Families are welcome year round, but in the popular school holidays we tend to get more families. Ask us about the minimum age we can cater for, as this depends on the availability of surf instructors and the other younger guests that are already booked in.

Q: How far in advance do I have to book a family surf camp with you?
A: The popular school holidays tend to get booked up well in advance so if you and your family  are thinking about joining us for a surf camp week, send us a message with your dates as soon as possible.

That's ok, we can create a specific individual quote for the whole family

Adventure Tours and Activities

A Swell surf holiday provides more than simple surfing experiences, whether you are a solo traveller enjoying excursions with your fellow guests or if you have come to Swell for a family vacation. We deliver adventure to all our guests.  We can organize canyoning & waterfall tours, fishing trips, boat snorkelling excursions and visits to stunning beaches, caves and lagoons.

Visualize yourself sliding across riverbeds in dense forests or investigating the marine life from a boat. These trips transform a routine vacation into a memorable expedition.

Every activity is structured to make everyone feel like a true explorer and if you come with your kids, (ideal in summer months, May to September) we promise you will give them an adventure-filled, unforgettable family vacation.  

There's a reason the saying is: "The Dominican Republic has it all!"

If you are planning a family surf vacation, we have some very good advice to help you get the very best out of your stay. 

Generally speaking, kids are better off coming for a stay at Swell between May to September.  This is because of a few factors:

The weather is generally drier

Waves are far smaller and more manageable for kids in those months

There is less current, so swimming is much safer

It's cheaper to stay with us in those months

We can limit the number of reservations so that children get the right amount of attention

Generally speaking, day trips are easier to organise and some, like canyoning, or visiting the magic mushroom, are only possible for smaller people in those months because of water levels.

Flights are also cheaper in summer than in the most popular winter-Caribbean break periods

If you do want to come in Winter (Dec to April), you must bear the following in mind:

Your child needs to be a minimum height of 1.45m (4'5") and be over 12 years old.  

We won't be able to offer any reduced rates for kids

Children will be treated in lessons in exactly the same way as adults as our surf instructors will usually be at capacity with other guests (we won't reduce the quality of other guests' lessons or the attention they need because there are kids at Swell).

For traveling with families, we have two different room types for you to consider when there are 4 people traveling together. One is a shared room type with 4 beds, two beds sit on a small mezzanine level with ladder access and two below (which can also make into a king bed if you want).  The other option (which is compulsory if you are 5 people or more) is to have two rooms side by side. Both room types have A/C and an ensuite shower/WC. 

Kids love the food at Swell, they love hanging out with the surf coaches and they absolutely love learning to surf, to kitesurf and even to wingfoil.  The younger kids learn a water sport, the easier it is for them. 

Mom's (and Dad's) get food prepared for the family, so they also get a well deserved break!

Swell is located on the North coast of the Dominican Republic, in the center of the cool Caribbean surf town of Cabarete. 

Getting to us is really easy & fast from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto & Montreal.

One direct 4-hour flight with Jet Blue or United and you can swap the concrete, traffic and noise of New York with the sandy beaches of the Caribbean. From Toronto, and Montreal, it's about a 3,5 to 4-hour direct flight and we are only a 25-minute transfer from Puerto Plata (code POP) International Airport.  From Miami, it's only a 1.5 hour flight to POP!

Not coming from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto, or Montreal? A short 1-stop connection to those cities and you'll soon be at Swell Surf Camp.

Basically, from most destinations in the USA, from your door to our surf beaches is a lot quicker than going on a surf trip to Costa Rica or Nicaragua, since either of those require internal flights or 3 to 6 hour taxi transfers.

Coming from Europe?
From Germany and Switzerland there are direct flights to Puerto Plata, or connect in New York or Miami to Puerto Plata.

More info.

See all airlines and routes that connect New York, New Jersey,  Boston, Toronto and Miami to us on this page > Getting here

Tell us about your family's wishes, and who wants to learn what ( surfing, yoga, kitesurf, wingfoil) and we will send you a custom price and availability quote.

Professional Surf Coaching

Finding the right surf coach can transform a pleasant family vacation into a remarkable adventure. At Swell we use  International Surf Association-certified instructors having training in First Aid and CPR.

This ensures every surfer, from kids trying out a surfboard for the first time to parents aiming to polish their skills, are taught safely and effectively. These experienced surf instructors implement teaching methods aligning with each family member's proficiency level, assuring that everyone maximizes their learning potential.

At Swell Family Surf Camp Weeks, we have advanced coaching for children, simplifying the process for young surfers to comfortably tackle waves. At the same time, parents can be at ease knowing their children are acquiring new skills under secure oversight amidst the north coast's welcoming waves.

With expert mentorship adjusted to accommodate all ages and abilities, families depart not just with cherished memories, but also with enhanced surfing capabilities.

We can create a family surf holiday package that suits different skill levels and ensures fun for every family member. 

Planning your trip involves a few key steps. First, decide on the best time to visit us. Our Family Surf Camp weeks are popular, especially during school holidays, so booking early is wise. 

Staying longer on a Swell surf vacation is not a problem; we get a lot of returning clients who do not enjoy the cold weather at home during the winter, and stay at Swell Surf Camp for several weeks.  Even during our wintertime, you do not ever have to wear a wetsuit, the water is warm, and leave your warm clothes at home too, just bring plenty of sunscreen.  Ask Clare for our long term rates.  

Staying shorter is also possible, although the minimum stay most of the year is 5 nights.  Whilst Saturdays are the ideal arrival date, if we have availability, you can arrive on any day of the week.  So it's best to see what flights are available and then, send us a message if you want to join us for a surf holiday with like-minded adults.

We feel there are several things that set Swell apart from other family surf holiday destinations.

Easy travel: we are 25 minutes from Puerto Plata International airport and 2 other international airports are also within easy reach of our place.

Purpose-built accommodation: We designed Swell from Scratch to be a luxury surf camp/retreat experience. With comfortable rooms, beds and linen we make sure everyone is well rested for the surf & adventure that lies ahead that day.

Tasty & healthy food: Our clients rave about our food & meal experience, Tasty meals around a big table means lots of interactions between the other clients, moms, dads and kids

Qualified Surf Instructors: Our surf instructors, coaches and assistants have years of experience teach people of all ages to surf in a fun, safe and quick way.

More than just surfing:  We are located in the action sport capital of the Caribbean: Cabarete. Why not combine surfing with the exciting sport of kitesurfing or wingfoiling? Want some adventure we can organize day trips like Canyoning, snorkelling, fishing, visit stunning beaches, lagoons and caves.

We are convinced that your whole family is going to love a Swell Family Surf Holiday! Have any questions, or want to customize a trip for your family? Send us a message and we'll get back to you in no time.