Think of Swell as the anti-surf camp.
There’s plenty of surfing, of course, but the similarities to other surf camps end there. For starters, the rooms are stylish — more boutique surf retreat than reggae-loving surfer digs. Then there are the legendary breakfasts: omelets, pancakes and crepes, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and fruit bowls.
Structured surf lessons take place each morning — an instructor alongside you and the head surf coach watching from shallow water, ready to offer learn-to-surf tips between riding waves. If you are serious about learning to surf, then Swell should be on top of your destination list. Highly recommended!
Weeks in the water, not days
Our long stay surf camp is for adults who have the time to do this properly — teachers on summer break, people between jobs, and remote workers who can bring a laptop and a board to the same place. You come to Cabarete for weeks rather than days, so progress in surf or wingfoil arrives without the pressure of a seven-day countdown, and the town itself becomes home for a while.
This is more premium than a surf hostel in Europe. In return you get the Caribbean: warm water, no wetsuit, palm trees and salsa most nights. Between June and September the conditions here are ideal for learning to surf, kite or wingfoil, which makes an extended stay easy to justify. See your stay and pricing for how longer bookings work.
Cabarete is a genuinely vibrant town with a young crowd, so a surf camp digital nomad rhythm — mornings in the ocean, afternoons working, evenings out — fits naturally. Read our honest adult surf camp page if you want the shorter version.
- Jun–Sep
- Ideal season to learn surf, kite or wingfoil
- 18+
- Adults-only camp
- 0
- Wetsuit needed — warm Caribbean water
Cabarete rewards a longer trip
Two things make this town right for a monthly surf camp rather than a quick week.
- Jun–Sep
- Ideal conditions for learning to surf, kite or wingfoil
- Vibrant
- Young crowd — an ideal town for an extended stay
A surf camp digital nomad routine that actually holds
If you work remotely, a long term surf camp lets you keep your income while you learn something real. The pattern most people settle into is simple: surf or wingfoil in the morning when conditions are best, work through the afternoon, then join the town in the evening.
Cabarete has cafés, reliable connectivity and a steady flow of other travellers doing the same thing, so an extended surf stay never feels isolating. If you are weighing which sport to commit to over weeks, our guide on surfing vs wingfoiling is a useful read before you arrive.
Learn Spanish, dance salsa, live in the Caribbean
A surf camp for adults on a long stay is about more than wave count. Weeks in Cabarete give you time to pick up Spanish, learn to dance salsa, and get to know a town instead of just passing through it.
- Spanish in real life — daily practice beats any app when you are ordering, chatting and living locally.
- Salsa and nightlife — the town stays lively; the beach bars and music are part of the deal.
- Day trips and exploring — waterfalls, lagoons and more on your rest days. See day trips and the best things to do in Cabarete.
This is where a long stay earns its keep: the surfing improves, but so does everything around it.
Who a long stay surf camp suits
A quick, honest look at who tends to thrive on an extended stay with us.
| Type of guest | Time available | Main goal | Good fit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher on summer break | Several weeks Jun–Sep | Learn surf or wingfoil properly | Ideal |
| Gap-year traveller | Open-ended | New sport, new town, new language | Ideal |
| Remote worker / digital nomad | Ongoing | Work mornings off, surf daily | Strong |
| Quick one-week holiday | 7 days | Fast intro to surfing | Better on our week programs |
Ideal conditions
to learn or to progress your surfing
Surf & Yoga In Paradise
We’ve been teaching surfing since 2009, and in that time over 9,000 guests have learned with us. Our structured method is built to get you standing and progressing in a way that’s safe, efficient, and enjoyable.
Every session follows a clear sequence, so you always know what you’re working on and why it matters for your next step.
You’re grouped with other guests at your level, so lessons move at the right pace — no waiting on people ahead of you, no being left behind. Coaches work in small groups and adjust to how fast each person picks things up.
Whether you’ve never stood on a board or you’re already surfing and want to progress, there’s a group that fits where you are.
- Consistent waves
- Waves for different levels
- Quality equipment
- Warm water
- 2 Sessions per day
- Small groups
- Experienced instructors
- Lessons in english
- Year round surf season
- Since 2009
Wingfoil
A new and exciting sport to learn; wingfoil. Looks hard but it actually has a short learning curve. Our beaches are amongst the best in the world for learning Wingfoiling.
- Steady side-shore wind
- Quick progress
- Safe learning
- Qualified instructors
Sleep (s)well.
A purpose-built surf retreat: a place to sleep in comfort, meet fellow travellers, chill between sessions, and eat delicious, home-cooked meals.
Every air-conditioned room has its own ensuite, a ceiling fan and crisp 100% cotton sheets. After an action-packed day in or on the water, you can sleep as well as you should. We have kept the palette calm and the beds generous: the real comfort and style us more “mature” folks are after.
At the centre of our surf retreat is the communal hub — an open living room and one huge dining table where the day winds down. Enjoy a game of pool with fellow guests, or let your body relax completely on the sofas and chairs.
Outside, a freshwater pool sits in a beautiful, palm-shaded garden, with ample loungers for the down time between sessions.
- Ensuite · AC · ceiling fan
- 100% cotton sheets
- Fresh breakfast & dinner
- Restaurants minutes away
- Communal living-room hub
- 24/7 staff onsite
- Fresh water pool
- Set in tropical garden
- Walk to restaurants & shops
- No need for a car
Easy & hassle free
3 Different international airports
Puerto Plata (POP) has nonstop flights from Miami, New York, Boston and Toronto. From the terminal Swell is just a twenty-five minute drive down the coast road — and our driver will be waiting for you at arrivals.
Puerto Plata (POP) is the closest airport to us but it isn’t the only one. Two more international airports sit within an easy drive: Santiago (STI) is about an hour and a half away, and Santo Domingo (SDQ) around three and a half — both worth a look if the fare or the timing happens to work better for you on the day you want to travel.
Whichever you choose, we’ll help you line up the transfer so the final leg is sorted before you touch down. There’s a full breakdown of routes, drive times and transfer options on the Getting here page.
Surf, Yoga & Adventure in a stunning setting — the pool, the breakfasts, the waves, the people, the country.
Don’t take
our word for it.
Google · Tripadvisor
Best trip ever! This experience had a personal touch to it you cannot find anywhere else. This was the perfect place to spend a birthday, and I will for sure return with more friends. Great experience that left me wanting more. The staff from instructors, housekeeping, cooks, all the way to security do a great job! This is a one-of-a-kind experience and I highly recommend giving it a try.
Questions,
answered.
Anything we’ve missed? Write to us — Swell's owner, Clare, will get back to you within a day.
Between June and September the conditions are ideal for learning to surf, kite or wingfoil, which makes those months the sweet spot for a long stay. For a fuller picture of temperatures and seasons across the year, read our Cabarete weather guide.
Yes. A surf camp digital nomad routine works well in Cabarete: surf in the mornings when conditions are best, work in the afternoons, and enjoy the town in the evenings. It is a vibrant place with a young crowd and cafés, so you can keep your income while you learn.
Swell is more premium than a European surf hostel, so it is not the rock-bottom budget option. What you get in return is the Caribbean — warm water, no wetsuit, palm trees and salsa — and comfortable adults-only accommodation. See surf camp vs surf retreat to understand the trade-off.
An extended stay gives you time for far more than waves. Living in Cabarete for weeks is an easy way to practise Spanish daily, learn salsa, and take day trips on your rest days. Many guests treat the surfing as the anchor and build the rest of the experience around it.
Both suit a longer trip, since you have the weeks to progress properly. Wingfoiling tends to give fast early thrills while surfing builds steadily. Our surfing vs wingfoiling guide breaks down which to start with, and why Cabarete suits wingfoiling.
Watersport paradise
Tell us your dates, how many people you are thinking about coming with, and we’ll send you a custom price and availability quote; almost instantly. Hasta pronto, see you soon.