A surfing vacation is a great way to not only improve your board technique, but a perfect way to meet like-minded surf enthusiasts from around the world and discover foreign cultures in exotic places. Your trip doesn't need to break the bank -- there are many international locations that offer warm waters, awesome waves, super cheap accommodation and a laid-back lifestyle.
Costa Rica is a well-known surfing paradise with dozens of exceptional beaches to catch the perfect set, especially on the Pacific coastline.Tico Travel (tel. 800/493-8426; www.ticotravel.com) features several surfing packages or individual day-trips to Costa Rican hot spots. They can also arrange your discounted airfare through TACA Airlines, United or American Airlines. The "Wings and Wheels" package is for independent travelers that don't want to be locked into any particular beach destination. Until August 31, fly round-trip from Miami to San Jose and get seven-days 4WD car rental (a Terios) from $299 per person (three people booking together) or $349 per person (for two people). If you are traveling on your own, the rate starts from $498. Until November 30, 2005, round-trip airfare from Orlando to San Jose plus seven-days car rental is $388 per person for two or three people or $537 if you are traveling solo. Airport taxes are additional. You can also upgrade to a RAV-4 or a 4 Runner for additional cost.
The "Hermosa and Dominical Adventure" includes seven-nights accommodation at two of the best surf beaches on the coast, three nights at Villas Rio Mar in Dominical and four-nights at Feugo del Sol in Hermosa.From now until November 30, 2005, enjoy this package, which also includes seven-days 4WD car rental with taxes and basic insurance plus an in depth surf map from $292 per person if you are traveling with a group of three or $397 if it's just you and your best mate. Also, until November 30, 2005, the "Playa Grande Budget Package" offers seven-nights (one night at the Irazu Hotel and six at Ripp Jack Inn), and a 4WD vehicle from $263 per person for three people and $359 if there are two. International airfare is additional. It is important to remember that TACA Airlines accepts a maximum of two surfboards (up to 12-feet in length) in a surf bag with a charge of $50 one-way from all TACA Airlines North American airports, although some of Tico's packages include one free board bag.
With almost 200 miles of pristine Pacific Ocean coastline, you may never have considered El Salvador, but it is a budget-conscious option for those wishing to find great surf without the crowds relatively close by.Jungle Surf Tours (tel. 310/544-1942; www.junglesurftours.com) facilitates surf tours at various well and lesser-known surf breaks.At La Libertad, only 15-miles from San Salvador, a one-week package including accommodation, transfers and surfing equipments ranges from $225 per person for seven-nights to $495 for more luxurious accommodation. All hotels and apartment complexes on offer are within a short walking distance from the beach and most have swimming pools and cooking facilities. At El Cuco beach, prices start a little higher at $550 per week for the opportunity to surf the longest and widest beach in the country. For those who prefer to surf at isolated beaches, there is K59, a private beach only accessible to residents and surf tour guests. A week-long package including accommodation and transfers starts at $265 per person in a double room or a super low $200 if you are traveling with a group of six surfers. Not only will you save big bucks on accommodation in El Salvador, but transport and fresh seafood is also cheaper than anywhere else in Central America. Airfare is additional.
Wave Hunters (tel. 888/899-8823; www.wavehunters.com) also gives you El Salvador on a shoestring budget. Its La Libertad packages include five-nights accommodation at the surf-front Mango's Lounge in an AC room, airport transfers, breakfast & dinner daily, five half-day surf tours with a Punta Mango guide including transportation and free access to the Fisherman's Beach Club. The price for this package starts from $660 if you are traveling solo, $492 double occupancy or only $375 per person for four-six travelers in two or three hotel rooms. Extra nights including half-day surf tours are $120, $90 per person for two people or $75 for larger groups. Extra nights with accommodation, breakfast and dinner only (no tours) are only $35.
Indonesia is home to some of the world's largest waves and lowest prices. Wave Hunters' Indonesian surf tours include round-trip airfare from the US, transfers, accommodation for six-nights at Joyo's Camp, all meals and beverages (up to three beers per day) and some of the best surf this planet has to offer in Grajagan, commonly known as G-Land, accessible from Bali. Prices start at $1,435 per person from Los Angeles or San Francisco or $1,485 from New York during mid-season and $1,645 and $1,725 in the high season. Mid-season runs from April 1 to June 5, August 21 to Dec 5 and high season from June 6 to Aug 20 and December 6 to 12. These tours run from March 1 to November 12 each year, coinciding with the most consistent surfing conditions. Land only options, including transport to and from Bali, accommodation and meals start from $260 for three-nights and $360 for six-nights.
Right now it's low season in Brazil so your South American surfing safari is much cheaper. Brazil Surf Travel (www.brazilsurftravel.com) has a seven-day surf package at the Florianopolis Superior Surf School from $229 per person based on triple share or $285 per person double occupancy. This super low price includes six-nights accommodation at Pousada Farol da Barra at Barra de Lagoa Beach (the hotel has a swimming pool and is a seven-minute walk from the beach), daily breakfast, airport or bus station transfers, five 90-minute surfing classes with professional surfer Evandro dos Santos and board/equipment usage during classes. The price goes up about $65 per person during high season from November 1 to March 1. Even if you don't book a surf package through them, check out their website for great information about 54 individual surf beaches in Brazil, including wave quality, swell, wind, accommodation and infrastructure. Flights to Brazil are also less expensive at this time of the year but it is easier to fly to Sao Paulo and then catch a cheap domestic flight on one of Brazil's many domestic carriers to Florianopolis. If you are considering visiting a few different surf beaches in Brazil, you should consider TAM Airlines' (tel. 888/235-9826; www.tamairlines.com) Brazil Airpass, which must be purchased prior to arriving in Brazil. It is exchangeable for up to four domestic flights to be used within 21-days anywhere in the country. The price is $399 plus the cost of your international round-trip ticket to Brazil.
Another exotic but budget-priced surfing destination is Morocco. With just under 2,000 miles of coastline, surfing is growing in popularity in this largely Muslim country. Taghazoute, a small fishing village on the central Atlantic coast in northwest Morocco is a superior surfing location, easily accessible from the international airport at Agadir (40 minutes by local taxi for approximately $40), serviced by Royal Air Maroc (www.royalairmaroc.com/ENG) from the U.S. Flights from the U.S. to Agadir during the month of June range from $867 to $928 through www.cheapflights.com. It may be cheaper to get to Europe and then take a discount carrier like Brussels-based Atlas Blue (www.atlas-blue.com) on to Agadir or Marrakech from as little as $110 each way.The only hindrance with surfing in Morocco is that you have to declare your surfboard with customs on arrival and take it back out of the country with you, even if it is damaged (if it is lost, you'll need a police report as proof). Winter is the most popular season with consistent swell, clean surf and warm air and water. Spring and autumn have similar conditions with hotter air and fewer surfers. In summer, the conditions and the swell are less favorable. Accommodation here isn't fancy but it is cheap, usually less than $20 per day in apartments or in one of only two hotels. Hotel Atlantique (sorry -- no website) is a whitewashed traditional building with blue trim, polished mosaic floors and hammocks on the rooftop and for just $18 a night. English isn't widely spoken, but the locals, who speak both Arabic and French, are hospitable and friendly.