The Green Iguana Surf Camp has been around for some time now, teaching guests to be pleasured by the surfing experience, not just ride the waves with no regard to the power they bring. It’s the lifetime experience of keeping you well and good while you are on Costa Rican waters.

The Green Iguana Surf Camp can be found in the heart of Playa Dominical where waves are constant in Costa Rica. The camp tenders to the one of the kind adventure idea for both the young and the young at heart. This can be good for the surfing fanatic to the typical vacation junkie or even the lifetime thrill seeker and even the weary traveler.

Camp Attractions

Imagine yourself at the beach with the ability to look out over the entire ocean. The Playa Dominical and the surrounding shorelines and reefs provide the perfect picture setting. The ones surrounding Playa Dominical area Playa Guapil, Playa Dominicalito, Playa Hermosa and Playa Ventanas.

There are many different kinds of waves to ride from the easy breakers to death defying odds, the places talked about above have no flat surfs. This is the reason that it makes a wonderful place for surfer wannabes to get started on their surfing skills.

For the more intermediate and advanced surfers, Papas Point is available to further their surfing abilities. For many native residents, this is often termed “The Point”.

Despite the name, there are other activities that can be taken advantage of. A person wanting to explore can take in the sights of the beaches and the rainfall canopies. Tours are offered along with kayaking and rappelling. For those that just need a relaxing time, can sit back and watch the sunset while laying in a hammock, outstretched. They can listen to the roar of the waves as they come crashing to shore.

Camp Lodgings

The Green Iguana Surf Camp offers two kinds of lodgings for its guests: beachside lodgings and rainforest lodgings.

- Diuwak (pronounced “Dee-you-wak”) Resort is for those who wish to be next to the ocean. This resort lies 100 feet from the sea and is elegant, rustic and very comfortable. Diuwak has two packages to its rooms:

* Package A is a standard room with single or double beds, a private bathroom with a heater, telephone and with an electric fan or air conditioner.

* Package B is a deluxe room with all the amenities from the first package but it is bigger. It also has a television set and a mini refrigerator.

- Rainforest lodgings is, as the name states, in the forest. Those who choose to be here can be surrounded by a profound silence of only nature. Should you want to be taught how to surf in Costa Rica and do some self-reflection, then this lodging is the one you want.

Other Camp Features

For people who wish to do more than surf, there are tour guides who will show you the different beaches and surfing areas around the area. They will even take you to see the waterfalls. You can get surfing lessons by experienced teachers and lifeguards as well as getting a CD featuring photos from your surfing instruction. You’ll get a Green Iguana shirt, a Reptile Park trip and transportation to and from the airport. This includes all meals and even a massage.

Does this sound like fun? Then you need to book your trip today!

PRAIA MOLE SURF BEACH

Anyone who has visited Florianopolis knows that Praia Mole beach is the best year-round location on the island. Literally translated, “Praia Mole” means “soft beach” and is named so due to its extremely soft and deep sand. Praia Mole beach is centrally & conveniently located on the east coast of the island and is popular for its abundant beautiful people and great surfing. It is also popular because of its convenient location, being very near to the town of Lagoa da Conceicao, where you’ll find a majority of the island’s bars, restaurants, gift shops, grocery stores, ATMs, a gas station, and one of the best nightclubs on the island.

The surf on Praia Mole is known as being stronger than most other beaches, which suits the surfers just fine but can be dangerous for inexperienced swimmers during days with large surf. Surf can range anywhere from 0 feet to 20 foot faces during the winter months. For weak swimmers and children, the north end of the beach offers a protected cove where the water is always calm and swimming is safe even on some of the largest days of surf. On the beach at Praia Mole, you’ll find a volley ball net, a juice bar, a VIP lounge area, and 6 different restaurants that double as beach bars. During the summer months (Dec – Feb) these bars will either have a live DJ spinning or at least have loud music because Brazilians love to dance whenever the opportunity presents itself. There always seems to be some action going on at Praia Mole beach.

JOAQUINA SURF BEACH Joaquina beach (just south of Praia Mole) is one of the best surf beaches in all of Florianopolis and is usually the site of the annual WCT surfing championship. The area surrounding Juaquina beach is environmentally protected sand dunes so there is no housing near the beach but it isn’t far from Praia Mole so this isn’t an issue. This beach is not one of the beautiful beaches since it is surrounded by nothing but sand dunes and a large parking lot filled with tour buses who drop off Brazilian tourists by the hundreds. However, the surf is great, especially during large swells. This is one of the few beaches that can hold its shape during a very big swell. When the surf is big, it peels left off the northern point.

GALHETA SURF BEACH

Galheta beach, just north of Praia Mole, is also a great surf spot and much less crowded than other surf breaks since there are no access roads to it but it’s just a 10-minute walk on the beach from Praia Mole.

PRAIA BRAVA BEACH

Praia Brava is located on the north end of Florianopolis island and the surf is comparable to Praia Mole. Translated, Praia Brava means “furious beach” most likely due to the frequently big and rough surf. This beach is a solid 1-hour drive from Praia Mole, the town of Centro, and the town of Lagoa, which means it’s on the outskirts of the island and not convenientle located for vacationers who like to enjoy the Florianopolis nightlife. However, if you’re a surfer looking to hit some different surf spots, this spot will suit you well during a nice swell. This beach is not surrounded by jungle and wildlife preserve like most other Florianopolis beaches. Instead, it is packed with tons of hotels and condo complexes. Unfortunately, this area becomes deserted outside December, January, and February (peak summer months) because it is simply too far away from most of the islands nightlife, shopping malls, and restaurants.

FLORIANOPOLIS SURF RATINGS

Following are most of the surf beaches on the island of Florianopolis, Brazil. This should help you when planning your Florianopolis surf vacation.

Beach, Star Rating, Direction of Break, Type of Break

Armacao, 2, right & left, Beach Break Barra Da Lagoa, 2, right & left, Beach Break Boca da Barra, 3, right & left, rivermouth Caldeirao, 3, left, beach break Campeche Rights, 4, Right, beach break Canasvieiras, 3, right, sand bar Galheta, 3, right & left, sand bar Ingleses, 2, right & left, beach break Joaquina, 4, right & left, sand bar Lagoinha do Leste, 4, right & left, beach break Lambe Lambe, 4, right, point break Matadeiro, 3, right & left, beach break Mocambique, 3, right & left, beach break Morro das Pedras, 2, right & left, sand bar Naufragados, 5, right, beach break Ponta Do Rapa, 4, right, beach break Praia Brava, 3, right & left, beach break Praia do Forte, 3, right, point break Praia Mole, 3, right & left, beach break Riozinho, 5, right & left, beach break Santinho, 3, right & left, beach break

It’s perfectly acceptable and, actually, highly recommended to take a surfing lesson when you’re just picking up the sport. You might think surfing is logical and that you will have the natural ability to pick it up right away, but the reality is that surfing is a very awkward sport when you first start out and there are tons of little tips that you can acquire only from a surf instructing professional.

Surf lessons can be private or in groups and last for about an hour. You will likely ride on a completely foam board that is nearly 10 feet long and very lightweight, which catches waves easily and gives you a lot of float. Most surf schools guarantee that you will stand up on a wave. If you don’t, you can usually come back for another lesson for free until you do. It might appear unnecessary and dorky, but a beginning surf lesson will likely accelerate your surfing ability more than the trial and error of learning on your own. If you go it alone, your learning curve will likely be slower, more painful, and in some cases more dangerous.

Another thing you must keep in mind is that friends who surf are not the same as surf instructors. Some of your friends may have been surfing for years, but if you ask them to go surfing with you to help you learn, they could well be worse than your least favorite middle school teacher. You and your experienced surfing friends might paddle out together, but your friends might leave you treading water at the lineup while they’re catching all the waves.

That’s why you are much better off shelling out the $50 or so for a first lesson. Surf instructors get paid to answer questions and push you into a wave. Their main goal is for you to have a good time while riding your first wave. To take full advantage of the time you have with your instructor, it is advisable to prepare a list of questions you can ask. There’s no limit to the silly or stupid questions you can ask a surf instructor, so fire away.

Surf instructors take their students to beginner surf breaks that are usually a bit crowded. This will be a most humbling experience, but you will be among others who are in the same boat as you. One thing is for certain: Wherever it is you go with your instructor, he or she won’t paddle you out to a break that you can’t handle, so you know you will be safe and taken care of. For this reason, surf lessons ensure that you will paddle back out another day wanting more. Goodness knows you don’t want to be in over your head or get injured and be too scared to try the sport again. So start off on the right foot by taking one surf lesson. Once you get that initial lesson out of the way, you’ll feel far more confident going it alone thereafter.

Arriving in Cape Town is over whelming, the first thing you notice is the warmth and friendly attitude to you the surfer.  This country has been through so much in the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to set foot on its soil to surf the glorious waves that caress its shores daily. South Africa is blessed with some of the best and most consistent surf the world has to offer. Couple this with the mild climate and you have a surfing paradise. During the South African winter the coastline is supplied with almost endless groundswell and offshore winds due to the constant flow of cold front activity in the southern Atlantic.  So as a surfer arriving from a rainy Oregon to find warmth and amazing surf is a dream come true.

The tour I was on, involved sessions at numerous South African premier surf spots which include Jeffrey’s Bay, Seal Point, Victoria Bay, Bruce’s Beauties and as well as many other spots that “crank” in winter. Dylan collected me after arrival and we were all packed up to head off along the coast.  South African surfers are always so stoked it is amazing and Dylan was no acceptation to that rule and assured me that he had a thorough knowledge of surfing in the area and that he was our tour guide.  Furthermore he practically guaranteed me that I will get to the respective spots when they are at their best, he just fell short in advising me he had arranged the swell as well.

As we arrived at the lodge on the outskirts of town I was greeted by the other surfers on the tour who had arrived a day or two earlier.  Dylan whispered in my ear and ensured me with an eager smile that the tour remains personal and that by limiting the number of people on each tour guarantees we all get a great time. Like all South African’s he is proud of the countries surf and then could not refrain from telling me yet again for the 5th time that he would ensure I surfed as many African barrels as possible. Umm…. I went to bed with that thought. My second day started with Dylan taking the tour to a place at Muzuimbrug, an ideal spot he assured me to get acquainted to African Waves. ‘Muzies’ as it is known, is renowned for its rolling and very consistent A-Frame waves and endless stretch of beach.  Whilst Dylan provided surf lessons for some learners on the tour I paddled out the back to enjoy some glass morning surf.
 
After a hearty lunch we set off on an orientation tour of the stunning Cape Peninsula, Dylan believed this would help us get our bearing on the land and we also had a visit to the Cape Point Nature reserve as well as Cape Towns more famous tourist sights including a visit to boulders beach where wild penguins happily play.

The morning of day 3 was an important one for me personally as I could not wait to set out on our first port of call which was a 65-meter bungee at Gouritz. This is optional on the tour but it’s highly recommended to get you stoked and ready for the adventure that lies ahead and I was game for it. If you plan on doing the worlds highest one later in the trip, I suggest you do this one first to get a feel for it! I did not opt for the higher…

Along the way we stopped at Mossel Bay for a surf session, there was a selection of 3 breaks to choose from, Inner and Outer Pool as well as Ding Dangs. Depending on the conditions and your standard the surf guides will take you to the one with most zest, and they selected one just fine for me.

Inner Pool’s wave breaks very close to famed outer Pool off a section of rocks, walls up when at its best and is usually surfed when Outers is flat. Outer Pool Gets large and challenging in solid winter swell but is usually surfed when clean and orderly in light westerly winds. Outer offers a cooking right hand reef break with a solid wall and a long ride. Ding Dang’s a fun hotdog wave that works when winter swell wraps around cape St Blaise.

After the surf, we set off on the road again, the most beautiful scenery as we enter the ‘Garden Route’ is breath taking and most of us all sighed with disbelief at the views and the panorama that was unrolling ahead of us. Depending on the time of year, apparently the guides can surprise the group and dive for some crayfish (Cape Rock lobster) along the way for the evening dinner, this was not the case for my tour but I gather it can be the norm.

It’s up early to get the best swell the next morning and we all opted to head for a spot called Buffalo Bay Point – a very similar wave to Bruce’s Beauties that too me was going to be the highlight of the tour and was to come so I took this as a trial event.  The point can get superlative in the right conditions by all accounts and before leaving the US I had heard great reports of the conditions that can be found here so was please to see a perfect 3ft day.

That evening we checked into another local surf lodge, and zipped out for and evening surf! We headed off to a place I had dreamed of since first seeing the movie Endless Summer – Bruce’s Beauties – it breaks a lot more often than is thought of and is by know means a gentle long boarders paradise. When cooking, Bruce’s is a screaming right hand point that freight trains along a jagged line of rocks. “Get ready for mean gaping barrels” Dylan shouted as he disappeared into the water, leaving the rest of us half changed, running and falling every other step!  It was just like a clip from the movie here I was about to hit the surf of Endless Summer.

The next day I found it very difficult to get up to be honest, three great days of epic surf and with another few more to comes I just could not cope… my body was feeling the flight and the perfect surf of the night before.  So rather than surf I just joined the tour to watch the rest of the group under a go some lessons on the beach and sat back enjoying the wild environment that seemed as if Portland and US Airports was just a forgotten memory.  I could not believe that only 90+ hours ago I was crammed into a bus in Portland with a huge longboard knocking everyone that moved.  Now I lay head back on the sand listening to the sounds of sea birds and knowing that I am totally at peace and having the best surf trip in my life.  Sure I have surfed some amazing spots but to surf a spot I have seen over a thousand time son video and then to actually enjoy it going off better than in the film was beyond even my wildest thoughts of surfing in South Africa.

After a few more days of touring and surfing spots such as Boneyards, Supertubes, Salad bowls, J-Bay, Tubes, Point and Albatross it was time to start to head back in the direction of the Cape.  Everyone on the tour had become exhausted and tired but we were now a travelling surf family too tired to talk but desperate for one more last surf before the Cape and we were not disappointed as slowly we drove towards Buffalo Bay again and it was just as we left it, perfect……

As we drove in to Cape Town the next day Dylan turned to us all and said “How about Sky diving, or Paragliding? – We can even arrange a shark dive if you wish!” – in a great chorus we all said “shut up man… we are exhausted!”  The one thing you can say about South African’s they are a great friendly bunch and the stoke of surfing runs deep in there veins.

The beauty of the tour I think was summed up by the people on it, from 6 surfers who were learning to surf for the first time and having lessons daily to the rest of us who ranged from beginner to advanced.  We all surfed well and all experienced the conditions first hand.  We all had our own experiences and that is something all of us will take away and is our surf memory – an amazing surf trip.

I travelled with Xoxxi ( http://www.xoxxisurf.com ) which is a surf brand run by regular surfers for regular surfers and they were very helpful in this unique travel surfing experience.  You can also visit the South African tourism website at ( http://www.southafrica.net ) for other information on visiting the country.  You may also like to purchase a book, and I would recommend Surfing in South Africa, By Steve Pike (ISBN: 1919833153).

I own and run a surf travel company on Australia’s Gold Coast. My business basically pulls together all the services offered on the Gold Coast that a travelling surfer needs. We then go the extra step of renting our surfboards to our clients, for the duration of their holiday. The idea is simple, we want to ensure our clients have the surfing holiday of their life, without the hassle of sorting out the logistics when they arrive.

One of the great things about this business is I deliver the surfboards myself. This gives me the opportunity to have a brief chat with every surfer coming through the Gold Coast using my services. I really enjoy this part of the business as being a surfer myself, I enjoy the contact with people who have a similar passion to mine. Also, it gives me the opportunity to get into the heads of my clients, so I can understand what their expectations are for their surfing holiday and can continually improve my services based on their desires.

“I wish I was a little bit fitter for this holiday”, so many of my clients tell me when returning their surfboards. This is the number 1 desire of the travelling surfers who use my services. The want a higher level of surfing fitness for their holidays. It makes sense really. When you go on a surfing trip, you end up surfing 2 – 3 times a day, which will probably equates to 4 – 6 hours a day in th water. This you do consistently over a period of 5 – 10 days. It is a lot of surfing. No matter how much you surf at home, you will be surfing more when on holiday.

So what is the best way to get fit for a big surf holiday while you are busy back at home, with all the pressures and distraction every day living brings? We believe there are 3 things you should do. The first 2 should be part of your long term commitment to personal health and fitness and the last is aimed at giving you a real fitness boost before you go on holiday.

The first thing you need to take care of is your general level of endurance. You need to be fit enough to go hard for 10 – 15 minutes minimum as often this is the minimum paddling requirement for getting through the breakers and out the back. I believe this fitness requirement needs to be a little more specific than “general endurance”. I believe you need to have a base level of “water endurance” or water fitness. Surfers and swimmers have an inate feel for the water. It is very different to exercising on land. It has a different type of co-ordination and efficiency. The fittest runner can be a disaster in the water, burning up all their energy and getting nowhere.

So to cover off this requirement, you should be swimming or surfing at least twice a week, every week of the year. Do not leave it till a month before your holidays, it is impossible to develop water fitness in such a small span of time. If you love surfing, you will love the water. Make it a part of your life. Then, in the month leading up to your holiday, increase you workload by 1 or 2 sessions a week and make your sessions much more intensive. This will give you a little fitness boost pre-arrival.

The second key to surfing fitness is flexibility, balance and core strength. Once again, this is not something you want to leave till the last minute, rather something you want to develop over time as part of your commitment to surfing, health and fitness. Yoga is the answer here. Yoga is so good for surfing fitness, it is almost as if it was invented purely with the surfer in mind. Not only does yoga help you improve your flexibility, balance and core strength, it also re-aligns and re-balances your body back into its natural and healthy position, away from the imbalanced position which surfing causes. For example, even the simple act of paddling requires you to over-arch your back, creating a distortion in the development of your back muscles. Yoga sorts all these types of issues out, as well as conditioning your body. My advice, get yourself a surf specific yoga DVD and do it 2 or 3 times a week.

The final thing you can do is a surf specific, functional training program. If you have taken care on the first and second items above, surf specific training is the ideal pre holiday fitness preparation. It should be short, (Ie a fitness program which runs from 4 – 12 weeks) it should gradually increase in intensity over those weeks and it should be designed specifically for the muscles you use in the water. The point with such a training program is to give your surf specific fitness a massive boost prior to arriving on your holiday. You’ve got your base level of fitness sorted out already by ensuring point 1 and 2 above are part of your lifestyle. This training program recognises though, that there will be a short period of time where you will need a higher level of fitness (Ie. For those long sessions while on holiday) and prepares you specifically with those higher needs in mind.

I hope this helps you prepare for your next surfing trip where ever it may be. We all know training can sometimes be a bit of a drag, just remember how much more fun those surfing days are when the waves, your skill and your body all come together at the same time, so you can catch that elusive perfect wave.

“A cool way to enjoy and be adventurous in the beach of Oahu is through surfing. However, if you are a first-timer, hitting those huge waves won’t be that easy. It’s a good thing that in Oahu, surf lessons are being provided to let tourists like you take more pleasure in experiencing the wildness of nature.

A surf camp in Oahu offers a wide variety of surfing techniques and moves, which are always demonstrated by professional surfers so that learners are properly guided.

Not knowing how and what to do when surfing is really quite embarrassing at times. This feeling, however, should not be since professional surfers also started with zero knowledge about surfing. If not for enrolling in a surf school in Oahu, they wouldn’t have learned the basic and advanced techniques of the sport. Besides, you’re doing this just for fun, right? You do not need to pressure yourself into becoming a surfing pro all at once.

Learning to surf is similar to writing for the first time. In writing, you need to know how to hold and maneuver your pen while in surfing your surfboard represents the pen. As you proceed in writing, you gradually learn the curves and lines of each letter; in surfing, the waves might seem scary at first but eventually you’ll learn how to be one with it. Surfing is almost always perceived a difficult and complicated sport in the beginning but a reputable surf school in Waikiki will teach you all you need to know so you don’t have to worry about messing up in the beach. Concentrate on the basics as you take up Surfing 101.

Aside from learning how to control the waves, taking up Waikiki surf lessons will open you to the beauty of this kind of sport. Imagine yourself standing up on your surfboard for the very first time, it’s a personal achievement, isn’t it? As you go out there to practice what you have learned in school, there will be instances you’ll fall and start all over again. Such situation should never let you down instead serve as your inspiration to do better next time. To improve yourself on surfing, don’t hesitate to ask questions and simple techniques from your trainer. Be observant and try to understand how the pros do it in preparation for your next endeavor with the waves.

If you are planning to take surfing more seriously in hope of joining a competition someday, select the right surf school so you can get an excellent training course. Choosing the right place to study in plays a big factor in honing your surfing skills. Make your surfing classes more fun by inviting your friends to enroll, too. Getting moral support from people you trust and love will surely motivate you to do your best. If you can’t seem to grasp your surfing lessons, walk up to your trainer and be honest about it. This way, he can slow down a bit and be more conscious about how far you’ve gone. Remember, there’s always room for improvement, don’t pressure yourself too much. Happy surfing!”

Where “general” or “traditional” camp programs have historically been the norm, specialty summer camp programs for kids and teens — which focus on one just one activity or a few related ones — are growing in popularity year after year. Nowhere is this more evident than along the southern California coastline, where surf camps are one of the fastest growing segments in the specialty camp sector. The increased interest in the sport, especially among children, has led to the proliferation of surf camps up and down the coast. Just take a stroll along the beaches of San Diego or Los Angeles and you’ll see group after group of happy campers learning to surf from their caring camp counselors and surfing instructors.

If your child has expressed an interest in learning to surf, sign him or her up for a summer surf camp experience!

But how can you tell you’re picking the right one?

When you choose a surf camp, it’s always wise to narrow your search down to one that’s earned accreditation by the American Camp Association. If a surf camp has achieved this status, it means the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards running the gamut from program and activity quality to camper safety to staffing and supervision and more.

If the surf camp you’re considering is not accredited by the American Camp Association, then you should ask the camp director why that’s the case. If you are not satisfied with the answer, it’s time to move on to the next surf camp.

Surf camp accreditation status is certainly not the only criteria to rely on when choosing a surf camp. You must also be sure the counselors and surfing instructors are experienced, qualified and have basic safety certifications in CPR, First Aid and lifeguarding. (While the ocean environment is tremendously fun, it demands respect, too. So you want to be certain your child is being instructed by capable and qualified staff who are equipped to handle any potential scenario that might come up, particularly with respect to your child’s safety at the beach.)

Concerning the individuals who will be supervising and teaching your child to surf, you want to choose a surf camp with experienced instructors who are caring, nurturing, and capable of teaching children of all ages, temperaments, and ability levels whether they are beginning, intermediate or advanced surfers.

You also want to make sure the surf camp incorporates a heavy dose of beach, water, and sun safety learning components into its program so your child gets them most well-rounded surf camp experience possible.

In addition, the surf camp should provide new equipment (including surfboards and wetsuits), and the camp program should take place only in ideal learning environments such as oceans with soft sandy bottoms and consistent wave activity.

In addition, there should be a public lifeguard supervising the surf camp program at all times.

Often overlooked in a parents’ search for a surf camp is to confirm whether the camp has a high profile sponsor connected to it. For example, if you choose a surf camp that is sponsored by Billabong or Quicksilver (which are huge companies and very well-respected in the surfing industry), you can be fairly certain you’re on the right track because these organizations will generally only attach their names to trusted surf camps with respectable camp programs.

We hope this article has helped you learn how to choose a surf camp.

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.

Nicaragua is one of the few places

with great surfing no matter the skill level. Those who can handle large swells can find a beach to accommodate them. Beginners can also go to a beach to find easier waves to ride.

Marsella is another excellent surfing option. This beach also has some great waves, and you can hit the beach and spend an entire day just riding waves. While there are a lot of people that go to this beach, you can still find your own part of the water to wave hunt.

While there are many great beaches to choose from if you are looking for surfing, Playa Maderas is one of the best. It has great waves, and it has a consistency that surfers love. No matter the time of the year, a surfer can find some great waves to ride at this beach.

This is very exciting for people who have surfed in other parts of the world. Many surfing destinations are short or waves and high on people. There are too many people for the waves that are available, and that can make surfing miserable.

Experienced surfers can get some of the best surfing in of their life when they visit this beach. It is a favorite for surfers because it delivers over and over again.

Nicaragua is known for its great surfing. Tourists come to Nicaragua to enjoy the beach along with the wonderful surfing conditions. Those who love a challenge are able to ride the waves in some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world.

When you surf in Nicaragua, you can surf on beaches that are exposed to swells from the northwest and the southwest. That makes the surfing much more exciting. Instead of surfing on a beach and waiting for waves to roll in, there is one wave after another when you choose this surfing location.

The surfing in Nicaragua is available year round. The power of the waves change through the year, but one can go and find a wave no matter the month of the year. Therefore, you do not have to plan your trip around surfing. You can go to Nicaragua at any time and bring your surfboard along. You will be able to get a lot of use out of it. No matter what your experience level is, you can bring your surfboard and have a great time.

If you are new to surfing and want to give a try, there are beaches in Tola that will give you the kind of peaceful waves you will need to get started. Tola is a great place to learn how to handle a surfboard. After you spend some time at one of the Tola beaches, you will be ready to branch out and try one of the other offerings.

Also, because the waves in Tola are mild, there are not as many surfers around. You will get some privacy as you learn about surfing. It is a fun way to spend the day.

That is not the case in Nicaragua. There are plenty of waves, and you are sure to find your own area to surf in.

While you do not have to surf to enjoy Nicaragua, you can have a great time if you bring a board and hit the beach. This is one of the premier surfing destinations in the world. Anyone who loves surfing should give it a try so they can find out why Nicaragua is rated as one of the best surfing destinations. No matter if you have a lot of experience or are new to surfing, you can have a wonderful time with the waves.

www.nicawaves.com

If you are exploring holiday destinations try Portugal Surfing holidays this season.You will find Portugal Surfing Holidays to be a very unique and special experience that will give you an opportunity to enjoy the truly stylish and exciting culture. The Portugal Surfing Holidays are for everyone – for singles, couples and families looking to experience warm sunshine, pleasant water conditions and excellent sea food or great wine.

So Portugal Surfing Holidays will prove to be a great idea to go for a perfectly holiday -relaxing and action packed at the same time. You can go with your friends and family, and believe me there’s no better spot for that than Portugal. Some people are under the misconception that holiday with Portugal Surf in mind, is just for young college-goers. That is not true. Even if you’re older, or younger, you can still have fun with Portugal Surfing Holidays.

If you are planning Portugal Surfing Holidays first and foremost what you should do is to explore district regions of Portugal. Each district has something unique to offer. Right from the lush vineyards of the Douro in the north to the craggy coastline of Alentejo in south-west Portugal to holidays on the sandy beaches of Portugal’s Estoril Coast which offers green and unending golf courses in the Algarve to the mid-Atlantic Azores islands if you would like whale watching and nature trips as part of your Portugal Surfing Holidays

Portugal Surfing Holidays is one of the oldest adventure sports known to man. Historians have dated Portugal Surf adventure to as early as 3000 years ago, but the modern form of Portugal Surf as we know of it today was developed in Hawaii couple of centuries ago. Portugal Surf as a sport came to Portugal much later, but now it’s a major sport for amateur surfers because of friendly waves that help a beginner learn it in safe and encouraging environment.

Portugal Surfing Holidays are not just for the pros or those who already know the sport. Like mentioned earlier even the beginners can have surfing fun here and Portugal beaches have a lot to offer to them too. Portugal Surfing Holidays means, friendly waves that you can ride even if you are newbie, it offers you good instructors plus there are shops where you can rent surfing gear etc that make Portugal Surfing holidays a perfect destination.

If you are seriously considering Portugal surfing holidays, there are many travel agencies in Portugal which offer you packaged holidays inclusive of `Portugal Surf Learning Sessions and practice’ with pros. The tutors and instructors will guide you through the the lessons of surfing.

If you are planning Portugal Surfing Holidays you must be aware of all the aspects of Portugal Surf. Remember that surfing is an adventure sport, which means there’s a slight amount of risk involved with it. You should not go for your round of Portugal Surf if you don’t know how to swim. Because if the surfboard overturns, which often does, your swimming skills will come in handy and if you are an energetic swimmer you will be able to get back to shores safely.

Have a great, memorable and safe Portugal Surfing Holiday!

Sand. Sun. Surf. Think beach, and those are the first descriptions that pop up. Images of azure waters gently rolling to pristine shores, coconut and palm fronds waving in the sea breeze, the soft tinkling of wood-and-string instruments accompanied by the staccato of percussions… all in keeping with the picture-perfect summer holiday. So the general, typical beach-going public would agree.

But take it to a different world: one of waves swelling to as high as thirty feet overhead, of deeply tanned pecs, abs, biceps and legs running, jumping and swimming in shape and of human figures skating the surface of these gigantic waves on colorful boards in a race against crashing foam and surf. It’s the world of surfing.

Surfing traces its historic roots in the early Polynesian people of Hawaii. Memoirs written by Capt. James Cook on his visits to the Pacific are the earliest records of surfing anywhere in the world. Traditionally, the people of Hawaii lay flat on their bellies on wooden boards to skim the waves. Surfing is deeply-rooted in Hawaiian and Polynesian culture, playing a role in the construction of legends and myths. The imminent danger faced while surfing, the thought of conquering the waves, the thrill of being atop them and the discipline it takes to reach all of the above: these elements are responsible for the excitement and popularity that surfing has become.

The last statement proves true in the fact that Hollywood has capitalized on the surfing industry, making movies out of it and of the lives of surfers. “Blue Crush” features Kate Bosworth as a female surfer struggling to make her mark in this male-dominated sport. Along with two other female friends and her younger sister, Anne Marie (Bosworth) is determined to prove her worth, eyeing the Pipe Masters competition as her triumph. Amidst the stunning visuals of the Hawaiian coast, Anne Marie drives herself into shape and hones her surfing skills for the event, while making a living teaching football players the game. Though she loses the Pipe Masters contest, Anne Marie does get to demonstrate that women can surf and surf well, too in a wonderfully executed exhibition at the “Pipe,” one of the most dangerous surfing challenges present.

“Point Break” is about surfing, yes, but with a rather peculiar twist. Keanu Reeves plays Johnny Utah, a rookie FBI agent on the tail of a gang of bank robbers called “The Ex-Presidents.” The gang robs banks using masks bearing the faces of previous American presidents, and Utah’s partner, agent Angelo Pappas (Gary Busey) has a theory that they may be surfers. Utah immerses himself in a surfing culture, learning the ropes of surfing through some newfound friends headed by a guy named Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze. Bodhi turns out to be a one of the “Ex-Presidents” and he and Utah battle it out with the waves of the Los Angeles coast as their background. Utah goes from being an ex-football player who is clueless about the sea to a a competent surfer who has learned not just the art and beauty of surfing, but of good relationships as well.

A movie with a story different from what mainstream Hollywood has to offer. “Riding Giants” is just that. In documentary format and featuring real-life surfers, “Riding Giants” takes the viewer for a dive into the history of surfing, the culture that holds it alive today and the commercialized hype that has popularized it. It gives a detailed look inside the real world of surfing, where the dangers are always close by and how the fascination for those huge waves have lured and molded the icons and legends of surfing. It has been dubbed as the most informative surfing movie to date, complete with fantastic visuals.

There are more surfing movies, particularly from the sixties to the seventies. Those mentioned above have been produced in this recent century. Other popular surfing movies include “Endless Summer” and “Endless Summer 2,” “Big Wednesday,” “Billabong Odyssey,” “In God’s Hands” and the digitally animated film, “Surf’s Up” that has a penguin for its lead surfer.

To know more about surfing sites, visit www.Marconibeach.com