Surf Trip Packing List 2027: Surf Camp in Spain
A surf trip packing list for a surf camp in Spain is shorter than most people expect: if the camp provides the board and wetsuit, everything fits into a cabin backpack plus one small checked bag. The essentials are proper sun protection for the water, a rain jacket for the Atlantic and a well-organised liquids bag for airport security. Below you will find the full list as tables by category, tailored to a week at a surf camp on Spain's Atlantic coast.
In a minute
- Find out what is provided first: at the Semesterkur surf camp in Galicia, the board and wetsuit are included. Anything not explicitly listed, such as towels, is worth checking with the operator before you pack.
- Pack a rain jacket: Galicia is not the Mediterranean. Evenings are cool even in summer, and rain is likely in spring and autumn.
- Liquids in hand luggage: at Spanish Aena airports, Aena still lists the 100 ml rule with a single transparent 1-litre bag. Put large sun cream in the hold or buy it locally.
- Sun protection is non-negotiable: water-resistant SPF 50, lip balm with SPF and a rash vest. Mineral filters are considered the gentler choice for the sea.
- Keep documents in two places: ID, boarding pass, EHIC or GHIC and travel insurance, both digital and on paper.
Tip: wide tables scroll sideways on small screens.
What does the surf camp provide, and what do you bring?
Before you pack anything, check what is waiting for you on arrival. It saves space and baggage fees. At the Semesterkur surf camp in Louro, Galicia, it looks like this:
| Provided according to the trip description | Bring yourself or check with the operator |
|---|---|
| Surfboard for the 4-day surf course | Swimwear, rash vest |
| Wetsuit for the course | Sun protection, clothes, rain jacket |
| Accommodation at the Area Surf House (bunk beds, shared kitchen) | Towels, bedding, sleeping bag: ask in advance |
| Programme: beach volleyball, bar tour, beach yoga, Monte Louro hike, trip to Muros | Sturdy shoes for the hike, an outfit for the bar tour |
Towels and bed linen are not mentioned in the trip details, so ask rather than guess. A thin microfibre towel is worth packing anyway, as it is small and dries quickly.
Hand luggage only, or a checked bag?
Lots of people fly into Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) on low-cost carriers and try to travel with cabin bags only. That works if the camp provides the board and wetsuit. Cabin bag sizes and weights differ by airline and fare, so check your own booking rather than forum posts.
The 100 ml liquids rule in 2026/27
According to Aena, which runs Spain's airports including Santiago, liquids, creams, gels, aerosols and toothpaste in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100 ml, all inside one transparent, resealable bag of up to 1 litre (about 20 × 20 cm), one bag per passenger. Liquid medicines needed during the trip are exempt; bring a prescription or proof where possible.
Some airports in Europe and the UK have new CT scanners where liquids can stay in your bag and, in some cases, larger containers are allowed. This is not universal, does not always apply to every security lane and may not apply on your return flight from Spain. Pack to the 100 ml rule to be safe, and follow the signs and staff at each airport.
Practical fixes:
- Sun cream in 100 ml bottles or as a stick; put a large bottle in the hold or buy one locally.
- Switch to solids: shampoo bars, soap bars, a deodorant stick.
- Surf wax is solid; zinc cream and after-sun count as liquids or creams.
Example setup: backpack + small checked bag
| Cabin bag | Checked bag |
|---|---|
| ID or passport, boarding pass, cards, cash | Large sun cream, after-sun |
| Phone, charger, power bank (airlines normally require power banks in the cabin; check your airline's rules) | Second pair of shoes, hiking shoes |
| Medicines | Hoodie, jeans, evening outfit |
| Liquids bag (max 100 ml per container) | Microfibre towel, beach towel |
| Rain jacket, swimwear, one change of clothes | The rest of your clothes |
Keep swimwear and the rain jacket in your cabin bag: if your checked bag turns up late, you can still surf on day one.
Galicia's weather: why the rain jacket is essential
Galicia is green because it rains a lot. Climate normals from AEMET, Spain's national weather agency, for the Santiago de Compostela Airport station (1981–2010, about 370 m above sea level) show:
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Avg days with ≥ 1 mm rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | 16.1 °C | 6.2 °C | 14.4 |
| June | 22.2 °C | 11.3 °C | 7.6 |
| August | 24.7 °C | 13.3 °C | 5.5 |
| October | 18.1 °C | 9.5 °C | 14.0 |
The station is inland and higher than the coast, so conditions in Louro by the sea differ a little, but the pattern holds: nights cool down noticeably even in high summer, and in spring and autumn it rains on roughly every other day. In practice that means a rain jacket, a hoodie and long trousers whatever the month. Check MeteoGalicia's forecast a few days before you leave, and see the best time to surf in Spain for month-by-month surf conditions.
Surf trip packing list by category
The tables below are built around a week at a surf camp on Spain's Atlantic coast. Tick off what you already own.
Water kit: what you need for surfing
| Item | Why | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 2 × bikini/swim shorts | Under the wetsuit | One dries while you wear the other |
| Rash vest or UV shirt | Prevents chafing, adds sun protection | Stops rubbing at the armpits and neck |
| Water-resistant sun cream (SPF 50) | Face, hands, feet, neck | Apply before the wetsuit, not after |
| Sun stick or zinc cream | Nose, cheeks, lips | Sticks are cabin-friendly |
| Lip balm with SPF | Sun and salt water | Small and easily forgotten |
| Hair ties | Long hair out of your face | Bring several |
| Water-sports earplugs | For sensitive ears | Optional |
| Water bottle | Rehydrate after lessons | Take it through security empty |
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, see our guide to surfing with glasses or contacts. If you are wondering whether to bring your own wetsuit, the wetsuit thickness guide explains which thickness suits which water temperature.
Beach and downtime
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| Beach towel or microfibre towel | Light and quick-drying |
| Changing poncho or large towel | Handy on the beach, optional |
| Flip-flops or sliders | For the beach and the showers |
| Cap or sun hat | Between sessions |
| Sunglasses | Ideally with a strap |
| Small daypack or beach bag | Water, snacks, sun cream |
| Waterproof phone pouch | Optional, for beach photos |
| Kit for beach yoga | Leggings or shorts, T-shirt |
| Snacks for after lessons | Surfing makes you hungry |
Evenings and the bar tour
The camp programme includes a bar tour and evenings out as a group. You do not need a party wardrobe, just something other than damp board shorts:
- 1–2 evening outfits (jeans or chinos, shirt or top)
- A hoodie or fleece: Atlantic evenings are cool even in summer
- Clean trainers
- A small bag for your phone, ID, card and some cash
- Earplugs and an eye mask for the shared dorm
Hiking Monte Louro
Monte Louro rises right on the coast. The hike is not a mountain expedition, but flip-flops are a bad idea:
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| Shoes with decent grip | Light hiking shoes or trail runners are usually fine |
| Rain jacket | Coastal weather changes quickly |
| Water bottle | At least 0.5 litres |
| Sun protection | There is little shade at the top |
| Light long trousers | Protects against scrub |
| Charged phone | For photos and navigation |
For more on Louro, Muros and the Costa da Morte, see our Galicia travel guide.
Clothes for 7 days
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| T-shirts/tops | 4–5 |
| Shorts | 2 |
| Long trousers (jeans or joggers) | 1–2 |
| Hoodie/fleece | 1–2 |
| Rain jacket | 1 |
| Underwear and socks | 7 |
| Sleepwear | 1 |
| Trainers | 1 pair |
| Hiking shoes or trail runners | 1 pair |
| Flip-flops | 1 pair |
A week is short enough to manage without laundry. If you want to rinse a few things, a bar of laundry soap avoids the liquids problem.
Documents and money
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| National ID card or passport | Valid for the whole trip; check entry rules for your nationality |
| Boarding pass | Digital, plus a screenshot |
| Camp booking confirmation | Including contact details |
| EHIC (EU/EEA) or UK GHIC | Covers state healthcare, not everything |
| Travel insurance | Check that surfing is covered |
| Debit or credit card + backup card | Keep them in separate places |
| Some euros in cash | For small bars and markets |
| Copies of all documents | Stored in the cloud |
| Student card | May get you discounts at museums or on buses |
For the transfer from Santiago Airport to Louro (about 1 hour by shuttle or car share), read Santiago de Compostela airport to Louro.
First-aid kit for surfers
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Plasters in various sizes, waterproof plasters | Small cuts from fins, rocks or reef |
| Antiseptic spray or wipes | Clean wounds after surfing |
| Antiseptic or healing cream | Grazes and chafing |
| Painkillers | Sore muscles, headaches |
| Anti-diarrhoea tablets | Just in case |
| After-sun | After a beach day |
| Personal medication | In your cabin bag, with prescription |
| Tweezers | Splinters, sea urchin spines |
| Ear drops if you are prone to infections | Ask a pharmacist or doctor first |
Sore shoulders and back on day two are normal. A few weeks of preparation helps; try our surf fitness workout.
Tech
| Item | Tip |
|---|---|
| Phone + charger | Group chat, photos, navigation |
| Power bank | Cabin bag only; check your airline's rules |
| Headphones | Flight and transfer |
| Multi-port USB charger or small extension lead | Sockets are scarce in dorms |
| Plug adapter | Spain uses the two-pin European plug; UK travellers need a UK-to-EU adapter |
| Action camera | Optional, only with a leash or mount |
"Reef-safe" sun cream: what to look for
"Reef-safe" is a marketing claim, not a regulated term. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) lists several chemical UV filters, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, that can harm marine life, and describes mineral sun cream as the better option. The research is still ongoing. Our advice: read the ingredients rather than the label, choose a mineral cream with zinc oxide if you are unsure, and apply it well before you paddle out so it has time to set. Shade, a rash vest and a cap reduce how much you need in the first place.
What you can leave at home
- Your own surfboard: provided during the course. Flying a board costs extra and rarely makes sense for beginners. More in our beginner surfboard size guide.
- Your own wetsuit: also provided, unless you have one that fits perfectly and you really want to use it.
- Hairdryer and straighteners: salt water wins anyway.
- Valuables: expensive jewellery and watches are better left at home.
Checklist: the last 48 hours before you fly
- Check in online and save your boarding pass.
- Decant liquids into containers of 100 ml or less and pack the 1-litre bag.
- Check the Galicia forecast and put the rain jacket in your cabin bag.
- Confirm your airport shuttle or car share.
- Pack your EHIC or GHIC and proof of insurance.
- Charge your phone and power bank.
- Put your swimwear at the top of your backpack.
Verdict
The best surf trip packing list is a short one: swimwear, a rash vest, good sun protection, a rain jacket and a hoodie, plus sturdy shoes and your documents. Because the board and wetsuit are provided at the Semesterkur camp in Louro, a cabin backpack and a small checked bag are plenty. For a full picture of the week, see our Galicia surf trips page and the surf FAQ; both are in German.
Last updated: November 2026
