BAJA SURF SAFARI

Push yourself on a surf adventure and bond with other new UCSD students while you travel to a little known surf destination in Baja California for multiple days of surf instruction and practice. You’ll spend your days exploring a beach break that consistently produces perfect waves for learning how to surf. Days may include multiple surf sessions, hiking through coastal chaparral, exploring tidepools, and learning outdoor living skills. Evenings will be spent getting to know your group members and eating delicious meals around the fire at our oceanfront campsite. And if that weren't awesome enough, nothing beats waking up to the sound of waves, getting out of your tent and looking out onto the sparkling Pacific Ocean in the morning light.

The Trip

UCSD is touted as being the nation’s #1 surfing University, so why not start your time at UCSD with a surf and camping trip?

While our school has many talented surfers, the Baja Surf Camp is an excellent trip for both those who are experienced surfers looking to take their skills to the next level and those who have never tried the sport and are wishing to build a solid foundation for it. Our Wilderness Orientation surf guides will not only help you learn the ins and outs of this great sport, but also give you the insider's perspective to life at UCSD.

During this WO surf trip, students will spend their days exploring a beginner friendly beach break in Baja California. Lucky for us, beaches in Baja tend to be much less crowded than the beaches in San Diego, and we often are the only surfers at the break. Our surf trips travel to an area just a few hours south of the border: a location we've become familiar with over the years.

Course Area - Punta Cabras, Baja California

Outback Adventures has been conducting surf trips in Baja California for over a decade; we have fostered many positive relationships with our friends in Mexico and have developed an extensive working knowledge of the area. Punta Cabras is a point of land jutting into the Pacific about 5 miles north of Ejido Eréndira. North of the point is a long bay, to the south is a south facing bay perfect for those learning to surf as well as those already skilled.

Ejido Eréndira is a small community located in the municipality of Ensenada in the state of Baja California. It is 100 km south of the city of Ensenada. It has a population of about 1,170 people most of whom make a living by fishing.  Erédira is an isolated and undeveloped beach. While it has areas with the rough, cold seas common on the Pacific side of Baja California, there are rocky outcroppings that form pools of seawater that are protected from the open ocean. Nearby there is an area that had been used by prehistoric peoples that gathered seasonally here to collect shellfish such as clams, sea snails, and mussels. They left a layer of shells over eight meters thick that Canadian archeologists have dated back to over 10,000 years. The first Europeans arrived here in 1542 when viceroy Antonio de Mendoza sent Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Wildlife to be found in the area, aside from shellfish, include migrating whales, dolphins, seals, pelicans, seagulls, sea anemones, limpets, sea snails and small fish.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Meet at Outback Adventures Office / Rental Shop by 10am. Check out your gear and then experience the Outback Challenge Course. Camp at Outback Adventures on the first night.

Day 2 - Depart for your surf destination early this morning. Arrive at surf break and set up camp.

Days 2-4 - Several surf sessions/day, hang out at the beach, camp, campfires, day hikes

Days 5-7 - Surf at Shipwrecks near Colonet

Day 8 - Drive back to campus, final celebration dinner and camp at Outback Adventures

Day 9 - Breakfast, Closing Ceremonies, Depart 10am. Plan flights no earlier than 12pm (noon).

Physical Demands

No prior surfing experience is necessary, however; please note that all participants must be capable swimmers and pass a swim test (200 meters any stroke, 5 mins treading water) prior to the first surf session. You can take this form to any lifeguard at a pool to complete. Surfing is tiring, the better shape you are in will mean more time in the water surfing and honing your skills.

*We are more than willing to work with participants who may require adaptive solutions. Please call the Director for more information at a minimum of 30 days in advance of the trip start.

Registration Fee Info

Registration fees cover transportation from UCSD to the trip destination, instruction, most food and all group gear (tents, cooking equipment, surfboards, first aid supplies etc.). Participants provide personal equipment on the trip packing list, most of which can be purchased or rented at Outback Adventures. We also offer financial assistance awards ranging from $200 to full coverage for first generation college students, students from low income families, international students, and out of state students. If you believe you qualify and would benefit from this financial assistance, please apply early.

If the cost of this trip is prohibitive to you, please reach out to us. We do not want financial barriers to stop anyone from participating in our programs