Surf lessons in Playa de las Américas: six schools, one price band, how to choose
Updated October 6, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer: for most beginners the Private or Small-Group Surf Lesson is the one to book — €35 per person, 4.8 stars from 1,225 reviews, two hours with all equipment. If you want photos of yourself standing up, the Surfing Lesson for All Levels, Photos included is the most-reviewed lesson on the island at €42 and 1,607 reviews. For a teenager, the Premium Surf Group Lesson is a group of at most five and is aimed at ages 14 and over.
Check availability and prices for the Private or Small-Group Surf Lesson
All of these lessons take place on Tenerife’s Playa de las Américas, last two hours and cost between €35 and €45. That makes the usual question — “which is cheapest?” — the wrong one. The real differences are group size, what is included, and who the lesson is meant for.
Six surf lessons compared
| Lesson | Listed duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private or Small-Group Surf Lesson | 2 hours | €35 per person | 4.8 (1,225) | Most beginners |
| Surfing Lesson for All Levels, Photos included | 2 hours | €42 per person | 4.8 (1,607) | Anyone who wants photos included |
| Surf Lesson in Playa de las Américas, Small Groups | 2 hours | €40 per person | 4.7 (239) | Small groups and a beginner-friendly start |
| Surfing Lessons All Levels (Single Fin Surf School) | 2 hours | €39 per person | 4.5 (97) | Choosing between group, semi-private or private |
| Premium Surf Group Lesson (14+ Years Old) | 2 hours | €40 per person | 4.8 (69) | Teenagers 14+, group of at most five |
| Puerto de la Cruz: First Surfing Experience at Playa Martiánez | 2 hours | €45 per person | 5.0 (16) | Visitors staying in the north |
What actually differs
Group size. One school caps its group at six and also sells semi-private lessons for two people and private lessons; another caps the premium group at five. The “small group” lessons give you no number in the summary. For a first lesson, a smaller group means more attention, and more attention is what the extra few euros buy.
Photos. One lesson includes photos in the price. If you would buy them anyway, that closes the €7 gap to the €35 lesson.
Check availability and prices for the lesson with photos included
Age. Only one lesson states an age: the premium group is for people aged 14 and over. For younger children, no listing here gives a minimum age in its summary, so read the booking page before you plan on a child’s first lesson.
Check availability and prices for the premium group lesson
Equipment. Two lessons say outright that all equipment is included; the others describe training and instruction. Check what you need to bring — usually only swimwear and a towel, but the page decides.
The Single Fin option
The Single Fin Surf School lesson at €39 per person is the one to choose if you do not yet know whether you want a group: it lists group lessons for up to six, semi-private lessons for two and private lessons under one listing. It has 97 reviews and 4.5 stars, the lowest rating of the six, so read what the recent reviewers say.
Check availability and prices for the Single Fin Surf School lesson
The north coast
If you are staying in Puerto de la Cruz, the first-surf lesson at Playa Martiánez costs €45 per person with 5.0 stars from 16 reviews. Sixteen reviews are too few to say much; I would only choose it to avoid the journey south.
Check availability and prices for the lesson at Playa Martiánez
What the listings do not tell you
The summaries do not state a minimum age (except the 14+ group), a swimming requirement or a weight limit. Surfing depends on the sea, so a lesson can be moved or cancelled; look at the cancellation terms before you pay, and book early in your stay in case you need a second slot.
Who should not book this
Anyone who cannot swim, or who wants a thrill after one hour: the first lesson is mostly paddling and standing up on whitewater. For something calmer on the water, the kayak and snorkel trip is gentler.
Our recommendation
For most beginners: the Private or Small-Group Surf Lesson at €35 per person.
For photos: the Surfing Lesson for All Levels, Photos included at €42.
For a teenager: the Premium Surf Group Lesson, 14 and over, small group.
More ways to spend a day on the water are in the things to do category.
