Surf Coaching Week at a Beachfront Ranch in Chapadmalal, Argentina

The programme is built around a simple loop: surf, watch yourself surf, surf again. Each day includes one theory class and one practical session in the water, followed by a photo analysis meeting where the coach goes through the footage frame by frame. The analysis is aimed squarely at self-taught surfers — the recurring mistakes people pick up learning on their own, like paddling position, where they're looking on takeoff, and standing up in the wrong part of the wave. The coach, Pepe, is a free surfer who represents AFT and Vans, and who has spent more than nine years coaching one-week surf courses alongside the international surf travel company Barefoot Surf Travel. He learned to teach at 14 at the Escuela de Surf de Mar del Plata on Playa Grande, trained under Rulo Prenski through his junior competition years, and later stepped back from competing to focus on reading waves properly, riding boards with more volume, and matching board choice to the type of wave.

What separates this from a standard surf camp is the level of detail in the coaching and the amount of coastline they're willing to use. Mar del Plata's surf coast is rarely blown out because it faces multiple directions, so the team picks between two different zones in the city depending on conditions. Beginners and intermediates get the more sheltered option; advanced surfers get a 40km stretch of coast to hunt the best spot, with briefings on wind, tides and swell direction so you understand why you're surfing where you're surfing. Theory sessions also cover surf skate work and general surfing tutorials.

The days follow a rough pattern. Mornings usually start with breakfast at the ranch, then a theory session or a practical class depending on the tide, lunch back at the house, an afternoon surf session, and the photo analysis in the late afternoon or early evening. Yoga runs as a post-surf stretch class — it's about loosening up after hours in the water rather than a standalone yoga programme. Evenings are dinners at the ranch, and on at least one night per trip there's a fire pit with live music in the yard next to the dome.

Chapadmalal itself is farmland and cliffs — chacras, estancias, organic vegetable plots, streams and valleys, with the beach and the ranch sitting right on the coast road about 8km past the lighthouse south of Mar del Plata. It's green and quiet, and the reviews consistently mention the sea view, the terrace, and how close the surf spot is (across the street). The ranch has space for 40 guests, a big living room with an ocean view, a bar, a parrilla, a garden, hammocks, and outdoor showers for rinsing off after sessions.

The trip lengths are flexible — you can book anywhere from 2 to 6 nights, with fixed start dates through 2026 and 2027. All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included regardless of the package length, as is one fire pit/music night and one yoga class. Wetsuits and boards are provided for your classes. Prices are listed in USD and there's a presale rate for 2026 dates.

What's included

- Accommodation at AFT Rancho in double or shared rooms - All breakfasts, lunches and dinners - Theory classes (one per day) - Practical surf classes in the water (one per day) - Photo analysis sessions with the coach - Wetsuit and surfboard for your classes - One yoga class - One fire pit evening with live music - Wi-Fi, sheets and quilts - Surf skate sessions - Full kitchen, parrilla and outdoor showers on site

What's not included

- Flights to Argentina - Transport to and from Mar del Plata / Chapadmalal - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Alcohol and extra drinks from the bar - Surf shop purchases (clothing, accessories) - Meals outside the ranch - Additional yoga or massage treatments