Huesca Canyoning
Camps
Featured Surf Paddle surf
Surf camps in Cantabria
Learn to surf a few days in Cantabria, sleeping near the water. Four beaches, five schools each with their own character, options for all ages — from tent camping in Somo to eco-domes in Suances.
From 550 € /person
No commitment · We design it with you
§02 — The place
Four beaches, five schools, and the first wave you ride start to finish.
You wake to the sound of the sea on the other side of the pines, have breakfast and walk fifteen metres to the sand. The first session is in the shorebreak, almost on foot, while the instructor teaches you how to read the wave coming in. On the second day they push your board to where the wave already lifts a bit. By the third you're out on your own, paddling with the group, and suddenly you feel the water push you, you stand up clumsily and the wave carries you a way. That's when you understand why this place is what it is.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Four beaches, four personalities
Somo (bay, accessible by boat from Santander), Berria (Santoña, sheltered), Oyambre (Comillas, open ocean, international) and Los Locos (Suances, eco-friendly alternative). It’s not the same as sleeping in a tent with a barbecue nearby than in a dome with yoga at dawn.
- 02
Operators with decades of experience
Cántabra Surf School has been operating since 1991, Berria Surf School since 1998. These aren’t fly-by-night operations: there's continuity in instructors, federation membership, and a refined product season after season.
- 03
Separate product for children and adults.
If you travel for ten years, you don’t end up in the adults-only camp. If you travel for twenty-five years, you don’t end up among twelve-year-olds. Each package clearly states its target audience.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Adventure Family
Built for first-time surfers, active group-of-friends or family-with-teens holidays, international travellers looking to combine beach and social atmosphere, and parents who want to send their kids to a quality summer camp. Not the right fit for pure relax holidays without activity (mornings are sea-time, always) or for those wanting advanced-level surf on big waves — for that, head to Mundaka or the French Atlantic coast.
No commitment · We design it with you
§06 — The practical side
Camp practicalities
- Best season
- Spring · Summer
- Fitness level
- Easy
- Typical length
- 2-7 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Low. A beginner surf session asks you to know how to swim and last two hours in the water with a wetsuit. No prior aerobic conditioning is needed, but the back and shoulders get loaded the first days (paddling). In a week-long camp it's normal to end day one exhausted and improve from day three onward.
How to get there
Operating season: most run June-September. Some (Berria Surf School, Bio Surf Camp) also open at Easter. Water: mild in summer (16-20°C), a light wetsuit is enough. Waves: all four beaches work for beginners in normal conditions; when there's a strong swell the instructors reschedule. Airport: Santander is 20 min from Somo, 35 min from Berria, 40 min from Suances and 50 min from Oyambre. Some camps offer airport pickup on request.
Recommendations
For first-time experiences with a group of friends, choose the beach by accommodation rather than by wave: Somo if camping and nearby Santander nightlife matter; Berria for something smaller in a pensión; Oyambre for an international profile and meeting new people; Los Locos for eco/relax with yoga and organic food. For kids and teens, the Berria camps (Watsay and Berria Surf School) are the most complete. For intermediate-to-advanced level, Dreamsea is the option that most explicitly splits by level.
§07 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which beach do I pick? What's the difference between Somo, Berria, Oyambre and Los Locos?
All four are in Cantabria but each has its own vibe. Somo (Santander Bay) is Spain's surf-mecca beach, accessible by boat from Santander and home to the oldest camp. Berria (Santoña, east) is a wide protected beach, ideal for beginners with small schools. Oyambre (Ruiloba-Comillas, west) is a huge ocean-facing beach with international atmosphere. Los Locos (Suances, west) is the most alternative option, with eco-bungalows and slow-living philosophy.
Do I need previous experience?
No. All packages accept absolute beginners. The typical progression: day 1 surf on sand (paddling and pop-up technique), day 2-3 small waves at the shoreline, day 4-5 already on waves breaking a bit further. If you bring intermediate or advanced level, schools like Dreamsea explicitly split into levels 0-1-2.
How do the kids' camps work?
There are two distinct options on Berria (Santoña): Watsay with large facilities (68 spots) and lots of complementary activities, and Berria Surf School with a small house and personalised care. Both cover the 10-17 age range with 24h supervision, full board, surf in the morning and activities in the afternoon.
When's the best time?
June to September is the operating season for most. Best waves for beginners: June and September, with mild water and more manageable waves. July and August: more people, more heat, mild water but sometimes flat. Easter: only some open (Berria Surf School, Bio Surf Camp). Winter: possible only on request and for intermediate level upwards.
What do I bring?
Swimsuit, towel, water-resistant sunscreen, hat, sandals and change of clothes. If the camp is tent-based (Escuela Cántabra), also sleeping bag and mat. The board, wetsuit and the rest of the gear come from the schools; don't bring your own board unless agreed in advance.
How do I get to the beaches? Do I need a car?
You can reach Somo by boat-bus from Santander in 25 minutes. Berria by Alsa bus to Santoña and then 10 minutes to the beach. For Oyambre and Los Locos a car is recommended, although there is a bus to Comillas and Suances from Santander. Some camps offer Santander airport pickup on request.
What if it rains?
Surf doesn't cancel for rain unless there's a heavy thunderstorm (in which case the class reschedules). If the sea is too rough or the waves too big for the level, instructors run theory sessions, watch video, or switch to surf-skate. The saying in the sector is: in Cantabria, wet from the sea or wet from the rain, what matters is being wet.
We'll shape it around you
Tell us how you travel - dates, group, pace, budget - and we'll design the trip exactly the way you need it.
No commitment · Custom plan within 24h · Made for you