Colombia Surf & Adventure Camp: Tayrona Coast

A typical day at the camp follows the swell and the light. You'll usually surf in the morning, break for a long lunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day, then head back out for a second session in the afternoon when the wind softens. Lesson times shift depending on tides and conditions, and your instructor will tell you the plan the evening before. In between sessions there's time to eat, sleep in a hammock, swim, or walk the beach.

Group classes are kept small — a maximum of four students per instructor — and run for around two hours. You'll cover the basics of paddling, positioning on the board, popping up and reading the wave, with your instructor right there giving feedback in the water. Private lessons run for two hours with one instructor focused entirely on you, which suits beginners who want to progress quickly or intermediate surfers trying to fix specific habits. There is also a shared-private option for friends who want an instructor to themselves as a group.

The breaks around Buritaca, Guachaca and Mendihuaca are a mix of beach breaks and river-mouth sandbanks. They work well for beginners for most of the year, and there are punchier options nearby when the swell picks up. The water is warm enough to surf in boardshorts or a swimsuit year-round. On bigger days, instructors will move the session to a more sheltered spot rather than cancel it.

What sets this apart from a standard surf-school package is the video analysis. Sessions are filmed from the beach, from the water and from the air with a drone, and the footage gets reviewed with you so you can actually see your takeoff, your stance and your timing. It's the kind of feedback loop that normally costs extra at other schools. The instructors are also all local to the Tayrona area and many are alumni of the foundation programme the school helps fund, which means the money you spend stays in the surrounding communities.

Accommodation is arranged through the partner hostels along the coast, and you'll be based at whichever one matches your package — Viajero Tayrona in Buritaca, Costeño Beach Hostel in Guachaca, or Selva & Surf in Mendihuaca. All three sit within a few minutes' walk of the beach and the surf. Transport between the hostels and the surf spots, board and rash guard hire, and your lessons are all handled by the school.

What's included

- Surf lessons with a qualified local instructor - Small groups — maximum 4 students per instructor - Surfboard and rash guard hire - Video analysis with camera, drone and GoPro footage - Accommodation at a partner hostel (depending on package) - Access to beaches and surf breaks around Tayrona - Beach safety briefing and technique coaching

What's not included

- Flights to and from Colombia - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra fee) - Meals and drinks unless specified in your package - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Tips for instructors and hostel staff - Optional excursions such as Tayrona National Park entry