Offshore sandbars form standing-depth lagoons in front of El Portil, offering mirror-flat water towards low tide. They’re ideal for speed or freestyle, particularly in low-pressure winter winds or Poniente, which gets thermally accelerated here in summer. Watch out for boats and the swimming zone buoys when launching. Beyond the sandbar, breaking waves beckon on the open sea, with stronger wind than on the sheltered lagoon. El Portil is very touristy in summer – but out on the sandbar it’s much more relaxed. The 500m-wide headland grows 40m every year and remains virtually untouched with its flamingoes and rare waterfowl. The water's very clean, just watch out for current: especially on an ebb tide, kiteboards regularly get lost here.