What you get on this adventure: Supportive, expert, lifeguard-certified instructors Surfing lessons in San Francisco or Santa Cruz (one-day or two-day surf clinic — 2.5 hours of lessons each day) All necessary gear — if you have your own, you’re welcome to bring them Wetsuit (if you’re bringing your own, it should be at least 4/3 mm) Surfboard Booties (supplied at the Pacifica location in San Francisco, not supplied at the Santa Cruz location) What’s not included: Transportation to the starting point Accommodations Meals Guide gratuities — optional Travel and medical insurance — optional

How fit do I need to be and is this beginner-friendly?

No surfing experience necessary! Surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz are ideal for total beginners through “advanced beginners”, so it’s also a great class to repeat several times. In fact, your instructors say that their most successful students have taken this class several times before moving onto private intermediate lessons. You must have basic swimming skills to take this class. While you do not need to be an expert swimmer, you should have the ability to make it across the length of a swimming pool and treat water for 10-15 seconds unassisted.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag) Swimsuit Booties (provided at the Pacifica location, not provided in Santa Cruz) — rental available Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Towel Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF Snacks Sunhat Sunglasses

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing For these surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 4:1. It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. If only one person signs up, they will be contacted in advance for a free reschedule or the opportunity to pay for an upgrade to a private lesson. The overall group size may vary, though it will never exceed more than 4 students per instructor. Surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Please refrain from booking any tickets or accommodations until your surf class is confirmed . While you can choose the date that suits you best upon checkout, your instructors might reschedule the surf clinic for a day or two. They’ll let you know as soon as possible. Min. age requirements If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors older than 13 are permitted to join surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

Your instructors offer surfing lessons in both Santa Cruz (Cowells Beach near the Municipal Wharf) and in the San Francisco Bay Area (Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica). If you’re flying in, the nearest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) .

Safety measures in California

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans. We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!

Guided surfing classes in San Francisco, Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO | CALIFORNIA

Surf Lessons in the Bay Area: San Francisco & Santa Cruz

5.00 ()

Season

Year round

Duration

1 or 2 days

Nearest city

Your lessons are either in San Francisco or Santa Cruz

Difficulty

Guide

Adventure Out

From $125 () / 1-2 days

Got any questions?

Overview
Itinerary
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Things to know

Get ready to ride the waves of the Pacific! No experience necessary—just bring your sense of adventure and love for the ocean. These surf lessons in San Francisco or Santa Cruz can be a day’s outing, though the two-day clinic is recommended for all those with a true desire to learn how to surf. And when it comes to finding the best instructors, there’s no better choice than Adventure Out—our premier surf guides, the only school in the Bay Area that’s NSSIA accredited! These instructors have spent years surfing and teaching on these beaches, and they know how to create a supportive and empowering environment for aspiring enthusiasts! Just remember: surfing is addictive, so once you try it, you’ll keep wanting to come back.

Made for beginners

Regardless of whether you’re a total beginner or an “advanced” beginner, these lessons are perfect for you
Licensed instructors with tons of experience

Our instructors are lifeguard and first-aid trained and their approach is just as fun as it is professional
Great surf conditions, no wind, no crowds

Choose between the Pacifica in San Francisco and Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz

Available itineraries

One-Day Surf Clinic

Head to the Pacifica Beach in San Francisco or Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz and give surfing a shot! This one-day surfing class is ideal for total beginners, about 2.5 hours long, and includes both theory and practice. You’ll have top-notch instructors, the only surf school NSSIA accredited in the Bay Area, and they’ll make sure to create a fun and supportive environment for all participants. After being given an overview of the ocean, etiquette, techniques, and safety, you’ll move into the water. If you’re not a total beginner, but more of an “advanced” beginner, we still recommend this class—it’s all about practice, especially alongside expert instructors!

Regardless of what location you choose for your surf lessons—San Francisco or Santa Cruz—you will begin with a land-lesson to learn about ocean awareness, wave breaks, ocean conditions, safety in and out of the water, wave etiquette, paddling, push up and pop up techniques, as well as riding waves and balancing.

After a theory overview, you’ll move into the water and start out in shallow areas riding the whitewater until you’re comfortable with venturing further out. Please keep in mind that your instructors are all CPR/First-Aid and lifeguard certified!

You can expect approximately 1.5-2 hours of water time in a 2.5-hour lesson—the start of the class does have some “setup” time built-in to get people suited up and down on to the beach, and the land lesson can take about 30 minutes.

After surfing, you will get you out of the water in time to make it back to the parking lot by the “end time” of the class so that you have appropriate expectations of the class schedule.

Two-Day Surf Clinic

It’s never too late to learn how to surf, and this 2-day clinic gives you more time to take in what you’ve learned and put it to practice. You’ll have two consecutive days of 2.5-hour lessons, beginning with an overview of the ocean, etiquette, techniques, and safety, and then you’ll head to the water. You’ll have expert instructors, whose surf school is actually the only NSSIA accredited school in the Bay Area, and who have tons of experience teaching on these beaches—either at Pacifica Beach in San Francisco or Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz. Your instructors say that some of their most successful students took the two-day clinic, as it allowed them more time to get the hang of it!

This two-day clinic includes 2.5-hour lessons on two consecutive days. Accommodation and food are not included.
Regardless of what location you choose for your surf lessons—San Francisco or Santa Cruz—you will begin with a land-lesson to learn about ocean awareness, wave breaks, ocean conditions, safety in and out of the water, wave etiquette, paddling, push up and pop up techniques, as well as riding waves and balancing.

After a theory overview, you’ll move into the water and start out in shallow areas riding the whitewater until you’re comfortable with venturing further out. Please keep in mind that your instructors are all CPR/First-Aid and lifeguard certified!

You can expect approximately 1.5-2 hours of water time in a 2.5-hour lesson—the start of the class does have some “setup” time built-in to get people suited up and down on to the beach, and the land lesson can take about 30 minutes.

After surfing, you will get you out of the water in time to make it back to the parking lot by the “end time” of the class so that you have appropriate expectations of the class schedule.

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Meet your guide

5.00

Adventure Out

Founded in 2004, the mission of Adventure Out Has been simple: to help people fall back in love with nature. They accomplish this by providing programs of the highest quality and safety standards that get people outdoors, physically active, and adventuring in nature. Adventure Out creates an empowering and supporting environment for people of all walks-of-life to achieve their wildest adventures in the outdoors, while fostering a respect for nature. They offer surfing, paddle boarding, rock climbing, backpacking, and mountain biking outings.

5.00 (5 reviews)

Simona M (source: Trip Advisor)

San Franciso trip was so unexpected, yet so needed. I knew i will surf in pacific and booked lesson with Adventure out. In full honesty it his was my best surf lesson ever( had some experience in Bali, Normandie and Madeira) but nothing compared to the lesson with instructor Gerry! I learned how to allow myself to surrender to imperfection and feel the ocean, water and the surfboard. Gerry’s patience, life wisdom, advice gave the tools to immerse in your he ocean and be! Thank you for this wonderful experience!

justrianne (source: Trip Advisor)

I had never touched a surfboard in my life but on a whim decided to try the 2-day surf classes with Adventure Out. Jose was my instructor, and he was such a great teacher, super professional and knowledgeable, gave each person in the group one on one help and attention, focused a lot on safety education, and gave extremely helpful tips and feedback the entire time. The other instructors I saw out there seemed really fun too. 100% recommend!

JeremieB629 (source: Trip Advisor)

Fantastic session. Small group (3 students and one instructors). I had surfed only once before by myself before and my goal was to learn how to paddle and catch the waves. And I did and managed to have several long runs! The instructors did a great job continuously giving us individual feedback and tips. I’ll come back next time I’m the Bay Area.

nickla97 (source: Trip Advisor)

I went for the two day class over the weekend. Surfer Jeff and Jose were great instructors! They taught all the essential basics of surfing, and gave great cues when we out on the water. 100% recommend.

Nick S (source: Trip Advisor)

Jose was my instructor and he was very great! I recommend Adventure Out for anyone looking for surfing lessons near San Francisco!!

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - Supportive, expert, lifeguard-certified instructors
  - Surfing lessons in San Francisco or Santa Cruz (one-day or two-day surf clinic — 2.5 hours of lessons each day)
  - All necessary gear — if you have your own, you’re welcome to bring them
    
    Wetsuit (if you’re bringing your own, it should be at least 4/3 mm)
    
    Surfboard
    
    Booties (supplied at the Pacifica location in San Francisco, not supplied at the Santa Cruz location)
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to the starting point
  - Accommodations
  - Meals
  - Guide gratuities — optional
  - Travel and medical insurance — optional
No surfing experience necessary! Surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz are ideal for total beginners through “advanced beginners”, so it’s also a great class to repeat several times. In fact, your instructors say that their most successful students have taken this class several times before moving onto private intermediate lessons.

You must have basic swimming skills to take this class. While you do not need to be an expert swimmer, you should have the ability to make it across the length of a swimming pool and treat water for 10-15 seconds unassisted.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
  - Swimsuit
  - Booties (provided at the Pacifica location, not provided in Santa Cruz) — rental available
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Towel
  - Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
  - Snacks
  - Sunhat
  - Sunglasses
Group sizes and pricing
- - For these surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
  - It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. If only one person signs up, they will be contacted in advance for a free reschedule or the opportunity to pay for an upgrade to a private lesson.
  - The overall group size may vary, though it will never exceed more than 4 students per instructor.
Surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Please refrain from booking any tickets or accommodations until your surf class is confirmed. While you can choose the date that suits you best upon checkout, your instructors might reschedule the surf clinic for a day or two. They’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Min. age requirements
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors older than 13 are permitted to join surfing lessons in San Francisco and Santa Cruz on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Your instructors offer surfing lessons in both Santa Cruz (Cowells Beach near the Municipal Wharf) and in the San Francisco Bay Area (Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica). If you’re flying in, the nearest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San José Mineta International Airport (SJC).
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.

With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.

We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.