Purpose-built from scratch to be the perfect place for an active week.
A ‘home’ away from home to come back to and properly rest.
Every room has a calming colour palette, its own ensuite and air-conditioning, a ceiling fan and crisp 100% cotton sheets — so after an action-packed day in or on the water, you can sleep as well as you should. The beds are generous: a California king awaits (or twin beds if you come with a friend).
Sleep (s)well
after an active day.
Spotlessly clean, simply decorated, generous beds. A warm shower with toiletries and towels provided. Daily cleaning. The small things that matter after a day on the water. Built by people who travel and surf, for people who travel and surf.
- Ensuite & privateDouble glazed windows and your own bathroom
- AC & ceiling fanCool nights after warm days
- 100% cotton sheetsCrisp, clean and made for you daily.
Arrive a stranger
Leave as a friend.
At the centre of it all is the communal hub — an open living room and one long shared table where the day winds down. Surf theory in the afternoon, dinner together in the evening, a cold drink and a debrief after. It’s where 60 to 70% of our guests, most of whom arrive on their own, stop being strangers. There's also ample space to find your own corner if you don't feel like participating. We tend to be busier October to April so aim for May to September if you appreciate a much quieter stay and smaller lesson groups.
- One long tableBreakfast and dinner together — the days begin and end here.
- Surf theory lessonsForecasts, wave formation and gear talk in the open living room.
- A cold drink, a debriefThe evenings guests still talk about long after the flight home.
Real home-made food
from the freshest produce
One of the most memorable things about a week here, aside from learning a new skill, happens around the table. Breakfast and 3 dinners per week are included. Our food is planned and supervised by Swell Active's manager Haudy, a real foodie from Chile. She loves to find the best ingredients to prepare great food and it's all eaten around our massive dining table.
Mornings begin with great Dominican coffee and a lite bite. You shouldn't surf on a full stomach, so we save the real breakfast until 10am. Fresh organic tropical fruit and home-pressed juices, eggs or crepes/wraps, home-made muesli and locally made bread. If you're vegetarian, vegan or gluten free, don't worry, just let us know and we will make sure you won't starve!
Dinner is the wind down. Our kitchen leans local — grilled fish from the coast, slow-cooked Dominican classics, plenty of vegetables — served family-style while the day’s stories do the rounds. No menu to agonise over; one good meal, made that afternoon. Vegan, veggie and gluten free options are available provided we know in advance.
Daily deliveries,
cooked daily.
Almost everything we make is bought the same day: fish from the fishermen, fruit and greens delivered daily. Bread every day from the bakery down the road. “Fresh” isn’t a boast here — it’s simply the shortest route to dinner.
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergic to something specific? Tell us once, when you book, and the kitchen remembers all week — no daily negotiations, no sad side-salads.
4 evenings each week the kitchen rests and Cabarete takes over — beach restaurants with tables in the sand, a few minutes’ walk away. We’ll point you to the ones we actually eat at, and guests often go together. We could have cooked every night, but you would miss out on some wonderful dining experiences.
A freshwater pool, a palm-shaded garden, and nowhere you have to be.
The downtime hours,
take it easy......
Everything sorted,
so you don’t have to.
- Ensuite · AC · ceiling fan
- 100% cotton sheets
- Fresh breakfast & 3 x dinner
- Restaurants 2 minutes away
- Beautiful communal space
- 24/7 staff onsite
- Freshwater pool
- Set in tropical garden
- Minutes from the beach
- No need for a car
The room, the table,
all the rest.
What guests ask about rooms, meals and the social side. Anything we’ve missed — write to us, Swell Active's owner personally replies within a day.
It’s a bit tough to give a definitive answer since this varies per week. The average age of our guest generally is around 40; so absolutely more ‘surf retreat’ than a younger, early 20’s, ‘surf camp’ crowd. Our guests come to learn or progress at surfing or wingfoiling, so less party, more activity focussed.
Yes. Every room is a private ensuite with its own bathroom — no dorms, no waiting for a shower and definitely no running through corridors in a towel. You can take it single occupancy, or share as a double if you’re travelling with someone.
60 to 70% of our guests come solo, so you’ll be in good company. Shared breakfasts and dinners and the communal hub mean nobody stays a stranger past the first morning. We are busier October to April so if you need a crowd, choose those months.
Daily breakfast and dinners around one huge table on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday evening, all fresh and made on site. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and most allergies are no problem (with notice).
Every room has AC, a ceiling fan and crisp 100% cotton sheets, and there’s wifi in the communal space. After an action-packed day on the water you’re going to sleep (s)well.
Two minutes on foot. For surfing, the breaks are a short drive in the transport we provide twice each morning. For wingfoiling, simply walk 5 minutes to meet the instructors at the beach for your lessons. Restaurants, shops and the beautiful, sandy Cabarete Bay are all a short walk, which is exactly why you won’t need a rental car.
surfing Complete beginners can come any time. Intermediate surfers should come in May, June, July, August, September or October. Winter brings the more consistent swell for surfers who don’t need lessons. May, June, July & August and quieter and you will get smaller groups. Tell us your level and your goals and we’ll point you to the right months.
wingfoiling February, March, April, June, July and August all have the best wind. June and July also have the flattest water. The climate is changing; months that previously had less wind can also be windy these days. It’s nature and nature generally calls the shots.
Limited spaces available
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.