A SWELL HOLIDAY

SURF, YOGA & ADVENTURE

SURF & YOGA HOLIDAYS

IN THE CARIBBEAN

Swell provides a luxury surf experience in the Caribbean with high-quality boutique accommodation, tasty & healthy food, and a unique friendly social vibe between staff and guests, located in the tropical surf town of Cabarete, on the North Coast of the DR.

PROFESSIONAL SURF INSTRUCTION

Our in-house surf instructors have years of experience teaching beginners and intermediate surfers how to progress in a fun, safe and quick manner.

We are blessed with year-round surf, so anytime is a good time to join us.

learn to surf
 Surf camp

SOCIAL

Designed for solo travellers, friends and couples alike, Swell Swell Camp is an ideal place to stay and learn a water sport. You will meet new & like-minded people from all over the globe.

Set in a tropical garden, our stylish comfortable rooms are great, but what our surf camp apart is our large communal area.

We eat together, surf together and enjoy all sorts of other adventures together.

Arrive as a guest but always leave as a friend!

SOCIAL  




 Surf  Yoga Holiday

SURFING

Surf instruction & surf lessons in the safe and warm waters of the Caribbean.

Our local surf spot is one of the best and most consistent surf spots for beginners to learn surfing in a safe, quick and fun way using our proven & structured approach to surfing lessons.

Read more about our learn to surf approach >>

SURFING




 Surf & Yoga Holidays

Swell Surf Retreat

SURFERS

Paradise

If you are looking for an active watersport holiday in warm water, a Swell surf camp for adults should be on the top of your to-do list.

IDEAL LEARN TO SURF CONDITIONS

Warm water, white sandy beaches lined with palm trees and fun, mellow waves ideal for learning to surf are what the North Coast of the Dominican Republic has to offer. And it's so easy to get to us!

We offer a learn to surf course for people who have never surfed before and want to learn to surf in a safe, quick and fun manner using our structured approach.

It's not just surfing that is on offer at our surf camp, you can also combine your surf holiday with kitesurfing or the new sport of Wingfoiling (wingsurfing). Waves in the morning, windsports in the afternoon.

We can create a customised holiday package for you combining different sports, activities and length of stay. Arrival day is best on a Saturday to make the most of the schedule, but can be any day of the week.

CARIBBEAN

Comfort

Using our own travel experience, Swell was designed and built from scratch to be a boutique surf retreat, mixing the real comfort and style us more 'mature' folks are after with the fun, social aspect of a surf camp.

At the heart of Swell is a large communal-style open living space where we all get together for surf theory, meals, drinks, and socialising. For solo travellers; there is no easier way to meet like-minded people on your holiday!

All our rooms have an ensuite bathroom, AC, a fan and crispy clean 100% cotton sheets, so you'll sleep (S)Well.

We hope to welcome you at Swell Surf Camp soon.

STYLE
Caribbean Surf camps

SOME QUICK QUESTIONS

I AM NEW TO SURFING, IS THIS RIGHT FOR ME?

Teaching people how to surf is what we specialize in here at Swell Surf Camp. When we started in 2009 we set out to be the best surf camp for beginners. We have qualified surf coaching instructors who can teach the sport of surfing in a safe, fun and quick manner.

The surf spot where we teach is an ideal place for beginner surfers. Before we opened Swell we looked around the globe to find the ideal beginner surf destination, we visited Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and as far as consistency and safety, we found the North coast Of the Dominican Republic simply offered the best location for a learn to surf camp. Our local surf spot Encuentro offers perfect beginner and intermediate waves. The waves on the inside are mellow and the water is about chest-deep. There are no dangerous rips, currents or sea creatures here in the Dominican Republic (unlike some other beginner destinations like Costa Rica or Nicaragua).

Many places around the world are great for advanced and expert surfers, but not all great surfing spots are ideal for learning to surf. Where we teach at Playa Encuentro, just a few miles west of Cabarete, truly is an amazing spot for learning how to surf. For more information on our learn to surf program, have a look at this page.

I AM TRAVELLING SOLO, IS THAT OK?

About 70% of the clients who come to Swell for an adult surf camp holiday, travel solo.

As a result, it’s really easy to meet like-minded travellers from all over the world. We surf together, we have breakfasts and dinners together, so if you are looking for a social surf holiday for adults then a stay at Swell will definitely be a great option for you.

Have a look at reviews on external sites like Tripadvisor and Google, and you will see the social aspect at Swell as the no.1 recurring theme. And it’s not just the single and solo travellers who enjoy the company of new friends. For couples or groups, it’s also a great way to make new friends from all over the globe.

The average age of our clients varies from week to week, but generally speaking, we attract more of a 35 to 50+ year old crowd than the 18 to 24-year-old crowd.

 

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE?

The average age of people traveling to swell for an adult surf camp varies per week, but generally speaking, the people that come to Swell on our surf camp holidays are aged between 35 and 60. The average age of Swell clients is 44 years old. That’s not to say that in certain weeks there are more people in their 20’s than 40’s (or the other way around). Also, we have had people well in their 60’s on a Swell beginner surf camp.

Most clients are from the USA, Canada, and Europe, and 80% of them are working professionals who want the comforts of a boutique Surf retreat combined with the social aspect of a surf hotel.

Swell is a social place, however we are not a ‘party / drink’ till 2 in the morning kind of place. Everyone wants to get up early to catch the best surfing conditions in the mornings.

WHICH DAY OF THE WEEK SHOULD I ARRIVE?

You can arrive any day of the week with us if we have space, but Saturday arrival is best in a 7-night stay as that is always a day off from surfing. Just contact us to see if we have space for you for your chosen dates.

OUR CLIENTS

Latest genuine Swell clients reviews from Tripadvisor and Google

All Reviews 4.9google logoGoogle 5.0manual logoManual 5.0tripadvisor logoTripAdvisor 4.9
Overall Rating
4.9 301 reviews
Madeline Underwood-dance Avatar
Madeline U.
08 Mar 2024
Best trip ever! This experience had a personal touch to it you cannot find anywhere else. This was the perfect place to spend a birthday, and I will for sure return with more friends. Great experience that left me wanting more. The staff from instructors, housekeeping, cooks, all the way to security do a great job! This is a one-of-a-kind experience and I highly recommend giving it a try.
Swell
Raina Monet Derrick Avatar
Raina M.
02 Mar 2024
The highest of compliments to the entire Swell Surf Camp Team. Highly recommended – beautiful location, knowledgeable instructors, amazing meals!
Swell
Alexandra Trant Avatar
Alexandra T.
09 Feb 2024
I visited Swell as a solo traveller while remote working and had a wonderful time. I had never surfed before and all of their instructors were informative, patient and fun. The camp itself is clean, a great place to relax and wifi is strong enough to work remotely (although its better in the communal areas over the rooms). The rooms are clean and comfortable. The group dinners and daily breakfasts were all delicious. The location is great because you're both near the town of Cabarate, and then just a short taxi away from the surf beach (which Swell provides with lessons/rental twice a day). Highly recommend.
Swell
Alexandra T. Avatar
Alexandra T.
09 Feb 2024
Highly recommend. I visited Swell as a solo traveller while remote working and had a wonderful time. I had never surfed before and all of their instructors were informative, patient and fun. The camp itself is clean, a great place to relax and wifi is strong enough to work remotely (although its better in the communal areas over the rooms). The rooms are clean and comfortable. The group dinners and daily breakfasts were all delicious. The location is great because you're both near the town of Cabarate, and then just a short taxi away from the surf beach (which Swell provides with lessons/rental twice a day). Highly recommend.
Shreya Ley Avatar
Shreya L.
24 Jan 2024
My husband and I spent 7 or 8 days at Swell. I went into the week thinking that I hated surfing and was mostly going because my husband was super excited about it. I loaded up on books and figured I’d work remotely.
Well, I got there and within a couple days, I was actually surfing and I couldn’t imagine not going every day. The staff and surf instructors were so stoked about surfing, I couldn’t help but be stoked too. The instructors were excellent and patient and nice.
The food they cook for you is all really delicious. The referrals they had for restaurants and other activities were great. All the people working at Swell were very very nice. Everyone we encountered in connection with Swell was super nice and lovely. The location isn’t on the beach but I thought that was a positive because it was probably quieter. Highly recommend doing the yoga as well.
Swell
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IS SWELL AN ADULTS ONLY SURF CAMP?

Generally speaking yes, most weeks there are only adult guests at Swell, with the average age being around 40. In certain school holiday weeks we do allow under 18’s accompanied by their parents. Ask us about your dates if you are thinking about bringing your kids, (or prefer to avoid those dates 😉 ).

Follow swell on Instagram

  • “Think of Swell as the anti-surf camp. There’s plenty of surfing, of course, but the similarities to other surf camps end there. For starters, the rooms are stylish — more boutique surf retreat than reggae-loving surfer digs. Then there are the legendary breakfasts (omelets, pancakes and crepes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and fruit bowls). Structured surf lessons take place each morning, with an instructor alongside you and the head surf coach watching from shallow water, ready to offer learn to surf tips between riding waves. If you are serious about learning to surf, then Swell should be on top of your destination list. Highly recommended!

    Reference Source:
    [Frommer’s Travel Guides]

    Designed with the discerning surfer in mind, Swell is far from a crash pad. The spare clean lines, plush bedding, modern photographs and funky furniture say ‘boutique surf retreat’ but the pool, ping-pong and foosball tables and social vibe suggest otherwise. A huge wood communal table is the center of the hanging-out action, after all the surfing is done. Highly recommended!

    Reference Source:
    [Lonely Planet]

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    SURF HOLIDAYS FOR ADULTS

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