How to Prepare for Your First Surfcamp in El Palmar

If you've never been to a Surfcamp, it's normal to arrive with some questions. What to bring, whether you need to know how to surf, how classes are organized, what happens if you come alone, or even if you need to prepare physically beforehand.

The good news is that you don't need to turn the weeks before into special training. The important thing is to come knowing what to expect and eager to spend several days around surfing.

This guide compiles what we believe is worth knowing before coming to your first Surfcamp in El Palmar.

You don't need to know how to surf to come

At our Surfcamps, people who have never been on a board mix with others who have already taken lessons or even catch waves on their own.

Before you arrive, we assess each participant's experience and organize sessions by level, so that each group can work from a similar starting point.

If it's your first time, we start from scratch. If you've already surfed, we continue building on what you currently know how to do.

And if you are already self-sufficient and are looking for much more technical and specific training, our Technification Surfcamp is probably a better fit for you.

Do you need to get in shape before Surfcamp?

You don't need to arrive especially trained. Surfing is physically demanding, but each person participates at their own level and can regulate their effort.

If you have a few weeks left and want to feel better, any activity that helps you move, breathe, and gain some endurance can be helpful: swimming, cycling, walking, working on mobility, or doing some strength training.

But we wouldn't turn your first Surfcamp into a physical exam. Come rested and listen to your body during the sessions.

What to bring to a Surfcamp in El Palmar

You don't need to travel loaded with surf gear. For the sessions, we provide a board and wetsuit, so your suitcase can be quite simple.

• Swimsuit or bikini: better to bring more than one.
• Towel: for after sessions and showers.
• Flip-flops: useful for the beach and the Surfhouse.
• Comfortable clothes: you'll spend a lot of time between sessions resting or with the group.
• Sweatshirt and something warm: especially during autumn and winter.
• Sneakers: for surfskate and activities out of the water.
• Sunscreen: the sun is still there even if you come in winter.
• A reusable bottle: to have water handy during the day.

If you have your own equipment and want to use it, you can bring it.

Don't expect an identical schedule every day

One of the things that can be surprising at a first Surfcamp is that surfing doesn't work well with completely rigid schedules.

Before the group arrives, we spend days tracking the swell, period, wind, and tides. From there, we prepare the sessions and schedules that we believe make the most sense.

On the first night, we review the forecast together and explain why we organized the program that way. If the sea changes, we can adjust some parts.

If you want to better understand how we make those decisions, you can read our guide on when to surf in El Palmar.

A class doesn't necessarily end when you get out of the water

During the Surfcamp, we use different tools to help you relate what you feel on the board to what is actually happening.

Video analysis allows you to see some of your waves from the outside, and surfskate helps us repeat certain movements on land when it makes sense to work on them that way.

You don't need to know anything about surfskate or have done video analysis before. You are coming precisely to learn how to use them.

And there are also times when we simply surf

When conditions are favorable, we try to go back into the water for a Free Surf.

In that session, there are no exercises or corrections. Instructors and participants go in together, look for an area that suits the group, and share the water.

Because during a Surfcamp there is time to learn, but there also has to be time to stop thinking about doing it well and simply surf.

What happens between sessions?

The group stays at our Surfhouse in El Palmar, about 900 meters from the beach.

Breakfast is prepared there for guests, and there's time between sessions to rest, shower, discuss the sessions, or simply hang out with the group.

At the Surfcamps, we also prepare the Saturday barbecue.

The rest of the time isn't scheduled minute by minute. Depending on the format, the sea, and what the group feels like, there's also space to rest or explore El Palmar and the surroundings.

What if you come alone?

It's completely normal.

Many participants arrive without knowing anyone. The first encounter can feel like entering a house full of strangers, but after sharing the first waves, meals, and a few hours together, the dynamic usually changes quite quickly.

If this is what you're most uncertain about, we've prepared a specific guide on what it's like to come to a Surfcamp alone.

Some tips for your first Surfcamp

• Don't try to prove any level. The better we know how you actually surf, the better we can place you in the right group.
• Don't compare yourself to the person next to you. Two people can start on the same day and learn at completely different paces.
• Rest when you need to. Several sessions in a few days can be more tiring than you imagine.
• Ask questions. About technique, forecasts, currents, boards, or anything you don't understand.
• Watch the sea. Learning to surf is also about starting to understand what's happening in front of you.
• Don't try to learn everything in one weekend. If you go home understanding one or two things you didn't understand before, you already have something to take to your next sessions.

The goal is not to be prepared for everything

Your first Surfcamp shouldn't start weeks beforehand worrying if you have enough skill, enough stamina, or the right equipment.

Come ready to get in the water, learn, and share a few days with other people. We'll take care of the rest little by little when you arrive.

If you want to see upcoming dates, you can check our Surfcamps in El Palmar.

And if you want to ask us if a specific format suits you before booking, write to us using the WhatsApp button on the website and tell us if you have surfed before and what you are looking for.