Water sports camps for kids in Spain: sailing, surf, kayak, SUP and diving
Where to find sailing, surf, kayak, SUP and diving camps for kids in Spain, ages, swimming requirements, safety, seasons and typical prices.
With more than 5,000 kilometres of coast, Spain is one of the best places in Europe to learn a water sport as a child. Sailing schools, surf camps and kayak centres run courses for children from the age of 6, often in the morning only, which makes them an easy addition to a beach holiday. This guide explains what is on offer, where, from what age, and how to choose a school that is both fun and safe.
How many camps are there?
Our catalogue has 297 camps with at least one of these activities: sailing (136), kayak (178), SUP (116), surf (91), kite (15) and diving (13). Many are multi-activity camps: a child might sail on Monday, paddle on Tuesday and try SUP on Wednesday. Residential camps are the largest group (165), followed by morning courses (77) and full-day camps (31), with 18 single-day or flexible offers.
Where to go
- Surf: the north and the Atlantic coast are the home of surf. Galicia and Asturias have 14 surf camps each in our catalogue, the Basque Country 12 and the Costa de la Luz 8. See surf camps in Spain, in Galicia, in Asturias, in the Basque Country, on the Costa de la Luz and on the Costa Brava
- Sailing: the Mediterranean is better for first lessons, because the sea is calmer. Most sailing camps are on the Costa Blanca (23), Mallorca (21), the Costa Brava (15), the Costa Dorada (11) and Galicia (11). See sailing camps in Spain, Mallorca and the Costa Blanca
- Kayak and SUP: calm water, lakes and rivers as well as the sea, so they are available in many places, including inland and the Pyrenees. See kayak camps and SUP camps
- Kitesurf: windy places such as the Costa de la Luz and Costa Blanca. See kite camps
- Diving: a small group of 13 camps, mostly in the Costa Blanca and Galicia. See diving camps
Not every place on the list offers every sport. Use the search page to filter by sport and place.
From what age?
Most sailing, kayak and SUP camps accept children from 6 to 8. In our data the median minimum age is about 6 for sailing, 7 for SUP and 8 for kayak and surf. Kitesurf and diving are for older children, often 10 or 12 and up, and some diving courses need a medical certificate. Younger children usually start with a short "initiation" session in shallow water or with an adult in a dinghy.
The swimming requirement
Almost every water sports school asks for a minimum level. Typical requirements include that the child can swim without help for 25 to 50 metres, or can float and swim in deep water with a lifejacket. Some schools ask for a signed declaration from the parents that the child can swim; some test children on the first morning. Be honest: a child who cannot swim well will be happier and safer in a pool-based programme or in a course for beginners. The lifejacket (chaleco) must be worn on the water.
Safety questions to ask
- How many children per instructor on the water? For small boats, SUP and surf the ratio should be low: ask for the exact number
- Does the school have a rescue boat or a lifeguard on the beach?
- Are instructors qualified (a sailing federation title, a surf federation title, lifeguard and first aid)?
- Is equipment included, in good condition, in the right size: wetsuit, lifejacket, helmet for kayak or kite?
- What happens if the weather turns, if the wind is too strong or the waves too big?
- What insurance covers the activity, and is the activity registered?
See also our guide on choosing a safe camp.
Seasons
Almost all water sports camps run in summer: 285 of the 297 are listed for summer, from late June to early September. A smaller group also runs at Easter (20), in autumn (13) or all year (10). The sea is warm for sailing and swimming from June to September; in the Atlantic north it stays cooler, and a wetsuit is needed even in August. Surf in northern Spain is best from late summer to autumn, when waves are bigger, so beginners' courses in July and August work better. In the Canary Islands, surf and SUP are possible in winter, see surf camps in the Canary Islands in winter.
Prices
From the published weekly prices in our catalogue: morning water sports courses have a median of about 160 euros a week; full-day camps about 240 euros; residential water sports camps about 540 euros, usually with meals and accommodation. The price depends on the equipment and the ratio of instructors, and surf and sailing often cost more than SUP or kayak. Single-day offers exist, which is good if you are only visiting for a few days.
Choosing between the sports
- Sailing teaches teamwork and patience, and is good for ages 8 to 14
- Surf is physically demanding and suits children who are confident in the water
- Kayak and SUP are easy to start and good for all levels
- Kitesurf and diving need more age, strength and care
Tips for visiting families
- Book mornings: the wind and sea are better, and the afternoons are free
- Bring a rash vest, hat, high-factor sunscreen and a water bottle
- Ask whether English-speaking instructors are available: see camps for children who do not speak Spanish
- Use the compare tool for the schools you shortlist; registration and payment are made on the organiser's own website, as we do not take bookings