What you can see on the Famara webcam
The camera turns on its own, sweeping the bay from one end to the other. At the western end are the white houses of Caleta de Famara and the lifeguard tower on the sand; in the middle, the lines of surf, the surfers and kitesurfers, and the flag that tells bathers whether the sea is safe; at the far end, the low island of La Graciosa on the horizon and the great wall of the Risco de Famara. Watch a full turn: the surf is in the middle frames, the weather on the cliffs at the end.
The surf at Famara, from Caleta to the Risco
Red Star Surf, a surf school in Caleta de Famara, runs this camera, and it never stays still: the school says it moves on a 30-second rhythm, from the western tip of the beach to the far end under the cliffs. On one turn you see the white houses of Caleta de Famara strung along the shore under a rounded volcanic hill; then palms and shrubs in the foreground and open ocean beyond, where the waves break and the kitesurfers ride; then the low island of La Graciosa on the horizon and the brown wall of the Risco de Famara on the right.
Wait for a full cycle before deciding. The middle frames show the surf and the flag on the beach, the last ones whether the clouds are sitting on the cliffs.
The cliffs and the village
The Risco de Famara is the remains of an old volcano, a cliff that runs for miles along the north-west of the island and peaks at 671 metres (2,201 ft) at the Peñas del Chache, the highest point of Lanzarote. The cliffs and this coast belong to the Chinijo Archipelago Natural Park, together with La Graciosa and the islets to the north. Caleta de Famara, at the southern end of the beach, began as a fishermen's settlement; families from Soo and La Graciosa moved here at the end of the 19th century, and today it is a quiet village of about 1,100 people, sandy streets and surf shops.
When to watch Famara
Lanzarote keeps the same time as the UK and Ireland. The biggest waves come in autumn and winter, when swells from North Atlantic storms reach the beach; summer brings the strongest trade winds, which suit the kitesurfers. Clouds often gather on top of the cliffs while the beach is sunny, and in the evening the sun sets over the sea.
Around Famara
The old capital, Teguise, with its Sunday market, is about 15 minutes' drive inland. At the northern tip of the cliffs, the Mirador del Río looks across the strait to La Graciosa, which is reached by ferry from Órzola.
Visiting Famara
Lanzarote airport is about 12 miles (19 km) away as the crow flies. Strong currents run along this beach: swim only near the lifeguards and keep to the flags, and leave the bigger days to experienced surfers.
