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 — 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!
An adult surf camp built for the 35-plus crowd
This is an adults-only surf camp in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, and it is built around people your age. Across our last 1,000 guests, 78% were over 35, and of the over-45s, 71% arrived as complete beginners. If you are booking solo and worried you’ll land in a group of twenty-somethings, the numbers say otherwise: 65% of everyone who comes travels alone.
We started Swell in 2009 as a small adults-only retreat, and the crowd has stayed the same ever since — capable adults who want to learn properly, eat well and share a table with people who get it. The rule for who we can teach is simple: if you can swim and you’re reasonably fit, we can teach you to surf.
What follows is the honest data, not a brochure. If it reads like your kind of trip, come see what a week here looks like.
- 78%
- of guests are over 35
- 71%
- of over-45s start as beginners
- 65%
- arrive travelling solo
Who you'll actually be surfing with
These are the age bands from our last 1,000 guests — the real spread, not a marketing average.
- 22%
- aged 25–34
- 41%
- aged 35–44
- 27%
- aged 45–54
- 10%
- aged 55+
A surf camp for adults who are starting from zero
The single biggest fear we hear is not about falling off the board. It’s about being the least experienced person in the water. Here’s the reassurance in one number: of our guests over 45, 71% arrived as complete beginners. First-timers aren’t the exception here — for the older crowd, they’re the majority.
Our only real requirement is straightforward. If you can swim and you’re reasonably fit, we can teach you to surf. Age is not the barrier most people think it is — balance and patience matter far more than youth, which is exactly why learning to surf after 40 works so well.
Coaching happens in small groups, in warm, forgiving water. If you want to understand where you’d fit before you book, read what level of surfer you are or how the week runs at our beginner surf retreat.
Coming on your own is the norm, not the exception
Nearly two in three of our guests arrive alone. That changes how the whole place feels: shared coached sessions, communal meals and an easy group rhythm mean solo travellers are folded in from day one, not left to hover at the edges.
Because it’s adults-only, the conversations at dinner are the ones you actually want to have. If travelling alone is the part that worries you, our guide to surf holidays for solo travellers covers single rooms, safety and what a week alone really looks like.
How an adults-only surf camp differs from the party version
A lot of surf camps are built for a young, busy, party crowd, and there’s nothing wrong with that — it’s just not this. Swell is quieter and deliberately grown-up: good food, comfortable rooms, proper coaching and no early-hours music by the pool.
- Small coaching groups so you get real attention, not a scrum for one instructor.
- Two coached surf sessions a day, with time to rest, eat and recover in between.
- Optional yoga for anyone who wants a surf and yoga retreat for adults rather than surf alone.
If you’re weighing up the format, our piece on the difference between a surf camp and a surf retreat is a useful read before you enquire.
Ideal conditions
to learn or to progress your surfing
Surf & Yoga In Paradise
We’ve been teaching surfing since 2009, and in that time over 9,000 guests have learned with us. Our structured method is built to get you standing and progressing in a way that’s safe, efficient, and enjoyable.
Every session follows a clear sequence, so you always know what you’re working on and why it matters for your next step.
You’re grouped with other guests at your level, so lessons move at the right pace — no waiting on people ahead of you, no being left behind. Coaches work in small groups and adjust to how fast each person picks things up.
Whether you’ve never stood on a board or you’re already surfing and want to progress, there’s a group that fits where you are.
- Consistent waves
- Waves for different levels
- Quality equipment
- Warm water
- 2 Sessions per day
- Small groups
- Experienced instructors
- Lessons in english
- Year round surf season
- Since 2009
Wingfoil
A new and exciting sport to learn; wingfoil. Looks hard but it actually has a short learning curve. Our beaches are amongst the best in the world for learning Wingfoiling.
- Steady side-shore wind
- Quick progress
- Safe learning
- Qualified instructors
Sleep (s)well.
A purpose-built surf retreat: a place to sleep in comfort, meet fellow travellers, chill between sessions, and eat delicious, home-cooked meals.
Every air-conditioned room has its own ensuite, a ceiling fan and crisp 100% cotton sheets. After an action-packed day in or on the water, you can sleep as well as you should. We have kept the palette calm and the beds generous: the real comfort and style us more “mature” folks are after.
At the centre of our surf retreat is the communal hub — an open living room and one huge dining table where the day winds down. Enjoy a game of pool with fellow guests, or let your body relax completely on the sofas and chairs.
Outside, a freshwater pool sits in a beautiful, palm-shaded garden, with ample loungers for the down time between sessions.
- Ensuite · AC · ceiling fan
- 100% cotton sheets
- Fresh breakfast & dinner
- Restaurants minutes away
- Communal living-room hub
- 24/7 staff onsite
- Fresh water pool
- Set in tropical garden
- Walk to restaurants & shops
- No need for a car
Easy & hassle free
3 Different international airports
Puerto Plata (POP) has nonstop flights from Miami, New York, Boston and Toronto. From the terminal Swell is just a twenty-five minute drive down the coast road — and our driver will be waiting for you at arrivals.
Puerto Plata (POP) is the closest airport to us but it isn’t the only one. Two more international airports sit within an easy drive: Santiago (STI) is about an hour and a half away, and Santo Domingo (SDQ) around three and a half — both worth a look if the fare or the timing happens to work better for you on the day you want to travel.
Whichever you choose, we’ll help you line up the transfer so the final leg is sorted before you touch down. There’s a full breakdown of routes, drive times and transfer options on the Getting here page.
Surf, Yoga & Adventure in a stunning setting — the pool, the breakfasts, the waves, the people, the country.
Don’t take
our word for it.
Google · Tripadvisor
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.
Questions,
answered.
Anything we’ve missed? Write to us — Swell's owner, Clare, will get back to you within a day.
Almost certainly not. Across our last 1,000 guests, 78% were over 35, and 37% were 45 or older. The 35–44 band alone is our largest at 41%. This is an adults-only camp with a genuinely mature crowd, so the twenty-something party scene you may be picturing simply isn’t the setting here.
Yes — it’s one of the most common ways people arrive. Of our guests over 45, 71% came as complete beginners. Coaching is in small groups in warm, gentle water, and our only real requirement is that you can swim and are reasonably fit.
Very much so — 65% of our guests arrive travelling solo. Shared lessons and communal meals build connection in for you, so you’re not left to make your own way. Our solo surf holiday guide explains single rooms and how the social side works.
You need to be reasonably fit and able to swim, but you don’t need to be an athlete. Surfing rewards balance and patience more than raw strength or youth. If you’d like to prepare, our surf fitness exercises are a good place to start.
Yes. Yoga is available alongside the coached surf sessions, which makes Swell work as a surf and yoga retreat for adults as well as a pure surf holiday. You can read more on our surf and yoga retreat page.
We’re in Cabarete, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic — a Caribbean town known for reliable, beginner-friendly conditions. Our Dominican Republic surf camp page and getting here guide cover travel and location.
Watersport paradise
Tell us your dates, how many people you are thinking about coming with, and we’ll send you a custom price and availability quote; almost instantly. Hasta pronto, see you soon.