Overview
Salinas y Espartal is a long stretch of sandy bay on Spain's north coast, running from the rivermouth groyne at Punta del Gallo down to the urban beach of Playa de Salinas. Waves peel both left and right over the sandy bottom, with long, walling rides that turn heavier and hollower once a solid groundswell arrives. It is not the region's standout wave on an ordinary day, but it is a reliable performer with real quality when the swell kicks in.
When It Works
The bay needs a medium-sized northwest swell to get going. It draws swell from west-northwest to north (WNW-N) and works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, roughly waist high to a head and a half. You can surf here all year, but autumn is the prime season, with September to November the best window.
Wind and Tide
Look for south-southeast (SSE) offshore winds, with a workable wind window from south-southwest to east-southeast (SSW-ESE). If the wind swings west or northwest, the long headland at the western end of the bay can offer some shelter. The waves break through low, mid, and high tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
Almost anything floats here: shortboards, funboards, longboards, fish, and bodyboards all get waves, and the spot suits beginners and intermediates. Expect a moderately busy lineup that fills with a talented longboard crew when it is good, though the atmosphere is generally friendly. Watch for rips and be ready for a heavy paddle out when the swell is up — it gets seriously heavy at size. Water quality suffers from rivermouth run-off and urban outflows, and it is worst after rain.
Access
There is street parking just back from the beach and a car park in the middle of the bay.
