From October to May the boards still go out. What changes is the water, the clothing and the way you choose the day.
Paddle boarding in autumn and winter in Fuengirola is possible on any day with a light wind, below 15 knots, with two changes compared with summer: clothing, because the water cools week by week, and timing, because the days are shorter. From October to May is low season, and a board can be booked from one day to the next.
Autumn starts with the water still mild: on 2 October 2026 it was 23.2 °C off Fuengirola, according to Open-Meteo, and swimwear was enough. From then on it drops little by little, and in midwinter a fall into the sea stops being a minor detail. That is why, outside the summer, you paddle closer to the shore and choose the day more carefully.
It depends on the week, and the reliable way to know is to check on the day. The home page of the website shows the water temperature off Fuengirola every half hour, along with the wind and the waves. This autumn’s reference figure is from 2 October 2026: 23.2 °C, a swimwear temperature for paddle boarding with no extra layers.
The sea cools more slowly than the air, but it does cool, and in winter a fall is noticeable. The thing to bear in mind is that water draws heat from the body much faster than air at the same temperature. A session with several falls chills you a good deal more than a dry one, even if the sun is shining.
While the water stays close to the 23 °C of early October, swimwear and a rash vest or long-sleeved technical T-shirt are enough, protecting you from the sun and drying quickly. Cotton is best left at home: when wet it is heavy and cold. Sun cream is still needed, renewed every two hours, because the autumn sun burns on the water too.
Once the water is cold, what works is your own wetsuit, if you have one, or thin layers that dry quickly, never a thick coat: if you fall in wearing it, it is heavy and gets in the way of climbing back on. Hands and feet are the first to get cold, and water shoes help. The life jacket is included and goes on over your clothes.
The summer rule of going first thing needs adjusting. In midwinter the early hours are the coldest of the day, so it often pays to go out mid-morning, when the sun has warmed things a little, and to be back before the sea breeze arrives, which comes in off the water from midday and raises a chop.
On the other side is the daylight. In December it gets dark much earlier than in June, and an afternoon session is soon cut short. There is no need to squeeze it in either: an hour on the board is enough for a good paddle. The office at the Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola opens from 9:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 18:00 at weekends.
Below 15 knots almost anything is possible; between 15 and 20, the light kit, which includes the board, stays ashore; and above 20 only the large boats go out. One knot is 1.852 km/h, so 15 knots is about 28 km/h. On the Beaufort scale, force 3 is 7 to 10 knots and force 4 is 11 to 16.
More than the strength, it is the direction that counts. The land breeze, an offshore wind from the north or north-west, pushes the board out to sea even when it seems calm from the shore. The easterly brings a swell, and the westerly raises a chop in the afternoon. With an offshore breeze, the sensible thing is to paddle parallel to the shore and close in.
The first is not to get separated from the board. If it has an ankle leash, always wear it, because in a breeze a loose board drifts away faster than you can swim, and in cold water nobody wants to chase it. The second is to paddle closer to the shore than you would in August and, if possible, not to go out alone.
When in doubt, kneel: paddling on your knees lowers your centre of gravity and prevents falls when the water is moving. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch, with 112 and the Salvamento Marítimo number, 900 202 202, to hand. In winter there are fewer people on the beach, which also means fewer eyes to spot someone in difficulty.
From October to May a booking can be made from one day to the next, by phone on +34 669 06 27 56 or by leaving your number on the website form. That lets you wait for the forecast: check the sea conditions the evening before, along with the AEMET marine forecast for the coastal waters of Málaga, and call if the day looks calm.
If the chosen day turns bad and the forecast does not allow a safe outing, the date is changed at no cost. Prices are not published: they are given over the phone. A life jacket is included for each person, and the safety equipment is checked before every outing, in January just as in August.
Early autumn is a good time to learn: the water is still mild, there are fewer swimmers on the beach than in summer and fewer boats moving close to the shore. The half-hour lesson is enough to get started, just as in July, and with a quieter shoreline there is room to fall in without bothering anyone.
In midwinter, complete beginners have a slightly harder time, because the first sessions bring the most falls. If someone in the group would rather not risk a cold dip, a kayak is an alternative where you sit down and need no prior learning. Those who already paddle will find a winter sea with far less traffic.
If it is not here, call us: two minutes on the phone and it is sorted.
Yes, on any day with wind below 15 knots. From October to May you can book from one day to the next and, if the forecast does not allow a safe outing, the date is changed at no cost.
In early autumn, with the water around 23 °C, swimwear and a rash vest are enough. Once the water cools, your own wetsuit or thin quick-drying layers make the session more comfortable.
Mid-morning, when the sun has warmed things a little, and back before the sea breeze arrives around midday. Afternoons are short and the light goes early.
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.
