How to choose your first surf camp

Booking your first surf camp is mostly a matter of avoiding mismatches. The camps themselves are rarely bad. What goes wrong is a beginner ending up at a camp built around advanced guiding, or a solo traveller landing in a place that only hosts couples on honeymoon. Here is what to check before you pay a deposit.

Start with your honest level

Camps describe their guests in levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced. Be honest with yourself. If you have surfed fewer than ten sessions, you are a beginner, and that is the best place to be: beginner weeks are structured, patient and social. Claiming intermediate to get to the "better" waves usually means paddling out somewhere you cannot catch anything.

If you are genuinely in between, write to the camp and describe your last few sessions: what boards you rode, what waves you caught, whether you can take off on an unbroken wave. A good camp will place you correctly from that alone.

Check the instructor ratio

The single number that most affects how much you learn is students per instructor. Anything up to 5 to 1 is good. 8 to 1 is a crowd. Ask directly, and ask whether the ratio holds in high season. Also ask whether instructors are certified (ISA or a national federation) and whether lessons include video review, which accelerates progress more than any other single thing.

Look at the boards, not the pool

Photos of infinity pools tell you nothing about the surfing. Look for:

• A visible board rack with a range of sizes, including big soft-tops for beginners
• Wetsuits in good condition, mentioned with sizes
• Named surf spots within a short drive, not just "close to the beach"
• A weekly plan that adapts to the forecast rather than a fixed timetable

A camp that talks about its spots and its forecast reading is run by surfers. A camp that leads with cocktails is a hostel with boards.

Understand what is included

Prices that look similar can cover very different things. Before comparing, confirm:

1. How many surf lessons or guided sessions per week
2. Whether boards and wetsuits are included outside lesson hours
3. Which meals are included, and on which days
4. Airport transfer, yes or no
5. What the deposit is and what the cancellation terms are

On Soltar every listing shows its packages and policies on the listing page, so you can compare like with like before you send a request.

Pick the right season

The same camp can be a gentle beginner paradise in summer and a serious wave in winter. Check when the region actually suits your level, not just when flights are cheap. Our destination guides break down conditions month by month for each region.

The short version

Be honest about your level, ask about ratio and boards, read what is included, and match the season to your ability. Get those four right and almost any well reviewed camp will give you a good week.