Surfing Ghost Town: The Complete Guide

Ghost Town is a reef break located in Lanzarote, Spain, offering a left-hander along the continent's diverse coastline. Ghost Town is a hollow left reef break near the famous El Quemao on Lanzarote's northwest coast. Rated as expert-level difficulty with lightly crowded conditions, this reef break is a worthy destination for surfers looking beyond the usual suspects.

Best Conditions

Swell Direction: The ideal swell direction is N (350°), with workable conditions from NW to NNE (315°–30°). Swells outside this window will either miss the break or produce disorganized waves.

Swell Size: Ghost Town needs a minimum of 1.2m / 4ft to start working and handles swells up to 3m / 10ft before conditions deteriorate.

Swell Period: Look for a swell period of at least 10 seconds, with 14 seconds being the sweet spot. Longer periods deliver more organized, powerful waves with better shape.

Wind: True offshore here blows from the E (90°). The full offshore range spans ENE to SE (60°–130°). Glassy conditions under 4km/h from any direction also produce excellent surf. Plan for early morning dawn patrol sessions.

Tide: This spot works best at mid to high tide. Optimal tide range is 0.3m–1.2m.

When to Go

Primary Season: The prime window at Ghost Town runs October, November, December, January, February, March (Oct–Mar). This is when swell consistency and direction align most reliably with the break.

Secondary Season: A secondary window opens April, September (Apr–Sep). While not as consistent, patient surfers can still score quality sessions during this period.

Season Notes: Winter N-NW swells. Hollow radical near El Quemao.

Water Temperature: Expect water temperatures around 19°C / 66°F. Bring a 3/2mm wetsuit — 4/3mm in winter months.

Getting There

The nearest airport is ACE, roughly 40 minutes by car.

Access: Hollow radical near El Quemao.

Hazards & Tips

Known Hazards:

🪸 Sharp reef — Shallow reef, booties recommended
⚠️ Shallow — Very shallow at low tide

Hollow radical near El Quemao.

Safety Tips:

Wear reef booties to protect your feet from sharp coral and rock

Skill Level: This spot is rated expert-level (8/10). Crowd Level: Typically lightly crowded (3/10).

Check the Live Forecast

Planning a session at Ghost Town? Check the live forecast on Strike Mission to see today's conditions and the 10-day outlook. Our Strike Score algorithm rates this spot from 0 to 100 every day, factoring in swell direction, size, period, wind, and tide — so you know exactly when to paddle out.

Don't leave your next surf trip to chance. Let the data tell you when Ghost Town is firing.

*Conditions data sourced from Strike Mission's verified spot database.*