Your First Surf Lesson in Sayulita: What to Expect and What to Bring

Most people feel a mix of excitement and nerves before their first surf lesson. That’s normal. It helps to know what’s coming, so here’s how it usually goes with us, from booking to your first wave.

Before your lesson

When you book, you can choose a time or let us pick one for you. We recommend the second option: the day before your lesson, we check the tide and the waves and set the time that suits the conditions best. If you’d prefer morning or afternoon, just tell us.

You’ll get an email about 24 hours ahead with your lesson time and a link to the waiver. Fill it in before you arrive. It saves time at the school and gets you in the water sooner.

When you arrive

Come to the surf school a few minutes early. You’ll meet your instructor, get your board, leash and rash guard, and pay the remaining balance.

Then it’s onto the sand for a 15 to 20 minute briefing. Your instructor shows you how to lie on the board, how to paddle, and how to pop up to your feet, and you’ll practice each step a few times. Getting the movements into your body on solid ground means you’re not trying to think about them for the first time while a wave is moving under you.

In the water

The beginner area has a sand bottom and the water is usually around shoulder depth, so you can stand and walk your board back out after each wave.

Your instructor stays in the water with you the whole time. They’ll help you pick the right waves, give you a push at the right moment if you need it, and coach you through each step. After every try, they’ll tell you what to change for the next one.

Expect to fall. Expect to swallow a bit of seawater. And expect, at some point, to stand up and hear yourself laugh.

The whole lesson lasts 90 minutes, including the briefing on the sand. That’s longer than it sounds when you’re paddling, so don’t worry about pacing yourself. Your instructor will.

What to bring

The board, leash and rash guard are included. You just need:

• Swimwear you can move in and that stays put when you fall

• Reef-safe sunscreen, applied before you arrive so it has time to soak in

• Water to drink before and after

• A towel and something dry to change into

• Cash or card for the remaining balance

Leave jewelry and anything valuable at your accommodation. The ocean is very good at keeping earrings.

A few small things that help

Eat something light before your lesson, not a big breakfast. Tie long hair back. And if you’re nervous about the ocean, tell your instructor at the start. They’ve worked with plenty of people who felt exactly like you, and they’ll adjust to your pace.

Wondering what it all costs? See How much do surf lessons cost in Sayulita?

Book your first lesson