an hour. You receive water and more suggestions from the instructor. If someone is worn out, the group may agree to stop before the planned time. That is sensible rather than a weakness, especially for children or anyone who has never done a demanding water activity.

What comes with the $60.34 price

The price is strong value if you use the included extras. A standalone beginner lesson can be less useful if you still need to arrange equipment and transport, while this outing bundles the major pieces:

• Surfboard and wetsuit
• Certified instruction
• In-water support
• Pickup and drop-off from selected Puerto del Carmen hotels
• Bottled water
• Snacks
• Full insurance during the activity
• Photos and videos from the day, when weather conditions allow

The snacks and water are small details, but they matter after repeated attempts in the sea. The wetsuit also removes one of the more awkward decisions for a first lesson. You still need to provide suitable clothing for the weather and whatever you need for changing.

The GoPro material adds value, particularly if this is a family activity or a first attempt you want to remember. It is not guaranteed in every condition. The information specifically ties the photos and videos to the weather, so do not book solely for the footage.

Insurance is included during the activity. That does not mean every personal situation is covered, so read the booking terms if you have a medical concern. The operator does not recommend taking part if you have a fever or signs of flu.

How the coaching works for adults and children

The school’s format can suit a mixed group. Adults can learn alongside children, with the coaching adjusted to each person. That is useful for families who want one shared activity rather than separate lessons.

The instructor’s presence in the water is especially helpful with children. A seven-year-old or nine-year-old may understand the beach instructions but still need calm, close support when a wave arrives. The available feedback shows that children were able to stand on the board, even when they did not speak the instructor’s language.

That said, surfing success depends on the day and on the child’s energy. The activity operates in all weather conditions, and children may tire quickly. Bring a patient attitude and do not measure the day only by how many times someone stands up.

For adults, the lesson offers a good balance between instruction and practice. You receive enough direction to get started, then time to repeat the movement. If you prefer a tightly controlled lesson with an instructor correcting every attempt, this may feel relaxed. If you want room to experiment, that freedom is a plus.

The advertised service is offered in English. The school has still managed sessions involving children who spoke only French, but you should not assume multilingual teaching at every departure. Ask ahead if language support is important for your group.

Famara’s practical appeal

Famara gives the activity a proper surf setting rather than a sheltered training area. You are on Lanzarote’s North Coast, working with real Atlantic waves and the changing conditions of an open beach. That makes the lesson feel like an introduction to the sport, not just a staged photo opportunity.

The setting also brings tradeoffs. Weather and surf conditions affect comfort, lesson length, and the availability of photos or videos. The school runs in all weather, so you need to dress appropriately and accept that the day may feel different from the calm, sunny version you pictured.

The beach time is where most of the value lies. The drive from Puerto del Carmen is straightforward, but the ride there and back reduces the amount of time spent actively surfing. If you are already experienced, two and a half hours including transport may feel short. If you are a beginner, the combination of transport, briefing, warm-up, practice, and a break is a reasonable first taste.

At the end, you help collect the boards and other equipment, return to the van, change, and prepare for the drive back. The return takes about 30 minutes. You finish tired, but the pace is not designed as an all-day commitment.

Timing, pickup, and group size

The stated duration is approximately two hours and 30 minutes. The description also allows the lesson to end earlier if people are very tired and agree to stop. I would avoid scheduling a meal, airport transfer, or another fixed booking immediately afterward.

Pickup is available from selected Puerto del Carmen hotels. If you stay elsewhere, you may need to reach a meeting point near the school. The main meeting address is C. la Graciosa, 5, 35510 Tías, Las Palmas, and the activity ends back there when the transport portion is complete.

Near public transport is listed as another access option, though exact routes are not provided. Confirm your pickup arrangement at booking and check your wetsuit size in advance. Paolo has been specifically praised for confirming sizes and locations, which is the kind of small bit of preparation that prevents a clumsy start.

The activity lists a maximum of 60 participants, while also describing small groups and personal attention. Those statements can both be true if the full departure is divided among instructors. Still, ask how your particular session is arranged if one-to-one attention is your main reason for booking.

Who should book this surf session?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time surfers who want instruction and equipment in one booking
• Couples looking for an active half-day outing
• Families with children who can take part in a beach and water lesson
• Visitors staying in or near Puerto del Carmen
• People who want photos or videos of their first attempts
• Anyone who prefers an instructor in the water rather than on shore

It may be less suitable if you need a guaranteed private lesson, a fixed finishing time, or a multilingual instructor. It is also not a good choice if you are ill, have a fever, or show signs of flu.

The school has earned a 4.8 rating from 64 ratings, with 95 percent recommending it. Those figures support the main strengths: upbeat instruction, careful preparation, family-friendly coaching, and included extras. They do not remove the normal uncertainty of a sea activity. Your results will depend on the conditions, your fitness, and how quickly you adjust to the board.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff follows local time. This is worth noting before you commit your schedule.

Should you book School3S at Famara?

Book this session if you want an approachable first step into surfing and value having the practical details handled for you. The strongest reasons are the instructor in the water, beginner-friendly teaching, hotel pickup in the right area, and equipment, insurance, snacks, and water included in the fee.

I would be more cautious if your priority is a private class, guaranteed video, or a precise end time. The outing runs in real weather, pickup can take patience, and the lesson may end early when the group is tired.

For most beginners staying around Puerto del Carmen, the $60.34 price is fair. You get a genuine beach lesson at Famara rather than a quick demonstration, with enough support to make your first attempts feel manageable. If you arrive rested, punctual, and ready to fall a few times, this is a sensible way to test whether surfing belongs on your Lanzarote holiday.

FAQ

Where does the surfing session take place?

The lesson takes place at Famara Beach on Lanzarote’s North Coast. The listed meeting address for the school is C. la Graciosa, 5, 35510 Tías, Las Palmas, Spain.

Is the session suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. No previous surfing experience is required. The activity begins with theory and a warm-up on the beach before you practice in the water.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from selected hotels in Puerto del Carmen. If you stay farther away, you may be given a meeting point closer to the school.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is approximately two hours and 30 minutes. The session may finish earlier if the group becomes tired and agrees to stop.

Are equipment and refreshments included?

Yes. The activity includes surfboards, wetsuits, bottled water, snacks, and full insurance during the activity.

Are photos and videos guaranteed?

No. Photos and videos are provided when weather conditions allow. The activity uses GoPro equipment to capture the day.