Bahia Feliz Overview

The Bahia Feliz Bay area is located 25km south west of the Las Palmas airport and 7km north west of Maspalomas and its resorts.

This area provides the best location in Gran Canaria for combining a windsurfing holiday with a standard beach-holiday, because the windsurfing centres are attached to the resorts that have sandy beaches, swimming pools, shops, cafés, other amenities and nightlife, and hence ideal for families and non-windsurfers with so many other activities on offer.

The temperatures are also very pleasant during the winter months. In the south, the thermometer hardly drops below 22-24 ° C during the day. At night  it can be a bit cooler (16-19 ° C), but still pleasant. The water temperatures are around 20-21 ° C in winter.

The coolest months are February and March. Thereafter, the water temperatures quickly climb back to over 21 ° C. In summer, the air temperature can rise to 30 ° C,  and at night it cools down to 19-21 ° C, and the water temperatures are around 23-25 ° C.

A long leg short arm wetsuit in winter, and a shorty wetsuit in summer is adequate for most.

The Sailing around  Bahia Feliz Bay

In the summer, flat water conditions and lighter winds prevail due to the wind shadow of the mountains, despite the high winds regularly occurring just 12km up the coast in Pozo and Arinaga. This is ideal for beginners and intermediates,  However, in the winter strong thermal winds sweep across the south eastern edge of the island creating an acceleration zone, where Bahia Feliz is ideal for intermediate and advanced sailors.

The sailing conditions are generally very accessible with almost no waves, but with some good swell at times on the outside.

The windspeed statistics below show the percentage of days with wind above 15 knots (force 4 bft) at Bahia Feliz:

There are two sailing launch spots in the Bahia Feliz Bay area, separated by about 2kms. Each has a windsurfing hire and tuition centre. The Fanatic Boarders Centre is located at the Bahia del Feliz resort at Tarajalillo, and the Dunkerbeck Windsurf centre at Playa del Aguila further south west. Both locations share similar conditions.

Best Suited To

• Intermediates and advanced in winter
• Beginners and improvers in the summer months
• Intermediates and advanced freeride in summer at Arinaga.
• Advanced wave sailing in summer at Pozo
• Great holiday destination for families, couples, friends
  and singles.

Hazards

• Some shorebreak if its windy and there is a swell

Pros

• Suitable for all windsurfing levels
• Blue water
• Easy launching and plenty of room
• Safety boats and observers
• Close to beach resorts where more sandy beaches can be found
• Reliable wind in winter
• Year round warm temperatures
• An abundance of accommodation from low budget to luxury
• Close to town with plenty of amenities and nightlife
• Easy gear hire
• Lessons
• Lots of alternative activities

Cons

• Winds are often light in summer and advanced sailors need to sail elsewhere
• The resorts may be too busy for some
• Although the beaches at the large resorts are sandy, they are more shingle at the windsurf areas.

For Non-Sailors

Activities in the Bahia Feliz Resorts and the nearby large tourist resorts:

• Restaurants and bars
• Partying and nightlife
• Cultural tours
• Visits to the mountainous centre of the island
• Beach life
• SUPping
• Surfing
• Boogie Boarding
• Wave kayaks
• Volleyball
• Mountain Biking
• Diving
• Tennis
• Golf
• Go Karting
• Paint Ball
• Sky Diving