San Sebastian Surf Hostel - San Sebastian, Gipuzcoa. Spain
INTRODUCTION
Where else in the world are your primary concerns a) the temperature of your beer and b) trying not to get too much sun? Where each and every day is a cycle of eating, surfing and drinking, and the nights are spent partying it up in the streets of San Sebastian. Wake up surrounded by verdant hills and coastal views, to the sound of rustling leaves and twittering birds at our surf house (it’ll make you never want to leave)! Our little slice of paradise, just outside of San Sebastian, is a combination of breathtaking landscapes (mountains and beaches), intriguing Basque culture, award-winning food, insane waves, and beautiful weather! Oh, and we forgot to mention all of the crazy parties, in a city that can boast having the most bars per square meter in the world.
San Sebastian is one of those places that’s been touched by magic. That’s why our Surf House’s doors are open to surfers (or non-surfers) of all levels and travelers from far and wide, to share this stunning place with the world! Stay at our little slice of paradise, just outside of San Sebastian, in a beautiful house in the heart of the Basque Country, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included. You’ll be starting your day right with a delicious chef-prepared meal before our surf instructors take you to a local beach break. Everyone’s welcome, from beginners to the most accomplished surf dudes and dudettes, our surf instructors are fun, friendly and happy to help. We’ll have you standing in no time, and for those more experienced, our guides will show you where to get the best waves. After you’ve surfed to your heart’s content it’s a relaxed lunch followed by another surf, exploring the Basque country…or maybe the first beer of the day!
There’s a bunch of activities on offer, from cliff-jumping and hiking, for the adrenaline junkies, to pintxo tours through the Michelin-starred streets of San Sebastian for the foodies. Whatever happens, with more bars per square metre than anywhere else in the universe, it’s bound to end in a massive party, hopping from one bar to another or dancing until the sun comes up over La Concha beach…. good thing surfing is the perfect hangover cure!
Your meals are prepared, your beers chilled, your beds made for your arrival and your party nights pre-organised. What a treat! The friends you’ll make at our San Sebastian Surf Camp are some of the best folk around, open-minded, international travelers gathering from all over the world, so there’ll be languages to learn and stories to hear over a beer or seventeen (or sangria if that’s more your jam, go unlimited for 15€ per day).
THE ACCOMMODATION
The Surf House is located in the picturesque town of Aia, just outside of San Sebastian.
It is a 3 story Spanish Surf Hostel hidden in the lush green surrounds of the Basque hills. It is dorm style accommodation but there are private rooms available upon request.
There are 5 dorm rooms, 3 bathrooms, an outdoor showerblock and multiple communal areas including our in-house bar (unlimited beer, sangria, cider available for €15 a day), yoga studio and a table tennis table. We also have free wifi.
THE ACTIVITIES
THE SURF
As far as surf goes, well we’re only a hop skip and a jump away from the finest surf beaches in Europe. And if National Geographic says we’re located in one of the World’s Top 20 Surf Towns, well who are we to dispute it!
Spot: Playa de Zarautz
Average Wave Height: 1m-2.5m (3ft-8ft)
Average Water Temperature: 21ºC (70ºF)
Wave Type: sand bottom beach break, left/right breaking
This is a guide itinerary, but not like a school camp itinerary – quite the contrary. This will give you an idea of what a day might look like for you at San Sebastian Surf Camp. There’s always something for you to do, but it’s your holiday so feel free to lay on the beach, have a beer or go on an adventure with your new bunch of mates.
Morning
Wake up to a home cooked breakfast down in our chill out area and exchange stories from last night’s antics, read the surf report and get excited to head out surfing.
Jump in our surf bus and enjoy the ride down through the national park to the beach, grab your board and either scout out the best banks on the beach or head into your lesson with one of our surf instructors.
Afternoon
When you’re all surfed out, we’ll either have lunch in the sunshine at the beach together or head back up to the house for a hot lunch and a cold sangria.
If you’re feeling bendy, join a yoga class on our yoga deck, or come out on a guided hike, head into town and explore, join in on a Spanish Class, head back down to the beach for another surf or just kick back and relax!
In the afternoon you will most likely find yourself hanging out at the house watching the sun go down over a few drinks and spinning a few yarns or becoming lord of the ping pong table.
Evening
If you’re the sensible type you can get in a good night’s sleep and be up bright and early for sunrise yoga and breathtaking views out over the valley. If some more drinks, music and exploring sound more like you, then either join us on a pintxos tour in Zarautz or San Sebastian, a trip to a traditional Basque cider house or head out to one of the many festivals that are on throughout the season.
Daytime activities:
- Surfing
- Volleyball
- Skateboarding
- Ping pong
- Yoga
- Exploring the town
- Swimming
- Sunbaking
- Hiking
- Cliff jumping
- Drinking beer
……..and much more
Night time activities:
- Party nights in San Sebastian
- Pintxos nights in San Sebastian
- Traditional Basque Sidra House Nights
- Winery Tours
- Movie nights
- Dinners in our favourite restaurants in the area
- Visiting the many festivals that dot the region in summer.
LOCATION & GETTING HERE
LOCATION
THE HOUSE
The Surf House is located in the picturesque town of Aia, just outside of San Sebastian.
Getting Here
TRANSFER FROM SAN PELAIO TO THE SAN SEBASTIAN SURF HOUSE
We provide free transfers from San Pelaio train station in Zarautz at 9 am, 1 pm and 7 pm. We’ll pick you up right by the roundabout right next to the station. It’s important to let us know which one you’d like to jump on at least 24 hrs in advance. If you are unable to make the last 7 pm free transfer please call or email us to inquire about an after-hours pickup for an additional fee.
Bus: https://www.alsa.es/destinos/san-sebastian.htm or
Train: Visit the RENFE website to book a ticket.
Rent a car or drive: https://www.europcar.com/location/spain/san-sebastian
If you fly to Bilbao:
Buses leave every half hour from Bilbao Airport to Zarautz (San Pelaio bus station). Here’s a link to where you can pre-purchase tickets from the airport to Zarautz, or you can buy them from the driver at the airport. Make sure to tell the driver that’s where you want to get off. Then jump on your pre-arranged pickup from there, right at the roundabout!
If you fly into Biarritz:
The best way to get to Surf Camp from Biarritz International Airport is to take a French SNCF train to Hendaye, change to the nearby Euskotren station (located just outside the SNCF station) and take a Euskotren to San Pelaio, Zarautz for your pickup. Each train ride is between 30-40 minutes, with the total train trip costing less than €10.
If you fly into San Sebastian:
The best way to get to camp from San Sebastian airport is to take bus e21 or e23 bus from the airport to San Sebastian which run about every 30 minutes. Get off at the Amara bus stop. From here cross the road and jump on the Euskotren towards Zumaia or Matiko Bilbao. CLICK HERE for a map. Get off at Zarautz San Pelaio station and jump on your pre-arranged pickup.
If you arrive in San Sebastian by train:
RENFE TRAIN – The train station in the centre of San Sebastián is the “Estación del Norte.” If you arrive here (by RENFE Train), cross the road and jump on the Euskotren towards Zumaia or Matiko Bilbao. CLICK HERE for a map. Get off at San Pelaio station in Zarautz and jump on your pre-arranged pickup.
EUSKOTREN – There is also an underground railway, the Metro Donostialdea, this service also links to Hendaye (France) and the SNCF, French rail service, with Lasarte passing through Donostia. You can catch this train to San Pelaio in Zarautz straight from Bilbao, where you can jump on your pre-arranged pickup.
If you arrive in San Sebastian by bus:
If you arrive by bus in San Sebastian, cross the road and jump on the Euskotren towards Zumaia or Matiko Bilbao. CLICK HERE for a map. Get off at Zarautz San Pelaio station and jump on your pre-arranged pickup.
PRICES & PACKAGES
PRICE PER PERSON / PER NIGHT
- €60 per person per night (min. 2-night stay) in off season
- €79 per night in high season (June-September)
INCLUSIONS
- Shared dorm accommodation, located in the Pagoeta nature reserve (bedding included)
- Healthy homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. All dietary requirements catered for on request!
- Introductory surf lesson
- Daily surfing with experienced surf guides
- Daily wetsuit hire
- Daily board hire
- Daily yoga class with a qualified instructor
- Daily pickups to and from Zarautz
- Surf theory classes
- Local activities, Basque festivities and party nights
- Free access to onsite equipment incl. yoga mats, skimboards, skateboards, slackline, beach games and poi balls
- Free Wifi
ADD ONS
- Unlimited booze, open bar of beer, sangria, cider, tea and coffee (€15/night)
- Private rooms (€20 per person per night extra)
- Extra surf school lessons (for all levels) available (€25/lesson)
- Surf Skates available for hire
- Party trips
- Pintxo tours
- Paragliding
- Horse riding
- Snorkelling
- Cider house tours
- Wine tasting tours
- Brewery tours and Walking tours
SURF CAMP PACKAGES
- Pre Peak (March / April / May): €420 / 7 Nights
- Peak (June / July / August / September): €490 / 7 Nights
- Pos Peak (October / November): €420 / 7 Nights
INCLUSIONS
- Dorm accommodation in the Stoke surf house, located in the Pagoeta nature reserve (bedding included)
- Healthy homemade breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. All dietary requirements catered for on request!
- Daily pickups to and from Zarautz
- Introductory surf lesson, daily surfing with experienced surf guides along with daily wetsuit and board hire.
- Local activities, Basque festivities and party nights
- Daily yoga class with a qualified instructor
- Access to all our awesome equipment inc yoga mats, skimboards, skateboards, slackline, beach games and poi balls
- Free unlimited booze, open bar of beer, sangria, sidra, tea and coffee for your entire stay
ADD ONS
- Private rooms
- Van Surfari Spain & France upgrade (€10 surcharge – available for groups on request)
- BBQ in the forest and Casa
- Guided hiking with wine and cheese at the top of the mountain with amazing views
- Sporting competitions such as rugby, Oztag, touch, surf comps, basketball, handball
- Day trips to Biarritz, Hossegor, Mundaka, Game of Thrones locations Zumaia and Bakio
- Paintball
- Horse riding through the national park
- Sidra House dinners (Unlimited cider and 4 course basque dinner in great old traditional house in the hills behind San Sebastian)
- San Sebastian Pintxos tours
- San Sebastián Pub crawl
- Photo packages
- Winery tour
- Paragliding
- Private surf lessons (€25)
