Ask people who live in Lanzarote when they like the sea best and many will answer: autumn. The summer crowds have gone, the water has had all summer to warm up, and the light turns golden earlier in the evening. Here is what October and November look like in figures, and what that means if you are planning a day on the water.
The figures: warm days, little rain
The Spanish meteorological agency (AEMET) publishes long-term averages for Lanzarote airport, on the east coast, a few minutes from Puerto Calero. Over the 1981–2010 reference period:
- October: average maximum 27.5 °C, minimum 19.1 °C, about 240 hours of sunshine and 2 days of rain in the month.
- November: average maximum 24.9 °C, minimum 16.8 °C, about 208 hours of sunshine and 3 days of rain.
In other words, October is still a summer month for most northern Europeans, and November is a warm spring day that lasts four weeks.
The sea is at its warmest
Water takes longer than air to warm up. Around Lanzarote it reaches its highest temperatures at the end of the summer and the start of autumn, around 23 °C in September and October, and it stays comfortable for swimming through November. For snorkelling in the coves of Papagayo or a swim off the back of the boat, this is the season when you will happily stay in the water.
Calmer winds than in summer
Lanzarote lives with the trade winds, the steady north-easterlies that keep the island mild all year. They are usually strongest in the middle of summer and ease off in autumn. The south-east coast, between Puerto Calero and Papagayo, is also sheltered from the north-east by the island itself: this is where most of our outings take place.
Wind and sea still change from one day to the next. Every outing is confirmed according to the forecast, and the skipper adapts the route and the swimming stops to the conditions on the day.
Earlier sunsets, softer light
The clocks go back on the last Sunday of October (25 October in 2026), so the sun sets about an hour earlier on the clock in November. For an evening outing that is good news: the golden hour arrives before dinner time. The departure times of our sunset outings follow the season and are always shown in the booking calendar.
Fewer people on the water
Outside the school holidays, autumn is quieter than the summer peak and the Christmas weeks. The beaches of Papagayo are less busy, it is easier to find a parking space at the marina, and the anchorages are calmer.
What to bring in autumn
- Sun protection: in October the sun is still strong, and the sea reflects it.
- A light layer for the way back in the late afternoon or evening, when the air cools down on the water.
- Swimwear and a towel: the water is warm enough to swim on every outing.
Is it warm enough to swim in Lanzarote in November?
Yes for most people. The sea cools down slowly after its late-summer peak and usually stays comfortable for swimming throughout November.
Can boat trips be cancelled because of the weather in autumn?
It can happen on a windy day, at any time of year. If the skipper considers that the conditions do not allow the outing, we contact you to move the outing to another date; the details are in our booking terms.
Where do boat trips leave from?
All our departures leave from Puerto Calero marina, on the south-east coast of Lanzarote, about 15 minutes from the airport.