WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

What an awesome place I look forward to going back. Everyone was super nice and went the extra mile to make our stay incredible. This experience has me shopping for a surfboard, lol. All the food was fantastic. We always felt safe. Do the canyoning trip, it’s well worth it. I loved this place.

Swell is amazing - BOOK YOUR TRIP!! I am recently home from a 10 day solo adventure at Swell and I can honestly say it was an incredible experience. From the airport pick-up where you are met with a hand drawn sign with your name and "Welcome to Swell" to the airport drop off you will be in the best of hands. The instructors kept me motivated to reach my goals & celebrated my surfing victories! They are energetic, safe, fun(ny), and easily work with all levels and abilities. The food is outrageously delicious - killer breakfasts every morning - you will have a hearty appetite after 2 hours of surfing! The staff is gracious, friendly, and always helpful. The rooms are clean and provide just the right amenities. Cabarete is a fun, vibrant eclectic mixture of athletic/water sport enthusiasts and vacationers. You will explore and push your boundaries and meet interesting and like-minded people from around the globe. You get your surf on in the morning and then enjoy the mellow, loungy, relaxing, cooool.
THE SWELL VIBE IS SUBLIME

A Phenomenal Experience I almost passed on Swell. The website suggests it caters to novice surfers - which it does - and having surfed around the globe for 40+ years, I feared it might offer a watered down version of a surf trip. But after confirming with Clare that I could hitch a ride to the beach with the other Swell guests (who were all taking lessons) but surf on my own, I took a chance. And after spending 11 nights at Swell over Christmas and new year, I’m so glad I did.

The Swell staff, starting with manager Haudy, are all amazing people. Kind, welcoming and helpful. The property feels larger than it is with gorgeous tropical landscaping and a central pool. The dining/lounge area is perfect for encouraging conversation and laughs amongst guests. The food is outstanding and the rooms are perfectly comfortable, especially for a solo traveler. Visitors to Swell - which include folks from many different countries - quickly become friends.

The surf was legit. Almost everyday was head high plus and Coco Pipe at that size is a serious wave…. Racy lefts and rights. Winds and conditions weren’t always perfect but that’s surf travel. The good days were really good.

Highly recommend Swell!!

Great surf holiday Everything was exactly ( or better) as described on the Swell website. Great food, staff and accommodation. The Atmosphere with the other guests was super friendly.

Such a great experience!||Loved my stay here as a solo trip to learn to surf. Was easy to connect with others since you’re surfing together and having breakfast together. Dinner is served at the camp 3x/week too. …

Great solo trip to learn to surf! Such a great experience!

Loved my stay here as a solo trip to learn to surf. Was easy to connect with others since you’re surfing together and having breakfast together. Dinner is served at the camp 3x/week too. The camp food was super tasty.

We had a morning surf session, came back for breakfast, went back out for a mid-morning second session each day. Instructors Luciano and Daniel were fantastic, lots of individual attention and helpful feedback.

When you’re not surfing the camp can organize other excursions for you, you can take a short walk to the kite surfing beach and hit restaurants and bars on the beach, or just relax by the pool at the resort.

Overall a 5 out of 5 experience!!! Will try to come back next year for kite surfing.

All members of the Swell team combine to make for an engaging, fulfilling experience. Great place for new surfers. A little less consistent for experienced surfers than the waves in Costa Rica. The town is vibrant and easily walkable. Great supermarket on the corner. The highlight for us, was the group of people we ended sharing our stay with. The communal dining was new for us. Food is outstanding both in-house and nearby. Highly recommended.

The facility is spotless. The entire staff is amazing. The breakfasts and dinners provided are delicious. The surfing instruction is top notch. The yoga is restorative. The location is safe. It’s close to local neighborhoods. Restaurants are near by. The main center of Cabarate is a short walk away. Access to Cabarate beach is across the street. Daily transportation to Encuentro beach for surfing instruction is provided. Airport transfers provided were on time and efficient. At sixty years old I had never surfed and always wanted to. The videos speak for themselves. 🏄‍♂️✌️👍

Swell surf camp is an absolute gem. I'm so glad that saw an Ad pop up for this place as the Dominican Republic had never been on my radar for a surf trip. …

A rare find; a place that does exactly what it promises! Swell surf camp is an absolute gem. I'm so glad that saw an Ad pop up for this place as the Dominican Republic had never been on my radar for a surf trip. I'm an 'out of shape' workaholic but had wanted to learn to surf for many years (until now, I'd not been able to find time). I'm also a little bit older than I'd like to be, but that did not stop me having an absolute blast at the camp with the other guests. I guess that the fact everyone is there to do the same thing (or things) means that ages are levelled up and I never felt younger on vacation. Haudy runs a tight ship and makes sure that everyone has everything they need. She's in charge of the awesome food (it's mouthwatering, every meal) and is arranging guests' trips outside of surf time. My surf lessons were awesome with Luciano and the team (and they had their work cut out with me, let me tell you!). They managed to make the surf lessons really fun as well as rewarding. Goodness, I slept well at night! I even tried a couple of hours of wingfoiling, which was so fun, but I left it too late (I'd already been at Swell for 5 days when I took a couple of hours because another guest was learning and doing great). I'm going back again asap to learn wing foiling in the afternoon and carry on with the surfing where I left off. I don't write many reviews, but this place was worth the time. Thnx.

Stunning little oasis in the heart of a great surf and kitesurf town. Haudi and Luciano were absolutely excellent and made me, a 34 year old beginner surfer, feel welcome and sometimes even cool… Really friendly atmosphere around the camp, and a great social atmosphere amongst guests! Rooms were also spotless. Thanks so much everyone!

Superb surf holiday I had a great time! The lessons from the surf team were great, my surfing improved tremendously. The facilities at Swell are top notch: comfortable rooms, spacious communal areas and most of all the friendliness of the entire swell staff. I am already planning my next trip back to Swell,

Highly recommend a stay here. The space is beautiful, clean, comfortable, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. The surf instructors in particular stood out as highly experienced and patient teachers, as well as super kind! Hope we'll be back.

Outstanding experience! I recently returned home after spending an unforgettable week at Swell Camp in Cabarete, and I’m thrilled to share my experience!
From the moment I arrived, the Swell Camp team made me feel incredibly welcome and at home. Haudy was an exceptional host, setting a warm and friendly tone for the entire stay. Luciano’s deep knowledge of surfing and his ability to uplift and encourage were truly remarkable.
Special shoutouts to surfing coaches Izzy and Eddie – they are simply amazing! Their passion for surfing, combined with their impressive work ethic, made every session both inspiring and enjoyable. They’re like water gurus, perfectly suited for their roles. I thoroughly enjoyed the yoga classes with Izzy, as well as the theory sessions and video analysis. These elements were incredibly informative and essential for my learning and improvement.
The entire Swell Camp experience was made even more memorable thanks to the dedication of my surf instructors. I’ve been raving about Swell Camp to everyone I know and can’t wait to return. If you’re looking for a fantastic surf camp with a phenomenal team, look no further!
Thank you, Team Swell, for an outstanding experience!

Very recommended!!! Great !
All the staff is great , very kind,friendly and always helpful and ready to find a good solution.
Haudy always available present and so kind.
The cookers so adorables and the food always fresh and so so good !
All the staff for cleaning and safety, always present and kind.
The rooms always well cleaned and always with fresh towels, perfect.
The surf staff : great !
The taxi driver Michel , so kind and at the time and always available!
Luciano and the others the same ! Very friendly and professional with lots of experience!
Izzy and Eddie spent so much time with me giving always good advices and help me in the water . Very professionals and kind really.
I found the videos analysis so interesting and so well done ! Really really useful if you want to improve yours skills.. and also nice to see at the end of the day ( enjoying your progress)
Everything analysed , like a professional surfer ! Wow ! So much tips and feedbacks !
The yoga class with Izzy are perfects after surfing.. so well done and well programmed .
Honestly I have been in lots of surf camp around the world ( portugal , France , Fuerteventura , Marocco , Bali ) and Izzy et Eddy and all the staff are really really motivated to do everything very well and “at the top “!
motivated and professionals and so so friendly at the same time !!
I really appreciate that .
So thank you very much and I will come back for sure and recommend the Swell .

What a great SURFcation I had at Swell! The surf camp was better than I imagined! Coaches Luciano, Henry, Izzy, and Eddie are a great team! They're all soo friendly, supportive and were invested in our learning! I loved that rash guard shirts and reef booties were provided (without which I would have certainly fell victim to a sea urchin!). And the video analysis was an awesome and modern touch! Eddy provided voice over analysis to many of the waves I caught, and even included outlines and diagrams over the video to show proper form & technique (AWESOME)! It's safe to say the surf camp is comprehensive! As a beginner I felt I really learned a lot and surpassed what I had hoped to accomplish in the 1 week stay!
The property is beautiful and clean, the pool is perfect and gives a nice oasis feeling with the beautiful surrounding greenery that is obviously well maintained. The food was always delicious, and the cooks were sweet and made sure I got my fill every meal!
A warm and heartfelt thank you to Haudy, the staff, and the coaches for all being so friendly and hardworking! I cannot wait to return to Swell DR to continue working on my surfing!🤙🏽

Best Surf trip Ever I'll keep it short: this was the best surf trip I have ever been on.
Great food, nice rooms and the most helpful & friendly staff one could wish for.

Just spent a week at Swell Surf Camp. I have to start with how nice and accommodating the staff was. Great friendly service. The surf instructors were a good bunch of guys with tons of patience. Funny too. I wanted to go somewhere where I could practice surfing every day consistently and I was able to do so here. This time of year, May - June, the waves are not very big but it is pretty much what I wanted. The only recommendation I can make, especially to the solo traveler, is that you need to bring something to keep yourself entertained. After you are done surfing, usually around noon, if you are not involved with any of the afternoon excursions, the days can get long. There are places to go and checkout within walking distance but not a whole lot. Thank you to everyone that made this such a wonderful experience for me. I hope you enjoy your surfing adventure.

My friend and I spent 5 nights at Swell. The staff were great and the food served there was amazing. The rooms were very clean, and the in room AC units kept them very comfortable.
All the surf gear was provided. A big bonus was that everyone goes to the same surf spot which provided a good whitewater section as well as a good section beyond the break. I’ve been to places where they separate people at different breaks depending on ability which can make going on a group trip difficult.

We had a truly great time at Swell! We were a couple but most people were singles. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Food was excellent and plenty of it. And the instructors were awesome. Thanks guys!

i stayed here a while back and still find myself talking about how amazing it was. the food was SOOOO GOOD and surf was fun. the team working there was really what made it stand out though, really kind people 🙂

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.

The highest of compliments to the entire Swell Surf Camp Team. Highly recommended – beautiful location, knowledgeable instructors, amazing meals!

I visited Swell as a solo traveller while remote working and had a wonderful time. I had never surfed before and all of their instructors were informative, patient and fun. The camp itself is clean, a great place to relax and wifi is strong enough to work remotely (although its better in the communal areas over the rooms). The rooms are clean and comfortable. The group dinners and daily breakfasts were all delicious. The location is great because you're both near the town of Cabarate, and then just a short taxi away from the surf beach (which Swell provides with lessons/rental twice a day). Highly recommend.

My husband and I spent 7 or 8 days at Swell. I went into the week thinking that I hated surfing and was mostly going because my husband was super excited about it. I loaded up on books and figured I’d work remotely.
Well, I got there and within a couple days, I was actually surfing and I couldn’t imagine not going every day. The staff and surf instructors were so stoked about surfing, I couldn’t help but be stoked too. The instructors were excellent and patient and nice.
The food they cook for you is all really delicious. The referrals they had for restaurants and other activities were great. All the people working at Swell were very very nice. Everyone we encountered in connection with Swell was super nice and lovely. The location isn’t on the beach but I thought that was a positive because it was probably quieter. Highly recommend doing the yoga as well.

Great crew helping to everyone get their merit badge in surfing basics. DR is a friendly place.

Look no further this is a spectacular surf camp! Great location and the rooms look just like the photos - tidy, comfy beds, showers work well. But what makes this place spectacular is the staff. Everyone is warm and welcoming and I felt right at home as a solo traveller. The meals were delicious. I’ve taken surf lessons all over the world and Luciano is by far and away the best instructor I’ve had. As opposed to the supervised chaos I’ve experienced in the past - he has actual lesson plans and goals for each session so you have measurable progress. Jeffrey is also great. I felt safe and confident - and above all had a lot of fun. Hats off to Haudy the host who organizes everything seamlessly. Thanks everyone for making my first solo surf trip so fantastic. See you again soon!

Amazing boutique hotel with Incredible instructors. The pictures online look exactly like the place. Every staff member has been so kind, helpful, pleasant & a joy to be around. My surfing abilities have grown exponentially even in just a week. It has been a dream vacation, am so grateful for this experience, & have learned so much.

Loved the camp and people working there. Everyone was very friendly and genuinely cared for you having a great time. The accommodations are smartly designed and well run so you have everything you need and more. Clean, thoughtful and beautiful. The food was always fresh and delicious. The camp manager Haudy was so welcoming that I've got a feeling as I am visiting my extended family :).
Learning surfing was of course the best part :).
Starting from zero I dint expect much. Thankfully, I've got very lucky to have an incredible coach, Luciano Gonzalez. He is a professional world renown water sports champion for many years. His level of knowledge and expertise is far above of any advance level surfing. Luciano was able to congest and simplify technics to allow me progress in unbelievably short time. I am extremely thankful to my coach Luciano and entire Swell team. Looking forward coming back!

I spent 6 days at Swell Surf camp. I highly recommend this boutique style accommodation and outstanding quality surf lessons. ||Each day I partook in two surf lessons. In between we all gathered for an AMAZING breakfast. …

We had a great time learning to surf with Neno and the gang as total beginners. The rooms look like the photos and the food they cook is phenomenal. 10/10 would come again!

Terrific Surf Adventure for Solo Traveller I spent 6 days at Swell Surf camp. I highly recommend this boutique style accommodation and outstanding quality surf lessons. Each day I partook in two surf lessons. In between we all gathered for an AMAZING breakfast. I am already missing the food and I have been home just 2 days. Words cannot describe how nutritious and delicious my diet was during my stay at Swell. Lessons are led by experienced, award-winning instructors. I learned so very much and cannot even believe the small hard surf board I graduated to by day 4. You really do learn from the best. I also have to mention how much fun it is to ride in the van with everyone to Encuento Beach Beach. This transportation is prompt and safe. We all enjoyed music, laughter, and chatter on the way to and from the beach each morning. Haudy, Swell's Manager, is completely focused on making your stay a wonderful time. She is so kind and welcoming. She is smart and does not miss a beat. You are in good hands with Haudy. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I always looked forward to yoga with Molly and followed by a delicious meal cooked right in the open dining room beside the pool. I got to sit down with my new friends and surf instructors and celebrate the joys of each day. Tuesday and Thursday I spent dinner at various restaurants on the beach just a 5-7 min walk from Swell house. There is SO much to do and see on your free time. Cabarete is an amazing place! The culture, food, and weather is outstanding. My bedroom at Swell felt like home! The bed is super comfortable. The bathroom and room is tidy and clean. The AC and fan make returning "home" from hot days in DR so such a luxury haven. I slept so well in my room each nap and evening. I also took advantage of the excursions. I signed up for the Canyoning trip. I got to see some new sites, continue with my fitness/exercise, and swim in cool waters. I will go back to Swell! It was amazing. HUGE thank you to the staff, instructors, security, chefs, housekeepers, and Michel (transportation).

My best surf camp experience, so far........ I’ve just returned from a 10 night stay at Swell safe camp. I have to say it was one of my best holiday experiences of all time and I’ve been on a lot of vacations, including surf camps in several different countries.
I am well used to traveling alone, but as a 51 year old, I wasn’t sure at first to believe how well I would fit in at a place like Swell. From the moment I enter the building (which looks even better in real life than the photos) all my fears and anxieties were relieved. I don’t think I’ve ever walked into such a welcoming space.
Neno, the chief Surf Instructor and the other guys were all there to greet me, along with the wonderful Haudy, who is managing the place.
My first surf lesson began the day after my arrival, but before that I was asked about myself experience so that they could make sure I was placed in the right group which was encouraging.
As an 'intermediate surfer', I was generally with Henrri who I found it to be incredibly helpful and encouraging. Even though I have some surf experience, I learned a lot more tips and advice from the team who were always on hand to help. Neno particularly offered extra advice if he saw me making errors. The pool paddle practice, and the theory lessons were also quite useful to me.
The food, both breakfasts and dinners were superb, and the overall ambience of the place was second to none when I compared to other surf camps I have visited in the past. Rooms are spotlessly, clean and very relaxing to be in.
I even tried a couple of hours of wing foiling lessons which I thoroughly enjoyed but as I didn’t start until the fourth day of my trip unfortunately I run out of time to make enough progress.
I would definitely choose Swell again and my advice would be to start the other activities sooner rather than later if you want to learn them too! Thanks Swell team, Justine.

Just returned from a week at Swell and am already trying to figure out when I can return. The surf coaches are all great and work closely with you throughout your time in and out of the water. They truly wanted you to succeed every day by providing any feedback and encouragement needed. The accommodations were clean and perfect for the vibe swell is going for. The room was cleaned daily and never did I feel unsafe in the room or the location. Your safe is large enough for a smaller laptop and valuables so you do not need to worry when not onsite and a security person is there throughout the night to ensure your safety. The food each day was wonderful and they were happy to change things to your liking if needed. There are also tons of great options for food nearby and easily walkable. The transportation was always on time to ensure you got to the break earlier than anyone else out there, we even left slightly earlier a few days to ensure we go the best conditions thanks to Neno's suggestion. Yoga was also great and well taught, highly recommend it at the end of a long day. Haudy was very helpful in arranging excursions and any additional needed transportation/suggestions. Clare also checked in to see how things were going during the week which was a nice extra touch. Best of all is meeting likeminded folks from all over who became close friends by the end of the week. If you need a reset and active vacation I highly recommend swell, it truly is like going to camp as an adult!

Wonderful time. Went solo and a bit last minute but booking with Clare was easy and prompt. Met some amazing people and ate amazing food but most of all, tried surfing (something I never thought I’d attempt in my lifetime). I could not go daily though because it took a toll on me so I paced myself. Also did yoga all 3 days (loved Molly whom was patient with me and helped with my form and I’m now convinced to do more of it), snorkeling (I’ve never been dropped out in the middle of the ocean to snorkel before and the guide was super calm and patient) and canyoning (also first time and I took every single jump into the cool water! hiking park was great - more my jam), all easily arranged by the manager. Staff on site from night guards to the cooks, cleaner/repair guy and the manager were great. Drivers were cool too! Neno, mad props to this guy. Wonderful surf instructor who cares about teaching and helps you have fun at the same time. The guy clearly takes his job seriously. The rest of the team were super chill too. I may bring my little girl out next time for her to try it out when she’s strong enough to lift a board on her own. I wish there were direct flights. I loved how intimate everything was, but how there was a bit of “city life” in the small town it was in. I’ve never been fond of being in the ocean after some trauma in the past but I made myself do it in my 40s and I am so glad this team helped me get past my fears! YOLO.

Simply a Great Experience!
I just spent 10 days at Swell in December, 2022. I had a super time. As a result of a large storm in the Mid-Atlantic, the surf was larger than normal. So, as a beginner surfer, I spent my time in the secondary whitewater. But I still enjoyed it thoroughly.
The surf instructors, led by Neno, were such nice guys -- Henry, Danny and Melvin. In fact, the entire staff at Swell, led by the manager Houdy, was super-professional and super-accommodating.
Food was great, room was clean and tasteful, and the other guests were an amiable mix of folks from England, Canada and the U.S. I'd definitely recommend Swell for those that want to learn to surf and have a lovely time in a stunning place.

We completed our stay last week at Swell and had such a fantastic time! Overall, the experience was so different than any other vacation we have done in the past. The atmosphere at Swell and the team running the operations were very professional, and I can't say enough about them and the welcoming environment they provided to us daily.
The breakfasts every day and the quality of their home-cooked dinners Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were delicious!
We enjoyed the like-minded guests during our stay. It's like the Swell Universe brings the right people together to collaborate for healthy conservations and experiences.

Great trip: food, service, fellow guests, and surf instruction all exceeded expectations. And management was a huge help replacing broken phone!

This review is long overdue as I have been twice to this surf camp. A gem of a place to treat yourself to for an active vacation! With luxurious en-suite accommodations with all amenities provided for (more than basics), such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, bath towels, and beach towels... Just bring your bathing suit! The rooms are cleaned everyday. The meals were among the best I've ever had, prepared with care by two smiling local ladies. If only I could eat like this year-long...Two long surf sessions to perfect your skills starting early in the morning. It was the most natural wake-up call to go greet the ocean each morning, chauffeured by a happy-go-lucky Miguel. The facilites (outdoor pool, pool table, baby foot, communal dining areas and lounge) were good for social interactions, or quiet alone downtime. A step away is the beach and Cabarete, a town full of locals and expats, with restaurants, bars and shops to explore. Don't forget to book the canyoning activity, one of the most memorable physical activities. I also lucked out in trying wind surfing at no cost, some local surfer just kindly offered a free lesson... And most of all, I felt so lucky to meet all the persons, working at Swell or vacationing there, and to be in such great company! Special shoutout to Neno and Haudy, who basically make this place THE place! A must for people who despise all-inclusive resorts where alcohol flow freely with nothing to do but lounge around... You will love this place!

Highly Recommend! Such a great experience and so much to do along with surfing. The Swell rooms are exceptionally clean. The staff are all so friendly and accommodating. The surf instructors are some of the best I’ve ever had. The management is wonderful and organized. So nice to have a swell taxi pick us up to drive a short distance, to surf every day. I felt well taken care of and happy in this beautiful place!
I am looking forward to returning.