A surf vacation is a thrilling way to enjoy the outdoors, challenge yourself, and explore new locales and cultures. Novices and experts alike can experience the waves of numerous destinations that offer great surfing and a fun vacation.
There are, in fact, so many different surfing destinations that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices – and the costs. If you’d love to hit the beach of a surf spot nearby or far from home, but worry about the expense, you need to know that there are special deals and budget-friendly options now available to make any surf vacation affordable.
Surf Vacations Can Be Cheaper Than You Think
Expenses for a surf vacation vary widely depending on what you choose to include in your trip, like airlines, geographic region, type of accommodations, and any additional activities you sign up for during your trip.
You don’t need to stay at the most luxurious resorts to enjoy a world-class beach with excellent surfing conditions. You can find beautiful, safe, and comfortable lodgings at a modest price. And many hotels offer discounts throughout the year, or special all-inclusive or seasonal packages, that help you save money on everything you need, from surfing lessons to equipment rental to beach transportation.
If you want to save significantly, don’t travel during peak tourist season. During these times, the beaches are packed and it may not be the best time to surf. Additionally, when you travel during the off-season, you’ll benefit from lower rates on airfare and accommodations.
Excellent vacation deals can be found through sites like Booking.com, Kayak, and Expedia. Other sites, including Book Surf Camps, The Perfect Wave, and Waterways Travel, are devoted specifically to surfing vacation packages. You can often find deals or all-inclusive packages through these sites that are designed to make surfing easy and affordable on your next vacation.
Four Amazing Surf Vacation Spots
Southwest Nicaragua
San Juan del Sur, located on the Pacific Ocean in the southwest part of Nicaragua, attracts surfers from around the world. The beaches, including Playa Maderas, Playa Hermosa, Remanso Beach, and Playa Santana, are part of beautiful landscapes full of hills, rich greenery, and sparkling sand.
With a warm climate and consistent wave conditions, Nicaragua is the perfect place to visit from March to September. These are the most popular months for surfing, though beginners may benefit from other times of the year when swells are gentler.
Southwest Nicaragua is home to highly rated surf camps and resorts that may offer comprehensive vacation packages. Some examples are Dreamsea Surf Resort, Rapture Surf Camp, Popoyo Surf Lodge, Soma Surf Resort, and Chica Brava, a surf camp exclusively for women.
Portugal’s Central Coast
With 1,115 miles of coastline, Portugal is a world-class surfing destination. The Central Coast, which includes the communities of Peniche, Ericeira, and Santa Cruz, offers a wide variety of surf spots with different wave types, wave directions, and crowd levels.
Nazare has become famous for big-wave surfing. The coast has plenty of sunshine, gorgeous beaches, beautiful architecture, and a rich cuisine. Most importantly, though, the city of Ericeira is the only World Surfing Reserve in Europe. It’s home to dozens of beach houses, surf camps, and hotels, including the Amar Surf Camp. At Peniche, check out the Peniche Surf Lodge and Baleal Surf Camp.
Huntington Beach in California
Huntington Beach is known as Surf City and hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing. The city is home to award-winning public beaches and a thriving beach culture that promotes surfing.
Huntington Beach is roughly 90 miles from San Diego. That entire stretch of coast is full of surfing spots and can accommodate surfers of all skill levels. Even if one spot doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily change your plans and head to another one. Surfing has such a prominent place in Huntington Beach that the city even hosts an annual surfing competition for dogs. It attracts pet owners from around the world.
Huntington Beach has a variety of accommodations, including luxury hotels, budget inns, and campgrounds for recreational vehicles. At any point during the year, a number of them will be offering discounts and package deals friendly to surfers. If you want to improve your surfing skills, you may also be able to find good deals at one of the local surfing schools, including Banzai Surf School, Corky Carroll’s Surf School, and Surfriders Academy.
Bali’s Bukit Peninsula
To enjoy an exotic destination that has a rich culture and can be friendly to your budget, consider traveling to this famous surfing area in Indonesia. The beaches and the rest of the natural scenery are stunning and display a variety of features, including white sand, reefs, cliffs, and caves.
Expert surfers will feel most at home on the Bukit Peninsula. However, some places are also suitable for less experienced surfers. For example, the popular Padang Padang Beach has a nearby area, Baby Padang, where the waves are gentler. Among the many surf spots in the area is the magnificent Uluwatu, the site of an old Hindu temple.
One recommended place to stay is Padang Padang Surf Camp, which offers surfing packages that include airport transfers, multiple daily meals, and beach transportation. They also provide lessons and guided accompaniment for surfers.
Book Your Surf Vacation
A surf vacation doesn’t need to drain your savings. With careful planning, it can be much cheaper than you expect. You can enjoy an exciting surf vacation at some of the most beautiful places in the world – and you don’t have to spend significantly. Plan your next trip to one of these destinations, and you’ll likely find a surf vacation is far cheaper than you expect.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.
