Surf Tours and Camps

It's never been easier to get waves on a surf trip.
In recent years the surf-travel business has exploded.

There are still overlooked and untried breaks out there waiting to be discovered, but if you're on a limited budget or have limited time to search, using one of these camps or tours can be a great way to go.

Surf camps, the budget traveler's best option, are listed below by hemisphere. If you're traveling on your own and plan to stay at one of these camps for awhile, ask about a long-term rate. Since most agencies take a percentage for each person they deliver to the camp, independents have a decided edge in negotiating a lower rate. And if you arrive in the off-season, you may find camp owners willing to bargain.

Select travel agencies, tours and surf schools are listed to the right.

Northern Hemisphere Surf Camps

One of the full-service surf destinations, Peniche Kite & Surf Camp is a good value for the surfer visiting Portugal. These guys offer accomodation, instruction, guided surfaris and kite surfing. Also the location on Cabo Carvoeiro, an hour north of Lisbon, means good waves and fewer surfers than spots like Ericeira.

Tour El Salvador with local surfers? Cover the country from coast to coast? Sounds good to us. International, multisport Access Trips can take you there. Their instructional adventure tours also go off in Morocco, France, Brazil and Indo.

Ever dream of surfing the California coast in a vintage VW campervan? Now you can take your own mobile surf camp on the road. Vintage Surfari Wagons has assembled a fleet of mint vee-dubs for hire. For about the cost of a seedy Holiday Inn, you can style like a local throughout SoCal.

Banana Village to Boilers, the Rapture's got it covered. A modest surf camp in Tamraght, just 15km from Agadir, Rapture will get you to and from the airport, take you to where the waves are breaking best and even provide a board and a wetsuit, if need be.

In the south of Morocco, Agadir is surf central. Now there's a new surf camp just south of there. Twenty rooms with a bath in each and local surf guides. Check out Maroc Surf, or send Karim an email at surfingagadir@yahoo.fr.

The Surf Report calls Matanchen Bay "The world's longest rideable wave." On good south swells, the righthander can run for a mile and a half. In nearby San Blas, Casa Roxanna provides cush accommodations for surfers waiting for that swell to arrive.

On Mexico's Pacific Coast, Costa Azul has been a longtime favorite with surfers and their families.

Based in nearby Punta Mita, SurfariMex ranges around the region in a 4X4 looking for the best breaks.

Salina Cruz: way down south in Mexico, below the thumping beachbreaks of Puerto Escondido is Salina Cruz. Find out more about this growing surf destination near Huatulco via e-mail at surfingmexico@yahoo.com

Just over the border in Guatemala, check out El Paredon Surf Camp. "Great Waves At The Coolest Spot On The Guatemalan Pacific Ocean!". Ask Adolfo for more info: (502) 8323328 or (502) 2172864.

Morro Negrito is a surf camp located on an island off Panama's Pacific coast that offers uncrowded breaks and warm water.

Based in West Cornwall, England, Freeride Surf School offers instruction and budget trips to Ireland, France, Morocco and elsewhere. Ask about their snowboarding tours of Andorra.

"Learn to surf today, and live to surf tomorrow" is the motto of Lost Coast Adventures, a hybrid camp-tour-and surf instruction outfit based in Sequim, Washington. Check out their 10-day West Coast surf tour.

Southern Hemisphere Surf Camps

Bom Dia, way down near Rio, Remi the mad Frenchman has set up a surfcamp called Sossego. He also runs kite and wakeboarding trips in and around Buzios.

In Brazil's premier wave zone -- near Florianopolis -- Brazil Surf Travel has got the local scene wired. You can rent one of their posh villas and surf where you like, or sign up for the full tour.

Located between Durban and J-Bay on the southeast coast of South Africa, Dawn Patrol offers an all-inclusive introduction to the South African surfing experience.

Where to stay in Indo? The G-Spot's got you covered with comfy digs at Medewi, Uluwatu, G-land and Panaitan Island. And if you're staying at One Palm, keep an eye out for rhinos.

G-Land may be "the world's best left." It's certainly a contender -- remote troppo location, warm water and critical, hollow waves. If your game is up to it, consider a week or a month in this East Java paradise. Joyo's Surf Camp is right in front of Speedies and has surprisingly affordable rates.

Bobby's Gland Surf Camp: One of the first serious surf camps, Bobby's still welcomes an international crew of surfers who come to ride "the best wave in the world."

Fiji is rapidly becoming the Disneyland of South Pacific surf destinations. The private island resort of Tavarua epitomizes the concept of pay-to-play surfing. The price is high, but nobody can fault the waves. If you've got the cash (US $288 per night in April 2002) and skills to surf Cloudbreak, call 679 70 6513, or e-mail tavarua@is.com.fj

Nearby Namotu Island Surf Resort is a little mellower and a bit cheaper.

Back on the main island of Viti Levu, accommodations are decidedly cheaper. When you get to Nadi ask around for The Rendevous, a friendly Fijian-run resort on a mangrove beach that's just a boat ride away from Wilkes Pass and Cloudbreak.

Seashell Cove, Momi Bay - 679 706 100 - is also a popular jump off point for Wilkes and Tavarua.

On the south shore of Viti Levu, Club Masa is the kicked-back compound down by the Sigatoka rivermouth. The digs are cheap and rustic. A short walk over the dunes the brown beachbreak/rivermouth barrels of Sigatoka await. Call 925717, or just show up.

The Hideaway, an upscale resort on the south coast, has one of the few reef passes that can be reached from shore. Call 679 500 177 or email hideaway@is.com.fj

Waidroka Bay Resort is an American-run surf and dive camp 20 km west of Pacific Harbor. They take boats out to Frigates, Mata Point, Serua Rights, Waidroka Pipe and Vunaniu. Accommodation is reasonable and the food is excellent. Contact Ray or Nancy at 304 605 or email them at waidrokaresort@suva.is.com.fj.

The Beach House, near Korolevu on the south shore, isn't a surf resort but it's a cheap place to stay and a great place to meet busty British backpacker chicks. Call 0800 530 530 or email beachhouse@is.com.fj

Homestays can also be arranged for Sanasana Village, near Natandola Beach, ask local travel agents in Nadi (approx cost $35 FJD with meals).

On Kadavu, southeast of Viti Levu, the Nagigia Island Resort is the latest in a series of upscale Fijian surf camps.

Western Samoa has a fascinating Polynesian culture and some great breaks. In the past 10 years a number of surf camps have popped up too. The premier resort on Upolu is Salani. The waves, food, accommodation and prices are all first class. You can reach them via email at Salani Surf Resort - salanisurf@samoa.ws

The Aussie-run Sa'Moana resort is a lower cost alternative to Salani. However, this camp is a drive and a boat ride away from most breaks.

Feral surfers looking for a spot within paddling distance of Coconuts should check the native-run Maninoa first. They don't have a website, but you can call them at 73085, or check their Aussie affiliates at The Line-up.

Galu Mana (Aganoa Beach Fales) is the newest surf camp on Upolu and it's got what may be the best location on the island -- overlooking Boulders, a world-class left. Contact Michael or Jeff at SamoaUnderground for more info.

Friendly Boomerang Creek isn't really a surf camp, but it is a lovely and inexpensive place to stay on Upolu's eastern end.

On Samoa's big island of Savai'i, Satuiatua Beach Fales is the place to go for southern hemi swells (May-Oct). Call them at (685) 56026. For a base during the northern swell season, try Jane's Fales.

In the Kingdom of Tonga Aussie Steve Burling is the king of surfing. He's run the Ha'atafu Beach Resort for almost 25 years now and knows all the good breaks. The southern swell season (Apr-Oct) offers small and perfect conditions at spots like Motels and the Pass while the northern swells light up heavier waves like ET's and Razors.

East of the main island of Tongatapu, Eua'awki has a couple of reef breaks that can be excellent on their day. An American named Cliff operates a small resort there from May through October. Ask for him at Toni's Guesthouse in Nuku'alofa (Phone: (676) 21049 Fax: (676) 22970).