Surf and Wellness Retreat on El Salvador's Pacific Coast

A typical day starts early, because that's when the wind is offshore and the waves are cleanest. You surf before breakfast with a coach in the water, then eat, then sit down with the footage from that session to see what your take-off and bottom turn actually looked like. Afternoons are for the land side of the programme: mobility work, breathwork, surf skate, or an ice bath if you've earned one. Yoga runs later in the day, and dinner is served communally.

The programme is built around what the camp calls The Surf Sequence methodology, with sessions matched to your level rather than a single group going through the same drills. That means a first-timer practising pop-ups in the whitewash and an advanced surfer hunting a right-hand point break can be on the same trip without either being held back.

What separates this from a standard surf camp is the recovery and cross-training side. Ice baths, breathwork, mobility sessions, surf skate and Jiu-Jitsu are all part of the week, not add-ons you book separately. The idea is that you surf better because you're also training balance, flexibility and lung capacity out of the water.

The setting does a lot of the work. El Salvador's Pacific coast gets consistent swell through the year, so there's less sitting around waiting for waves and more time actually surfing. The beaches are black sand, the water is warm, and the line-up is far less crowded than the better-known surf destinations in Central America.

Off the board, there are beach walks, cliff paths and hidden coves within easy reach, plus the beach towns along the coast for coffee, fruit and an afternoon away from the camp. Evenings tend to be low-key: golden light, food, and people comparing notes on the day's sessions.

What's included

- Daily surf coaching with in-water instruction - Video analysis of your surf sessions - Sessions tailored to your level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) - Structured programme built around The Surf Sequence methodology - Mobility and breathwork sessions - Surf skate training - Ice baths and recovery sessions - Yoga sessions - Access to Unnatural Movement, Jiu-Jitsu and self-defence sessions - Oceanfront accommodation at the surf lodge - Meals from Covana Kitchen, cooked with local ingredients - Infinity pool overlooking the ocean

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (not stated on the page) - Massage treatments - Personal expenses - Surfboard hire (not stated on the page)