Benefits of Family Surf Vacations

Building a vacation around a family surf camp is a whole different vibe than a conventional vacation, and the experience can be transformative for families who find it difficult to set aside time to disconnect and spend meaningful time together. Learning to surf as a family is one of the few chances we have, as parents, to interact with our children in an environment where we’re equals, while we learn skills, build knowledge, and invest effort in an activity we can all enjoy!

An amazing family surfing holiday isn’t about childcare, but rather the pure joy of basking in the beauty of Kalon Surf, perched at 1,200 feet above the Costa Rican Pacific coast. Here, we know all about balancing sport, rest, and a sense of community.

How Do Shared Learning Experiences Shape Family Connections?

In normal circumstances, kids and adults have very different aspirations and hopes for their vacations, and this is one of the many lines Kalon was designed to intersect! The property isn’t a typical hotel, and started as an experiment by our founders, husband and wife Kjeld Schigt and Silene Vega Delgado, who imagined a place where happiness was the only goal.

So many families grapple with how to evolve their relationships as kids grow from little ones to teens or find they drift apart as children develop their own interests, but this doesn’t need to be the norm. Shared milestones are a way to experience something entirely new together, all starting from the same place!

With around 60% of our guests completely new to surfing, beginners find themselves in good company. Surf coaching is as personal as it gets, with a max of three guests per teacher, which means families can dive in together and know no one will be left behind. If you’re new to the sport entirely, our companion piece on learning to surf as a family walks through what the first week actually looks like.

Why Is a Week at Kalon Different From a Conventional Surf Camp?

We’re a private property staffed by incredible people, all of whom, Kjeld aside, are local Costa Ricans. However, this is just the start of what makes Kalon a place that strives to bring you the vibe of ‘pura vida.’

Time here feels different, because once you’re isolated from devices, responsibilities, and imposing schedules, you’re left with the simplicity of having fun with the people you love most, with a daily rhythm that includes:

• Surf sessions timed to the day’s tides
• Relaxed lunches — sometimes ocean-side, sometimes back at the property
• Afternoons exploring the rainforest or by the pool
• Sociable and unhurried evening dinners

We take care of every detail to give families the freedom they need to concentrate on being present. As one of our guests, Robert, said, “Kalon Surf was so much more than a surf school, vacation, or destination spot. It’s family! After traveling the world, this place takes the gold.”

Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula is surrounded by one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. This link to the beauty of the natural world, from spotting monkeys to dolphins, toucans, and sloths, all adds another layer to the unique emotional depth of the experience.

What Makes a Family Kalon Surfing Week Special?

Surfing is a passion, a sport, and a skill that has a way of building a quiet confidence that can’t be diluted. It’s not immediate and commands patience, repetition, and celebrations of the small wins, much like all of life’s big goals!

Here’s a concise comparison of the underlying capabilities surfing teaches:

Parents at Kalon Surf work through the very same milestones as their children. From betting on big waves to daring to try, chatting over dinner, and giving each other encouragement on the water, a shared sense of progress means these moments often matter the most!