STAFF: MEET RICCI AND ALEXANDRA

At Swell we want to make sure our clients get the best surf experience possible, and the best way to guarantee this is by having top staff work for us. Last year Ricci was at Swell for 3 months, and he left a great impression on the clients and the rest of our staff. Because Ricci had commitements in Europe as a Snowboard instructor & guide in the Alps he had to leave us for a season in the snow.

Ricci was keen to come back to Swell, and we are very keen to have him back. for the full 2018 / 2019 winter season.

Alexandra (Alex) is Ricci’s partner and she is the new surf photographer at Swell taking photos of our clients who are interested in the photo packages she offers. And additional bonus is that Alexandra also takes video footage of the clients during their lessons, so after the lessons are done the footage can be played back to analyze where improvements can be made in the surf technique of the clients.

Alexandra has years of experience as an action and lifestyle photographer, and so far the lifestyle and surf photos she has produced are of great quality.

Here are some sample photos of here first few days in Cabarete

Surfing Encuentro — Morning at Playa Encuentro

As you can see Alexandra is a great photographer, so if you want to have your surf photos taken and a surf video analysis during your stay at Swell, sign up for the photo package and go home with your memories in HD photo format.

OTHER SWELL NEWS

Normally when one surf instructor arrives another instructor leaves, this winter we have deceided to change this, since it’s looking like it’s going to be a very busy winter season for us here in the Caribbean. As a result Lee, our lovely English surf instructor has decided to stay on for the rest of our high season.
So our team for the winter season 2019 is:

So if you are interested in learning to surf, then have a look at the learn to surf courses we offer at Swell and contact us today to secure your surf holiday.

CARIBBEAN SURF HOLIDAY EXPIRIENCE

About Swell: We provide active holidays for adults in the Caribbean. Ideal for solo travelers and couples who are looking for a fun and social vacation.
See our video below.

We hope to see you soon in the Caribbean
Clare & Jeroen Mutsaars

Share on Facebook

December 15, 2018July 5, 2024

SURF TECHNIQUE: HOW TO DUCK DIVE

& HOW TO TURTLE ROLL

Swell Surf technique series:
If you have ever tried to surf without knowing how to turtle roll or duck dive, you might not have had a great time. Both turtle rolling and duck diving are an essential part of surfing. Without doing either, we would spend our entire surf session washing back to shore every time a set came through.

If you’re unsure whether you should turtle roll or duck dive your board, this article is for you.

If you’re unable to safely and effectively paddle out to the lineup on your own, this article is for you. And lastly, if you can duck dive or turtle roll, but not with 100% effectiveness, this article is for you.

Here at Swell Surf Camp, we want to give you the tools not just to surf when you are on your learn to surf holiday with us, but to surf anywhere in the world.

SURF TECHNIQUE: HOW TO DO THE TURTLE ROLL

1. Which type of board are you riding?

Do you want to know if you should turtle roll or duck dive? Look at what you’re riding. If you’re on a longboard, or even a fun size, and you cannot easily push the entire board under water, then you should be turtle rolling.

2. Don’t rush it timing is everything

When you arrive at the beach, don’t immediately run into the ocean to paddle out. First, warm up, relax, and watch what the waves are doing. As you watch the water, you should look for any channels that may exist help your paddle out. Time your paddle out for a lull between sets.

3. Walk your board out

To enter the water, walk your board out with it tucked safely under your arm to chest deep water. We do this to ensure that our board stays safely at our side and does not get washed into any other surfers. Additionally, if you lie on your board to paddle in too shallow of water, you risk breaking the fins off of the board.

4. Spot the wave ahead and get ready to roll

As you paddle out, you should be constantly looking out to sea for oncoming waves. When you see a wave approaching, wait for the wave to be 2 meters (6 feet) away, and get ready to begin your turtle roll. If the wave approaching is white water or a wave breaking in front of you, you will have to turtle roll. If the wave is just cresting or rolling through unbroken, you can continue to paddle over the wave.

5. Grab your rails and flip

To execute a proper turtle roll, grab the rails of your board with both hands firmly. Your hands should be gripping the rails directly in front of your chest. With both rails tightly grasped, roll over with the board, sinking underwater as you expose the backside of the board to the surface.

6. Extend the arms (optional)

While underwater, some surfers choose to extend their arms, which pushes the board out of the water, giving the wave room to travel in the space between your body and the extended board. This is done so that the board does not get ripped from the surfer’s hands.

7. Resurface, roll, and get back on your board

Once the wave passes over you, pull the board close to your chest and roll back onto your board. Center yourself on the sweet spot of your board and resume paddling. Be ready to repeat when the next wave breaks in front of you.

Practise in the pool at Swell
During our learn to surf course we give paddle, duck dive and turtle roll lessons in our pool, so you can praqctise the right surf technique some more.

SURF TECHNIQUE VIDEO: HOW TO DO A TURTLE ROLL WHEN SURFING

Next up in our learn to surf technique series

HOW TO DUCK DIVE

1. Which type of board are you riding?

If you’re riding a shortboard, and you are strong enough to completely submerge the board underwater, then you should be using the duck dive to paddle out. If you’re riding a shortboard but cannot submerge the board under the water with ease, then you should turtle roll. Both are effective, and both keep your board in control and away from other surfers.

2. Walk your board out

Just like when you’re paddling out with a longboard, when you’re riding a shortboard you must walk your board out to chest deep water before beginning to paddle. If you try to duck dive in shallow water, you could hurt yourself and damage your board.

3. Face towards the wave and paddle hard

While paddling at an angle might be a useful way to get around cresting waves. If a wave is breaking in front of you, to properly execute your duck dive you must face the wave and paddle towards it. Meaning your paddle direction should be perpendicular to the lines of waves washing to shore.

4. Spot the wave and push your board underwater

Similarly, to when you paddle out with a longboard, when you paddle out with shortboard you must constantly be looking out to sea for oncoming waves. Make sure you do not mess around and go with speed and power towards the wave. The faster you go, the faster you will come out the back on your resurface. When the oncoming wave is 2 meters away (6 feet), grab the rails (the sides) of your board and push the board under water. At this step in your duck dive, your arms should be extended with your elbows locked and your board should be completely submerged under water.

5. Use your foot

The next step in executing a perfect duck dive is to use your foot. Place your foot at the tail end of your surfboard—on your traction pad if you wave one— and submerge the tail of your board. Raise your tailbone to the sky as you plant your foot, shaping your body like a triangle, to engage your body weight effectively. Surfers typically use the foot that would be considered their “back foot” while surfing.

6. Pull yourself under

Now that your board is completely submerged underwater by three points of contact (two hands and your foot) you must submerge yourself. First take a deep breath, then pull yourself underwater towards your submerged board, to allow the oncoming breaking wave room to roll over you. If your duck dive is timed correctly, you should not feel the force of the wave as it passes over you. If you are not submerged deep enough, you may be pushed around by the wave while underwater.

7. Breaststroke kick (optional)

On particularly large days, it is challenging to execute a proper duck dive even with perfect technique. The waves are simply too powerful to get under. You will find that at the deepest point of your duck dive the wave will still reach you, and either push you down deeper underwater or wash you back towards the shore. To remedy this issue that only occurs on bigger swells, perform a breaststroke kick (or two) at the deepest point of your duck dive. This will allow you to plunge deeper underwater and avoid the force of larger and more powerful waves.

8. Resurface and repeat

Once you pull yourself to your board and execute your kicks, you will find that you will naturally rise upward to the surface the other side of the breaking wave. Center yourself on your board, wipe the hair and water out of your eyes, and paddle on, but be ready to repeat at any moment.

SURF TECHNIQUE VIDEO: HOW TO DUCK DIVE

SURF TECHNIQUE VIDEO: ADVANCED DUCK DIVING WITH JOHN JOHN FLORENCE

SURF IN THE CARIBBEAN

Yes, there is Surf in The Caribbean!

The Caribbean Sea is often associated with warm, tranquil, turquoise waters, white sand, and ideal weather.

But to the surprise of many, the Caribbean is actually home to a myriad of world-class surf breaks scattered throughout the various island nations.

Most people presumably think of umbrella drinks when they think of the Caribbean Islands, not pumping hollow waves that are perfect for a surf holiday.

Looking at a map, it’s hard to tell where swell comes from in the Caribbean, so many people assume that there is little to no surf in the region.

Unlike the West or East Coast of the United States, the Caribbean islands are susceptible to swell from multiple directions, making our Caribbean surf camp a must for any traveling surfer’s bucket list.

good waves — Fun waves at Playa Encuentro

When to surf the DR

There is consistent year-round swell in the DR that will provide waves for any beginner or intermediate surfer. During the fall and winter months, however, the surf picks up in size and consistency, making the Dominican Republic the warm water destination for any expert surfer who is tired of the cold.

For Beginners:

For people who have never surfed before and want to start their wave riding careers, any time of the year is a good time. When the waves get big we stay at the inside and surf the mellow inside part of the wave.

surf instruction — Learn to surf in the Caribbean

Intermediate surfers ( between 1 to 3 years surfing)

For intermediate surfers some of the best months of the year are actually the months with the smaller waves ( June, July & August) Average wave size is around 1 to 1,5 meters ( chest to head high). If you are an intermediate and want to start riding bigger waves than the winter months are better ( Between Dec and April)

Expert surfers

Experts surfers have 2 options on the North coast of the Dominican Republic: The winter season will bring north swells with waves ranging between head high and double overhead on a very consistent basis. The other option is to do a strike surf mission to the north coast the moment a hurricane goes well north of the DR, this will produce good surfing conditions for 4-5 days.

Where our swell comes from & How it is formed

The Caribbean is vast, and its surf spots are spread out among the various islands. They can be organized into the leeward (protected from the wind) and windward (upwind to the east) islands. It’s the general rule of thumb that the windward Caribbean Islands receive much of the same swell that the East Coast of the United States receives (North Atlantic), with the added bonus that there is no large continental shelf inhibiting the swell before it reaches the islands.

The leeward islands receive surprisingly powerful north swells that originate in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean and generate surf on the northern coasts of the islands.

Here at Swell Surf Camp, located on the Northern Coast of the Dominican Republic in the beautiful town of Cabarete, we have a variety of surf breaks to give guests of all levels their flawless day in the water. The local breaks work best with a north swell. North swells are most frequent during the late fall and winter months and even into the early spring.

Large North Atlantic swells occur when cold air from North America, usually eastern Canada, travels down and combines with the Gulf Stream (a warm air wind system) and creates a low-pressure system. This low-pressure system produces a large amount of wind which travels over the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico and generates fetch. Fetch is best defined as the area over water that wind blows in a consistent direction resulting in the generation of swell.

This swell travels hundreds of miles over the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic into the Caribbean Sea where it collides with the Dominican coastline’s sandbars and reef systems creating ridable waves on the north coast of the DR. When these systems intensify, they are known as “no’r Easters,” and wreak havoc on the East coast of the United States.

Our Waves

Swell Surf Camp is located on Playa Encuentro, on the Northern Dominican Coast. Playa Encuentro is positioned perfectly to catch North Atlantic swells as they track down the East Coast of the United States. There are a number of surf breaks along Playa Encuentro that will satisfy every level of surfer, from friendly beach breaks to fast, barreling reef breaks.

Coco Pipe

On a proper north swell, usually during the winter, Coco Pipe will go off. There is a left and a right, however, the left is pretty short. The right, on the other hand, can produce picturesque barrels. This wave is not for beginners. It has a shallow reef bottom and a fast, critical drop in.

The Left

As its name will tell you, The Left is a long, dreamy left-hander that peels far down the beach. Like Coco Pipe, The Left breaks fairly shallow, meaning it is not for beginners.

Main Peak

longboarding cabarete — Main peak at Encuentro in summer

The main peak at Playa Encuentro offers a left and a right. The right is mellow and skatey, perfect for practicing turns. This wave is ideal for intermediates and experts.

Bobo’s

Bobo’s offers lefts and rights with some barreling potential. The inside waves at Bobo’s offer are ideal for beginner surfers. Our learn to surf camp lessons will begin at Bobo’s.

Destroyer’s

Fast, shallow, and hollow, Destroyer’s is popular amongst body borders and daring expert surfers. Destroyer’s works best during the winter months on a large, north swell.

Other Nearby Breaks

El Canal

While it is difficult to access and requires a long walk to reach it, the wave at El Canal offers a great left that works well during winter north swells.

El Mañanero

A friendly beach break that works well during summer mornings before the winds kick in.

Playa Grande

As its name suggests, Playa Grande is a large stretch of beach offering multiple peaks. Playa Grande is best during the winter months.

Preciosa

One of the best waves on the island ( in fact one of the best waves in the Caribbean) however its not super consistent, it’s needs specific north swells to really start working well. When it’s good, expect a great barreling left over reef, and a shorter right. Surfers need to be confident in powerful reef breaks before paddling out here.

El Barco

Offers a quality right-hander but is known for its powerful riptide and currents. Not beginner friendly.

MORE INFO ON SURFING THE CARIBBEAN

If you found this article interesting and want to start planning your Caribbean surf trip, then have a look at our extensive Dominican Republic Surf Travel Guide.

Or if you are interested in join Swelll for a unique adventure holiday, then have a look at our surf packages and contact Clare today to reserve your Caribbean surf Holiday with Swell.

ABOUT SWELL

Swell offers luxury Surf & Yoga Holidays, but it’s not just surfing and yoga that is on offer; located in the action sport capital of the caribbean is the surf town of Cabarete. In Cabarete you can surf in the morning, learn to kitesurf in the afternoon and finish with a Yoga session at sunset.

Other activities include: Canyoning – Mountain Biking – Horse riding – Diving – Snorkeling – Windsurfing and Stand up Paddle surfing. In short if you are looking for an action packed adventure holiday, then visit us in Cabarete.

Hasta Pronto!

Share on Facebook

November 22, 2018September 17, 2025

SURF ETIQUETTE: THE GOLDEN RULES

THE GOLDEN RULES OF SURF ETIQUETTE

Learning to surf is far more than starting a new sport and acquiring the skills necessary to compete.

It’s about learning the culture, participating in the lifestyle, and having the time of your life.

However, surfing can be a bit intimidating at times, and even dangerous if done incorrectly.

We’ve all have heard stories of “surf rage” and “locals only” spots, and we’ve all seen gruesome surf injuries.

At Swell Surf Camp, we want you to be well rounded surfers that could fit in at any break in the world at the end of your surf holiday.

In order to maximize the fun, minimize the risks to yourself and others, and progress your abilities on your surf holiday, you must familiarize yourself with the surf etiquette

The Golden Rules of Surf Etiquette.

1. KNOW YOUR ABILITIES

While this may sound a tad condescending, understanding your own abilities in the water and humbly accepting them could save your life. If you’re still learning and you paddle out at an advanced wave, whether that’s a shallow reef break or any break on an overhead day, you run a high risk of injuring yourself and endangering those around you.

When you surf breaks within your ability, you can learn and progress, so that you can eventually surf more advanced breaks. When you learn to surf at Swell Surf Camp, your lessons will always be taught at breaks that reflect your ability.

One of the best things to do when arriving at the beach is to observe the waves for 10-15 minutes to make sure the surf spot is right for your abilities; just because the wave at a certain spot were great yesterday for your ability does not make it safe today.

2. PADDLE OUT WITH CAUTION

The most important thing to know when paddling out at a crowded line up is that the paddler yields to the riding surfer.

Meaning that if your paddle trajectory has you colliding with a surfer who is riding down the line of a wave, it is your responsibility to yield to that surfer, not the other way around.

In this example, Pete might be able to get back into position quicker, but he is also potentially getting into the way of the surfers on the wave. You don’t want to slalom through surfers when you are surfing. For safety and courtesy to other surfers, paddle wide of the surfers, back to the line-up, like Jim is doing in the picture.

CAUGHT INSIDE?

If paddling wide is not an option, then aim for the white water of the wave, instead of going and aiming for the easier option of the shoulder of the wave ( where the surfer is)

3. BE POLITE & SMILE

Whether you’re paddling out to a line up with 5 people out from your surf camp or 50 strangers, the rules are the same. Be polite, smile, and say hello. It will bring a feeling of levity to everyone around and it will likely put you in the good graces of local surfers.

4. UNDERSTAND PRIORITY

No, you’re not surfing a WSL heat, but priority still exists at every surf break. To put it simply, the surfer closest to the peak of the wave has priority over the surfer who is farther from the peak or on the shoulder. Understanding priority is key to existing peacefully in a crowded lineup.

The surfer who is closest to the curl, the peak or the breaking part of the wave has the right of way and priority over all other surfers;
The surfer who is farther outside and away from the shore has priority over all other surfers sitting or paddling on the inside, even if closer to breaking part of the wave; (This rules is often ‘abused’ by stand up paddle surfers, since they can pick the waves up further outside than regular surfers, if they get too greedy catching all the set waves, the Paddle boarder can expect the stink eye or aggro vibes from the rest of the line up)

5. DON’T DROP IN ON OTHER SURFERS

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it happens often. A surfer is riding down the line when all of the sudden, another surfer appears on the wave and tries to hop to their feet.

Dropping in on other surfers is what usually leads to conflict in the surf world, thankfully it’s easily avoidable. It starts with understanding priority, if someone inside of you is paddling for a wave, then you shouldn’t even try to paddle for it.

Awareness plays a role as well, even if you don’t see anyone near you paddling for a wave, as you paddle look to your left and right to ensure no one is riding down the line that might have dropped on at another peak.

Being a snake – ‘snaking’

Being a snake, dropping in on others, aggressively jockeying for position in the lineup, or any other act of being a wave hog is considered rude. When you paddle out don’t immediately paddle outside past everyone else and try to get the first wave that comes in. Wait for a few waves to break first. Before you know it, the lineup will have been shuffled around a little bit and you will be in position for a wave. Just because you can catch all of the waves doesn’t mean you should (this applies especially to longboarders and stand up paddlers).

Communicate

When a wave breaks both left and right, two surfers can happily ride the same wave, just make sure to communicate by announcing if you’re going right or left, even if you think it’s obvious. A little communication in the water can do a lot to keep everyone safe and having fun.

Just because you can catch every wave, doesn’t mean you should. If you’re on a large foam board or longboard that catches waves easily, it doesn’t mean you always get to take the wave from the shortboard next to you that’s looking to practice turns and airs. Always keep in mind that the ocean is for everyone and act accordingly.

6. BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR EQUIPMENT

Most surf injuries are not caused by the seafloor, other surfs, or wildlife, they are caused by surfboards. Surfboards are rock solid and have sharp fins, they can do some serious damage.

To avoid unnecessary injury to yourself and anyone else around you, be responsible with your board. Don’t just let go of your board when there are other surfers around you. ( in fact unless you are surfing 20′ waves, don’t ever let go of your board)

That means using a leash, not abandoning your board during your paddle out or after a wipeout. If your board is near you and you have a tight grip on the leash, or your board is under you, it won’t hurt you or any other surfer in the water.

7. KNOW THE BREAK

This is a crucial step for surfers of any level, but it is often skipped. If you’re about to surf at a new break, take a while to watch the waves. Notice where they are breaking, where the channels are, and what the current / rip tide is doing. If you can, take it a step further by asking another surfer about the spot.

Chances are, they will be helpful and tell you where to paddle out, where the peaks are, and more! At Swell, we teach you everything you need to know about our local break before we paddle out ( including Surf Etiquette)

8. RESPECT THE BREAK & BEACH

This one is obvious. Don’t litter, don’t’ leave anything behind. Pack in and pack out. You can even take it a step further and pick up any litter you might encounter. We love our local surf beach, and we do everything we can to keep it beautiful.

9. APOLOGIZE IF YOU MESS UP

We get it, accidents happen. You messed up, and that’s okay, as long as you apologize. It may seem trivial but making amends and making your intentions clear go a long way in a crowded lineup.

10. FORGIVE AND FORGET

Lastly, if someone else in the water wrongs you, if they burn you, drop in on you, or send a board flying at you, forgive and forget. No one likes to surf mad, and no one wants to be around an angry person.

TIPS FROM LAIRD HAMILTION

Be Aware. Laird Hamilton recalls, “I got run over by a guy when I was sixteen and he broke my leg. A guy ran me over with a giant longboard, and it compounded my leg, and that was one of those things that you learn, like, ’Don’t trust that the guy sees you and that they’re going to avoid you.’ Just remember that they’re probably going to run you over if you don’t watch where you’re going.”

Be Decisive. “I think the biggest mistake any beginner makes is hesitation,” says Laird. “You need to be deliberate with your actions, and if you’re going to paddle out of the way, just paddle and keep paddling. I think a real common mistake is people being indecisive in their movements, whether it’s trying to catch the wave or get out of the way.”

The above surf etiquette rules all apply for our local surf spots. At Encuentro there are 2 other rules that any traveling surfer should be aware off:

No Stand Up Paddle surfing (SUP) at Playa Encuentro

There are numerous off shore reefs that are ideal for Stand up paddle surfing, in and around Cabarete, so there’s no need to bring a dangerous SUP board & paddle into a lineup where there are kids and learners. Find the open spaces up and down the coast. This also applies to the new sport of foiling. Too dangerous to other surfers at our local surf spot.

No motorized watercrafts at Playa Encuentro.

No JetSki’s anywhere near Playa Encuentro, they are noisy, smelly and dangerous to the other surfers.

SURF ETIQUETTE VIDEO

Here’s an excellent video explaining different scenerio’s where good surfing etiquette is applied. Must watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘Respect the Right of Way’ mean?

It means letting the surfer closest to the peak of the wave go first. They have the priority to ride the wave.

Why shouldn’t I drop in on others?

Dropping in on someone means taking a wave that someone else is already riding. It’s rude and can cause accidents.

How do I paddle out without bothering others?

Pick a path where you won’t get in the way of other surfers riding waves. Also, time your paddle to avoid oncoming surfers.

Why is it important to keep control of my board?

Losing control of your board can hurt you and others. Always use a leash and know when to hold onto your board or let it go.

What does being a ‘wave hog’ mean?

A wave hog is someone who takes more than their fair share of waves, leaving fewer opportunities for others. Share the waves so everyone can have fun.

How can I help protect the beach and environment?

Always clean up after yourself, don’t leave trash, and respect local wildlife. Keeping the beach clean helps everyone enjoy it.

What should I do if I make a mistake while surfing?

If you mess up, apologize to anyone affected. Owning your mistakes and making amends shows respect and keeps the vibe friendly.

Why should I be friendly and polite while surfing?

Being nice and helping others creates a positive atmosphere. A friendly lineup makes surfing more enjoyable for everyone.

Surfing is more than just a sport, it becomes ingrained in us the moment we catch our first wave. In order to enjoy surfing to its fullest potential, stay safe in the water, and share it with others, we must stick to The Golden Rules of Surf Etiquette. We have travelled to a lot of different countries and have seen 1000’s of different surf spots & one of the things that really makes our local surfing beach stand out is the mellow & friendly vibe between locals, expats and visiting surfers.

Let’s keep it that way, let’s all stick to the surf etiquette, so we can all leave the water after a surf session with a big smile on our faces.

More info: https://www.surfgirlmag.com/2018/07/surf-etiquette/
Surfing at Playa Encuentro with Swell’s Romy

Share on Facebook

November 20, 2018July 5, 2024

THE BEST YOGA POSES FOR SURFING

The Best Yoga Poses for Surfers

Yoga and surfing, the two are often paired, and rightfully so, they are complementary to one another.

Yoga surf camps are popping up all over the world and we are proud to offer Yoga surf holidays at our Caribbean surf camp.

The reality of surfing, for beginners and experts alike, is that only about 10% of our time in the water is spent wave riding. 90% of our surf is usually spent either paddling for waves or sitting waiting for waves.

While yoga will improve your balance, which will enhance your ability to ride waves, the true benefit of yoga for surfers is increased paddle strength and injury prevention.

Unlike other training methods, yoga relies completely on one’s body weight to stabilize, stretch, and strengthen the body. The result is enormous strength gains in the small stabilizing muscle of the upper back and shoulders, the same muscles we engage to paddle.

At Swell Surf Camp, we’ve created a list of The Best Yoga Poses for Paddle Strength, to give you the tools you need to prepare for your next surf holiday. Keep reading to learn the best yoga poses for surfers which will increase your paddle strength and turn you into a wave catching machine.

The Best Yoga Poses for Surfers

1. Upward Facing Dog

Upward facing dog is one of the most recognizable yoga poses out there. When done properly, Upward Facing Dog will improve posture, strengthen the arms and wrists, stretch the chest, expand the lungs, firm the buttocks, and elongates the spine and abdomen.

How to perform Upward Facing Dog:

Begin in the pushup position or high plank position. Lower yourself down into the bottom of the pushup position while shifting your feet so that the tops of your feet are now facing the ground.

From there, lift your chest off the floor and elongate your spine with a nice slow bend as your chest rises upwards. For surfers, this pose should feel natural as it essentially mimics the first step of a good pop up.

(Read our surf instruction blog post of ‘surf technique the pop up‘ on this page)

2. Downward Facing Dog

Downward Facing dog is another recognizable pose that engages your paddling muscles and is a great addition to any surf warm up.

How to perform Downward Facing Dog:

Begin on the floor on your hands and knees. Your knees should be directly below your hips at the same width, your wrists should be under your shoulders at the same width.

Spread your palms, keeping your index fingers parallel. Take a breath, as you exhale, lift your knees off the floor, keeping them slightly bent. Start to raise your tailbone to the sky. As you continue to breathe, push your quadriceps back and attempt to place your heels on the ground. The pose should be done with your head, neck, and spine in line and with firm arms.

3. Bow Pose

While it may look difficult, anyone can master the Bow Pose with proper instruction. The Bow Pose strengthens your back and core while stretching your ankles, abdomen, and neck. In addition to improving your paddle strength, the Bow Pose will ease back pain and improve your posture.

How to Perform Bow Pose:

Lay down on your stomach. Curl your legs upwards while reaching back with your hands. Grab your ankles with your hands so that your body is bent like a bow. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds.

4. Locust Pose

The Locust Pose may just seem like a simple back bend, but it can strengthen the muscles around the spine, the buttocks, and the back. Making it a useful pose for surfers for both pre and post surf yoga sessions.

How to perform Locust Pose:

Lay on your stomach with your arms resting at the sides of your torso and your forehead on the floor. Turn your big toes towards each other to inwardly rotate your thighs. Exhale and lift your head, upper torso, arms, and legs away from the floor.

Only your lower ribs will remain in contact with the floor below you. Raise your arms parallel to the floor, stretching them backward. Gaze forward or slightly upward to keep the base of the skull lifted and the back of the neck long. Try to hold this pose for 30 seconds to a minute.

5. Balancing Table

The Balancing Table Pose will engage your core, upper back, and shoulders, making it one of the best poses for paddle strength, coordination, and core strength.

How to Perform Balancing Table:

Begin on your hands and knees in the Table Pose. Inhale, and reach your right leg back, extending your toes to the direction behind you. Your leg should be parallel to the floor. Inhale once more and bring your left arm up parallel to the floor. Hold for 3-6 slow breaths, exhale as you release. Repeat on the other side.

6. Extended Puppy Pose

A variation of Downward Dog, the Extended Puppy Pose stretches the upper back, spine, and shoulders while opening the chest. This pose also aids in the release of chronic tension in the neck and shoulders, making it the perfect addition to your post-surf cool down yoga session.

How to perform Extended Puppy Pose:

Begin in Tabletop (on all fours, with your hips directly over your knees and your shoulders over your wrists) Rest the tops of your feet on the floor with your toes pointed straight back. As you exhale, begin to walk your hands out in front of you. Allow your chest to sink towards the floor as you slowly release your forehead to the ground.

Press your palms firmly into the mat or the ground, and roll your elbows outward, keeping your palms on the mat. On your next inhalation, deepen into the stretch by reaching your hips up and back toward the wall behind you. Continue to let your chest sink down toward the floor. Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths, release the pose by walking your hands back to the Table Top position.

7. Cow Faced Arms

Cow faced arms will help alleviate shoulder pain, specifically any rotator cuff impingements. If you have any sharp shoulder pain after a long day of surfing, this is the pose for you.

How to perform Cow Faced Arms:

While seated on the floor with crossed legs, grab a towel with your right hand, inhale your right hand to the sky. As you exhale, drop your right hand towards the back of your heart and reach up with your left hand to grab the dangling towel.

Release roll out your shoulders and repeat on the left. You should feel a gentle stretch on the front of the shoulder on the arm that is behind your back. Hold the pose for 30 seconds and then switch sides.

8. Four Limb Staff Pose

The Four Limb Staff Pose builds the upper body and core strength necessary to surf successfully. Additionally, it lengthens the spine and strengthens the lower back muscles.

How to perform Four Limb Staff Pose:

Begin in a push-up position, with your fingers spread apart and a flat back. Exhale and keep the body in a straight line as you lower yourself downward, stopping 4-6 inches above the floor.

Bracing yourself with your weight forward above your palms, hold the position with a 90-degree bend at the elbows. Keep the shoulders at the same height as the elbows. Breath 1-4 breaths Release back into the push-up position or to a resting position on the floor.

9. Kneeling Crescent Lunge

The Kneeling Crescent Lunge will help release your tight hips after a long surf. The pose stretches the lungs, hips, neck, and abdomen.

How to Perform Kneeling Crescent Lunge

With one foot in front of the other, begin in Warriors pose and lower the back knee to the ground. The front knee should be bent at a 90-degree angle, aligned with the ankle, the back knee should be pressed firmly into the floor. The hips are squared and pressed forward so there is a slight stretch on the hip flexors. The arms should be lifted and come together above the head, with hands together or apart.

More info (links to external websites, opens new window)

Yoga for surfers

Surf & Yoga Retreat In The Caribbean

Whether you’re looking to take a surf yoga holiday or simply stay limber between paddle outs, Swell Surf Camp will give you the yoga and surf instruction you need to make the most out of your surf holiday. We offer 3 yoga classes per week for Swell clients.

More info on the Yoga classes offered at Swell can be found on this page.

Q:I have never done Yoga before, can I join in the classes at Swell
A:Molly’s ( The Yoga Instructor at Swell) teaching style is warm and supportive and she encourages students to explore beyond their perceived limitations by emphasising proper alignment to maximise performance and prevent injuries. You do not have to be a regular practitioner of Yoga to take and enjoy a yoga class at Swell.

Share on Facebook

October 10, 2018April 19, 2025

BEGINNER SURF DESTINATIONS

THE BEST WORLDWIDE BEGINNER SURF DESTINATIONS

Even though our surf camp is in the Dominican Republic, we are also surfers ourselves and have travelled extensively for years in the search for waves to catch.

Why Choosing the Right Spot Matters

For new surfers, picking the best spot is crucial. The waves, water temperature, and access to lessons and rentals matter a lot. These factors help make your first surfing steps smooth and rewarding.

Factors to Consider for a Safe and Enjoyable Experience

Wave size: Beginners need small, gentle waves for a safe learning space.
Water temperature: Warm water makes surfing more comfortable for beginners.
Accessibility: Beaches close to surf schools and rentals help you get started faster.
Surf lessons and equipment: Good surf lessons and gear improve learning and safety.

Think about these factors to pick the best beginner surf destinations. The right spot and support help you surf with confidence quickly.

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL SURF CONDITIONS FOR BEGINNERS

Small and consistent waves

When you’re just starting out, you want waves that are small and steady. Big, unpredictable waves can be scary and dangerous. Look for spots where the waves break gently and at a slow pace. This makes it easier to stand up and ride them all the way to the shore.

Shallow Water

Shallow water is a must for beginners. If you fall off your board, you want to be able to stand up quickly. Plus, it’s less intimidating to learn in water where you can touch the bottom. Beaches with a gradual slope into the ocean are perfect for this.

No dangerous rips or currents

Safety first! Avoid places with strong rips or currents. These can pull you out to sea and make it hard to get back to shore. Always check local surf reports or ask a lifeguard about the water conditions before you paddle out.

Separate surf area for surfers of different levels

It’s great when a beach has different areas for beginners and more experienced surfers. This way, you won’t feel pressured or get in the way of someone doing advanced tricks. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by other newbies, which can make the experience more fun and less stressful.

Finding the best beginner surf destination involves looking for these key conditions.

Surf Camps and Lessons: Kickstart Your Journey

Starting with surfing can be exciting, but it’s better with a surf camp or lessons. These options are great for beginners or those wanting to improve. They offer many benefits that make learning faster and safer.

Benefits of Professional Instruction

Having an experienced instructor is key when learning to surf. Here are the main reasons to choose surf camps and lessons:

Develop Proper Techniques – A skilled instructor teaches you surfing basics like paddling and riding waves. This ensures you start with the right skills.
Enhance Safety Awareness – Instructors focus on safety. They teach you how to read waves and avoid dangers, making you a responsible surfer.
Boost Confidence – Personalized feedback and support in lessons help you feel more confident. This lets you enjoy surfing more and progress faster.
Progress Faster – A good instructor knows how to improve your skills. They help you work on your strengths and weaknesses, speeding up your progress.

When looking for surf camps or lessons, choose reputable schools for beginners. This ensures you get the right support and attention to start your surfing journey well.

BEST BEGINNER SURF DESTINATIONS

Based on our experience, here are our top beginner surf destinations in the world, which could also suit intermediate and expert surfers.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

We must begin with one of our own places of course: Swell Cabarete is located on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. We very deliberately chose this location after having visited many countries around the globe which might have been suitable as a place to build a surf camp, especially a surf camp which offers perfect, complete-beginner waves for learning to surf.

The boxes we feel that must be ticked to be considered a great beginner surf destination are as follows:

Consistency of surf
Are there waves for multiple levels of surfers?
Are there any dangers in or out of the water?
Ease of access to the waves
Distance to an international airport

Consistency of surf

To be suitable as a beginner surf camp destination we need to be able to offer our guests surfable waves at least 300+ days of the year.

The North Coast delivers on this, with at least 340+ days of surfable waves at Playa Encuentro.

Waves for multiple levels of surfers

Of course, not everyone is a beginner surfer, so in order to consistently make it into the top ten surfing destinations, a great surf camp needs to cater not just for complete beginners, but for intermediate and even expert surfers. Fortunately for us at Swell in Cabarete, once again Playa Encuentro delivers; there are multiple waves and different peaks, all within a short walk from each other. From mellow inside beginner waves to big barreling waves on shallow reefs for expert surfers + everything in between.

Are there any dangers in or out of the water?

Playa Encuentro is also a very safe spot to surf or to learn to surf because there are no dangers in or under the water. Tidal differences are minimal so getting injured from the reef bed is almost impossible. There are no dangerous rips or currents at Playa Encuentro, so there’s no danger of being dragged out to sea.
Neither are there sharks or other dangerous sea life (for example crocodiles and sharks as can be seen in certain parts of Costa Rica) so the Dominican Republic scores very highly on this element too. It also helps to have very warm water year-round, so another bonus point is scored there.

Ease of access to the waves

‘Highway surfing’ is not a term that surfers want to hear as it means they are constantly on the search for waves, without finding them. Again, the Dominican Republic’s waves score highly on the ease of access criteria; it’s only a journey of 10 minutes to a charming, completely unspoiled surf beach.

Distance to an international airport

Just as with the afore-mentioned highway surfing we also wanted to minimize the travel time for our clients, so we wanted to be close to an international airport. Our location in Cabarete is just 25 minutes from Puerto Plata International Airport (code POP).

Santiago International Airport (airport code STI) is one and a half hours away. Santo Domingo International Airport (airport code SDQ) is also an option at 3 hours car journey time and with buses on offer running north every hour during the day.

Because Cabarete and Playa Encuentro ticked all the right boxes, that’s where we put our first, purpose-built surf camp.

We haven’t talked much about other important criteria, such as choice and quality of food, the beauty of beaches, additional activities on offer, or an available party scene when required, but Cabarete has all of these too, so it remains our firm No.1 complete-beginner surf destination.

Where else in the world can you learn to surf?

As mentioned earlier, we have also visited more than 20+ surf destinations and countries over the last 25 years in our search for waves and fun. Here is our honest opinion on some of them:

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is still one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and surf tourism is growing fast there. It’s mountainous and beautiful and there are some fine surf camps and surf resorts in Costa Rica, suitable for an awesome surf holiday.

Pros:

Very pretty country and scenery
Famous for its nature and animal/reptile species
Some good surf spots are available
Lots of eco-tourism
Politically safe country
Plenty of flights to Costa Rica from lots of countries

Cons:

Costa Rica has become very expensive in recent years: on average 40 to 70% more expensive than a surf holiday to another comparable destination such as Bali or the Dominican Republic
Many of the surf areas are remote and require long road journeys or another internal flight once you have arrived at San Jose airport. Travel time from the airport to the beach can be between 4 and 8 hours depending on where you stay.
The surf can be crowded these days
Theft is an issue
People say that Costa Rica has become too ‘Americanised’
Not a wide choice for eating out in these remote surfing areas and food choices can be very limited/rather expensive
Some known water hazards, such as crocodiles at river mouth spots.

NICARAGUA

Nicaragua is less popular than it’s neighbour Costa Rica, because of fairly regular political turmoil. Tourism only started to take off 20 or so years ago and it’s much less developed than its neighbour, which can be seen as a real plus. Like Costa Rica, it’s also a beautiful country.

Pros:

30-40% cheaper than Costa Rica
Offshore winds create very clean surf conditions

Cons:

Not a large variety of good beginner surfing spots
Travel distances between surf spots is very long
Not a wide choice of dining is available
Recent political unrest is again causing instability

PORTUGAL

If you are based in Europe then one of the most popular places people go surfing is to Portugal. The long, exposed coastline with plenty of beaches is suitable for surfers of all levels. Portugal is also rich in culture, especially around Lisbon.

Pros:

There are plenty of cheap and basic surf camps (please note that these tend to be more suitable for 18 to 25-year-olds)
Variety of surf spots suitable for people of all levels
Surf & culture & city life close to Lisbon

Cons:

Coldwater year-round so you will need to bring and wear a wetsuit at all times of the year
There are literally 100’s of surf camps and schools so it’s surfboard mayhem at times.
Because of the cheap nature of the majority of surf schools, they tend to teach in very large groups; often 20 students to one surf coach
Cold air temperature between November and April
Basic food choices in the north of Portugal (more choice towards the Algarve region).

SAYULITA, MEXICO

A charming fishing village just north of Puerto Vallarta; it’s one of the most beautiful Mexican towns we have ever visited. We actually lived there for 10 months whilst we researched its possibility as a new surf camp for Swell. The food and ambience in Sayulita is wonderful. In the end, we left because of its rather inconsistent surf, but when there are some waves it’s great fun.

Pros:

Stunning town and some really fun surf out front.
Within a short drive, there are a variety of surf spots suitable for people of all levels
Incredible food on offer in the town.

Cons:

Surf gets very busy
Mexico’s infamous cartel crime hangs a shadow over the area, even though we found Sayulita to feel safe
It’s rather expensive to stay there
The water in Sayulita bay can get rather dirty.

CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN

This group of islands lies off the coast of Morocco and are a part of Spain. Rugged and volcanic (not active volcanos) the landscape of most of the islands is dramatically barren and in places resembles the moon-surface. The Canary Islands have a great winter climate (Nov to April) and some fun surf spots.

Pros:

Easy to get to from Europe
Quite a few surf spots dotted around most of the Canary Islands (Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerto Ventura have the best surf spots)
Good climate

Cons:

Surf gets very busy
The Canary Islands are notoriously wind-swept, so many surf spots get blown out by mid-morning.
You will need a wet-suit year-round as the water is always cold
They are known as cheap islands to stay on, which for some is an advantage, but if you are looking for any kind of luxury, it’s hard to find.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is a relative newcomer to the surf holiday market but has gained a reputation for having some fun waves. There are two provinces with very different surf seasons, so make sure that you do your research on where you should go at what time.

Pros:

A variety of surf spots
Warm water
Great local food
Relatively inexpensive

Cons:

Strong monsoon season
Crowd levels
Long-distance between surf spots.
Crowded in high season
Drops in and bad surf etiquete

HAWAII

Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. Year-round warm weather and water and great beginner waves around the south coast of Oahu make it a great place to have your first surfing experience.

Pros:

Beautiful scenery and beaches
A safe place to visit
Plenty of other activities besides surfing
Great surf for expert surfers

Cons:

Very expensive (there are only a few surf camps but they are pretty basic and tend to be double or triple the price of Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.)
Very, very crowded in the water leading to well-known local aggression.

All of the above entries are based on our experience with several trips to each of the countries mentioned. We haven’t commented on places we haven’t experienced ourselves, so it’s far from a definitive list. There are many more countries in the world that cater to beginner surfers with suitable surf camps and surf resorts.

If you have any questions about surfing destinations, feel free to send us a message; normally, we’ve been there and can tell you if it’s suitable for you. If you prefer to come and see us in either of our two fabulous Swell locations, please do check out Swell surf camp in the Dominican Republic or our brand new location, Swell Bali in Indonesia, you can contact us easily by using the contact us links on either of those websites.

Enjoy the waves wherever you go!

Jeroen & Clare
Owners Swell Surf Camp

ABOUT SWELL SURF CAMP

Located on the scenic north coast of the Dominican Republic is our purpose-built surf resort

We cater for surfers of all levels, from beginners to expert surfers who are looking for an active surf holiday

Swell offers full surf packages holidays

FAQ

Why is choosing the right surf destination important for beginners?

Choosing the right spot is key for beginners. It means finding waves that are easy to ride, water that’s not too cold, and places where you can easily get lessons and rent gear. This makes learning to surf safe and fun.

What factors should I consider when choosing a beginner surf destination?

Think about wave size, water temperature, how easy it is to get there, and if there are surf lessons and rentals. These things make sure you have a good time as you learn to surf.

What is important to know about surf etiquette as a beginner?

Knowing surf etiquette is important for beginners. It means respecting the ocean, surf culture, and other surfers. We’ll share tips on being a good surfer and taking care of the ocean and its people.

Share on Facebook

September 3, 2018November 22, 2018

FAMILY SURF HOLIDAY

A family surf trip!

The summer is almost over; we are headed into Autumn and then the (often dreaded) long months of Winter.

We all need something to look forward to, so thoughts often turn to next summer’s plans to keep us going through the cold months. Family vacations are always best planned well in advance to make sure of space for your preferred choice.

Perhaps you are all thinking about a family beach vacation; most family holidays understandably involve the beach, who wouldn’t want to be on a sandy beach with their family?

But Mom and Dad, is a sandy beach and the ocean enough to keep the kids entertained for days on end? Wouldn’t you prefer to have something planned which will not only keep the kids entertained and enthralled with the ocean, but also wear them out a little, challenge them and teach them a sporting skill which will stay with them for life?

A FAMILY SURF VACATION

Teaching your kids to surf on a family surf vacation is quite possibly the best choice you could make; let us explain why.

Firstly, learning to surf when a child means that they will pick up this sport way faster than their ‘old’ parents. Kids are normally devoid of fear and have a low centre of gravity, which means they can stand easily and quickly on a surfboard. You can imagine, a small person + a large surfboard (we use soft tops to avoid injury) equals lots of flotation; what every surfer needs. In our experience, kids learn fast and pick up advanced surf skills even faster, like turning and ‘trimming’ the surfboard. It is said that every surf session a young person has is worth 20 sessions for an adult.

Being able to surf opens horizons for kids. There is a ‘spiritual’ aspect to surfing: Without sounding too way-out-there, the feeling of riding the open face of a wave is akin to experiencing real joy. Just you and the wave, gliding. It’s very hard to describe how amazing this feeling is, you just have to take my word for it until you try it yourself.

SWELL’S FAMILY SURF CAMP

At Swell surf camp, we tend to turn people into surfers for life.

People who surf are happier, more fulfilled and calmer and that’s not even taking into account the endless fitness benefits of surfing.

Surfing’s health benefits include cardio-vascular fitness, increased core-strength, stronger arms and legs. It’s great for burning calories with an average burn of 700 calories per surf session. Paddling for a wave is a low impact cardio-vascular exercise. Surfers say you either have a great surf session or a great work-out; it’s win-win. Doesn’t every parent want to set their kids up for life with a healthy, fulfilling passion?

Surfers are also passionate about the planet: As surfers, we see at first hand the damage humans have done to marine life and the water. We’ve all paddled through plastic at some stage in our surfing lives. Teaching your kids to surf will also give them a care of the ocean and the environment they will not be able to learn anywhere else.

A family surfing holiday with us also means the opportunity to do many more activities other than surfing. From Swell, we regularly organise trips like canyoning, snorkeling, horse-riding (on the beach or up in the mountains), 4-wheeler tours, mountain biking, SUP and Yoga

So if you have a child or children who are 8 years old and up, who can already swim (we teach in warm, shallow water, but being able to swim is essential) and would like to plan a family surf vacation at Swell surf camp in summer 2019, do get in touch with us.

Whilst we are talking about learning to surf, don’t only book your child in for surf lessons, make sure you do it too. They may learn faster than you do, but doing something fun, active and meaningful with your child is absolutely priceless. Lastly, as a comforting thought to you if you feel too old to surf, I learned to surf at 51; my only regret is that I had done it so many years earlier when my kids learned themselves.

JOIN US IN 2019

Interested in joining us for a family summer surf camp?

Send us a message today and your family could be off on a one of a kind surf holiday

Share on Facebook

August 8, 2018October 29, 2025

About Jeroen, the Co-Founder of Swell

About: Jeroen Mutsaars
Jeroen is the co-founder and co-owner of Swell Surf Camp, where he combines a long-standing passion for surfing with a commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for guests.

Originally from the Netherlands, Jeroen decided in 2004 to leave a conventional career path and dedicate himself to the surf & travel lifestyle.

Over time, he has surfed in a variety of locations worldwide, gaining first-hand knowledge of different breaks, cultures, and approaches to surf instruction. Before starting Swell Surf camp with his wife Clare, he owned a surf travel company where he visited many surf resorts and surf camps around the world, gaining a great insight in what was missing in the surf travel market: an affordable surf retreat, with the comfort of a boutique surf hotel and the mellow vibes of a Surf camp.

In early 2009 Jeroen & Clare bought land and hired an award-winning Swiss architect to design and build a brand new surf resort: Swell Surf Camp.
Swell was opened in October 2009 and has since hosted 1000s of guests from all over the world to learn to surf, kitesurf, or recently wingfoil.

In 2020, Jeroen & Clare designed, built, and opened a new surf resort in Bingin, Bali, but after 3 years, realized Bali, as great a travel destination as it is, could not compare to the more ideal learn to surf conditions in the Dominican Republic. Swell Bali was sold, new management rebranded the resort.

Part of the year Jeroen & Clare spend in Indonesia, where they are building a small surf resort under the name wavehaven.com

Besides Surfing, other hobbies include: Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Sailing and recently all foil-related sports. In winter seasons, he loves to go Snowboarding.

Find Jeroen Mutsaars profile on Linkedin

Interview by Emerhub

Share on Facebook

August 3, 2018March 2, 2023

THE SWELL TEAM

Meet the team

Let us introuduce you to the people who work at Swell, and who will make sure you get the surf holiday you are looking for.

THE MANAGER

Haudy

My name is Haudy Prisila
I am 42 years old & Graduate of Tourism, Hospitality and Marketing
I am originally from Chile, my hometown is Valparaiso (one of the most beautiful cities of my country recognized in the whole world for its hills, streets of many colors, historic elevators that show the city in its fullness!

I arrived in the Dominican Republic in 2001 (I was really here for 1 year but … until today I found my home here … My home and my work … my little paradise !!
Arrive at Swell Surf Camp in 2012

I love Cabarete, to live here, I love to walk on the beach of cabarete,
I think it’s a gift every day … normally in my free time I go to the gym and also go out or cook with friends, I love listening to Latin music> my favorites without a doubt Sosa Stereo !!

What other say about Haudy:

” Awesome cook, will look after you very well when you are at Swell”

The Surf Instructors

Neno

My name is Juan Alberto Mejía, but everyone calls me Neno. I am 27 years old.

I was born in Nagua but I grew up in Cabarete. I have two younger brothers who currently live with my parents in Nagua and I really like to visit them and have a good time with them. It’s really pretty where I’m from, but there’s is not a lot to do in the countryside and the surf spot is far, so that’s why I prefer Cabarete.
My favorite song is Criminals by No Sleep & XUITCASECITY.

What others say about Neno:

“Epitomizes the Dominican spirit; Friendly , Helpfull and always up for a good time!”

The owners

Clare

I’m from the south of England and I’m 54 years old. I’ve got two ‘boys’ who are now 21 and 18 and even though i’m tall, they both tower over me 6’5″ and 6’6″ – it’s like having your own personal minders!

With a musical family, I grew up playing guitar and worked as a professional singer for a few years before turning to property development. I was late to get involved in watersports and started kitesurfing at 39 years old and surfing at 52! (it’s never too late!). Jeroen and I met whilst kitesurfing in the Dominican Republic and have been together since 2006. We built Swell because Jeroen has taken me to some pretty dreadful surf camps / hotels and resorts over the years and I wanted to do something for the long-suffering surf wives! I’m a terrible dancer and I’m passionate about dogs and have to be preventing from rescuing more than we can handle. Favorite song; Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush).

What others say about Clare:

“Meticulous about booking details, faster on the email than an F1 Pit stop “

Jeroen

I’m from Holland and I’m 44 years old.

I’ve grown up with a passion for windsurfing, snow sports, and sailing at an early age since every holiday and weekend was spent on the sail boat with my parents and brother.

Windsurfing brought me to Cabarete in 2004 and that’s also when I ‘swapped’ windsurfing for kitesurfing for a few years.

I still love to Windsurf when the wind is over 20 knots and the waves are solid at Cabarete reef, but my main passion is surfing.

Another passion of mine is photography, and most pictures on the Swell website are ‘mine’.
I divide my time between the UK, Bali and the Dominican Republic.

Share on Facebook

July 20, 2018September 25, 2023

TOP ACTIVITIES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

So you want to go on vacation to the Dominican Republic; an island jam-packed full of beautiful beaches and azure-colored water.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:
A SUPERB HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR ALL

You may not realise though that the Dominican Republic has a landscape which lends itself to some of the most beautiful and exciting activities on offer, not just in the Caribbean region, but on the entire planet.
There’s a good reason why some parts of the movie Jurassic Park were filmed on location on the island. Famed for its prehistoric Amber stone, coffee and cacao, the Dominican Republic is a gem of an island, offering so many activities to choose from, you won’t be able to fit them all in during a week-long stay.

ACCOMMODATION CHOISES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

With regards to accommodation in the Dominican Republic, you’ve certainly got some good choices of where to stay on this huge island. Perhaps you are thinking to stay in a place like Punta Cana, where the majority of accommodation is in large all-inclusive hotels with organised tours, but not much in the way of local life outside of your hotel, or are you going to be more adventurous/independent and head for ‘real’ towns like Cabarete or La Terrenas? Either way, the Dominican Republic is vast and beautiful, with a friendly population who love to share the adventures of their island with you.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ALL INCLUSIVE HOTELS

Many people staying in an all-inclusive are led to believe that it’s not safe to leave a resort, but this could not be further from the truth. This advice is given by all-inclusive hotels who have a clear motive; if you go out and about by yourself, they miss out on huge commissions from all the tours they would otherwise sell you, so it’s more profitable to keep you inside. Better still, steer clear of the all-inclusives hotels altogether and choose a smaller, privately owned hotel or guest house to stay in, with an owner who can share their extensive local knowledge with you on where to eat great food and visit fun places.

TOP ACTIVITIES DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Rest assured, from someone who lived in the Dominican Republic (in Cabarete) for 12 years, getting out and about in the Dominican Republic will be rewarding, safe and fun, so think about organising a vacation around two or three different areas of the island.

How about combining a few days of surfing or kiteboarding in a sporty, vibrant town like Cabarete, with a few days in the oh-so-peaceful La Terrenas, and even a couple of days in the Zona Colonial for some culture in the capital city, Santo Domingo? Or perhaps a hiking tour up Pico Duarte, followed by a truly relaxing few days on a deserted beach like Punta Rucia. Whatever you plan, be sure to get the very best out of this interesting, beautiful and diverse country.

This article deals mainly with sports and adventure tours in the Dominican Republic, but if you are also interested in the culture, carnivals and festivals on offer on the island, have a look at page.

Here we have given you the top 20 must-do activities in the Dominican Republic, listing the sports activities and adventures on offer alphabetically. Hopefully, it will give you an idea or two when you are planning your vacation to the Dominican Republic.

Top 20 activities in the Dominican Republic

1. ATV TOURS

Several Dominican companies run these fun ATV tours around various parts of the island. You will find one close to any tourist area like Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Samana, etc. Many combine the fun of driving these 4×4 open vehicles with a little local culture, such as driving through the sugar cane fields or visiting local coffee growers.

Safety can be a concern as rigid rules on health and safety are rarely adhered to, but in fairness, this can often add to the fun! Duration of tours is generally 3 to 4 hours, but check with local operators.

2. CANYONING

The Dominican Republic is a huge island (it takes 7 hours to drive east/west). Right across the centre of the island mass are mountain ranges (with the highest peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte at 3098m). With mountains come canyons and rivers and the Dominican Republic has more than its fair share of both.

If you are relatively fit and a little bit brave, these tours are not to be missed. With iconic names like The Big Bastard (about sums it up), The Magic Mushroom (a geological marvel) and Ciaguapa Falls, to name some, canyoning trips involve hiking (upwards) for a few hours and jumping, sliding and repelling all the way back down again.

Trips generally last the whole day and you will need non-slip shoes which can get wet. Your reputable tour operator will provide proper safety gear, including wet suits (the water from the mountains is cold), harnesses and helmets.

The best tours are in the Cordillera Septentrional, Puerto Plata region, so base yourself in the cool surf town of Cabarete to get the very best of the canyoning trips in the Dominican Republic.

3. CATAMARAN TOURS

Again, several providers based across the island offer catamaran tours of local waters. Some double-up as fishing adventures and others are more of a sunbathing and swimming cruise, often involving drinks and food. Notable operators are Tip Top or Freestyle Tours in Puerto Plata and too many to mention in Punta Cana. Your hotel will have local leisure cruise, fishing and booze-cruise information.

4. DEEP SEA FISHING

Both Puerto Plata and Punta Cana have deep sea fishing tours and charters on offer. High Z and Mahi Mahi Tours are the best on offer in Puerto Plata whilst Punta Cana tends to have more expensive private charters for hire.

5. SCUBA DIVING

Being a Caribbean island, bordered both by the Atlantic (North Coast) and the Caribbean Sea (East and South coast), the Dominican Republic enjoys some beautiful, turquoise water, abundant with fish and corals.

There are many scuba dive schools operating on the island. Our pick of the bunch would be Merlin Dive school in Sosua (close to Cabarete) and Dressel dive school operating in Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. We chose these companies because of their European-style professionalism in operating; scuba diving needs to be taken seriously. More info at https://www.divecenter-merlin.com

6. EL LIMON WATERFALL

In the Samana region, about half an hour from Las Terrenas, you will find El Limón waterfall. This trip is less extreme than the canyoning mentioned previously, or the 27 waterfalls (27 Charcos) we will mention later in this article.

El Limón is quite a spectacular waterfall, standing at a whopping 52m high. Getting to the waterfall involves a horseback ride of roughly 45 minutes, where you will get wet as your horse negotiates several river crossing points to reach the base of this magnificent waterfall. You’ll be offered this tour from locals whilst walking around the charming town of Las Terrenas but it’s worth sticking to the more established tour operators like Santi or Parada La Manzana as they have better guides and well-cared for horses. Walking is also possible, but add an hour or so to the trek.

7. HIKING PICO DUARTE

We’ve already mentioned that the Dominican Republic is home to Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain in the Caribbean at 3098m high. If you are a fit and regular walker, this is a great choice to see the magnificent interior of the island.

Tours generally are 2 to 3 days and start at Jarabacoa. Tours are not cheap, but accommodation, meals and guides are included and generally break down to around $150 USD per person, per day.

8. HORSERIDING

It’s a fact that for many people, a beach holiday is not complete without a pony trek along the sand, or if you are a more accomplished rider, a canter through the shore-break. All tourist regions offer horse-back riding tours from several sources.

Riding on the beach can be exhilarating, but we strongly recommend that you take a tour which goes inland and rides through some local towns and villages, along with river crossings through some beautiful valley scenery. Rancho Louisa y Tommy is one such company, based in Sabaneta de Yasica, close to Cabarete on the north coast. You can contact them on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Rancho-Luisa-y-Tommy-430058250408145/

9. KITEBOARDING

Cabarete, on the North coast of the Dominican Republic is widely thought to be the kiteboarding capital of the world. Side-on steady winds and warm water combine to provide perfect kiteboarding conditions. The waters of Cabarete Bay are full of the beautiful multi-coloured kites as they glide effortlessly through the water.

Kiteboarding might look difficult, but actually, it’s much easier than it appears. A good kiteboarding school, such as LEK Cabarete, Kite Club Cabarete or Kite Club Punta Cana, will teach you in a one-on-one lesson with an IKO qualified kiteboarding instructor. Learning is not cheap, but it shouldn’t be as each kite equipment set used in lessons is valued at around $3000 USD and is easily damaged (kite crashing to the beach) during lessons. Don’t be tempted to cut costs in a kite lesson; it’s not worth the safety risk.

Poor instruction in a kite lesson can lead to very serious injury; the kites wield enormous power and it’s easy to get launched high in the air if you don’t move the kite in the correct way. With good instruction, it’s exhilarating and quick to learn; you can make great progress in 6 to 8 hours of lessons. A good kite boarding school will charge between $69 and $72 USD per person per hour of instruction.

10. LAGUNA DUDU & LUGANU GRI GRI

These two truly stunning azure lagoons of water are close to each other, on either of Cabrera along the North coast. You could combine a trip to them both in one day.

Gri Gri is formed from a natural spring, but after an earthquake in 1952, the subterranean water rose up and formed a lagoon. Named after the Gri-Gri tree which grows in abundance in the surrounding mangrove forrest, tours go by boat through the lagoon, taking in the caves where thousands of Swallows nest. The boats often have glass bottoms, so you can really appreciate the quite incredible colour of the water beneath you.

El Dudu offers the same stunningly beautiful azure water (both Gri Gri and El Dudu look as though the water has been dyed, such is the vibrancy of the colour), but it’s more of a small lagoon for jumping into, with a zip line and ladders to aid a fast or slow decent into this most spectacular pool of water.

A boat trip on the Laguna Gri Gri lasts around an hour or so and you can spend as long as you like hanging out at El Dudu. A taxi from Cabarete to Cabrera will cost around $80 to $100 USD for a return trip, even if there are several people in the vehicle. Cheaper gua gua’s and carritos also go for a few pesos each, but expect a very crowded journey.

11. MONKEY JUNGLE

Just outside of Cabarete, you will find the Monkey Jungle & Zipline adventures. Opened as a way to fund urgent free medical care for Haitians and Dominicans who previously had no access to any medical care, the Monkey Jungle is now a firm favorite on the North coast (base yourself in Cabarete or Sosua for this adventure).

Sadly Chuck and Candy, the founders of the project lost their lives in a small ‘plane in 2016, whilst returning from a humanitarian mission to deliver much needed supplies to Haiti. Their legacy lives on in the form of a really fun afternoon feeding the Squirrel Monkeys and racing down the ziplines. It’s great to know that while you enjoy yourself, the money you have paid to do so is going to such a great cause.

12. MOUNTAIN BIKING

We’ve already written of the expansive mountain ranges of the Dominican Republic, so of course, mountain biking is readily available through the Cordillera Central. In fact, cycling generally is huge in the Dominican Republic, with regular road races happening both within the major cities and between them most Sundays.

Bike Map have several rides listed here on https://www.bikemap.net/en/l/3508796/

SEE WHAT CABARETE IS ALL ABOUT

(There’s a reason it’s called the adventure capital of the Caribbean)

13. PLAYA GRANDE BEACH & GOLD COURSE

Playa Grande is thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the North coast of the Dominican Republic and well worth a trip if you are staying in the region. Traditionally a popular beach for locals every Sunday, this stunning beach is bordered by fisherman’s huts/restaurants. As soon as you arrive, you’ll be offered a simple table and chairs beneath the palm trees and delicious, BBQ’d fresh catch of the day.

Beware the shore break on some days, it can be quite heavy, but generally, kids who are good swimmers will love playing in the waves whilst you lie on the golden sand.

The renowned golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed two golf courses on the North coast. Playa Dorada and Playa Grande. Playa Dorada (just outside of Puerto Plata) is a nice, quaint little course but Playa Grande is the masterpiece; a links golf course with stunning holes atop the cliffs, all overlooking the magnificently blue Atlantic ocean.

Whilst on the subject of golf in the Dominican Republic, there are enough great courses on the island to plan a multi-centre golf vacation, including the world-famous Teeth of the Dog golf course in Casa De Campo (south coast). There are no less than 26 golf courses to choose from in the Dominican Republic, making it the best Caribbean island choice for a golf vacation!

14. SNORKELING

Several locations on the island are great for snorkeling. Sosua, the next town to Cabarete, has a stunning bay and snorkelling trips are leaving from the bay for a short trip to the reefs in front of the beach. Merlin dive centre are one of the companies who will organise a local boat to take you into the bay to where you will be able to swim with and feed the fish. If you are staying in Puerto Plata or in Punta Cana, your resort hotel will have a list of the companies they use for their snorkelling trips.

15. SUP (STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING).

This popular sport is available in several locations. Las Terrenas and Punta Cana both have flat water so if you like to paddle around without waves, you will be very likely to be able to rent an SUP at your local beach.

The North coast is where the majority of the waves are, so if you are able to surf waves with an SUP, head for Cabarete where you can find some great waves on the reef in the town’s main bay. There’s also flat water in the bay of Cabarete. Bear in mind that SUP boards are banned at the surf beach of Encuentro for safety reasons.

Sup’ing (or kayaking) down the rivers in the Sabaneta de Yasica area, close to Cabarete, is very popular. Check with Kayak River Adventures for more details.

16. SURFING

Bearing in mind the fact that the Dominican Republic is bordered by two different oceans (the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean) there is a distinct location for good surfing and that is on the Atlantic side of the North coast. The Caribbean side (Punta Cana, Casa de Campo, etc) is flat pretty much year-round, so if you are coming to the Dominican Republic to surf, you must head to the North. In this regard, if you are a surfer, fly to Puerto Plata (POP) and not to Punta Cana (PUJ) as it takes 6 hours to drive north from PUJ.

Encuentro is the main surf beach of the North coast. Situated about 10 minutes drive from Cabarete, it has several different surf peaks to suit all levels of surfing. The best surf for expert surfers is to be found between November and April, with the summer months May to October, being better for smaller waves.

There are many other surf breaks along the North coast; you can find more information on surfing in the Dominican Republic on this page

Down at Encuentro beach there are a number of local surf schools who will give you surf lessons but if you want to take a more intense surf course, then stay somewhere like Swell surf camp, where you can be immersed in a complete surf camp experience, with lessons, airport pickups, meals and a vibe with other surfers to enjoy.

Macao Beach, just north of Punta Cana, does have some rather limited shore breaks at certain times of the year. You will find surf schools located on the beach there when the surf is up.

17. 27 CHARCOS WATERFALLS

We’ve already spoke about the canyoning trips, but there’s another amazing waterfall experience close to Puerto Plata on the North coast. The 27 Waterwalls (local name, 27 Charcos), is a breathtakingly beautiful hike, walking up no less than 27 linking waterfalls and then descending by sliding and jumping.

Historically, this trip did not enjoy good safety standards and very sadly, after the deaths of 3 people at the waterfalls some years ago during heavy rains, a rapid revision was made of safety standards. Guides were properly trained and new regulations put into place about when the waterfalls should be open or closed (too much rain now results in closure). These days, the trip is much better organised, but do bear in mind, it is a strenuous hike and you should not attempt it if you don’t enjoy a decent level of fitness. Do not go during periods of prolonged rain and remember that sometimes, even when the sun is shining on the beach, it can be raining up at the falls, such is the nature of local weather patterns. Check with the operator who is planning to take you, whether the conditions at the falls are favorable.

You can choose to do less than the full 27 waterfalls and most of the trips from all-inclusive hotels will not attempt the full hike. Instead, you will normally hike the first 1/3 of the 27 waterfalls.

18. WINDSURFING

Cabarete, on the North coast of the Dominican Republic is one of the world’s best spots for wind-sports. Long before kitesurfing became popular, Cabarete attracted many good windsurfers who enjoy this bay’s perfect wind direction (side-on), warm water and great waves on the reef for launching slick tricks like the Shifty 720.

There are some good windsurf schools on the bay of Cabarete who will give you a beginner lesson in this king of water-sports. Quality gear rentals are also available from these schools, so if you windsurf already, there’s no need to be carrying your heavy windsurf gear to the Dominican Republic.

Flat water windsurfing is available at other resort towns like Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.

19. WHALEWATCHING

On the North-East peninsula of the Dominican Republic, off the coast of Samana, from mid-December to mid-March, humpback whales will congregate for their annual migration. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world for whales during these months and you are pretty much guaranteed to see them.

In fact, if you stay anywhere on the North coast, whales will be visible to the naked eye from the shore during the whale mating season, especially during January and February, as they pass by on their way to Samana.

If you want to get close to the whales, there are many companies in and around Las Terrenas and Samana who will organise a boat trip for you to travel into the breeding grounds. A note of caution; after many years of zero regulation, it is now illegal to to harass the whales. Strict regulations have been introduced to reduce the impact of these tours on the whale’s breeding ground. Now only 3 boats are allowed to be relatively close to a pod so there is often a lot of waiting around for your boat to have a ‘turn’ getting close to these majestic creatures. Boats are also restricted to 45 minutes in the vicinity of a pod of whales. Do not accept a ‘whale-watching tour’ from any ‘regular’ fishing boat as only boats holding a license from the Ministry of the Environment are allowed into the humpback whales’ breeding ground. We strongly recommend that you go with a company like that run by Kim Beddall http://www.whalesamana.com/ who stringently follow these vitally important regulations, not just for your own safety, but for the protection of these crucial breeding areas.

20. YOGA

With more than 20 million people regularly taking part in Yoga in the United States alone, Yoga is firmly established as an important element of people’s daily or weekly lives and that continues, even on vacation.

You will find many Yoga studios in the Dominican Republic. Cabarete has 3 or 4 different venues for Yoga, including a 3x weekly Ashtanga Yoga class at Swell surf camp (you’ll have to be staying at Swell though to take their classes).

Las Terrenas, Samana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, La Romana, Santiago and Santo Domingo will all have Yoga classes you can take part in. Check with your accommodation host or hotel to see where and when your nearest Yoga class will be: They should also be able to tell you about the type of Yoga being held.

We really hope that this article has given you some ideas of what to do on vacation in the Dominican Republic; it really is an amazing place!

“The Dominican Republic has it all”

We hope you enjoyed reading this article about the top activities the Dominican Republic offers, feel free to share it on your favorite social media site.

GETTING TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Here is our updated 2019 info page on how to get to the Dominican Republic, and how to get around the island

SEE WHAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND SWELL IS ALL ABOUT

Share on Facebook

July 4, 2018September 25, 2023

CARNIVALS, MUSIC, FESTIVALS & BASEBALL

STUFF TO SEE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

It is no surprise, given the country’s rich and varied history, starting with the original Taino Caribbean people and followed by invasions from the Spanish, French and even the Americans in 1965, that the Dominican Republic has such an incredible array of cultural and music festivals and celebrations on offer, year-round.

MUSIC AND DANCE

For Dominicans, music and dance are vital ingredients for a good life and so when they decide to put on a party, you can guarantee that it will be an almighty spectacle. Combine that with religious syncretism, a history of slavery, emancipation and going even further back, roots in Voodoo and Changó, you can begin to get a picture of just how varied and entertaining their festivals and parades are.

We want you to know where and when these festivals take place so you don’t miss out on some of the very best things to do in the Dominican Republic. We’ve put them more or less in date order, so you can plan a trip to travel around the island and join in the fun.

Bear in mind that getting around in the Dominican Republic is pretty easy; coaches or buses (Caribe Tours and Metro Tours) travel South and North, East and West between all major cities and there are smaller, more localised mini-buses or taxis, called gua-guas and carritos respectively, which flit between towns and offer very affordable transport. It’s safe to get around too, just follow the usual precautions you would use in any city in the world; Dominicans are super-friendly and helpful and many speak English too.

NEW YEARS EVE PARTIES IN THE DR

New Year’s Eve all cities, especially Santo Domingo, Santiago and Cabarete – Dec 31st/Jan 1st

We may as well start with the very beginning of the year: All major towns and cities on the island will enjoy bringing in the New Year. In the capital, Santo Domingo, revellers head to The Malecón (which is Ave. George Washington). Bordering the ocean, this wide avenue will host music of all genres with dancing and fireworks continuing through the night. On the north coast, the surf-beach town of Cabarete has one of the most popular parties, with live bands on the beach and fireworks + a party to last the whole night.

Guloya Festival San Pedro de Macorís

When January 1st

This is a festival not to be missed if you are looking for one of the most colourful and vibrant on the whole island. The Guloya Festival is held to celebrate the start of the new year and more importantly, the considerable cultural influence of the Cuban immigrants who founded this town when fleeing from their own country’s War of Independence in the 1800’s. UNESCO has listed this spectacular festival as a ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Patrimony of Humanity’.

Baseball

Where: Major cities and towns
When: October through January

Did you know that many of the Major League Baseball players in the United States are Dominicans? Baseball to the Dominicans is as important as their music and dancing and is a vital part of local culture. All towns will have a baseball ground of some description and the larger stadiums are funded and maintained by wealthy benefactors. Since the 1950’s all 30 MBL franchises have a training academy in the Dominican Republic. The natural athleticism of Dominicans unsurprisingly leads to their success first at home and then often in the US leagues.

If you want to spectate at one of these high quality and lively matches, then head for the professional league (L.I.D.O.M.) baseball teams, based in Santo Domingo (Estadio Quisqueya), San Pedro de Marcoris (Estadio Tetelo Vargas), La Romana (Estadio Francisco Micheli), San Francisco de Macoris (Estadio Julián Javier) or Santiago (Estadio Cibao). Lower league teams can be found in Puerto Plata and most larger towns throughout the island.

Día de Duarte

Where:various cities
When: January 26th.

Juan Pablo Duarte is revered as the founding father of the Dominican Republic, and his birthday, January 26th, is celebrated with carnivals all over the island, including (of course) music and dancing in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macorís, Samaná and La Romana.

Carnival

Where: all across the island
When: The whole month of February, especially February 27th.

February 27th marks the Dominican Republic’s Independence Day. After years of emancipation by several different occupying forces, you can understand why the Dominicans celebrate their freedom every Sunday in February, right across the island. You will find Carnivals in most of the towns each Sunday in February; Santo Domingo, Santiago, La Romana, Punta Cana, La Vega, Bonao, Río San Juan and Puerto Plata will all hold celebrations. Each region has its own carnival characters, for example, Lechones will be in Santiago and Taimáscaros in Puerto Plata, but also ‘Comparsas’ and other Dominican folklore characters in each parade. If you want to wait for the big one, be sure to be in Santo Domingo on the 27th of February, on the Malecón, when the winners of each regional carnival meet and compete in one huge parade. Cabarete on the north coast now also hosts a great carnival parade.

Cabarete Sand Castle Festival

Where: Cabarete
When:February for 10 days

Cabarete beach is transformed for 10 days in February for the annual sandcastle competition. Forget your bucket turrets and shaky ramparts; these sandcastles are real works of art, worthy of any art gallery exhibition. What a crying shame that they will all be destroyed once the competition winner is announced!

Barceló Desalia Festival

Where: Punta Cana
When: February.
Organised by the famous Ron Barcelo (the rum company), this is the 2nd largest electronic dance music festival in the Caribbean and is held in Punta Cana during February. Approximately 5000 revellers will dance to some of the biggest names in this genre of music.

Semana Santa (Easter)

Where: whole island, particularly Cabarete
When: Easter

The majority of Dominicans these days are practising Catholics, so the Religious significance of Easter is huge. Santo Domingo sees the biggest religious parade on Good Friday with a mass at the main Cathedral on Easter Saturday.

However, once Good Friday has been celebrated quietly and respectfully, most Dominicans actually head for the beaches (especially young people) for the party of all parties. The surf town of Cabarete is the pick of the bunch and is worth avoiding over Easter weekend if you are not into noise, music and dancing. If you are, then you will enjoy a spectacular concert right on the beach and streets packed full of excitable revellers. This party lasts from late Friday night until Monday morning!

Cimarrón Festival

Where: Cabral only
When: weekend after Easter.

In Cabral, during Easter week you will find the Cimarrón Festival, lasting for 3 days, the following weekend after the Easter holidays. The festival celebrates much older traditional African practices, mixed with the traditional burning of the Judas doll, as well as Cachuas, who hold whips whilst wearing beautiful papier mache, multicolor masks with horns, set to impersonate the colonial master as well as the abused slaves of old. It’s a very traditional festival; not very ‘touristy’ as it is not on the regular tourist routes, but that’s not to say you won’t be welcome to go along and enjoy this celebration of history and culture.

San Juan Bautista Festival

Where: only in San Juan de Managua
When: June
This festival offers a perfect example of how religious syncretism defines the Dominican people: Celebrating both Changó, a god revered in the ancient religion of the West African Yoruba people, along with Saint John the Baptist. This festival, as with all Dominican festivals, has enough music and dance to keep you entertained all day and all night.

Barbarella

Where: only in Santo Domingo
When: Dates vary, normally May or June.

Housed in a baseball stadium in the capital, Barbarella is organised by Presidente (the best beer in the Dominican Republic) and is the biggest electronic music event in the Caribbean.

Puerto Plata Cultural festival

Where: Puerto Plata city
When: during July (normally).

In this fiesta patronal, you will enjoy a variety of concerts and parades where you can dance to merengue, salsa, blues and jazz and watch demonstrations of African tribal dances, all taking place around the ancient San Felipe Fort. You’ll also enjoy arts and crafts exhibitions near the Central Park which showcase the work of many local artisans.

Festival de Merengue

Where: Santo Domingo
When: July or August,

Puerto Plata in late September (dates can vary).
Merengue originated in the Dominican Republic and is a joyous music genre, suiting the Dominican character perfectly. Legend has it that this close form of the dance (couples holding each other tightly whilst their hips flow and move to the fast rhythm) began when slaves were chained closely together to work in the sugar plantations and were unable to separate to dance. As a result, the Merengue dance is incredibly sexy and dynamic. If you want to go to one of these stunning festivals, take a dance lesson in this fairly simple dance style so you can join in. The dance is energetic and somewhat frenetic, but it’s also beautiful to watch as a Merengue specialist will keep their upper body in a smooth majestic rhythm while their hips do all the work.

In Santo Domingo and also in Puerto Plata, all along the Malecóns in either city, you will see Merengue bands and dancers showing the very best way to enjoy this wonderful music.

Fiesta Patria de la Restauración

Where: All cities
When: August 16th

Celebrating the day the Dominican Republic finally gained its independence from Spain, this nationwide festival will lead to parades, street festivals, concerts and food festivals in all major towns.

Dominican Republic Fashion Week

Where: Santo Domingo
When: October
Dominicans love their fashion and the capital city has some great shopping on offer. During October, top designers will display their latest designs on the catwalks.

The Dominican Republic Jazz Festival

2018 dates are; Punta Cana August 24/25,
Santiago Oct 27
Santo Domingo Oct 28
Sosua Nov 1st
Puerto Plata Nov 2nd
Cabarete, November 3rd and 4th

This amazing Jazz festival will leave you breathless. From humble beginnings, the festival is now huge and heavily funded by major sponsors. There are several locations to enjoy not just the best jazz musicians of the Dominican Republic, but also guest appearances from Jazz stars from all over the world. If you can only manage one location, we especially recommend Cabarete for the best venue, as the festival there lasts two days and often has the best head-liners. The stage is right on the beach, so there’s no need to interrupt your sun holiday to enjoy the music. You can see more information on this amazing yearly festival on their website: https://drjazzfestival.com/

Merengue Típico Festival

Where: Guananico
When: November

Another chance to enjoy a traditional Merengue festival, this annual event is held in a smaller town, close to Puerto Plata. If you want a truly authentic musical experience, this is it.

I hope we have given you a taste of the amazing array of festivals, parades, carnivals and music festivals on offer year-round in the Dominican Republic. Don’t stay inside your all-inclusive hotel and ‘enjoy’ mediocre food and watered-down drinks; get out and about and travel cheaply and easily around this stunningly beautiful and diverse country. The people will LOVE to see you at their parades and festivals; they are proud of their amazing and varied culture and will enjoy sharing the celebrations with you.

So as you can see and read, the Dominican Republic has more to offer than just a water sport holiday. Combine your surf holiday with any of these festival to get sport and culture on your holiday to the Dominican Republic.

That’s why the saying is:

“The Dominican Republic has it all”

We hope to welcome you to our Surf retreat in the Caribbean

Share on Facebook

June 27, 2018January 29, 2019

CABARETE IN SURFING PICTURES

CABARETE IN SURFING PICTURES

We have a lot of text describing what a surf vacation on the north coast of the Dominican Republic is all about, but instead of writing about how pretty the scenery is here, we thought we’d show you the scenery , landscapes and action you can expect when you visit us.

All Surfing pics and scenery pics are taken by Swell staff in and around Cabarete.

( sorry there’s a fair few sunrise and sunset shots, because we never get tired of them)

25 VISUAL REASONS FOR A (SURF) HOLIDAY TO CABARETE

Taken at La Boca, a few minutes east of Cabarete. They have a nice restaurant in a local ambience here. Enjoy the Seafood and Dominican food

Presidente, the local beer of the Dominican Republic. Available everywhere and very tasty.

Pretty skies over the mountains just back of Cabarete. Photo is taken from Swell, and most nights the sky will turn some incredible colour.

Fishing boat Las Terennas — Fishing boat in Las Terrenas

Ok so technically this is not Cabarete, however if you are doing an adventure holiday on the north coast then Las Terrenas should be a place to stop for a night. No waves here but a very pretty Caribbean town, some nice restaurants too.

Playa Encuentro is just a few miles west of Cabarete. This is where we take our guests surfing every day, and since we are pretty much always the first ones at the surf beach, we love taking pics of the sunrise. Palm trees, no development, chill vibes; we are blessed to call this our local surf spot. Want to see more surfing pictures of Cabarete? See our surf pictures gallery

The stunning bay of Cabarete captured with a drone flying over Swell. Windsurfing, kite surfing and sunbathing is all done at Cabarete Bay. It’s a few minutes walk to the beach where you can also find tons of good restaurants and bars

This surf spot is also not in Cabarete, but it’s only 45 minute drive away. It’s stunning white sand beach, lined with Palm trees. With the right Swell direction it’s also a world class surfing spot.

This is the scenery at Playa Encuentro where we surf. No high-rise condos or McDonald’s signs here, just palms trees and good waves.

The Sky over Cabarete bay at Sunset. This photo is taken on the west side of the bay, looking over Cabarete and kitebeach

#10

Just a 10 minute drive west of us is Sosua bay. No surfing in Sosua but there are some very nice snorkelling spots with plenty of fish to see. At Swell we can organise this snorkelling trip for our guests ( diving and diving courses can be organised too)

#11

When there is no wind (kitesurfers love kiting at La Boca Lagoon where there is wind), it’s very quiet and peaceful at La Boca. Stroll along the lagoon, sunbathe on the beach or have lunch at the local restaurants.

#12

Playa Encuentro is one of the most consistent surfing spots in the Caribbean. Warm water so leave your wetsuit at home. Have a look at the surf seasons page to see when is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic

#13

Drive an hour east of Cabarete and you will come across this stunning viewpoint.

#14

Swell regularly organises day trip to Playa Grande and Laguna dudu, See #15

#15

Swim in the amazing deep blue water of Laguna Dudu. There’s a zipline that can launch you into the refreshing deep water.

#16

Cabarete is considered one of the best spots in the world for kitesurfing, as a result, the local Dominicans are amongst the worlds best. Take a kite lesson in Cabarete or just watch the locals do their incredible moves a few meters from the shoreline. Cabarete beach and Kitebeach are the best places for kite surfing.

#17

Swell can organise a trip to La Boca, where there will be local food, cold beers and a bonfire. What more could you ask for?

#18

Want a refreshing coconut? ask a local and you’ll have a refreshing drink and bite a few minutes later.

#19

Watch the sunset over kitebeach after a day of surfing or kitesurfing as a great way to end the day.

#20

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) at Cabarete Bay

Flat water inside Cabarete Bay make it an ideal place to take a SUP lessons at one of the SUP Schools in Cabarete. Want some waves. Cabarete reef also has some perfect mellow waves.

#21

Wander out of Swell and within minutes you are at Cabarete Beach. Stroll along the bars and restaurants where there’s always 1 place that has a happy hour with some good Mojito’s or cold Presidente on offer.

#22

The north coast has too many pretty beaches & coves to name them all here. You are never far away from the next spot that is ideal for your instagram shot.

#23

At Swell we cook dinner 4 times per week for our clients, the other evenings all our clients usually go for a short walk to Cabarete beach to choose one of the many restaurants located right on the beach, so you can enjoy fish or a fine steak ( or pizza) with a cold beer under the palm trees.

#24

The Dominican Republic has very fertile soil, plenty of sun and refreshing rains, as a result there are some stunning plants & trees to be admired. This is a pic taken in the gardens at Swell.

#25

There are many different surf spots to choose from. From easy and mellow spots for a learn to surf vacation to reef breaks that are great for advanced and experts surfers looking to get barreled. To see more surfing pictures in and around Cabarete, Dominican Republic go to this page

I hope this “Cabarete in surfing pictures” post got you excited for a vacation to the north coast of the DR. There’s a good reason the saying here is

“The Dominican Republic has it all!”

We hope to see you soon in Cabarete

See what Swell Surf Camp is all about

Share on Facebook

June 23, 2018June 27, 2018

SPOTLIGHT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Smack-bang in the middle of the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic ocean, sits one of the largest, most interesting (historically), stunningly beautiful and culturally diverse islands of the entire region; the Dominican Republic.

Anyone planning a trip to the Caribbean should put this place firmly on their shortlist and this article will list the many reasons why you should visit the Dominican Republic.

It doesn’t matter if you are a young student back-packing, a family with kids, a couple on a romantic break, a golfer, a surfer, or someone who loves to hike, this stunning island should be on your radar.

Pristine beaches and turquoise water are the obvious draw to this Caribbean island, but let’s examine all the other activities; relaxing, cultural and sporting, that you can enjoy on a Dominican Republic holiday.

HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Given the Dominican Republic’s rich history (conquered by the Spanish in the 1500’s, with various ‘intrusions’ along the centuries), it makes sense that this island enjoys some fantastic architecture and important historical buildings in various towns and cities. We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in the Dominican Republic in sections, beginning with culture. We have also listed the top sporty things to do whilst in the Dominican Republic, the top natural wonders to see and lastly the top recreational things to do.

Our top cultural things to do in the Dominican Republic would be:

UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Zona Colonial in the capital, Santo Domingo. This is where Christopher Columbus arrived in the 15th century, where he lived for long periods and where at least some of his bones were finally buried.

Notable and culturally significant buildings and places in this UNESCO site are:

Parque Colón

In the centre of this lively square sits the majestic statue of Christopher Columbus. The square is often host to musicians and street performers. On the South side of the square is the first cathedral ever to have been built in the Americas; Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor (built in the early 1500’s), also known on tourist maps as Catedral Primada de America. This cathedral is still open and a place of worship. It houses a painting of the Virgin Mary dating back to 1520.

The National Pantheon of the Dominican Republic

Whilst it was originally built as a church, this beautiful building was designated by Trujillo in 1956 as a mausoleum to honor the most significant people of the Dominican Republic. How ironic that should now house the men who assassinated Trujillo, including national hero Antonio Imbert, who put paid to his dreadful and murderous dictatorship. Marble tombs line the walls of the mausoleum and all sit beneath a beautifully painted ceiling from where hangs a magnificent chandelier.

Plaza España

This huge open square, close to the River Ozama, is lined with restaurants and places to sit and watch the world go by. Many guided walking tours leave from this spot. The charming Chu Chu Colonial sight seeing trolley train also goes from this spot. On the other side of the square to the restaurants sits:

Alcazar de Colón

This is now a museum, but was the former home of Christopher Columbus and his family. The museum houses an important collection of European late Medieval and Renaissance art. The tapestries housed in this building, are said to be some of the most important in the world.

Museo de las Casas Reales

Also sited on the South side of the Plaza España, this was the former government offices building, again contemporary to the 1500’s when Spain ordered its construction. Now it’s a museum which houses colonial furniture, a collection of weapons and most importantly, artefacts of the Tanio people, who were the original inhabitants of the island, most of whom were either killed by the Spanish or died from subsequent diseases their western conquerors brought with them. Whilst exhibits are detailed in Spanish, headphones with translations are available and included with your admittance fee.

The Monasterio de San Fransisco

was the first monastery to be built in the new world and was constructed in 1508. Now in ruins, the monastery has had its share of disasters, having been hit by a hurricane 500 years ago, which virtually destroyed it. Rebuilt in 1556, it was then sacked by Sir Francis Drake in 1586. These beautiful ruins are still used for cultural and social events.

Calle El Conde

This charming pedestrianised street spans between the River Ozama, Parque Colón and Plaza Independencia and is lined with nice places to eat alfresco, with a distinctly European feel.

Once you have taken in all the culture you can handle, head to the shopping district of La Atarazana.

Culture in other regions:

The Amber Museums

Because of the importance of amber in the Dominican Republic, there are 3 amber museums on the island. Amber is a resin from an extinct tree called the Hymenaea Protera. Some amber stones in the Dominican Republic have been dated back 40 million years! In the museums, the well presented, back-lit stones reveal the fossilised remains of insects and plants. If you are in the Dominican Republic, do make sure to visit one of the following amber museums. We suggest that if you are on the North Coast, you visit the Museo Del Amber in Puerto Plata. Whilst in the capital, then its the Amber World Museum in Calle Arzobispo Meriño, 452. If you are over in Casa de Campo, then there is a smaller Amber World Museum in Altos de Chavon. You’ll be able to buy your own amber keepsakes from the gift shops attached.

The Puerto Plata Region

San Felipe de Puerto Plata is situated on the fun, sporty North coast of the island. Puerto Plata (translated from Spanish means silver port) originates from 1494 and was formerly known as La Isabela. The mountain which overlooks it, is called Isabela de Torres. The town is now full of mainly Victorian era buildings and is a charming day’s walk around.

The fort of San Felipe dates back to the 16th century. The fort itself has a sordid history, being linked to the beginning of the English slave-trade under John Hawkins in 1563. It was also a prison under Trujillo’s brutal dictatorship. Now it’s a museum and sits on the edge of the pretty port area on the edge of the town. The port itself if still the busy hub handling locally produced coffee, sugar cane, bananas for export and much more.

The Brugal Rum Factory

Dominican rum is famous the world over and the quality of its rum is unrivalled.

There are many rum makers all over the island, but at the Brugal factory, in Puerto Plata, you can at least see the rum making process, taste some, and learn about how the various qualities of rum are produced.

It’s well worth an afternoon or morning tour.

The Amber Museum We’ve touched before on the Museo de Amber located in Puerto Plata; it’s well worth a visit.

Isabel de Torres

The mountain which overlooks the city of Puerto Plata.

Breathtaking views can be enjoyed from the top, which is reached by a long hike (not for the feint-hearted) or by the only cable car in the Caribbean.

Arriving at the top, you will be delighted by the botanical gardens.

Go up early in the morning for the best views.

Top Natural Wonders of the Dominican Republic

Given that this large island has so many mountains interspersed with rivers (it has the highest mountain in the entire Caribbean region), there are some truly remarkable natural wonders to visit. We’ve listed the top 10 adventures for you below.

The 27 waterfalls of Damajagua (also known as the 27 Charcos)

It’s hard to argue with most visitors describing this trip as the BEST thing they did on their vacation to the Dominican Republic. These intricate canyons and waterfalls were formed by water cascading down the mountainous region behind the city of Puerto Plata for millions of years. Formerly run with some dubious safety procedures, the intervention of JFK’s great-nephew (of all people) lead to grants being provided to seriously upgrade and improve all safety aspects of this amazing adventure. You can choose to climb all 27 falls or stop at 12. Note though that some of the jeep safaris from the all-inclusive hotels will only take you to the 7th waterfall, so if you are fit and up for a challenging and spectacular adventure, get yourself to the visitor centre independently and take a guide up with you.

[wp_sitemap_page only=”post”]

Share on Facebook

June 15, 2018August 2, 2024

SURF TECHNIQUE: THE POP UP

SURF TECHNIQUE: THE POP UP Here is a “how to surf” tutorial on various surfing techniques which are vital when you are learning how to surf. It is not meant as a replacement for going on a learn to surf holiday (like those we offer at Swell) but rather as a reference with visuals to make learning easier. About Swell Surf Camp We offer luxury surf holiday experiences for people who want to learn how to surf in warm, Caribbean water. We focus on a structured approach in our surf lessons, taught by ISA qualified surfing instructors. Read more about the surf holidays we offer >>

HOW TO SURF: THE POP UP

Place hands flat on your board under your chest (see note below about hand-position)
Push up: Arch your back, weight on toes and hands
Twist your hips into a position which allows you to first move your back* foot into position
Move front* foot into position, place front foot between your hands
Stand up, keeping center of gravity low with your kness bend & looking forward

*your ‘back’ or ‘front’ foot is determined by whether you are ‘regular/natural-footed’ (that’s riding with the left foot forward) or ‘goofy-footed'(riding with your right foot forward).

In order to test this, have someone push you gently from behind on a flat surface (ideally when you are not expecting it). The foot which leads the step determines if you are natural/regular or goofy. If you have skateboarded or snowboarded, with surfing, you are very likely to ride with the same foot forward.

More info on the correct surf stance here >>

SURFING TECHNIQUE: TAKING OFF

There are various ways how to do a successful pop-up on a surfboard, below is the approach we use the most at Swell in our surf lessons at Playa Encuentro.

This approach to the pop-up is only suitable for beginners learning how to surf on big surfboards (anything over 8′ and ideally on a soft top with plenty of volume and stability). Depending on how tall you are, you might adjust your hand position further under your ribcage (imagine a pendulum) to give your feet the space to move.

For best results, this technique is best practised first on the beach, so you have extra stability, then when you have mastered it on the beach, practice in small mellow waves, like those we have at Playa Encuentro. The following images show the pop-up technique for a surfer with a “natural/regular” stance (riding with left foot forward), If you are a goofy-footer (right foot forward), the technique stays the same, just move the other foot as opposed to how it’s shown in these images.

WHERE TO PRACTICE THE POP-UP SURFING TECHNIQUE

Practise on the beach, then go out on small ‘white water’ waves. White water of about 30 to 50 cm is ideal.

Enough power to give you forward thrust.

Paddle hard enough to catch the wave and feel the force of the wave pushing you forward.

As you gain speed the board gets a bit more stable. Now place both hands flat on your surfboard under your chest (don’t grab the rail of the surfboard). Some taller people find it easier to place their hands further down the chest towards the ribcage to ‘balance’ their body before moving the feet.

Now arch your lower back – by doing a push-up movement.

Only your toes/feet and hands should be touching the board, look up / forward, not down at your board.

Now slide your ‘back’ foot into position first (it sounds confusing, but this will be your left foot if you are goofy and your right foot if you are a natural-footed surfer).

The back foot should move about 35-45 cm forward. Twisting your body will make this easier as it creates space.

Then move your front foot towards your hands staying very low to maintain balance.

In the final part of the pop-up, release your hands from the board but make sure to keep a low centre of gravity ( = better balance) by bending both knees; you can also extend your arms straight, one forward and one behind you to further increase your balance.

Look forward (not down!) and enjoy the glide!

SURFING POP-UP TECHNIQUE / VIDEO

COMMON MISTAKES WHEN PRACTISING THE POP UP

Practise on the wrong waves: the pop up technique should be practised in small white water waves, not out in the lineup (out the back) for first-time surfers. Don’t go out in big waves, or crowded surf spots.
Feet in the wrong position: Your feet should be pretty much in the centre of the board, over stringer (centre line made of wood in the board)
Wrong hand position: Don’t grab the rails of the surfboard, it will slow the board down and will also make the board a lot more unstable for the push-up
Knees on the board. A lot of beginners do this, it might make standing up on your first waves ‘easier’ but it’s a bad technique and correcting it later takes more time, so skip the knees on the board part.
Looking down: A very common mistake in people learning how to surf is to look and see what they are doing, so looking down at their feet / board / water. It make keeping your balance very difficult and you cannot see where you are going. Keep looking forward!
Too early: Don’t stand up too early. Make sure the wave is properly giving you forward momentum. Stand up too early, and the board will lose speed, you miss the wave and will fall off.
Standing too upright. You have done all this hard work to stand on the board and now you want to stand tall! Don’t do it! By staying low and bending the knees you have a lot more stability.
Leaning over with upper body. All the bend should be in the knees, not the upper body. When you bend/lean over with your upper body, keeping your balance is practically impossible and you will fall.

Tips Use a big soft top surfboard. Sure those little boards look cool, but learning on a board that is too small will make learning to surf far harder and will take you forever. Big soft tops are stable and safe.
Practise on the beach. Before going out in the water, practise 15-20 pop ups on the sand.
Watch other surfers. See how they do it.

Ask for feedback. Ask your surf instructor for tips.

Stay positive. As easy as some surfers make it look, learning to surf is not easy! Don’t get discouraged when you make mistakes, we were all beginners once. Once you have mastered the surfing pop up on a longboard you can start trying the technique on smaller boards.

SIMULATING WAVE CONDITIONS

To make your practice even more effective, try simulating wave conditions:

Use a balance board or a Bosu ball to mimic the instability of a surfboard on water.
Practice your pop up on these unstable surfaces to improve your balance and coordination.
This will help you get used to the feeling of popping up on a moving wave.

By incorporating these dry land drills into your routine, you’ll be well on your way to mastering your surfing pop up!

The video below shows how the top pros do their pop up in slow motion on a shortboard at the Surf Ranch.

HOW TO SURF: THE POP UP

Here is another good instructional video of the do’s and don’t to mastering the pop up surf technique

SURF TECHNIQUE POP UP VIDEO

TIPS FOR A BETTER SURFING POP UP

The following tips will take your surfing pop-up to the next level and keep you eager for more waves.

The Right Surfboard

Choosing an appropriate surfboard is key to achieving a successful pop-up. For those just starting, it’s often suggested to use longboards because their larger size enables your feet to remain on the tail of the board, simplifying the process of standing up.

Conversely, shortboards offer more difficulty as they necessitate your feet to extend off the tail, demanding extra exertion during the pop-up process. To simplify this choice for those just starting, models such as Mr Whippy and Big Squid are excellent options.

These boards make the learning process more manageable and ensure that new surfers can get the hang of popping up effectively without being hindered by equipment unreliable for their skill level or physical capabilities—transitioning effectively into surf training will be a far smoother experience with these fundamental elements established.

Effective Surf Training

Effective surf training focuses on building the necessary strength and skills for a better pop-up. Practising pop-ups on the floor can greatly improve muscle memory and arm strength.

This type of exercise mimics an explosive push-up, which is crucial for popping up swiftly on your board in the water. It’s like preparing your body ahead of time for what it will need to do once you’re surfing.

For those looking to perfect their technique, following a specialized program such as the “Fix Your Pop Up Program” can offer detailed assessments and personalized strength training plans.

This approach ensures that each surfer works on specific areas needing improvement, leading to more effective results in their pop-up performance.

Correct Take-off Angles

Mastering the right take-off angles can determine whether you smoothly catch a wave or end up tumbling in the white water. Position yourself at the back of your board to effectively use the wave’s energy for popping up.

This situation helps you lift yourself with less effort as you prepare to stand. But be mindful, that too much weight on the front might accelerate things at first but could lead to nose-plunging into the water Conversely, keeping more weight at the back improves control and stability during manoeuvres but may reduce your pace.

Keeping your weight balanced in the centre of the board is crucial during paddling to maintain good speed and manoeuvrability. This equilibrium enables you to paddle effectively while positioning yourself ideally for catching waves with optimal momentum.

Following this, we’ll explore the topic of finding your stance on the surfboard.

Finding Your Stance

Discovering whether you’re a goofy or regular-footer is crucial for a solid pop-up. If your right foot naturally falls to the back of the board near the tail, with your left foot leading near the centre, you’re surfing with a regular stance.

On the flip side, if it feels more comfortable to have your left foot at the back and your right foot forward, then goofy is your go-to stance. This isn’t just about what feels natural; it’s about setting up for balance and control on waves.

Your feet should stand shoulder-width apart once you’ve popped up. This setup isn’t random—it’s essential for shifting weight effectively to keep the surfboard flat and responsive underfoot.

Stance plays a big role in how well you navigate the surf, turning theoretical knowledge into practical skill as soon as you hit the water.

Proper Hand Placement

After finding your stance, focusing on proper hand placement becomes crucial. Place your hands flat on the surfboard at ribcage level, making sure they are spaced about board width apart.

This position provides stability and control as you prepare to pop up. Keeping your hands correctly aligned helps in generating the necessary force for a swift and balanced lift off the board.

Transition smoothly into a standing position by bringing your front foot under your body right to where your hands were placed, without letting your knees touch the board. Make sure both feet leave the board simultaneously and land back down in one fluid motion.

This technique ensures a solid base for balancing in a low, bent-knee stance with arms outstretched for balance while keeping your gaze forward, ready to ride the wave ahead.

Using Visualization Techniques

Once you’ve mastered proper hand placement, turning your attention to visualization techniques can further enhance your surfing pop up. Visualization is like a secret power that helps you see and feel each move before hitting the waves.

Picture yourself paddling into the wave, popping up smoothly, and riding with perfect balance. This mental practice guides your body through the motions even when you’re not in the water.

It’s all about focusing on where you want to go and seeing yourself succeed in achieving that perfect stance with your knees bent for stellar balance.

Practising visualization also means improving your wave reading skills without getting wet. Imagine analyzing a wave’s shape, speed, and direction, then visualize timing your pop-up flawlessly.

This technique isn’t just daydreaming; it’s an effective way to cement muscle memory and boost confidence on real waves. Every successful ride begins in your mind’s eye – by vividly conjuring every detail of a well-executed pop-up, you prime yourself for actual success out in the surf.

Importance of Surf Skating

Surf skating significantly boosts movement flexibility and technique mastery, which are fundamental for executing an efficient pop-up in surfing. It reproduces the actions and demands of surfing on solid ground, offering a convenient means to hone pop-up skills outside of the water.

This technique strengthens confidence and muscle memory, setting surfers up for authentic wave scenarios. By paying attention to this part of the training, surfers can increase their nimbleness and reaction speed in the water.

Including surf skating in habitual training paves the way for a personal evaluation of physical constraints while actively striving to augment strength and flexibility. Establishing a persistent practice routine with surf skating can immensely strengthen one’s potential to become adept at the surf pop-up.

This strategy assists in conquering technical obstacles, and it significantly contributes to understanding wave patterns through amplified balance and stance modifications.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is the pop-up so important in surfing?

The pop-up is crucial because it sets the foundation for your entire ride. A smooth and quick pop-up helps you maintain balance and control, making it easier to catch and ride waves.

How can I practice my pop up at home?

You can practice your pop-up at home by using a strip of tape on the floor to simulate your surfboard. Perform the pop-up motion repeatedly, ensuring your feet land correctly on the tape each time.

What are common mistakes to avoid during the pop-up?

Common mistakes include using your knees to help you stand, incorrect foot placement, and rushing the popup. Avoiding these errors will help you improve your technique and ride waves more effectively.

I’m having trouble with my balance during a surf pop-up; any advice?

Ah, the classic wobble! It’s common to struggle with balance in the beginning. Try widening your stance or shifting your weight more towards the center of the board – you’ll be popping up like a pro in no time!

Are there specific exercises that can help me master a better surfing pop up?

Absolutely! Strength training exercises targeting core muscles can be beneficial since these are crucial for maintaining balance during a surf pop-up. Yoga poses such as plank or downward dog can also help.

How important is timing when doing a surf pop-up?

Timing is everything in surfing! If you’re too early or late with your popup, catching that wave might remain just a dream instead of becoming an exhilarating reality.

We hope we made it as clear as possible for you. But feel free to send us a message if something is not clear, or if you want to join us in the Caribbean for a learn how to surf holiday, where our qualified surfing instructors teach you the above steps, and will help you with any questions you might have.

ABOUT SWELL SURF CAMP

Located on the scenic north coast of the Dominican Republic is our purpose-built surf resort

We cater for surfers of all levels, from beginners to expert surfers who are looking for an active surf holiday

Swell offers full surf package holidays

Share on Facebook

June 15, 2018July 9, 2024

INFOGRAPHIC : CABARETE

VISIT CABARETE

Here’s a visual with 7 reasons to put Cabarete on the top of your vacation destinations for 2018 (or 2019)

We hope to see you soon in Cabarete.
Swell offers:

VISIT CABARETE FOR A SURF HOLIDAY

Have a look at the package we offer at Swell. Have any questions? Have a look at the Swell Surf Holiday FAQ page or send us a message and we’ll get back to you in no time.

ABOUT SWELL SURF CAMP

After living in the Dominican Republic for 8 years and loving the great outdoor watersport lifestyle, Jeroen (from the Netherlands) and Clare (for the UK) decided it was time to share their knowledge of the Dominican Republic all that this stunning Caribbean island has to offer with visitors from all over the world.

The owners were already familiar with surf camps and surf resorts in many different countries and having had to stay in some very ordinary surf hotel accommodation in their quest for great surfing waves, they knew that there was something missing in the surf camp market; a place which was still social, but offering better quality accommodation, great food, nicer beds, cleaner rooms: A stylish, luxury surf hotel. They set about designing the kind of place they would want to stay in themselves.

So they hired a renowned Swiss architect for one purpose: to come up with the world’s first purpose-built, luxury surf camp & resort.

Since opening in winter 2009/2010 Swell surf instructors have taught 1000’s of people how to surf in a safe, fun and structured manner. Since opening, Swell has won multiple awards and has 100’s of excellent reviews from happy guests. Swell continues to be one of the top destinations for couples, groups and solo travellers to go to as the #1 luxury surf holiday.

It’s not just learning to surf on offer at Swell; You can learn to kiteboard, take a yoga class, go horse riding on the beach or in the mountains and enjoy some truly spectacular outdoor adventure trips like canyoning for example.

Swell offers package surf holidays that take all the hassle out of the planning, with airport transfers, transport to the beach and much more, so all Swell guests can enjoy a stress free holiday right from the start. You just have to book your flights, and they will take care of the rest!

With great food being such an important part of anyone’s surf vacation, Swell delivers there too; with superb home cooked food at the camp and on the evenings when guests go out to dinner, a large choice of restaurants offering a comprehensive choice of dining are all within a few minutes walk.

Share on Facebook

June 1, 2018July 9, 2024

CABARETE: ADVENTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN

9 Reasons why Cabarete is the ultimate water sport destination in Central America / Caribbean.

There are so many places in the world where you can lie on a sun-soaked beach and do absolutely nothing (if that’s your thing), but where do you go if you want an action-packed, adult sports holiday with a variety of different watersports or land-based sports to choose from, or if you are looking for an adult surf camp?

Cabarete, on the North coast of the Dominican Republic, is your answer: Easy to get to (with direct flights from Europe and North America) and a quick transfer from Puerto Plata (POP) international airport, Cabarete has a huge variety of sporty activities on offer, both water-based and land-based.

WHY CABARETE FOR AN ACTIVE ACTION PACKED VACATION?

Easy, quick travel time: Puerto Plata (POP) international airport is just 25 minutes drive to the centre of Cabarete. (Have a look at this page on how to get to the Dominican Republic)
It’s safe in the Dominican Republic: Friendly and welcoming locals will offer you their hearts for visiting their beautiful island. Tourist Police are on hand in all popular areas to help keep you safe.
So much to do: Unlike Costa Rica where getting around involves some lengthy journeys, Cabarete is reached after a quick journey from North America so the same day as you leave home, you’ll be on beautiful beaches for a great surf vacation. Cabarete itself offers so much to do, all within a very small area; you won’t waste whole days travelling around to see and experience some really diverse scenery. Surfing beaches, kitesurfing, windsurfing, canyoning, horse riding, history, culture and so much more, are all within a few miles of each other.
Fantastic dining choices: Because of the cosmopolitan nature of Cabarete, it is absolutely packed with restaurants with all different cuisines on offer. You can choose from traditional Dominican restaurants, Sushi, stone-baked pizzas made by Italians, Mexican restaurants, lobster and fresh fish on the beach, stylish French Bistros, high-end, ocean-side romantic meals and simple street food. Vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian choices are all on offer. It’s impossible to go hungry in Cabarete! ( have a look at the restaruants in Cabarete)
Great Nightlife: Once the beachside dining is over, tables and chairs are put away and Cabarete beach becomes the ultimate party venue. You can dance beneath the palm trees with your bare feet in the sand. Taking part in the party is not mandatory of course; with a short walk, you can make your way back to a surf camp like Swell for a more peaceful end to the day.
Culture; The Dominican Republic is one of the islands discovered by Christopher Columbus in the late 1400’s. Close to Cabarete is the historic town of Puerto Plata, with its ancient fort dating from 1564 and built by King Felipe II of Spain. The town has many old and restored timber buildings, reminiscent of those you might see in old Havana, for example.
Music: To the Dominican people, music is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life. There are so many music festivals throughout the year that there will normally be something going on during your visit. Cabarete hosts part of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival (opens a new window) each November (in 2018, it’s November 3rd and 4th). Merengue, Bachata, Salves and Palo are all traditional Dominican music genres, but you’ll also hear Reggaeton, Jazz, Rock and Hip Hop. Dancing is as popular as the music danced to and there are many places in Cabarete where you can take dance lessons from the most natural movers on the planet.
Beautiful Beaches: Light sandy beaches and turquoise water abound. You can set off to find your own deserted cove between Cabarete bay and Encuentro, or stick to one of the more expansive sandy bays. Visit places like Playa Grande for the day for a fish BBQ on the beach.
It offers good value: On average surf camps in Costa Rica are 50-70% more expensive than similar surf camps and surf hotels in Cabarete

THE WATER SPORTS ON OFFER IN CABARETE

LEARN TO SURF

Cabarete has the most ideal and consistent beginner surf conditions anywhere in the world. With warm water year round and ideal wave conditions for getting your first rides on a surfboard, Swell surf camp in the centre of Cabarete is one of the best adult surf camps in the world for beginner surfers.

How long does it take to learn to surf?

You should give yourself a week at a surf camp like Swell Cabarete Surf Retreat to be able to master your pop up and to start to turn the surfboard to ride along the wave. Completely mastering the art of surfing takes a good deal longer, but an award-winning adult surf camp like Swell will give you the very best start and certainly get you hooked on the incredible feeling of surfing a wave, regardless of your age!
Want to learn to surf and are over 40 – 50 or 60, read this article >>

LEARN TO KITESURF / KITEBOARD

Along with great surf conditions for beginners, Cabarete also enjoys near-perfect kite-boarding conditions. The wind picks up in the afternoon generally and is side-on, which is one of the reasons why learning to kite in Cabarete is such a good idea (side-off winds are less desirable).

There are many good kite schools in Cabarete along the bay and two known places to take kite lessons; Kite Beach and Cabarete Bay. Down-winders are also very popular along the North coast.

How long does it take to learn to kite?

You should allow yourself around 8 hours of structured kite lessons with an IKO kiteboard instructor; use an accredited school using up-to-date, new or nearly new equipment.

YOGA CLASSES

There are many different Yoga centres in and around Cabarete, offering different Yoga styles. Yoga at Swell surf camp is 3 times per week and Molly the Yogi there is practising Ashtanga Yoga. Yoga in the water on SUP boards, is also available on the main bay of Cabarete.

SUP (stand-up-paddleboarding)

Cabarete bay provides a wonderful location for paddleboarding around a huge bay. 100m of paddling your SUP from the beach will have you out on the reef where you can catch ideal waves. There’s plenty of space for you to spread out and enjoy paddling in the warm water. If you don’t want to catch waves on your SUP, you can use the wide expanse of the bay to paddle and keep fit. As mentioned before, you can even enjoy a Yoga class on your SUP in the mornings.

WINDSURFING

Before kiteboarding became popular in Cabarete, it was world-renowned for windsurfing. You can still take a windsurfing lesson, or rent good quality equipment from several schools situated along this wide sandy bay.

SNORKELLING AND DIVING

Just 10 minutes from Cabarete is the pretty bay of Sosua, where you will find some really professional diving schools. Schools like TSM can get you accredited from scratch with a PADI dive course. If you don’t want to dive, they will also take you out to snorkel in the bay of Sosua, which is jam-packed with pretty fish to swim with along areas of reef. Snorkelling is also possible in Cabarete, especially on kite beach in the mornings, just be careful of the low tide.

CANYONING

The Dominican Republic is bursting at the seams with mountains and rivers. You may not know but it is home to the highest peak in the Caribbean region, Pico Duarte, which is over 3000m high. These mountains and rivers create some amazing canyons and caves, so beautiful they will take your breath away. Canyoning with Kayak River Adventures is a day trip not to be missed and they have several different tours, with varying degrees of difficulty to choose from for an action-packed exhilarating adventure, exploring some real geological wonders of the world.

WHAT’S ON OFFER AT SWELL SURF CAMP?

Swell has been voted Best Surf Camp in both the Dominican Republic and in the wider Caribbean region and also voted Best Surf Camp for Beginners several times over in the 9 years they have been open.

Swell caters to adults who want to learn to surf in a stylish, fun place. The ‘camp’ (it’s really a stylish boutique surf retreat in Cabarete) was purpose built and the design based on the owner’s many years of surfcamp and surf travel experience.

The owners knew exactly what surfers, novice or beginner surfers wanted; a social place with great accommodation and delicious food, where adult travellers could come, either solo, as a couple or friends, to experience a great surf vacation.

Swell offers surf lessons for its own guests (they won’t give lessons to you if you are not staying at the camp) and has a complete concierge service to organise any or all of the other fun activities on offer in the area. You can contact us via this page.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The North coast of Cabarete has waves 340-350 days of the year, ranging from chest high to overhead. Conditions for learning to surf are year round, advanced and expert surfers are best off in the winter months.
Have a look at the season and when is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic

ABOUT SWELL CABARETE SURF HOTEL

We opened in winter 2009/2010 to create a boutique luxury surf camp experience whilst having the comforts of a surf hotel. Located right in the center of Cabarete, minutes walk from cabarete main beach.
Swell caters for adults who want to learn to surf or kitesurf, and want to improve their surfing & kiteboarding whilst staying at a social and comfortable place with like minded people. Because of the social aspect of our Cabarete surf hotel we are an ideal place to stay for solo travellers that are looking for an active holiday.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Have a look at the Gallerie below to see what Swell Cabarete Surf Hotel and the sports on offer on the north coast of the Dominican republic

SWELL GALLERY

Swell

Rooms

Surf Lessons

Surfing

Activities

Surroundings

Single / Solo Traveller? Read this article why Swell is the place for you

Share on Facebook

May 24, 2018July 1, 2024

SWELL HOLIDAYS

LEARN TO SURF HOLIDAYS

What’s new at Swell Surf Camp

May 2018 Swell Surf Holiday news

News
Why go to Swell on a learn to surf holiday
Summer kitesurf season in cabarete

NEWS

About 2 months ago we launched the Swell 2018 website, aftre some initial technical difficulties the site is now running smooth and we see visitors stats are good, people are finding the pages and info they are looking for easier and quicker to find on the new website. We have updated the Swell Gallery page so it’s now real easy to see what Swell Learn to surf holidays are all about. have a look at the galleries and let us know what you think.

iNSPIRE DR AND SWELL SURF CAMP

We are also very proud and happy to announce that we have partnered up with Inspire DR, A US non-profit organisation based just a 100 yards from where Swell is based. Inspire teaches young Dominican and Haitian boys essential skills to become the community leaders of the future.

The boys learn vitally important skills for life; critical thinking, respect, timeliness, responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship and teamwork, using a variety of methods.

The programme also teaches them some valuable practical skills; woodworking, swimming, English, surfing (that’s one of the ways we help) and many more.

We love the way InspireDR reward the boys when they have reached certain goals; each day, the boys have to demonstrate the values and skills listed above.

As they must be demonstrated every day, with no exceptions, these values just become normal for the boys. They must also have an attendance record at the school of more than 90% so consistency and reliability also becomes normal.

InspireDR have so far helped 97 boys from the local community, with 62 currently in the programme and a waiting list of 71 more boys hoping to join.

Winter season has come to an end in the Dominican Republic, but that doesn’t mean the surf season has

The Dominican Republic has waves year round, no distinct rainy season and the water is always warm, have a look at this page, and this page for more info on when to go to the DR

WHY GO ON A LEARN TO SURF HOLIDAY WITH SWELL?

Here at Swell we are all fanatical about our surfing (well not all, Haudy our lovely manager doesn’t surf, her passion is food and cooking, and the Swell clients love here for it!)

When we started Swell we had 1 goal:

“To provide the best luxury surf camp experience available on the market”

We designed a building from scratch that is comfortable, stylish and a social place to stay, we wanted it to be a place where we ourselves would be very happy to stay on our holidays.

Even though we have many years of surfing experience between us, we also know our weakness: we are not the best surf instructors ourselves, so we were the first surf camp in the Dominican Republic that employs fully qualified ISA surf instructors. The minimum requirement for surf instructors at Swell is to be ISA level 1 qualified, but most of the time we have ISA level 2 coaches working for us.

A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO LEARNING TO SURF

Before we opened Swell we had visited many surf camps around the world (we used to run a successful surf travel company).At a lot of those surf camps in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Bali we saw practises that were not very beneficial for the students that wanted to learn to surf

Why?

Classes with student to instructor ratios over 10:1
Instructors that were not qualified
Instructors that barely spoke english
Instructors that didn’t want to teach, instead they wanted to surf themselves
No safe soft top surfboards

*Definitely not all Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Bali Surf camps give , what is in our opinion, bad surf lessons. There are some very good surf camps and surf schools in those countries (I’d be very happy to send a list of highly recommended surf camps and schools , just send us an email).

We at Swell want to make sure that every Swell clients get a top learn to surf holiday from us, so that’s why we use qualified ISA surf instructors for our ” learn to surf holidays “.

INTERESTED IN JOINING SWELL

Have a look at the following pages to see if the learn to surf holidays we offer are something that would suit you.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

Swell

Rooms

Surf Lessons

Surfing

Activities

Surroundings

Swell learn to surf holidays

Swell learn to surf holidays/span>

Written by: Reviewer

Date Published: 12/01/2017

Swell’s learn to surf holiday is a perfect way to learn the sport of surfing in a fun, safe and quick way

9.7 / 10 stars

Share on Facebook

May 23, 2018

learning how to surf

If you have always wanted to learn how to surf, but don’t know what it takes to do so, read this article

Share on Facebook

May 22, 2018May 22, 2018

5 reasons for a trip to the DR

Many people think of the Dominican Republic as a place for all-inclusive lazy holiday, the reality is that the Dominican Republic has so much more to offer than those big hotels.

Share on Facebook

April 10, 2018July 5, 2024

Kitesurf Holiday

KITESURF HOLIDAY

Kitesurf season is coming up in Cabarete, Dominican Republic.Besides awesome surfing conditions for surfers of all levels, Cabarete is also widely regarded as the kitesurf capital of the world.

Perfect conditions for kiteboarders of all levels.

What to expect if you are coming to Cabarete for a kitesurf holiday?

Steady tradewinds that kick in in the afternoon, so no need to get up early in the morning.
Warm water and air temperatures so no need for a wetsuit.
Different kite surf spots close to cabarete, from waves to flat water.
Plenty of space, no need to get lines tangled.
Good kite surf schools so you can learn in a safe manner.
Awesome local talent that put on a great show.

We have converted many surfers into kitesurfers over the years, and if you are also interested in learning this exciting sport, join us this summer and sign up for our kitesurf package.

How many hours of kitesurf lessons do I need?
Some advertise 4-6 hours of kitesurf lesson packages, to lure clients in with low prices. We don’t believe in this approach, learning in a safe manner, requires at least 8-10 hours of lessons and another few hours of supervised kitesurfing.

Do I need to be strong for kitesurfing?
No, kids as young as 6 have learned kiteboarding and people as old as 70 are still kitesurfing.

Is Kitesurfing dangerous?
Not when you take lessons with a qualified kite surf school in Cabarete.

How much does the kitesurf equipment costs?

Used board starts at 200-300 USD
Used kite and bar starts at 400-500 USD
Harness costs around 65 USD

Is used kite equipment available for purchase in Cabarete?

yes plenty of people have good used kite equipment for sale, ask around at the different kite school.

For more information on kitesurfing Dominican Republic visit this page which has a full kitesurfing dominican republic travel guide
The 2015 Cabarete PKRA kiteboard worldcup sponsored by Virgin ( Branson’s company) will be stopping by in June , see the event schedule.

Have anymore questions about kitesurfing , Cabarete or a surf holiday to the DR’s #1 surf camp, send us an email.

For those interested in learning to kitesurf on their caribbean, here’s a good starter guide

Share on Facebook