For total beginner to intermediate surfers
10 in-water surf lessons + 5 theory surf lessons
Daily video review of your surfing 1:1
Quiet beach front location with daily yoga sessions
Delicious meals, made with love & dedication
Boat trip, fishing, dolphin spotting, horseback riding, chocolate making & waterfall hike
EXCELLENTBased on 189 reviewsVerifiedRyan R2024-06-095 Star Surf Trip! Wow what an amazing time! Sébastien was a fantastic host, acting as both a great surf coach for the week I was there as well as a friend and local. He guided me towards learning how to turn and maneuver on different lengths of boards, at many different breaks (including a special one that you take a boat to!). By the end of the week, I was already adapting the core techniques and will take all of the guidance he gave me and will use it to shape my surfing journey (and yes, I did turn after all!). Surf coaches Justin and Angie gave me swell advice as well, and took me to much larger breaks than what I'm used to at my home turf. One of the best things about this trip was the food, honestly a world class dining experience. Diane and her kitchen staff went far beyond what I had imagined for meals, offering different varieties every day and on every meal. There was so much variety and flexibility with food and dietary restrictions that I was so impressed. Bravo! Would 100% recommend this trip to anyone who wants to not only learn to surf or improve their surfing, but get possibly the most time in the water to surf out of any camp there is (4-5 hours a day). Such an amazing time, made friends, and had such a fantastic time.VerifiedGONZALO MATIAS ... C2024-05-06Completly worth it First of all the hosts, Sebastian and Dian were amazing. The food was incredibly good and the places they took us to surf were really gentle and uncrowded. Apart of that, the retreatment was beutiful, perfect to rest, relax and disconnect. Finally, the vibe of the place, activities and the persons working there invite to Connect with the other travelers and have really good times. Hope many people can enjoy this trip as much as I did. Pura vida!VerifiedJanet W2024-05-05Surf Expedition is an All Around Incredible Experience! My husband and I had another wonderful experience at Surf Expedition, our second year in a row. It is the perfect place to go for us, with me an intermediate surfer and my husband a life long advanced longboarder. I received excellent, individualized instruction during our two 2-3 hour surf sessions each day, and I definitely improved. My husband had the "surf only" package and went to the more advanced breaks to surf bigger waves and had an equally excellent surfing experience. The daily yoga sessions were excellent with restorative poses that provided a much needed full body stretch and helped us be ready for the next session. The surroundings are amazing with beautiful plants, flowers, birds and a symphony of sounds. Falling asleep, exhausted from surfing, to the sound of Howler Monkeys, and waking up to the sounds of Parrots and Roosters, cannot be beat. And to top it all off, Dian is a master chef and her cooking is incredibly delicious and nutricious and "clean" - not like tasty but heavy restaurant food that you think you love but makes you say "ug" afterwards. Dian's food is delicious and yet light, again I would call it restorative. The other lovely part of Surf Expedition is the community of people that you get to be with all week. People from all over the world come together for their love of surfing and regardless of level, everyone hoots and roots for each other, and enjoys each others' stories and company throughout the week. Sebastian and Dian have created a great vibe and everyone who works with them are part of the warm and helpful and positive community. We can't say enough good things about Surf Expedition.VerifiedSurf-Camp-Authority2024-04-21Surf Expedition - Free Surf Package Having been on numerous surf retreats that included coaching, I was looking for something a little different this time. Rather than take more lessons, I was in the market for a surf guiding experience. Someone with local knowledge that would get me into fun waves, and Surf Expedition delivered. Sebastien is an absolute pro, giving me indispensable information at each of the various breaks. I stayed in one of their new private ensuite rooms with a view. The accomodations are rustic, but clean and comfortable. There is no air conditioning or hot water, but thanks to Pavones' warm weather, hot water isn't needed in the slightest. At night I was kept cool thanks to two powerful fans. The food was truly outstanding. Meals were buffet style, offering a range of cuisines throughout the week. A few of my personal favorites included seared tuna, eggplant parmesean, and filet mignon, all of which Diane cooked to perfection. Everything at Surf Expedition was executed perfectly, from the transportation, meals, surfing, yoga, and activities. They even rented me a beautiful hand shaped Randy Walker board to ride for the week. I highly recommend Surf Expedition!Verifiedruth c2024-04-20The Best !!! Writing this review makes me smile! I had zero surf experience before this trip . Not only did I have one of the best weeks of my life, I actually learned to surf! I would do it again in a heartbeat without hesitation. Loved the location , people in our group, instructors were pros and very encouraging, the food was OMG >>> and the yoga , it does not get better than this ! Warm thank you Diane and Sebastian for the incredible experience . RuthVerifiedParadise378363108992024-03-27One of my best holidays ever The organisation is spot on, the location is magnificent and the food is simply perfect. The conditions for learning to surf are brilliant, with a 30° ocean and long waves. For my part, I was a bit apprehensive and I far exceeded my own expectations. The coaches have a lot to do with it, they make you feel confident and give good advice. Special thanks to Sebastien, Diane and Angie! I'll be back for sure!VerifiedKim P2024-03-23Amazing experience ! Amazing food ! Amazing spot ! Amazing coach ! Amazing yoga classes ! I highly recommend this surf trip. They adapted the sessions to your level !Verifiedglyn t2024-03-19Top solo surf trip. Surf expedition is without a doubt a five star experience. You’re taken care of not just when you arrive but as soon as you book your trip. Sebastien gave me great information for coordinating my travel to Pavones as well as guidelines on preparing for the visit, what to bring and what to expect. The surf instruction is top notch, attentive and informative and you get to surf some amazing surf breaks, not least Pavones itself. This isn't the regular surf instructor experience where they are more interested in catching their own waves, but super helpful with wave selection and positioning amongst the crowds (which were minimal). My surfing knowledge and reading of the waves improved daily, especially with the helpful video reviews. Dian’s food is equally exceptional. Every single meal was delicious and prepared with your enjoyment in mind. Inventive and super tasty cuisine. The vibe around the lodge is friendly, fun and a there’s a constant sense that you are being cared for and looked after. I went solo and felt like I was part of a family. I’ll be returning with my own family next time. Thank you Sebastien and Dian and everyone involved in making it the best experience I could have hoped for.VerifiedYolène L2024-03-01An experience beyond what I expected I had an incredible week, I am leaving full of memories and the desire to go back as soon as possible. It was perfect for discovering surfing: long waves suitable for beginners, few people in the water, great coach, proximity to the surf spot and the camp… The yoga classes are great and suitable, the food is a treat, it's tasty and healthy, the week is all organized, we're taken from surf sessions to waterfalls, meals and yoga classes! The dream ! I would go back tomorrow if I could!VerifiedLéann R2024-02-24Book with no worries Surf expedition offers a way to push yourself physically and to find peace mentally. The surf spots are amazing and perfect for begginers. I never surfed before and I've .never felt in danger in the waves. The staff is really professional and helpful. They help me through every step to prepare my journey. Food is also amazing. They accommodate dietary restrictions and everyone's tastes. I have nothing negative to say about this place. It was one of the best week of my life.
(For experienced surfer who do not want surf coaching)
*You can rent surf equipment for $120 for the week (surfboard, leash) + $100 cash deposit, returned to you at the end of the rental.
(For beginner / intermediate surfer who wants surf coaching)
International flight to San Jose and internal flight to Golfito or bus ticket to Paso Canoa
(Once you book we help to organize the internal flight and overall internal travel is less than 2 hours )
Travel Insurance
(required)
Additional activities
Horseback riding ($70), Chocolate making workshop ($20)
Photo & Video of you surfing to take home
(we will shoot a minimum of 5 surf sessions during the week) : $250
Private room
Private room w/ external bathroom ($200, sleep 1-2)
New private ensuite room with a view ($500, sleep 1-2)
Double private w/ private bathroom ($400,sleep 2-4)
Private bungalow ($500, sleep 2-4)
(You must be at least 2 people to book a private bungalow or the double w/ private bathroom)
Alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, surf equipment, and tips
Our team will thrive to make your holiday as good as it can be, taking you surfing as much as you physically can to the best possible spots, and eating the best food with the best ingredients we can find. If you feel that we have fulfilled our promise to you, a suggested 10%-15% tip of the value of your stay is always greatly appreciated.
** Dates could slightly change on rare occasion. 1. Book your spot. 2. Wait for our confirmation that the retreat is confirmed. 3. Book your flights. **
Because you deserve a break
The breathtaking view from our 20.000m2 property located directly in front of the ocean and surrounded by lush nature, no wifi, and many hammocks for your downtime will create the perfect environment for you to take a step back on your busy life and think about the changes you want to make.
Because you appreciate excellent food
Carefully made with love and fresh ingredients from our organic garden by our co-founding chef, the amazing food you’ll get when you come home from the surf will be the tastiest meals you’ve ever eaten.
To feel better
During your stay, 6 « yoga for surf » classes will be offered on our outdoor yoga platform by our experienced yogi. Stretch, improve your balance and relax your muscles while looking at the ocean and listening to the birds and monkeys around you
To surf better
You will get in-depth personalized surf coaching in your preferred language (French & English available) during every surf session. We will film a minimum of 4 of your surf sessions and review your technique so that you can see and understand what you need to focus on.
To make new friends
Meet other like-minded travelers who are interested in surfing and create new friendships and connections for future surf trips
For the carefully chosen surf spots (if you keep it a secret)
You will be taken surfing to different waves that not many people know, which means fewer people in the water (many times we’re the only ones), more space, and more waves to learn on, for a safer experience.
To optimize your surfing time
We make the effort to optimize the day according to the optimal tides for surfing. This means you’ll probably be offered to wake up very early for a dawn patrol surf session at sunrise when the conditions are optimal for surfing, and surf at least 2 surf sessions per day. Each surf session is of 2h-3h, depending on the energy level of the students and tides.
For the adventure, without the hassle
We will take you on a boat trip to explore and surf different types of waves to expand your surf experience. We’ll do a picnic on the beach in front of beautiful turquoise water and guide you through a waterfall jungle hike where you’ll see monkeys, toucans, and beautifully colored lizards.
For the waves
Our surf camp is located a few minutes from the longest waves of warm water in the world and have many other options around for beginner surfers. The area is blessed with many point breaks, rights, and left, which probably will be the longest rides of your life and help you improve faster than short rides on beach breaks.
For the local experience
We’ve teamed up with the nicest and most knowledgeable locals of the area to share with you the beauty of their country. Experience the most beautiful horseback riding trek on the beach along the coastline and into the hills of an indigenous reserve & Learn how to make your own chocolate bar from the cacao seeds with a local artisan.
The closest international airport is Juan Santamaria (SJO) located in Alajuela, 25 minutes from the capital (San José). Most international flights are arriving in the afternoon/evening at SJO airport. If this is your case, you should plan to arrive a day earlier in Costa Rica, to take a regional flight with Sansa Air (flysansa.com) to Golfito (GLF) the next day.
We include a shuttle to pick you up in Golfito for the latest afternoon flight, and we include a shuttle to drop you off at the Golfito airport at the end of the week for the mid-day flight. If you need to leave earlier, plan $80 for a taxi to Golfito. Please note that check-in is from 3 pm only.
If you are arriving in Golfito on an earlier flight than the latest afternoon flight, we can recommend these 2 restaurants for lunch: “Corcovado” located 150 meters from the airport, or “Buen Dia”. You can also check into the hotel “Casa Roland” for a small fee per hour to drop your luggage, use the pool and get a drink or food. Our shuttle can pick you up at Casa Roland.
For a cheaper option, you can also take a 7:30am direct bus from San José to Paso Canoa with Tracopa and we will pick you up at the bus terminal in Paso Canoas at 2:30pm. The bus stops 15 minutes for breakfast and 40 minutes for lunch in Uvita. You can usually also hop on the bus from Uvita if you are in the area. It’s possible to buy the tickets in advance with the mobile application “Passer“
We can recommend you an affordable place to stay in Alajuela or in San José located 5 minutes from the airport or bus terminal if needed. We work with a team of trustworthy taxi drivers who can pick you up and take care of your transport between the airport, lodging, and bus terminal/airport and will make sure you’re getting the right bus ticket.
It’s possible to stay an extra night for $390 including meals, an extra surf session, and transport back to Golfito airport or Paso Canoas bus terminal.
The price is per person in USD $, including tax, but there is a 5.5% fee if you wish to pay with a credit card or PayPal. We also accept bank transfers and there are no extra fees if you choose this option.
On location, please bring extra cash to pay for your bar tab, extra activities, surf equipment, and tips.