We take a surf trip every year with just the two of us, and one every year with the kids. When you’re planning a surf trip with family, considering what will work for everyone is key. You want to make sure there are surf classes or lessons for children available if they wish, and/or other things to do to keep everyone occupied.

As a family living in Latin America with two young kids, we have some solid recommendations for surf spots, hotels, and camps that are family-friendly. The list is not in a particular order.

Surf Camps and Spots for Families

Lapoint Surf Camp

Costa Rica

Located in the surf oasis of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, Lapoint is truly a family-oriented surf camp. They offer surf experiences all over, but we’re focusing on the Santa Teresa location here. Santa Teresa is one of our favorite surf towns in Costa Rica. It’s a bit far from airports out in the Nicoya Peninsula, but it’s a surf-centric little town. It’s on the more touristy end, but not quite as touristy as something like Tamarindo. The waves are consistent, and there are waves for everyone. One thing that adds to its appeal is the options for waves for all skill levels.

There are a ton of surf camps in town, lessons available with solid coaches, and rentals all along the beach. We recommend checking out Lapoint as they really strive to work with families. They have a lovely little pool with activities, delicious fresh seafood, double rooms for families, and all the surf activities you could ask for. There are video feedback sessions, tons of equipment available, and they organize activities to surrounding attractions liek the Montezuma Waterfull (which we highly recommend checking out!). Lapoint offers 8 day camps, 10 day camps, and 14 day camps at their beautiful private jungle villa.

WildMex

Mexico

WildMex makes our list because of their offerings and their location. They’ve been around the Riviera Nayarit area of Mexico for 20 years, rocking the surf lessons and camps. They’ve stayed in business so long and grown so much because they do it well. They offer camps in Sayulita, as well as nearby Punta Mita. Sayulita is one of the best places to learn to surf in our opinion, and is home to one of the best beginner waves in Mexico. There are great mellow waves, but it can get crowded during high season (December and January). If you’re headed to Sayulita, we recommend trying to go in a shoulder season (such as October or March) between the high season and low, windy season.

There are also plenty of things to do in Sayulita other than surf. You can go whale watching, find tons of cute art galleries and markets, explore surrounding towns like San Pancho, or visit the protected sanctuary of Islas Marietas to check out the wildlife. As a destination for families, you’ll find no shortage of other things to do. The mellow waves are also great for kids or beginners. WildMex offers 7 day camps and 10 day camps, as well as standalone rentals and classes!

Hide and Seek Resort

Nicaragua

Located in Popoyo, Hide and Seek is a resort that offers a ton of health and wellness activities such as yoga, meditation, a spa, and more. The waves in Popoyo are incredibly consistent, with a solid A-frame for both rights and lefts. There are also more beginner-friendly waves on the inside with a nice sandy bottom. Popoyo is a great place to surf in December as well, during travel and vacation season for many in North America. Their family packages include things like horseback riding, all meals, and tons of activities for the kids if you want to let them have some fun while you go out surfing. It’s not necessarily the cheapest option on this list, but you do get what you pay for. It’s a luxury all-inclusive surf resort with top-tier accommodations.

The waves here pump in the North American summer. They can grow to over 20 feet. However, there are tons of other waves and places to surf. One thing we love about Popoyo is the quantity and consistency of waves. You’ll basically always find somewhere to surf here. It’s a lot less crowded currently than other places nearby like Costa Rica, and you’ll find pumping waves at the Main Reef all the way to learner waves at Beginner Bay. If you’re considering Nicaragua, Hide and Seek should be at the top of your list for a family surf trip.

Beach Break Surf Camp

Panama

Although it doesn’t come to mind quickly when poeple think of surf in Central America, there is some amazing surfing in Panama. Located in Playa Venao, this all inclusive surf camp is literally right on the beach in front of the break. It’s a relatively laid-back vibe and definitely will be a quiet vacation. That isn’t to say you won’t have fun, but it’s not a huge tourist spot. The waves here at Beach Break Surf Camp are super consistent, offer something for all skill levels, and are often completely empty. To be honest, we haven’t actually stayed at Beach Break but we do have family friends that have. In addition to our friends’ recommendations, they have plenty of reviews from families that absolutely loved it here.

One thing to note about Playa Venao is that it works best in dry season, or the North American winter. This makes it a great spot for holiday vacations as the southwest swells come in strong. There are some seriously long rides on offer here. In summer, you’ll find some larger swells coming in, but much less consistency. There’s really one surf spot, but it’s huge. The beach is long and has no rocks or reef, so it’s a great place to either learn to surf or really go all out without worrying about what’s below the surface.

Iguana Surf Camp

Costa Rica

Another spot in Costa Rica. If you’re a regular reader of our site or blog, you know that I lived in Costa Rica when I was a teenager and it is where I really fell in love with surfing. Iguana Surf Camp is located in Tamarindo, a tourist hotspot on the Nicoya Peninsula. Iguana is basically a staple of the surf community here. They have a full surf shop in town, surf lessons and rentals, and tons of camp options. Iguana is also on our list of the best surf camps for beginners for several reasons. They have access to some of the best beginner waves in Costa Rica, ISA certified instructors, and coaches who specialize in working with newbies.

The town itself is a tourist destination for sure. It’s on the more expensive side as far as Central America goes. It’s super safe, clean, and you have access to food and stores and everything you’ll need. In addition to surfing, you’ll find plenty of things to do with the kids. Even if you don’t stay with Iguana, give them a visit. They have surf guides to take you to different spots, tour guides for other activities, and can help you get set up in the area with your family. They offer 6 day camps and 7 day camps, as well as lessons and rentals.

Occidental Tamarindo

Costa Rica

Finally, we’ll include a more traditional resort hotel here. The occidental Tamarindo is also in Tamarindo and is part of the Barceló hotel group. It’s a legit all-inclusive resort, so your family will have plenty of stuff to do. Located on the beach in Tamarindo, it’s just about a mile to the town center and all of the restaurants and action. It has multiple pools, a full spa, and everything offered by resorts. You’ll find live music at night, activities for kids, things to do at night, and all the meals you can eat!

There are some waves right out front for surfing, and you can also head into town pretty easily to find surf rentals if you need. The waves are a bit heavy for beginner surfers, but the inside waves are sometimes nice and gentle for the beginners.

El Paredón

Guatemala

We recently went to El Paredón with our family (in January 2025). We went with our two kids, my brother-in-law, and our tia. Located on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, El Paredón is a relatively small but up-and-coming town that was wonderful for the family. We walked everywhere, had delicious food, and the kids were certainly not bored. You can check out our surf guide for El Paredón for more info, but the important pieces are that there is offshore wind nearly every morning and super consistent waves, relatively few crowds, awesome little cafes and restaurants for every desire, and simply one of the kindest surf culture of anywhere I’ve ever been.

As far as surf lessons, camps, and rentals go, we have a few recommendations. Ryan Croteau offers surf camps in El Paredón throughout the year. He’s originally from the US but spends a lot of time in town. He knows everyone and everyone knows him. He also shreds and is the nicest guy. If you’re just looking for rentals or standalone classes, check out Escuelita de Surf Torre Fuerte. Run by Juan Carlos and his family, it’s a nice little sand-floor place with plenty of options. Ask for Emilio! He was awesome with the beginner surfers and the kids. Finally, if you’re looking for a full surf-camp vibe, check out the Macarena Paredón. This is a super new hotel that is beautiful and right next to the beach, and we’ve heard super good things from multiple friends that have been already.