July 24, 2007

Latin America | Mexico | Cabo San Lucas

Surfin’ Safari

By Lisa Wixon

Shhh! It’s women only at Mexico’s new secret surf camp.

view map

Seeking the best new coordinates to live out your Blue Crush fantasies? Like all veteran surfers, the founders of Las Olas Surf Safaris are keeping the 411 of their latest prized beach a guarded secret — even from guests. Now celebrating the 10th anniversary of their pioneering school near Puerto Vallarta, the female-only surf academy has just opened a sister camp in Baja California. Yet the precise latitude-longitude is kept under close wraps until surfistas have formally signed on. Two clues: a) it’s near Cabo San Lucas; b) the beach’s Bohemian pueblo is a magnet for both Mexican and expat artists.

Once there, guests learn to surf with world-champion longboard instructor Kristy Murphy. Afterward it’s yoga, massage and shopping for locally crafted jewelry and art. Girl bonding is the specialty of the so-called Manifesta Safari (other camps are geared toward golf and art). And while digs at Las Olas scrub up very nicely indeed (think poolside cabañas and Bougainvillea-clad courtyards), you can always decompress at the new Desert Spa at Villa Del Arcos Los Cabos. The nearby resort’s 31,000 square-foot space features VIP treatment suites — plus there’s a pool with a full-sized replica of a Spanish galleon. Just look out for your inner Gidget — the waves are but a few feet away.