Escape to Paradise

The average age of people traveling to us for an adult surf holiday varies per week, but generally speaking, the people who come to Swell Surf Camp on our surfing holidays are aged between 35 and 60. That's not to say that in certain weeks there are more people in their 30s than 50s (or the other way around). We are proud to say that we've have had people well into their 70s learning to surf at Swell.  Age really is just a number at Swell because the simple truth is that everyone is there with a passion for life and learning something new.  

Most of our clients are from the USA ( New York, Boston, LA, and Florida ), Canada (Toronto, Montreal,and Vancouver), and Europe, and 80% of them are working professionals who want the comforts of a boutique Surf retreat combined with the social aspect of a surf hotel.

Swell is a social place; however, we are not a 'party/drink' till 2 in the morning kind of place. 

Swell is located on the North coast of the Dominican Republic, in the center of the cool Caribbean surf town of Cabarete. 

Getting to us is really easy & fast from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto & Montreal.

One direct 4-hour flight with Jet Blue or United and you can swap the concrete, traffic and noise of New York with the sandy beaches of the Caribbean. From Toronto, and Montreal, it's about a 3,5 to 4-hour direct flight and we are only a 25-minute transfer from Puerto Plata (code POP) International Airport.  From Miami, it's only a 1.5 hour flight to POP!

Not coming from New York, Boston, Miami, Toronto, or Montreal? A short 1-stop connection to those cities and you'll soon be at Swell Surf Camp.

Basically, from most destinations in the USA, from your door to our surf beaches is a lot quicker than going on a surf trip to Costa Rica or Nicaragua, since either of those require internal flights or 3 to 6 hour taxi transfers.

Coming from Europe?
From Germany and Switzerland there are direct flights to Puerto Plata, or connect in New York or Miami to Puerto Plata.

More info.

See all airlines and routes that connect New York, New Jersey,  Boston, Toronto and Miami to us on this page > Getting here

Teaching people how to surf is what we specialize in here at Swell. When we started in 2009 we set out to be one of the best surf camps for beginners. We have qualified surf coaching instructors who can teach the sport of surfing in a safe, fun, and quick manner. We use a personalized surf instruction plan.

The surf spot where we teach is an ideal place for beginner surfers. Before we opened Swell, we looked around the globe to find the ideal beginner surf destination. We visited Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragu, and as far as consistency and safety, we found the North coast Of the Dominican Republic simply offered the best location for an adult learn to surf retreat.

Our local surf spot Encuentro is perfect for beginners. The waves on the inside are mellow, and the water is about chest-deep. There are no dangerous rips, currents, or sea creatures here in the Dominican Republic (unlike some other beginner destinations like Costa Rica or Nicaragua).

Many places worldwide are great for advanced and expert surfers, but not all great surfing spots are ideal for people new to surfing. Where we teach at Playa Encuentro, just a few miles west of Cabarete, is truly an amazing spot for learning how to surf holiday. For more information on our learn to surf program, have a look at this page.

About 70% of the clients who come to Swell for an adult surf camp holiday travel solo.

As a result, it's easy to meet like-minded travelers from all over the world. We surf together, we have breakfasts and dinners together, so if you are looking for a social surf camp when on a solo surf trip, then a stay at Swell will be a great option for you.

Have a look at reviews on external sites like Tripadvisor and Google, and you will see the social aspect at Swell as the no.1 recurring theme. And it's not just the single and solo travelers who enjoy the company of new friends. For couples or groups, it's also a great way to make new friends from all over the globe.

The average age of our clients varies from week to week, but generally speaking, we attract more of a 35 to 50+ year old crowd than the 18 to 24-year-old crowd.

Staying longer on a Swell surf vacation is not a problem; we get a lot of returning clients who do not enjoy the cold weather at home during the winter, and stay at Swell Surf Camp for several weeks.  Even during our wintertime, you do not ever have to wear a wetsuit, the water is warm, and leave your warm clothes at home too, just bring plenty of sunscreen.  Ask Clare for our long term rates.  

Staying shorter is also possible, although the minimum stay most of the year is 5 nights.  Whilst Saturdays are the ideal arrival date, if we have availability, you can arrive on any day of the week.  So it's best to see what flights are available and then, send us a message if you want to join us for a surf holiday with like-minded adults.