Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Budget surf destinations

profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Can someone shed some light on budget surf destinations either all inclusive or just simply cheap.
A group of friends and I want to go sometime over the summer to fall before they start classes again.
Week to 10 days would be nice.
Only two of us actually have boards, the rest, myself included will have to rent.
One buddy lived in Indo and Australia growing up and taught a few of us to surf two summers ago out in Toffino on longboards and I went again that winter in Hawaii on some bigger waves and a bit shorter board and would love to go again
May 23 2013 12:01AM
7 0
profile picture
Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
I stayed here once. There is a surf break right there and it's close to salulyta. it's cheap but I would recommend the adults only side (a bit more expensive) because you get to go to the restaurants every night instead of a few restaurants and the rest buffets.

http://palladiumvallartaresorts.com
May 23 2013 12:42AM
0 0
profile picture
TinyTigers
Posts: 484 - Karma: 213
The Oregon coast has some great surfing and lodging for pretty cheap if you can tolerate the cold water
May 23 2013 12:58AM
0 0
profile picture
Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,012
where do you live? that'd help, because driving is probably the play if you are trying to keep it cheap
May 23 2013 1:01AM
1 0
profile picture
bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
Costa rica is an amazing place for surfing. I don't know what you mean by cheap but it's better than some places in terms of cost.
May 23 2013 1:18AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
I live dead center of canada in saskatchewan. 22 hour drive to tje west coast, then even more hours to eitjer head north up the coast or south into the states. so factering travel time, flying would be nice. And cold water isnt the end of the world but honestly we'd all preffer not having to wear a wetsuit.
aslo, we are all over 21 so leagal everywhere, and yes we want to party
May 23 2013 1:29AM
1 0
profile picture
elinde
Posts: 1459 - Karma: 2,934
if you're not looking for a legit tropical destination, anywhere up and down the east coast can be good, mostly late summer into fall though. I stick near long island and cape cod, but down in NC and SC it's good too, especially along the outer banks. It's as cheap as you want it to be.
May 23 2013 7:34AM
0 0
profile picture
paige.
Posts: 1930 - Karma: 907
Go to Nicaragua. Much cheaper and less Americanized than Costa Rica, good surfing, and plenty of partying in the surf towns if that's your thing.
I'm not sure what renting boards will cost but I was spending less than $10/day on food, hostel, fun and drinks.
May 23 2013 12:28PM
1 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
yeah partying is pretty high on the list. how are flights out there? $10/day is pretty damn cheap
May 24 2013 6:38PM
0 0
profile picture
jca
Posts: 4162 - Karma: 6,261
yee, San Juan del Sur in southern Nicaragua is a great place to base out of for surfing. In November i flew from Spokane to San Jose, Costa Rica (6ish hour bus ride from san juan del sur) for $520 round trip on American so I'd say it's a pretty good option if youre willing to spend a bit of money to get there. But once you're there it's so damn cheap to live, if you look, you can find decent places to stay for $5/night.

i actually have a group of friends at a surf camp in san juan del sur right now, but they're paying a bit more money and have a really sick set up.

i'd definitely look into san juan del sur and some places in el salvador.
May 24 2013 7:25PM
1 0
profile picture
paige.
Posts: 1930 - Karma: 907
Not sure as I had canadian flights but jca's advice of flying to costa rica and bussing (I like tica bus) to san juan del sur is probably the cheapest way to do it. If you head that way I've had several people recommend Naked Tiger Hostel as a good place to stay for those who do want to party.
May 24 2013 8:09PM
0 0
profile picture
snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
If you want to party and surf good waves in warm water I would either do Tamarindo or Puerto Escondido. You're going to get fucking worked in Puerto if there's swell though. Don't list to people saying the East Coast or Oregon or some bullshit. They have never surfed Mainland Mex or Central America.

There is no partying at the best waves and since you're a beginning surfer I wouldn't recommend the top spots anyway since you're not going to get any waves.
May 25 2013 1:26AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
well.. I'll be getting Canadian flights too. How much was it from Calgary?
May 26 2013 3:00AM
0 0
profile picture
clive_bixby
Posts: 1834 - Karma: 499
Virginia beach
May 26 2013 3:40AM
0 0
profile picture
king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
i just got back from a trip yo southern cali which was surprisingly cheap. we camped inland every night ( it was always like twice as expensive to camp right on the beach) and went to the beach every day. there are breaks everywhere down there. the water was pretty damn warm. nice beaches. hot california girls. fuck i wanna go back.
May 26 2013 9:59AM
0 0
profile picture
Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
I just got back from a 3 week trip to Nicaragua. Did plenty of surfing. I was able to buy a decent board there for $80, stay in cheap places ranging from anywhere from $5-15 a night. Beer at most bars are $1.50 and you can get a decent meal from anywhere from $3-7. Also  taking the bus is the coolest thing ever there, you can ride bus halfway across the country for like $4!
May 26 2013 11:02AM
1 0
profile picture
987321654hgfd
Posts: 5133 - Karma: 5,447
Rincon, Puerto Rico
May 26 2013 11:06AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Nicaragua is high on my list so far. I Googled the diving and it looks pretty damn good too.
I'm starting a new job soon which happens to be two weeks on two weeks off, so looks like I'll be doing a few trips somewhere during my weeks off.
May 26 2013 11:29AM
0 0
profile picture
J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
cape hatteras, NC
wellfleet, MA
May 26 2013 12:33PM
0 0
profile picture
elinde
Posts: 1459 - Karma: 2,934
wellfleet's my fucking jam i'm up there for a few weeks a summer
May 26 2013 4:09PM
0 0
profile picture
LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
how are the waves in wellfleet? and is there any place to camp instead of staying in a hotel?
May 26 2013 4:14PM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
are there times of the year that are better then others to surf Nicaragua? I don't start my new job until the 19th,so might take a quick trip out there
May 30 2013 6:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
From what I gather the bigger waves start in april/ may. Keep in mind rainy season is just starting now, but it will still be sunny lots. I was surfing there last week and there was everything from 2-7 ft waves
May 31 2013 1:29AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
how long is the rainy season?
May 31 2013 1:36AM
0 0
profile picture
Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
not sure, a few months? I was there a 3 weeks, during rainy season and it rained once so it can vary
May 31 2013 1:49AM
0 0
profile picture
ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
Chili has real good surf, Puerto Rico as well.

SoCal has a lot of rad places too, you could easily hostel it up and surf a ton of locations between San Diego and LA while taking the train up the coast..
May 31 2013 2:05AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
I'm going to Chile at the end of July on a Helli skiing trip with 5 buddys. but out tour guides said its too cold to surf then??

now, I do like the idea of taking the train up the coast. is it quit expensive?
May 31 2013 2:12AM
0 0
profile picture
ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
Just use a thicker wetsuit? I don't know...

There's two trains from SAn Diego.. One is the coaster, which is real cheap, and makes a lot of stops all along.. But it only goes up to Oceanside. But really between San Diego and Oceanside, there's so many surf spots..

From Oceanside, you'd hop on the real train, Amtrak, to get up to LA and hit up those spots..
May 31 2013 2:24AM
0 0
profile picture
Jewschoolers
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 1,142
yeah well surfing in the winter would kind of blow
May 31 2013 2:38AM
0 0
profile picture
KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
hmmm i might look more into this too, ive always wanted to travel the west coast of USA.

and when we surfed Tofino last year we had 5-7mm wetsuits on.

and I've gone ice diving with a 5-7, that's scuba diving under the ice, 30 mins completely submerged literally in ice water and it wasnt even that bad aside from hands and feet.
May 31 2013 11:25AM
0 0
profile picture
snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
Chile will be fine that time of year in a 4/3 booties and a hood.

I wouldn't take the train, that's not going to work. Just rent a car and drive it. But if you're looking for good waves that are less crowded I would suggest Baja or Mainland Mexico. It could be pretty flat for weeks on end unless there is a south swell or some random wind swell in the summer in SoCal. Mainland Mex is a cheap ticket and will be shoulder-head+ everyday in 80 degree water. SoCal will be 65-72 and may require a wetsuit depending on how long you want to surf.
Jun 2 2013 12:15PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)