FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

THE CAMP

Please send us a booking request through our website to check if we have space available. We will always answer promptly, usually within a couple hours.

To book a camp we will need a prepayment of 100€ per person. For a course or activity, it is 20€ per person. The prepayment can be done by bank transfer, PayPal or credit card.

Our camp activity week always starts on Mondays. Arrival and departure for camps are only possible on Saturdays or Sundays. We may be able to make some exceptions in low season, upon request.

Please let us know when you book and at arrival if you have food allergies or are vegetarian or vegan. Our chefs will do their best to serve you according to your diet.

The average age of our campers is between 25-35. Our group of guests is a sound mixture of single travelers, couples, families and groups of friends.
Families with children are very welcome at our camp, please understand that we do not offer child car seats in the camp buses. Families with small children need to rent a car for transport.
The camp is 18+, younger guests are also welcome but need a written consent from their parents or guardian.

KITESURFING

According to statistics June and July are the windiest months in the Algarve. Over the past 2 years the “Nortada” wind was also strong in August. During the other months, wind is not as reliable due to unfavorable conditions for the thermals. We are offering other activities for non-windy days according to our “Always Action Guarantee”.

If wind, water or weather conditions do not allow us to teach kiteboarding we seek to offer you the best alternative from our repertoire, according to our AAG (Always Action Guarantee). You can go surfing, SUP, wakeboarding or mountain biking. As we are a watersports camp offering a wide range of watersports activities we aim to get our guests into the water as much as possible. Therefore we are not able to provide only accommodation and will charge minimum the price of our surf camp. As the prices of the different activities vary, we will offset your balance at the end of your stay.

Our kiteboarding instructors are licensed by the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organisation). You can purchase a certification after the course to document your kitesurf level and be able to rent kiteboarding equipment from kite centers worldwide.

Due to the fact that the lagoon is tide dependent and the thermal wind builds up in the afternoon, the time window for good learning conditions is during the time we are teaching. Also, our experience has shown that 95% of our students are too tired after the intensive training to practice more afterwards.
We are only renting equipment to experienced independent kiters due to safety reasons.

We are always offering different level Kitesurf lessons. Our clients will be divided into groups according to kiteboarding level. Please let us know your level when you book. Please assess yourself honestly since, only then, we can promise the best learning results.

The “Nortada” wind is a thermal wind which builds up during the day and reaches its peak in the afternoon. The lagoon is tide dependent offering the easiest conditions for learning at mid tide. Of course, we aim to teach you during this perfect conditions. Our kitesurf lessons normally start between 14:00-16:00, depending on the best conditions. You will be effectively 3h in the water but the whole trip takes around 5h, with transfers to/from the lagoon (15 mins drive), setting up the kites, theory etc. There is no break in between the course.

We are teaching by IKO standards, in groups with maximum 4 people per instructor. At the maximum capacity of the groups, 2 beginners will share a kite.
We do offer private lessons in low season for 80€/person per hour, at a minimum of 2-hour lessons. Please understand that we do not have the capacity to offer private lessons in high season.

We are renting kitesurf equipment to experienced independent kiters.
You have to be a fully independent rider and able to ride upwind. Our instructors will give you an introduction to the spot and equipment and check your kite skills.
If they do not approve to your skills they reserve the right to withdraw the rental. If we do have availability you may then join our course.

SURF

The Surf conditions

  • consistent all year Atlantic swells
  • lots of different beaches and reef breaks
  • huge swell window at south and west coast
  • wind protected surf spots

A great number of beaches and wind protected bays, the warm climate and the consistent Atlantic swells make it a perfect all-year surfing destination. The summer is great for beginners and intermediate surfers because the waves are not as powerful. The winter is the best time for seasoned surfers as the ocean delivers strong winter swells which result in wave faces regularly higher than 6-8 foot.

No surfable waves on the Algarve is a very rare sight.
If wave or weather conditions do not allow us to go surfing we seek to offer you the best alternative from our repertoire, according to our AAG (Always Action Guarantee). You can go kiting, windsurfing, SUP, wakeboarding or mountain biking.

As we are a watersports camp offering a wide range of watersports activities, we aim to get our guests into the water as much as possible. Therefore we are not able to provide only accommodation and will charge minimum the price of our surf camp. Camp guest who decides not to participate in any of the offered activities will be also charged the surf camp price. As the prices of the different activities vary we will offset your balance at the end of your stay.

Due the ever changing wave and tide conditions, we only know the exact starting time, the evening before the course. We normally leave the camp between 8 am – 10 am and are usually back around 1-2 pm. You will have a 2h lesson in the water and some additional 30mins for warm up, theory and cool-downs. The length of the break depends on the conditions and on how many other surfers use the spot. The Portuguese beaches are regulated so that the beaches are not overcrowded with too many schools, therefore there is only a specific amount of pupils allowed in the water at the same time.

We are teaching group lessons with ISA (International Surf Association) standards of a maximum of 5 people per instructor. Due to the high demand, our capacity does not allow us to give private lessons during high season.

We are renting surfboards and equipment. You may choose from a wide range of different surfboard shapes and sizes. We don´t rent out soft surfboards. You can also choose if you would like to rent only the boards and have your own transport (30€/day)or if you would like to enjoy the comfort of being driven to the beach with the best conditions and join our group at the beach (40€/day).

WAKEBOARDING

The X-1 was originally the first X-Star, created as the official towboat of the X-Games over 10 years ago, and is the boat that pulled world, Pro Tour and X Games champion Parks Bonifay to his first double half cab roll and his first 1080.

  • 350 horsepower V-8 engine – gives you plenty of pull
  • Deep V-hull and electronic ballast system – produces a huge, firm wake for jumps and endless wake surf rides (no need to hold on to the rope)
  • No-flex tower – gives you plenty of air
  • Perfect pass – keeps the speed steady for you to finally nail your first 180 or 1080
  • Bad Ass Sound system – delivers your favourite tunes while you ride

Since we are wakeboarding on the sea, we have to leave the camp in the early morning to make sure we catch the best conditions on the glassy ocean. Starting time is between 7 to 8am, depending on how many people will be on the boat you will be back around 9am. Breakfast will be served after the wake set.
The cable park is open from 11am until sunset.

Beginners: It is the best way to learn to wakeboard, hands down. The System 2.0 can get any beginner up and riding within a matter of minutes. It is also the safest way to learn to wakeboard with accurate speed control and constant supervision. With the high pull, one-on-one instruction and perfect speed control by the operator, you cannot fail to get up!

Air Tricks: It is the best place to learn and practice air tricks! The carrier is supported by two vertically parallel cables, allowing for greater tension and a smooth pull. The riders rope length can be changed very quickly meaning you can use a short line to learn new air tricks. Unlike full-size cables, you can take advantage of the 180 degree turns and learn new tricks on the corner. There is almost an infinite amount of tricks to learn on a System 2.0. The best thing is that when you crash it picks you straight back up and within a few seconds you can try the trick again.

Features: Thanks to the continuous ride of the 2.0, you can hit the same feature every 20 seconds! This has unbeatable learning potential over boats, jet skis or full cable tows. And if you fall in, it picks you straight back up with no delay and no swimming. It is quite simply the best tow for hitting features.

If you are trying wakeboarding for the first time, we recommend the cable park as your starting point. The 2.0 system is more forgiving and less intimidating than riding behind a 350 hp monster with a huge wake. On the 2.0 system, the handle will come back to you after you fall (no standing in line or swimming back to the dock) allowing you to be back up on the board in seconds, the water is perfectly flat and the system controller will adjust the speed according to your level and riding position.
For advanced riders wakeboarding behind a boat like the X-Star is a stunning and awesome experience.

SUP

Stand up paddling is a unique way to get to know our coastline in an active way. It is suitable for young and old, for those who like sports and those who prefer a relaxed pace. Our SUP tours can be aligned to your convenience, as it is possible to make stops in between, shorten the tours or just knee paddle.

Due to safety and logistical reasons, we do not offer SUP Rentals.

Because of the always changing water conditions we only know the exact timing the evening before the trips. We mainly start between 9-10am or in the afternoon 2-3pm to avoid the midday sun.

WINDSURFING

According to statistics, June and July are the windiest months in the Algarve. Over the past 2 years, the “Nortada” wind was also strong in August. During the other months, wind is not as reliable due to unfavourable conditions for the thermals. We are offering other activities for non-windy days according to our “Always Action Guarantee”.

If wind, water or weather conditions do not allow us to teach windsurfing, we seek to offer you the best alternative of our repertoire, according to our AAG (Always Action Guarantee). You can go surfing, SUP, wakeboarding or mountain biking. As we are a watersport camp offering a wide range of watersports activities we aim to get our guests into the water as much as possible. Therefore we are not able to provide only accommodation and will charge minimum the price of our surf camp. As the prices of the different activities vary we will offset your balance at the end of your stay.

The “Nortada” wind is a thermal wind which pops up mainly in the afternoon, besides this, the lagoon very tide dependent. We normally start the courses between 14:00-16:00, depending on the best conditions for kiting. You will be effectively 3h in the water but the whole trip takes around 5h, with transport to/from the lagoon (15 mins drive), setting up the kites etc. There is no break in between the course.

We are teaching in groups of maximum 8 people per instructor. Private lessons are only possible if we have availability and cost 100€/hour.

Due to the fact that the lagoon is tide dependent and the thermal wind builds up in the afternoon, the time window for good learning conditions is during the time we are teaching. Also, our experience showed that 95% of our students are too tired after the intensive training to practice more afterwards.
We are only renting equipment to experienced independent windsurfers due to safety reasons.