AAVE's Summer Surf Camp in Mexico

Day 1:
You will be met upon arrival at the airport gate by your experienced AAVE expedition leaders and head up North to the small fishing town of Sayulita. During orientation we get to know each other and learn what to expect in the days ahead . Our daily routine, jobs and safety rules are explained and the process of growing together as a group begins. It will be important to check our gear, to assure that we are prepared for the diverse, demanding and remote regions we explore.

Day 2:
Get ready for surfing! In the early morning our instructor will go over the basics of surfing and guide us through our first surf session in the water. We work on learning the basics of paddling, popping-up, wave reading, positioning etc. We also take an afternoon trip into Puerto Vallarta for grocery shopping, where we buy all the food needed for the days to come.

Day 3:
We head out on our second surf session early in the morning, then enjoy a late breakfast. Later in the day, we will head to Punta de Mita, catch a boat, and go on a Snorkeling Safari Adventure in Marietas Islands National Park. You'll be able to explore pristine islands with secluded beaches, caves and amazing wildlife!

Day 4:
This morning we head out for a surf session on the remote break of "La Lancha". This mellow surf break is a great one to improve your surfing skills, also there's a incredible beach to hang out on during our breaks from the waves! After surfing for a few hours, we head for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, we hike right out of our accommodation in Sayulita to the beautiful beach of "Los Muertos," where we will be able to swim, snorkel, and play games on the beach.

Day 5:
Our last morning in Sayulita, we surf and enjoy this beautiful town. From here, we'll be heading to the old mining town of San Sebastian. The windy ride up the Sierra Madre mountains is a great way to discover more about this diverse country. We'll spend the night camping in San Sebastian.

Day 6:
We wake up in beautiful San Sebastian! This incredible setting is home to great scenery and hiking, and, after a good breakfast, we'll head out for a half day hike. We explore the forgotten Haciendas and the hidden mines, then enjoy afternoon soccer and basketball games with the locals at San Sebastian.

Day 7:
After picking up camp in San Sebastian, we will head back to the coast again and towards the beautiful Costa Alegre region. We will stop on the way and get groceries for the next few days.

Day 8:
This morning we enjoy our morning surf session at our new location and everyone will be feeling comfortable in the water by now. After surfing for a few hours, we head for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, we take a trip to the neighboring town of Barra de Navidad, where we explore the streets and interact with the wonderful local people. On the western side of town, we go on a Banana Boat ride which takes us into a beautiful saltwater lagoon and out into the ocean.

Day 9:
After another morning surf session, we enjoy a late breakfast feast and an afternoon filled with activities. We have some time to play either frisbee, volleyball or soccer at the beach. We also enjoy an afternoon visit to the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere reserve, only 40 minutes away. Here we learn the importance of this unique ecosystem which hosts incredible wildlife, such as bromelias, endemic birds, and even jaguars.

Day 10:
We will surf all morning! At this stage, everyone should be able to catch waves on their own and ride nicely down the face of the wave. After a great lunch, we head into town to do some service work with the local people. Helping and interacting with local people in the neighboring town is a great cultural experience and so much fun!

Day 11:
We kick off with an early-morning surf at Boca. Then we're loading up the vans and heading north to our Turtle Conservation Project! Halfway through the drive, we stop for a swim and lunch and to explore waterfalls. Later on, we stop at scenic sand dunes where we can try dune-surfing! We get to our camp destination before sunset. And then, at night, we patrol the huge beach in search of turtles in order to collect the eggs and take them to a safe hatching space. This is a really important part of our community service work and assists in the efforts to protect this incredible species.

Day 12:
Today we go out on an open-ocean boat-trip, in search of turtles in their natural environment. We will be able to observe and touch turtles in the ocean while we snorkel by them! Then we head back to camp and have lunch. The warm afternoon is a perfect time to enjoy the pools, trampolines and volleyball court at our campsite. At sunset, we head out to explore the local Bat Cave - keep an eye out for Alfred! During the night, we again patrol the beaches as part of our turtle conservancy project.

Day 13:
We are up early to do our final camp clean-up before heading north. On our way, we stop at PV to check out downtown and buy souvenirs for friends and family. We then arrive at our accommodation north of Puerto Vallarta and, after a well-deserved shower, we head into Puerto Vallarta for one last night of sightseeing and celebration. We finish the day with our final dinner as a group.

Day 14:
Today begins with an early breakfast and drive to the airport to drop of the trip members, AAVE Trip Leaders will help participants through check-in and co-ordinate you heading home!

Price Includes:
Two CPR and First Aid certified AAVE Trip Leaders, local WildMex guide throughout; all ground costs, all ground transportation including airport pickup and drop-off; all camping and camping gear (except sleeping bags, sleep mats and mess kits); all activities and gear listed in the above itinerary; all meals; local gratuities to wait-staff and maid-staff for included meals and hotels (days 1 and 13).

Price Doesn't Include:
Flights to/from Puerto Vallarta; immigration card ($18 USD); optional gratuities, extra snacks, souvenirs, phone calls.

This itinerary is a sample outline of the program highlights. It is not a precise description. Changes made before or during the trip will only be made in the interest of safety or a more successful trip. This diverse itinerary is our framework for a summer of exhilaration and adventure. Get your mind and body set. Activities are planned using years of experience with your highest expectations in mind.

We appreciate the importance of this decision and want you to be as informed as possible! Please phone 303.526.0806 or email us at info@aave.com with questions, to receive 2009 references or to make a reservation.

We look forward to having you join us!