A kayak outing is decided before the paddle touches the water: who with, which way and until when. The sea does the rest.
A kayak outing along the Fuengirola coast comes down to four decisions: single or double kayak, which way to paddle given the wind, how long to stay out and what time to leave. The rule that ties it all together is to paddle into the wind first and come back with it behind you, always parallel to the coast and early in the day.
Kayaking requires no prior learning before you get in, which is why it is easy to underestimate the wind. On this coast the sea breeze comes in off the water from midday, and the offshore land breeze pushes kayaks away from the shore without you noticing. Checking where the wind is coming from before you set off matters more than anything else.
A single gives you freedom: everyone keeps their own pace, turns when they like and, if they fall in, can climb back onto a light kayak alone. It suits people who want a proper paddle or a group of adults with similar strength. The drawback is that if one person tires first, the whole group has to adapt to them or head back.
A double shares the effort and pairs two people of different strength, such as an adult with a child or a couple where one paddles more than the other. The person at the back steers and the one in front sets the pace; if the paddles are out of time, they clash. Before setting off it is worth agreeing who is in charge.
Towards where the wind is coming from. The outward leg is done while you are fresh and the return, which comes with tired arms, is done with the wind pushing from behind. With a westerly, paddle west first; with an easterly, paddle east first. If there is no wind, either direction is fine, but it is wise not to go too far.
The other rule is to paddle parallel to the coast rather than out to open sea. Close to the shore there are landmarks to judge how far you have gone, and land is always at hand if something goes wrong. Do leave a margin around the swimming buoys and the area used by the jet skis, which has its own marker buoys.
Less than you think you can manage. The return always takes more out of you than the outward leg, even with the wind behind, because your shoulders have already been working for a while. A sensible guide is to turn back while you still have more than half your strength left, not when you start to feel tired, since tiredness tends to arrive all at once.
For a first outing, plan a length of time rather than a destination. Setting a point on the coast to reach in advance pushes you to keep going even if the sea changes, and that is where mistakes happen. If you paddle comfortably you can always come back another day; if you paddle exhausted, the last stretch drags and you enjoy little of it.
The land breeze blows offshore, from the north or north-west, and in summer it arrives hot. The trouble is that it is deceptive: close to the shore, with the buildings and the beach acting as a screen, it seems not to be blowing, and as the kayak moves out it starts pushing it out to sea. Anyone who does not notice until they want to return finds themselves paddling against it.
With an offshore breeze, the rule of paddling parallel to the coast becomes compulsory and you must stay close to the shore. If the kayak drifts outwards on its own when you stop paddling, it is time to head back. In winds of 15 to 20 knots the light kit stays ashore, and if the forecast does not allow a safe outing, the date is changed at no cost.
First thing in the morning. The water is usually still, few boats are moving about and the sun is not yet punishing your shoulders. From midday the sea breeze comes in and raises a chop, which will not capsize anyone in a kayak but does mean paddling harder to cover the same ground and getting wetter than you would like.
Before setting off it is worth checking the sea forecast on the home page of the website, which shows the wind, waves and water temperature off Fuengirola every half hour. The official reference is the AEMET marine forecast for the coastal waters of Málaga. With a smooth sea, waves up to half a metre, the kayak pitches and progress is harder; with a slight sea it is no longer a good day to start.
Plenty of water in a bottle you can hold on to, a cap, sunglasses on a strap and water-resistant sun cream, renewed every two hours. A long-sleeved T-shirt protects your shoulders, which are what burns most in a kayak. A life jacket is included for each person and is worn the whole time, not left at your feet.
Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch tied to the kayak or hung round your neck: it is for photos and, above all, for calling if you need to. It is worth having 112 and the Salvamento Marítimo number, 900 202 202, written down. Keys, wallet and anything that cannot take water stay ashore, because in a kayak everything ends up wet.
Bottlenose dolphins live off this coast all year round, so it is not impossible to come across some, though nobody can guarantee it. Royal Decree 1727/2007 sets an exclusion zone of 60 metres around cetaceans and bans touching them, feeding them and swimming with them. In a kayak, the right thing is to stop paddling, stay still and watch them from a distance.
With other boats, caution rules: a kayak sits low and is hard to see from a motorboat, especially with the sun ahead. It is better not to cross in front of the harbour entrance or areas where boats leave, and if a motorboat comes close, hold your course so the skipper knows where the kayak is heading. Take the waves of its wake bow first.
If it is not here, call us: two minutes on the phone and it is sorted.
No. Kayaking requires no prior learning before you get in. You just need to choose the right direction to paddle given the wind and stay close to the coast.
Yes, in a double kayak with an adult, who paddles at the back and steers. When booking, give the child’s age so there is a life jacket in their size.
Between 15 and 20 knots the light kit does not go out. If the forecast does not allow a safe outing, the date is changed at no cost.
That depends on the wind and your strength, not on a fixed destination. The sensible approach is to paddle parallel to the coast and turn back with more than half your strength left.
Leave us your number and we will call you. In July and August it is worth booking ahead.
Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola, local 367. You can drop in and see the boats before you book.
At no charge. Going out to see what happens is never worth it.
Life jackets for everyone on board, included in the price.
