Where is a good spot to learn how to surf?

Question

We want to go on a vacation somewhere out of the U.S.A. but we dont want break the bank with this trip. my parents already said australia was too expensive. so what would be a good spot to learn how to surf at a reasonable cost?

Answer 1

Try Pert Rico or Panama tropical places with good truism and easy surf spots.

http://www.panamasurfcamp.com/

Answer 2

California. Try Bay Street, Santa Monica

Answer 3

Mexico is dodgy now, especially if you've never been before.

Costa Rica is the new Nicaragua, and its great. Also, its the most stable country in South America. Two of my favorite places to go are Nasara and Tamarindo.

If you're going with family, I reccomend Tamarindo. Its about 5 hours from NY, 6 hours from LAX, and two and a half from Miami. Flights aren't too expensive, and neither are places to stay. You fly into Liberia and from there, its a two hour drive. I went with my family once, and half a dozen other times with friends. A good place to book a room would be the Best Western there. Its not really anything like an American hotel, its all these sweet tropical rooms, with a pool and the beach a 1 minute walk away. I think rooms go from 150 a night for two beds (seperate rooms), and there's a kitchen and big livingroom with two couches you can sleep on. Tv and internet, too, though you'll be surfing too much to use those. The pool has a swim up bar which is just plain awesome, and remember, no drinking age. There's plenty of entertainment and restaurants for your parents, too.

There are 5 other beaches within 25 minutes, its best to rent a car by the airport. An hour and a half north are Ollie's Point and Witch's Rock, awesome places to go for a couple days. You need to charter a boat, but its totally worth it. Don't be suprised to find overhead barrels, either.

If you end up going, as for this guy Alex at the front desk, he handled almost everything for us, gave us maps and everything. The people are really chill, too. When I went with my family, we were there for about 2 weeks, ate out at nice restaurants just about every night, and spent less than 1800 (not including airfare). But when I went with my mates it was more staying in hostels and stuff, which was just as good because all we wanted was to surf.

Edit*

Yeah, as John said, don't be so quick to get out of the country. As its your first time, it might be best to learn somewhere closer to home, and less expensive. I reccomend California, either Santa Cruz, San Diego or Santa Barbara. Its consistent almost year round, and you wouldn't have any trouble learning to surf. It might not be a good idea to take a surfing trip out of the country to learn how to surf.

Answer 4

costa rica for sure... all kinds of waves there and not too expensive

Answer 5

The question is way too broad.How much money can you spend on vacation? How long can you stay? Most US resort beaches (East, West & Gulf Coasts and the Hawaiian islands) have surfing communities. So staying in the US might be a good option. The link to these surfing communities is the local surf shop. Surf shops can turn you onto to lessons, and even rent you a board to learn on. I am vaquely familiar with the situation in Mexico, and it is relatively similar. There are also big surfing communities in Costa Rica, and you can travel there fairly inexpensively. I am really only familiar with playa tamarindo, but there are lots of surf resorts with websites. Find a resort with a surfable beach, and you can find a place (and people) to facilitate learning how to surf.

However, it is only fair warning, that unless you are already pretty much a 'waterman' (or woman as the case may be), you will have great fun, but it takes a lot more than a week or so to learn how to surf (for real). Good,luck, and have fun....next time tell us a little bit about you, and we can give you better answers

Answer 6

Mexico.  Ride bikes arcross town.  Saves you gas and good for you.

Answer 7

dominican republic