Women's Surf Progression Camp in Tofino, British Columbia

The camp starts on a Sunday afternoon at Surf Grove. You meet the group around 5pm, pitch your tent, and sit down for dinner and an orientation at about 7pm. Dinner is vegetarian and cooked for the group; from then on, every night ends with a shared meal at camp. On the first full day, coaching begins in the morning. A Surf Sister instructor takes you through a warm-up, then works with you in the water on whatever the group needs — paddling efficiency, catching unbroken waves, turning, or reading the sets coming in. You break for lunch and free time around midday. An optional afternoon surf is usually organized for anyone who still has energy; otherwise people rest, stretch, or head into Tofino.

Days three and four follow a similar shape: morning coaching, free afternoon, group dinner. On day three the morning session is the only structured surf block, so you have a long stretch to explore the beach or the town. Day four adds another optional afternoon surf, which most people join because by then the group has found its rhythm and nobody wants to sit out. Day five is the photography day. You do your morning coaching as usual, and in the afternoon one of the camp photographers gets in the water with you and shoots the session. That evening is the last group dinner.

Day six is checkout day. You can paddle out for a morning surf before packing up, but the campsite has to be cleared by 11am. There is no coaching scheduled that morning — it is just a last chance to get wet before you leave.

What separates this from a standard surf school package is the consistency. You get the same coaching team for four mornings in a row, which means they learn how you surf and can give you feedback that builds across the week instead of starting from scratch each time. The camp is women-only, run in partnership with Surf Sister, and intentionally small. It also includes an in-water photography session, something most week-long surf camps charge extra for or skip entirely.

Surf Sister is a well-established women's surf school based in Tofino, and the coaching on this camp is delivered by their instructors. Tofino itself sits inside the Pacific Rim National Park area, with long sandy beach breaks, cold but consistent swell, and a town that is small enough to walk around in an afternoon. Water temperatures mean you will be in a wetsuit all week, and the camp expects you to be a strong swimmer who is comfortable in currents and bigger surf.

What's included

- 5 nights camping (shared sites) at Surf Grove - 4 days of daily surf coaching with Surf Sister - 5 vegetarian group dinners - In-water photography session - Camp merchandise - Group orientation on day one

What's not included

- Surf gear (available for an additional rental fee) - Camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad) - Breakfasts, lunches, and post-surf snacks - Transport to, from, and around Tofino - Travel insurance - Personal expenses