SURF & YOGA RETREAT

No, a Swell Surf & Yoga retreat is not exclusively for women, it's open to men as well,  in fact 45% of our clients who join us at Swell are men.

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

Teaching people how to surf is what we specialize in here at Swell. When we started in 2009 we set out to be one of the best surf camps for beginners. We have qualified surf coaching instructors who can teach the sport of surfing in a safe, fun, and quick manner. We use a personalized surf instruction plan.

The surf spot where we teach is an ideal place for beginner surfers. Before we opened Swell, we looked around the globe to find the ideal beginner surf destination. We visited Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragu, and as far as consistency and safety, we found the North coast Of the Dominican Republic simply offered the best location for an adult learn to surf retreat.

Our local surf spot Encuentro is perfect for beginners. The waves on the inside are mellow, and the water is about chest-deep. There are no dangerous rips, currents, or sea creatures here in the Dominican Republic (unlike some other beginner destinations like Costa Rica or Nicaragua).

Many places worldwide are great for advanced and expert surfers, but not all great surfing spots are ideal for people new to surfing. Where we teach at Playa Encuentro, just a few miles west of Cabarete, is truly an amazing spot for learning how to surf holiday. For more information on our learn to surf program, have a look at this page.

The average age of people traveling to us for an adult surf holiday varies per week, but generally speaking, the people who come to Swell Surf Camp on our surfing holidays are aged between 35 and 60. That's not to say that in certain weeks there are more people in their 30s than 50s (or the other way around). We are proud to say that we've have had people well into their 70s learning to surf at Swell.  Age really is just a number at Swell because the simple truth is that everyone is there with a passion for life and learning something new.  

Most of our clients are from the USA ( New York, Boston, LA, and Florida ), Canada (Toronto, Montreal,and Vancouver), and Europe, and 80% of them are working professionals who want the comforts of a boutique Surf retreat combined with the social aspect of a surf hotel.

Swell is a social place; however, we are not a 'party/drink' till 2 in the morning kind of place. 

About 70% of the clients who come to Swell for an adult surf camp holiday travel solo.

As a result, it's easy to meet like-minded travelers from all over the world. We surf together, we have breakfasts and dinners together, so if you are looking for a social surf camp when on a solo surf trip, then a stay at Swell will be a great option for you.

Have a look at reviews on external sites like Tripadvisor and Google, and you will see the social aspect at Swell as the no.1 recurring theme. And it's not just the single and solo travelers who enjoy the company of new friends. For couples or groups, it's also a great way to make new friends from all over the globe.

The average age of our clients varies from week to week, but generally speaking, we attract more of a 35 to 50+ year old crowd than the 18 to 24-year-old crowd.

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.

About Swell :

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

Clare and Jeroen were already familiar with surf retreats, surf resorts, and surfcamps in many different countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Europe) and had to stay in some very ordinary surf hotel accommodations in their quest for great surfing waves and good places to kiteboard and wingfoil. 
They knew that something was missing in the watersports' holiday market; a place which was still social, but offering better quality accommodation, great food, nicer beds, cleaner rooms: A stylish, luxury surfcamp retreat. They set about designing the place they would want to stay in themselves.

THE WORLD'S FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT WATERSPORT HOTEL

So they hired a renowned Swiss architect for one purpose.

To come up with the world's first purpose-built, surf, kite and foil camp.

Since opening in the winter of 2009/2010, Swell Surf Instructors have taught over 9000  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 travelers to go to as the #1 luxury surf camp.

It's not just learning to surf that is on offer at Swell; You can learn to kitesurf, learn the new sport of wingfoiling, or take yoga classes, go horse riding on the beach or in the mountains, and enjoy some truly spectacular outdoor adventure trips like canyoning, for example.

With great food being such an important part of anyone's surf vacation, Swell delivers there, too. 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.

Our holidays aren't just about the water —we immerse our guests in authentic local cultural experiences from the traditional cuisine served at Swell, to incredible trips to all this stunning country has to offer.  

We pride ourselves on running an eco-conscious surf retreat that promotes sustainable tourism practices, protecting the very ocean and coastlines that provide us with perfect waves.

We are confident that if you are looking for the ultimate luxury beginner surf camp holiday or want to learn, or improve your kitesurfing or wingfoiling skills, then a stay at Swell should be at the top of your list in 2025 / 2026.

Jumping into surfing can seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never surfed before or haven’t seen much of the beach in recent years.

Swell Surf Camp understands this and takes every step to make the experience approachable and fun. Our surf camp is ideal for absolute beginners, so all your anxieties and questions are totally normal and expected.

With a tight-knit team of surf instructors who genuinely love teaching, every surf lesson is tailored to your own ability. We break down the basics of surfing, offering clear instruction.   You won’t just learn how to ride the waves, you’ll also pick up knowledge about the ocean, safety fundamentals, and surf etiquette, all in a supportive beach environment. 

There’s a powerful community vibe at our surf camp, driven by fun beach activities, group encouragement, and shared progress; everyone’s cheering each other on, celebrating every small victory. You’ll practice on the sand before you hit the water, getting comfortable with basic maneuvers with our instructors by your side while you’re surfing those first waves. At Swell Surf Camp, we believe learning something new should feel empowering, friendly, and truly thrilling, which is exactly what our surfing lessons deliver. Take that first step with us: the waves in the Dominican Republic are calling, and your perfect surf adventure is waiting!

If 'only' learning to surf or 'only' learning to kitesurf or wingfoil is not enough, and you want the ultimate watersport action holiday, then yes you can combine our learn to surf holiday with kitesurfing or the new sport of wingfoiling (lots of our guests do in fact).
The surfing is mostly done before midday, then at around 13.00 to 14.00 the trade winds kick in for ideal kite and wing foiling.  With wind sports, you pay by the hour and classes are taught one-on-one, so it's easy to add a couple of hours of either kite or wingfoil lessons before deciding to continue.  You don't pay in advance for those, but if you know you would like to try one in addition to your surfing, or you would like to add surfing in addition to your chosen wind sport, do contact us 
We can offer you a package that combines different sports; surf in the morning and a wind sport in the afternoon.