Surf camps in Sayulita now run the gamut from hippy yoga programs that promise Zen vibes and cruisy waves in the main bay to more hardcore performance orientated packages that are designed to get you improving fast. Here’s our pick of the best for the coming season…
Sayulita is the most famous surf town in Mexico. There’s no debating that. The only real question is whether you love it or you REALLY love it. We’re in the latter camp because it’s awesome. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, a few too many gringos now clog up the bars. But the line ups are fun, the vibe is good, and the surf camps….well…they’re truly special.
Mhmm, surf camps in Sayulita are a sure-fire way to catch waves. They are tailored really well to beginners and improvers, mainly because of the accessible nature of the waves around the town. Plus, they bring plenty of Mexicana Pacific charm, great extra curricula events, and some very stylish places to stay into the mix. Let’s get down to it…
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 surfing in Mexico
This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
WildMex Surf & Adventure
- Location: Sayulita Beach
- Price: 7 days/6 nights starting at $1,557 (£1,255) per person
The guys at WildMex Surf & Adventure have forged a rep for running some of the most adrenaline-pumping and action-packed tours this side of the Nepalese Himalaya. Okay, so there’s some hyperbole there, but suffice to say you’ll break a sweat and earn your tacos on this week-long jaunt based in Sayulita. Don’t believe us? It’s not for nothing that the WildMex Surf & Adventure offering is rated as one of the leading surf camps in the whole of Mexico.
It’s basic stuff, done right. Guests get five surf lessons throughout the week. They take place either on the main break in Sayulita, or on the slightly-more-challenging beach peaks of La Lancha. Transport to the latter is included, as is all equipment and pro surf tuition.
What we really like about the WildMex Surf & Adventure camp is that it can be tailored to meet your specific luxury level wants and budget requirements. Either go for the cheap dorm beds to stay in the fun hostel accom, which means a shared pool and a climbing walls. Or drop some more dosh on private rooms that cater well to families and couples.
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.
Yantara Retreats
- Location: Sayulita
- Price: 7 nights in a private apartment for 4 people starts at $7,919 (£6,381)
Yantara sum up their offering as “the perfect oasis for you and your friends or family to have a break and escape the ‘go-go-go’ of everyday life.” It’s all about slowing the pace down, cranking up the chill factor, and having a happy and healthy time on the Mexican coast. AKA – not your run-of-the-mill sorta’ surf camp. Nothing like it.
Where to begin? How about that location. It’s a sanctuary of calm tucked on a jungle-tufted hillside just outside of Sayulita’s hustling bustling center. You’ll wake to the sounds of sea breezes filtering through the palms; to the wafts of vegan breakfasts sizzling in the stoves of the communal kitchens. Or the calming tones of Buddhist prayer bowls – there’s sunrise Vinyasa yoga and Yin yoga and more packed into the schedule.
The approach to surfing is all about forging a fulfilling relationship with the natural ebbs and flows of the ocean. We’ve not seen quite the comprehensive approach they take in any surf camp anywhere – think in-pool breathing and paddling technique practice before you even get to Sayulita Beach. You’ll be in good hands, too, since the in-house instructor is a former SUP racing champ.
Selina Sayulita
- Location: Sayulita
- Price: A week’s surf stay starts at $160 (£129) per person
Hardly a guide to the best surf camps in Sayulita – nay, Mexico – can go by without at least a nod towards the Selina outlet in this salt-washed Nayarit town. It’s one of the flagship names in the Selina brand and it’s easy to see why. The place is downright lovely. Smack dab in the heart of the town literally steps from the main plaza and a five minute walk to the beach, it’s designed like a real Mexicana casita with spacious doubles that have thatched ceilings and a fantastic outdoor communal space.
What Selina Sayulita does very well indeed is flexibility. You don’t book this one as a standalone package. Instead, you book accommodation only and then add on surf lessons or hiking outings and whatnot as you see fit, paying as you go. That’s great for digital nomads and the like; people who might not be able to commit to a full 8-10 hours of surfing throughout a single week.
Sayulita Cruz Surf Camp
- Location: Sayulita
- Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $1,180 (£952) per person
Sayulita Cruz run three tiers of surf camps. Their middle offering is The Surfer, an 8-day (7-night) trip that splits up the week between surf lessons on the very easy breaks of Sayulita town and surfaris to nearby beaches (usually La Lancha and other spots around Punta Mita).
There are some nice frills added on top of that, such as an activity of your choice, anything from a guided hike up Monkey Mountain to whale watching in the Bahia de Banderas. Plus – and this really is something that sets Cruz apart from the crowd – there’s UNLIMTED yoga. They run a series of about four or five lessons each day in different yoga disciplines. You can just rock up and join, no extra payments.
The style of accommodation depends on your budget. Again, it’s in three tiers. The cheapest is still pretty nice. That’s in shared dorms in a cool boutique hostel in the town center. Pricier apartments await those willing to splash out about $300 more – worth it if you can afford, since you get balconies and private pool access.
Variant Surf Co.
- Location: Sayulita
- Price: 4 days/3 nights starting at $825 (£663) per person
Variant Surf Co. has cut its teeth offering very good surf tuition to both beginners and intermediate surfers. It would probably be our pick for improvers who really want to iron out any bad habits. There’s a few reasons behind that thinking…
First, the lessons are headed up by Texan-born Corey Whitely, a veteran of some of Sayulita’s best surf houses that continually gets plaudits for his relaxed but highly focused approach to surf guiding. Second, groups here are small, leaving lots of time for one-on-one tips and help.
Variant isn’t a classic surf camp in that it doesn’t have a specific lodge where everyone sleeps. Instead, they sort out self-catering accommodation somewhere in the center of Sayulita. There are downsides to that but also upsides. Yes, it’s not as sociable but it does mean you can feel a bit more like a local and get plenty of independence between surf lessons to explore as you please.
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!
