This guide to the very best family surf camps in the world runs through several of the packages that we think really come up trumps for mixed-age groups looking to surf and explore on their next vacation.
Family surf camps are a sure fire way to spice up that next outing with the crew. Skip the usual villa in Tuscany. Ditch the getaway to that resort hotel in Marmaris. These packages promise action, adventure, and surf tuition that will take dad, mum, and the little ones off the whitewash and onto the green waves.
Lots of surf schools around the globe have moved to develop their own family surf camps on the side. Some have done a really good job of it, offering a well-calibrated package that’s got the right level of surf practice, theory, and chill time, but also the chance to do local excursions, taste local cuisine, and bond together somewhere different and new.
Those are the ones we’ve focused on below. Check em out. Book. Make memories. It’s that simple, folks!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surf camps
Easy Surf Maroc Surf & Yoga Villa, Tamraght, Morocco
Our best pick for family surf camps in 2023!
- Location: Tamraght, Morocco
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $1,029 (£830) per couple
The guys at highly rated (like 4.8/5 highly rated!) Easy Surf Maroc have crafted their own family package that we think hits just about all the right notes to top off this list…
It lasts eight days but includes seven days of surf lessons with certified instructors, so you’re packing in a lot of time on the ocean here. What’s more, each family group is assigned a dedicated instructor, which works wonders because it means you can really build rapport and it’s easy to pick up where you left off the day before.
The second aspect of it that we love is the accommodation and service. You’ll stay at Easy Surf’s stunning villa. It’s perched on the dusty coast hills with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean below – you can just about make out the camels walking up the beach! There’s a stunning pool and a grassy garden to chill in between sessions. Then there’s the fun vibe of the evening meals, which mean tasting local Moroccan tagines and spicy kebabs.
It promises to be a real journey for the little ones but also exotic to the T for the older generation. The only downside is that Morocco is out of season for the summer, so only consider this one for November through to April.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
I Surf Portugal, Porto, Portugal
Best for: Families who love glamping!
- Location: Porto, Portugal
- Price: 8 days/7 nights in a private tent for a family with two children starting at $1,931 (£1,558)
Get out to nature as a crew this year and surf some of the best waves in northern Portugal. I Surf Portugal combines the joys of a family glamping trip with an outing to the beaches of the north. They’ve set up a series of slick tipi tents between the pine forests around Porto. They’re loaded with uber-comfy beds for both the parents and little ones, all dressed in luxury linens and whatnot.
You’ll wake to the sound of the trees swaying in the sea breezes and then embark on daily surf lessons. On their 8-day family package they’ve been tailored specifically with multi-age groups in mind. That means out-of-water safety training and warm ups followed by guided tuition in the water. Those with kids who don’t want to participate can also make use of in-camp nannies while they learn. Bonus.
Iguana Surf, Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Best family surf camp in Costa Rica
- Location: Tamarindo, Costa Rica
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $977 (£789) per person
Iguana Surf offer the opportunity to have your own private camp for just you and the fam. They’ve made a name for themselves down in the Nicoya’s top surf-backpacker town of Tamarindo over the last – wait for it – 30 years, by offering solid, ISA-rated tuition in a really accessible environment.
Groups will be as small as you want them to be. Whether you’re a family of four, five, or six, that’s who you’ll be out on the water with the whole time. Lessons are 120 minutes long, begin with beach warm ups and pop-up practice, and then in-water training that includes direct feedback. Days end with short video analysis of lessons that’s really to the point, never overwhelming.
You’ll be staying at the Surf Iguana Camp the whole time. That’s just about perfect for families, what with its mix of doubles and dorm rooms, plus the location just across the road from the main beach. The folk there can also help you organize any extra excursions you might want to do in this lush corner of Costa Rica, from ziplining to snorkeling.
Pelan Pelan Bali Surf and Yoga Retreat, Canggu, Bali
Best for: Families with teenage kids
- Location: Canggu, Bali
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $3,070 (£2,478) for a family of 4
Canggu, you say? For families? Just hear us out. The hipster corner of Bali has come a long way in the last 10 years. So far, in fact, that it’s now home to all-rounder surf and yoga camps like the Pelan Pelan retreat, plus more artisan bakers and avocado-touting cafes than you can shake an incense stick it. No longer is this the province of pumping beach bars and purring scooters alone.
Mhmm, Pelan Pelan is named among our top Bali surf camps for a reason. It’s not your run off the mill sorta’ south-Bali pad. It’s a super chill stay that channels local architectural touches, has a garden yoga shala, tropical grounds, and a stunning style to it.
All that combines with a planned family surf-camp package that we think really lends itself to families with older children. Over eight days, the whole crew can dip their toe into all sorts, from meditation sessions to morning pose yoga. There’s daily surf lesson on offer if you want it. It lasts two hours a pop down on the Canggu beaches (great for learners to intermediates) and is only ever two people to one instructor. You’ll stay in their on-site family room, which one double and two singles with an outdoor bathroom.
Calima Surf, Caleta, Lanzarote
Best for: Consistent waves
- Location: Caleta, Lanzarote
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $482 (£389) per person
Calima Surf isn’t a dedicated family surf camp. But it does make its home in arguably the most family-orientated part of Spain: The Canaries. Cue the north coast of Lanzarote, where the wide sweep of a bar that is Caleta gets almost unceasing swell (beginner friendly, most of the time) and remains pretty much the only spot on the island that’s immune to the out-of-control localism of this sunny archipelago in the Atlantic.
The surf house itself is smack dab in the heart of Caleta town. That’s a great place for families to be. There are cool, salt-washed pizza joints and cafés dotting the streets. But, mainly, the beach is like a minute’s walk away over the rolling dunes. Accommodation options include singles, doubles, and rooms with bunk beds that are great for the little ones.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
