I started surfing earlier this year after moving to Bali, and somewhere along the way I became curious about what it would be like to spend a full week at a surf retreat in Portugal.
Which is pretty ironic considering I was born in Costa Rica, one of the most famous surf destinations in the world, yet I had to move all the way to Bali to finally decide to get on a surfboard.
My relationship with the ocean has also been a little complicated. A few years ago, I almost drowned in Greece, and that experience completely changed the way I felt in the water. I still loved the ocean, but suddenly, I was also genuinely afraid of it which felt almost contradictory because I had always loved being in the water.
But I knew I needed to work through that fear. I didn’t want one experience to define my relationship with the ocean forever, and living in fear simply wasn’t an option for me. So little by little, over the years, I started rebuilding that relationship. First through diving, which helped me feel comfortable in the water again, and this year, through surfing. Surfing has been a completely different challenge, but in many ways, it feels like the next step in learning to trust the ocean and myself again. Learning to surf as an adult has been one of the most humbling, frustrating and FUN things I’ve done in a very long time.
So when I was traveling through Europe this summer, I thought: why not spend a week at a surf retreat in Portugal and keep learning here?
I wanted more than a few surf lessons. I wanted a full week where I could surf every day, understand the ocean better and completely immerse myself in it.
That’s how I ended up at Soul & Surf Algarve, a boutique surf and yoga retreat in southern Portugal.
And after doing two different surf camps during my trip, this one was definitely my favorite.
Why Soul & Surf Algarve?
Soul & Surf is located in Raposeira, in the western Algarve, close to Vila do Bispo, Sagres and Lagos.
What attracted me to it was that it didn’t feel like a traditional surf camp. I wanted the surfing, obviously, but I also wanted more of a retreat-style experience with yoga, a beautiful place to stay and a slightly more intimate atmosphere. And that’s probably the easiest way I can describe Soul & Surf: somewhere between a surf camp and a wellness retreat.
The property itself is peaceful and surrounded by nature, but what really made the experience for me was the atmosphere. Everyone on the team was incredibly warm, and I loved that the people working there genuinely surf themselves. Surfing didn’t feel like an activity added to a hotel itinerary; it felt like part of the lifestyle of the people running the place. The group was also incredibly international. There were people from Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Latin America, with a mix of solo travelers, couples and friends.
And when you’re spending almost an entire week with the same people, trust me: the vibe matters. There’s nothing worse than signing up for a retreat and realizing when you arrive that you don’t really connect with the energy of the place. And I’m telling you this from experience.
At Soul & Surf, I felt the complete opposite. From the beginning, it felt easy, welcoming and like the kind of place where I could actually relax and be myself.
The Surfing: Where Soul & Surf Really Stood Out
This was probably the part that exceeded my expectations the most. When you arrive, they assess your surf level and divide everyone into groups so the coaching can actually match where you are. And what I appreciated was that the objective wasn’t simply to push me into a wave so I could stand up.
We worked on positioning, timing, technique, safety, surf etiquette and understanding how to read the ocean. But my favorite part was easily the video analysis. During our surf sessions, the instructors filmed some of our waves. Later that afternoon, we would sit together and watch them back. And WOW. There is a very big difference between what you think you’re doing on a surfboard and what you’re actually doing.
Suddenly, I could see where I was looking, my posture, where my feet were landing, what I was doing with my arms and exactly what I needed to change the following day. We also had surf theory sessions covering things like different breaks, conditions, safety and etiquette. It was the first time I felt like I wasn’t simply learning how to stand up on a board. I was actually starting to learn how to surf.
What Does a Day at Soul & Surf Look Like?
The routine was another thing I loved because your entire day naturally revolves around surfing, eating, recovering and doing it all again.
My mornings normally started around 7 am with breakfast before leaving for the beach at around 8 am. The surf location changed depending on the conditions, so every morning the instructors would decide where we had the best chance of finding suitable waves for our level.
We would spend most of the morning surfing and normally return around 12:30 pm, just in time for lunch. After that came a little downtime, followed by video analysis around 3 pm. Then at around 5:30 pm we had yoga, alternating between more dynamic practices and slower recovery-focused sessions. After spending hours paddling and getting smashed by waves, it felt VERY necessary.
Dinner was around 7:30 pm, usually with everyone sitting together around long communal tables. And somehow, without any forced “community building,” you naturally ended up meeting everyone. Eat. Surf. Eat. Rest. Analyze your surfing. Yoga. Eat again. Sleep. Honestly? Kind of my perfect routine.
The Food Deserves Its Own Section
I did not expect the food to be this good. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire retreat.
Practically everything was made from scratch, the menu changed every day and the presentation sometimes felt closer to a little farm-to-table restaurant than what I imagined “surf camp food” would be. And after spending the entire morning in the ocean, those lunches HIT DIFFERENT. For someone like me who cares a lot about food when choosing a retreat, it was easily a 10/10. I’m completely serious when I say I could go back just to eat.
Soul & Surf vs. Other Surf Camps in Portugal
I did two different surf camp experiences during my time in Portugal, and Soul & Surf was definitely my favorite.
The biggest difference for me was honestly the people and overall atmosphere. The first camp had a much younger crowd and more of that classic surf-camp, party atmosphere. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, and I probably would have loved it at a different stage of my life, but it just wasn’t really what I was looking for anymore.
At Soul & Surf, most people were somewhere between their mid-20s and late 40s, and I felt like I was surrounded by more like-minded people. Everyone came from completely different places and backgrounds, but there was this shared interest in surfing, wellness, travel and generally living a more active, intentional lifestyle. The retreat itself was also smaller and more intimate, the food was better, the wellness element felt stronger, and overall the experience simply felt more aligned with where I am in my life right now. So if you’re comparing surf camps in Portugal, I wouldn’t choose based only on price or location.
Think about the kind of people you want to spend your week with and the type of experience you actually want to have.
If you’re looking for a younger, more party-focused surf camp, there are plenty of options for that. But if you want surfing to be the focus while meeting like-minded people, eating really well, doing yoga and coming back to somewhere peaceful at the end of the day, Soul & Surf was much more that kind of experience for me.
Is Soul & Surf Good for Solo Travelers?
Absolutely! I went alone and shared our little house with two Swedish girls who turned out to be the perfect roommates. There were plenty of other solo travelers too, alongside couples and friends.
I actually think retreats are one of the easiest ways to travel solo because you don’t have to actively try to meet people. You’re surfing together, eating together, doing yoga together and seeing the same faces every day. The connections happen naturally.
How Much Does a Surf Retreat in Portugal Cost?
Now to probably one of the biggest questions if you’re researching surf camps in Portugal: how much does it actually cost?
At Soul & Surf Algarve, a one-week retreat currently starts at around €1,150 per person, with prices changing depending on the season, room type and whether you’re traveling solo or sharing.
For reference, during the main season, you can expect to pay approximately:
€1,150 — Shared twin tent
€1,250 — Shared twin room
€1,325 — Double or shared twin room with a shared bathroom
€1,425 — Double room with a private en-suite bathroom
Solo occupancy is also available for some rooms and costs more.
Prices are higher during peak summer season (mid-July through the end of August). When I stayed at the end of July, for example, the double room with a shared bathroom was €1,575 per person for the week.
If you’re thinking of booking, you can use my link to get a small discount on your Soul & Surf retreat.
I stayed in that option and it was perfect for me. I also spoke with people staying in the tents who told me they were really comfortable, so if you want the full retreat experience while keeping the cost a little lower, that’s definitely an option worth considering. The week includes five surf lessons, five yoga classes, meals, surf equipment, transportation to the surf spots, video analysis and surf theory, so most of your experience is already taken care of once you arrive.
That’s also part of what I loved about doing a full surf retreat rather than organizing everything separately. You don’t have to think about booking lessons, renting equipment, figuring out where to surf or deciding where to eat every day. You simply arrive and surf, eat, recover and repeat. For me, that convenience and being able to completely immerse myself in surfing for the week is a big part of the experience.
Just keep in mind that rates change depending on the season and accommodation, so I would use these prices as a reference and check the current rates for your dates before booking.
Is Soul & Surf Algarve Worth It?
For me, absolutely. If you’re looking for a boutique surf and yoga retreat where the coaching is taken seriously, but you also care about really good food, recovery, community and a beautiful place to slow down, Soul & Surf Algarve is one I would genuinely recommend.
Especially if you’re learning to surf as an adult. Surfing has been humbling, frustrating, slightly terrifying at times and SO much fun. I arrived at Soul & Surf wanting to catch more waves. I left feeling like I understood surfing a little better.
And now I’m apparently becoming the person who looks at every destination and thinks: But can I surf there?
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog and that it helps you plan your own surf adventure in Portugal. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll end up catching a few waves together somewhere in the world 🤍
Love
Marcy
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