WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.

Beyond Retreats is a project attempting to improve surf retreat culture and the impact that surf tourism has on small surf towns.

We want the money you spend on your surf adventure to directly benefit the local community.

We all love travelling and surfing, and we hope we can inspire you to keep doing so in a more inquisitive and sustainable way.

A group of people on a beach near kayaks and paddleboards, with some standing and one lying on the sand, under trees with overcast sky.

the how.

We’re keeping it local.

We partner with incredible longboard coaches from each destination, ensuring that local surfers are the ones leading any surf-related business happening on their waves.

We stay in locally owned accommodation, instead of surf camp chains or airbnb rentals owned by people who don’t live in the area. The same goes for the restaurants we eat at and other activities we organise.

We also host art workshops with local master crafters as a way to enrich your travels. This is often in the realm of clay, but not limited to it. These sessions allow you to celebrate the culture of the place you’re visiting while supporting those who have dedicated their lives to their craft.

Tropical coastal scene with lush green trees in the foreground, a harbor with boats in the water, and a distant landmass on the horizon.

giving back.

Beyond Retreats supports specific NGOs in each destination by donating a portion of your retreat deposit. Even if you cancel your booking, that contribution still goes to causes that matter.

These three initiatives are community-rooted programs that use ocean-based activities — like surf therapy, swimming, education and leadership opportunities — to help locals build confidence and access new opportunities.

Our aim is to spark curiosity about the impact of your travels — encouraging you not to simply pass through, but to land, learn, and give back.


- When booking the Portugal edition, you are supporting SOMA, a Portuguese organisation in São Tomé e Príncipe. https://www.somasurf.org/about

- When booking the Mentawai edition, you are supporting the local school in Tuapejat, Our Ocean School. https://ouroceanschool.org/our-impact/

- When booking the Sri Lanka edition, you are supporting SeaSisters, on the South Coast. https://www.seasisterslk.com/our-impact


A woman standing next to a table filled with yellow coconuts at an outdoor fruit stand by the water, with trees in the background.