<i>PLAYA DE ISLA</i> <i>CAMP</i>
<i>PLAYA DE ISLA</i> <i>CAMP</i>
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PLAYA DE ISLA CAMP

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Course

28.08.–05.09.2024

PLAYA DE ISLA CAMP

In our Playa de Isla Camp you will get to know the Atlantic and strengthen your technical foundation. You will expand your comfort zone in dynamic water, get to know the tides and paddling in swell and surf and deal intensively (and with great fun!) with the topics of rock hopping and sea kayak surfing. You will also deal with the topics of rescue and safety, as these are essential to avoid dangerous situations at sea or to get out of them unscathed.

This course camp is intensive but not rushed: We have nine paddling days available and therefore plenty of time to really focus on everything that is important in order to take a big step forward.

Playa de Isla and the entire coastline around offer us the best setting for our course that we can imagine: steep cliffs, flat sandy beaches, a huge, offshore rock garden and river mouths flooded by the tides extend for kilometers into the lush, green interior. This paradise is right in front of our campsite, so we don't have to waste a minute of our time on car shuttles.

DETAILS

Programme Day 1
We start our training on Thursday at 10:00 on our campsite.

Since we not only want to have a good time together, but also want to make sure that everyone benefits optimally from this nine-day course, we start with a get-to-know-you session including an assessment of where we are all standing. Then we distribute the kayaks and equipment that have been ordered and we're off on the water.
Programme Days 2–8
We will invest the first three days of our course particularly in strengthening your paddling technique and defensive techniques such as rolling and bracing. The Spanish coach Manolo Pastoriza will support us with his immense knowledge and over forty years of experience as a trainer.

Basically, the following course content is on the programme for this course, depending on weather and sea conditions:

  • Improve your paddling technique and agility in the boat
  • Roll training with a focus on the C-to-C roll
  • Bombproof braces
  • Techniques and exercises to paddle in the waves more safely and relaxed
  • Paddling in choppy conditions and reflected waves off a cliff
  • Everything about swell and surf in theory and practice
  • Surfing with a sea kayak
  • Basic knowledge of tides and nautical charts
  • Paddling in caves
  • Planning and safety in moderate conditions
  • Rescues

Even though the course will be intensive, we always have enough time to enjoy life by the sea. A coffee or a relaxed lunch break is always possible.

Programme Day 9
On our last day of paddling we will make sure we get off the water by 16:00 at the latest and end the course with a feedback session. You have enough time to take care of your equipment or preparing for your departure. We recommend planning this for Friday evening at the earliest, or even better Saturday.

If you have borrowed gear from us, we ask that you rinse everything with fresh water and return it to us clean and salt-free by Friday evening.
Extras and Options
Sea Kayak Award & Coastal Sea Kayak Award
In this course you can do the Paddle UK Sea Kayak Award or the Paddle UK Coastal Sea Kayak Award. Please let us know ahead of time when you are interested.
Cost: 40 CHF
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More Info
Participant Numbers: Minimum 5, Maximum 12
Languages: German, English, Spanish

TYPICAL CONDITIONS

This is what you may hope for

Weather
Although the northern coast of Spain experiences more rain throughout the year than the dry rest of the country, it is usually pleasantly warm here in summer. In early September, the weather is stable and not too rough.

Wind
Anything is possible in the Bay of Biscay. At the beginning of September, however, it is usually much calmer than in October, for example, when the autumn storms begin. The most common wind directions are northwest to northeast.

Waves
Northwest winds or storms far out on the Atlantic, somewhere between here and southern Greenland, can bring large, long-wave swells. These waves have power – but are mostly perfect for surfing and great for getting used to paddling in swell.
Northeast winds, on the other hand, are a little more tricky: They give us smaller, shorter waves, creating choppy water in our bay. These waves are a great opportunity to practice paddling in choppy conditions.

ACTIVITIES

This is what you may expect

Click on the pictures to learn more about the activities.

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Dynamic Water: Widen Your Comfort Zone

Paddling in dynamic water – whether generated by wind, tide or swell – provides variety and excitement. And it makes you a better paddler.

It is part of our course structure to accompany you step by step from the calm lake to increasingly challenging conditions. What is “challenging” on this journey and what is specifically understood as “dynamic water” – that is highly subjective and is ultimately determined by you, your skills and, above all, your comfort zone, which we will try to carefully expand together. That's why we work with you to find conditions that challenge you without overwhelming you or generating bad experiences. Because we want you to have new experiences, become a safer paddler and walk away from the water with a good feeling and a big grin after each day with us.
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Discover Europe's Most Beautiful Coastlines With Us

There are paddlers for whom sea kayaking primarily means making distance. Often these people paddle purposefully in a straight line past the most beautiful coasts – and overlook all the small and large things that there are to discover. So many beautiful things, so many incredible things, so many spontaneous adventures – if you take the time for them. That's exactly what we mean by "exploring the coast": taking advantage of every opportunity for experiences and fascinating discoveries. The lines between “touring” and “play” blur depending on what presents itself to us. Depending on the tide, swell, wind and weather, a coastline is always different.

We don't measure the success of a paddle-day in kilometers, but in the number of "Wows"! And believe us: there are a lot of them where we go sea kayaking with you.
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Rockhopping: Big Fun, Also in Smaller Waves

Next to surfing, rock hopping is certainly the most playful activity in the vast cosmos of sea kayaking. Paddling with the waves at exactly the right moment over a washed-over granite rock, through narrow passages and into bubbling rock features – always in the rhythm of the waves – that's rock hopping. It takes timing, skill, good observation skills, confident control strokes and a bit of boat control, which fortunately grows with each session.

Rock hopping is an activity that quickly becomes addictive and is a lot of fun. There is no need for big waves. On the contrary: the best rock hopping sessions take place in generally rather calm conditions. Even small waves can create turbulence, suction and very dynamic conditions between the rocks. You have to accept scratches and dents in your kayak before involving in this activity, otherwise it definitely won't be fun. Even a small hole in the boat can happen from time to time, which is why we always have repair materials with us. And to ensure that no injuries occur, we always exercise caution. A good rule for rock hopping is: never play where you don't want to swim.
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Surfing – of Course in a Sea Kayak

At Salty Cosmos we agree: there is almost nothing more addictive than surfing with a sea kayak! No matter whether forward, backward or a reverse start with a turn (like Ella in the picture above), steep pirouettes, spectacular "bongo slides" and fast rolls in the breaking wave – surfing a sea kayak is an absolutely fantastic thing. It is not only extremely fun, but it sharpens your boat control and technique like nothing else. Being able to paddle in the surf zone also means a huge increase in safety: Here you will quickly find out whether you can really intuitively edge and brace, whether your roll works effectively without a setup and whether you understand what your kayak is doing in such a dynamic environment.

You alone decide what conditions are right for you when going sea kayak surfing. It's not about who surfs the biggest waves. It's not (just) about adrenaline rushes or about who can pull off the most spectacular stunts, but simply about having maximum fun and learning while playing. And yes: capsizing is part of it and is neither dangerous nor something to feel ashamed of.
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Caves: Discover Fascinating Worlds

In addition to paddling in rock gardens and under cliffs, caves are the highlights of excursions along many Atlantic or Mediterranean coasts. It is absolutely fascinating to marvel at what nature has created there over millions of years. It goes without saying that we too always venture into the belly of the coast to discover other worlds there. Our sea kayaks are particularly suitable for this purpose like no other type of boat.

The cliffs of Cantabria and Asturias in the north of Spain or the north coast of Jersey each have a particularly large number of spectacular caves. These include narrow and long caves that can only be explored on very quiet days, but also huge cathedrals, some of which consist of several connected rooms or have different entrances and exits. Some caves on the Asturian coast even have small openings to the sky where light shines in on sunny days. On stormy days, the so-called "bufones" develop here: the water pressed into the cave by the huge waves then shoots out of the openings in high fountains. An impressive example of the fact that it is better to only paddle into caves on calm days…
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Safety & Rescue: Absolutely Essential for All of Us

If you really want to be safe on the sea in a kayak, you have to practice rescues regularly. By the way, this also applies to paddlers who go on guided tours! The stronger and safer a group, the more your guide can do with you. And the feeling is even better.

That's why our courses include rescue training: from simple and common to difficult and complex. We always practice first in calm water, but eventually in places that are a little more realistic and challenging.

In addition to training on the water, other things are also very important to us in this context: Above all, essential knowledge about topics such as radio, signaling devices and emergency equipment, first aid, sea survival and hypothermia.
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Fantastic Day Trips

Touring doesn't always mean that you have to paddle for several days with a lot of luggage: Exciting day trips let you enjoy the juicy bits of a coast and you're back at the base camp in the evening. And at the same time, a "day trip" doesn't always have to be synonymous with touring: Just as often as we undertake an excursion-style day trip, we go on paddle-strolls "just around the corner" to a particularly cool rock garden, a tide race or Surf beach and see what happens there. This way, without paddling many kilometers, we also make great, fulfilling and exciting days of sea kayaking.
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Tides: Fascinating but not Magic

If you want to make the step from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, you need a solid understanding of the tides. With us you learn all about the gravitational forces behind the tides, reading and understanding nautical charts and tide tables, calculating drift, the speed of the current, and water height at a certain point in time... And all of this is also very doable for people who don't have a particular penchant for mathematics (like us).
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Seriously Fun Stuff…

Land on a cliff just to make espresso... Open your spraydeck and go for a swim in a bubbling gully… Get up in your kayak and do some "stand up paddling"… Go backwards through the tide race... Surf without a paddle... Or what about a rodeo with a person on the back deck? Or would you rather try a roll with a “koala” on your bow? Why? Just because you can do it. And because it's fun. There are a thousand ways to have fun and learn in sea kayaking (and a million more that we haven't invented yet)! At least for everyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and who hasn't stopped being curious.
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What is this?
What is this?

Our Skill-o-meter is intended to give you a quick, rough guide to the approximate level of experience and paddling skills we require to take part in this programme.

It says NOTHING about what conditions we will encounter on site.

To find out exactly what skills we expect from you to take part in this programme, please be sure to read the specifications below ("What we expect from you").

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SKILLS

This is what we expect from you

You can swim

Basics: Dealing with your spraydeck, get in and out of your kayak, wet-exit

Minimum one week experience on the sea

Experience in waves of 0.5 m and F3 winds

Launching and landing on a suitable beach in waves of ca. 0.5m

SAFETY PARAMETERS

This is what you can rely on

The sea does what it does. With our safety parameters we determine the maximum environmental conditions up to which we will go on the water* during this programme:
Wind
Offshore wind:
  • Up to 21 knots (wind force 5) in areas with predominantly steep banks that offer enough protection
  • Up to 15 knots (wind force 4) in areas with predominantly flat shorelines that offer insufficient protection

Onshore wind:
  • Up to 15 knots (wind force 4) in areas with predominantly steep, rocky shores
  • Up to 21 knots (wind force 5) in areas with flat, sandy shores with easy landing options
Waves
  • Swell of up to 1m and maximum 15 sec. period in areas with predominantly rocky shores
  • Swell of up to 1.5m and a maximum of 15 sec. period in areas with predominantly sandy, flat shores that provide safe landing
The sea weather report or swell forecast serves as the basis for assessment. In the case of short, steep wind waves, cross seas, etc., the situation is assessed individually.
If it is not possible to find these (or easier) conditions in our paddling area, we will stay on land. Other safety parameters (extreme gusts, rapidly falling air pressure, thunderstorms, etc.) also apply.

* For more information on this topic, see our FAQs

EVERYTHING ELSE

This is what you need to organise by yourself

For all of our programs, arrival and departure as well as all transport and on-site accommodation are the responsibility of the participants. This means that you have to take care of these things yourself. Below you will find all the information you need:
Meeting point & arrival
GETTING THERE

Camping Playa de Isla
Barrio Ampilla, 1
39195 Isla
Cantabria
España
Website: https://www.playadeisla.com

Time:
For a quieter and relaxed start to the course, we recommend arriving the day before (Wednesday, 27.08). When exactly you arrive doesn't matter. Please prepare to be self-sufficient on the day of arrival and note that your Salty Cosmos team is also busy preparing and will not be available before the course begins.

The course starts on Thursday, September 28th at 10:00 a.m.

Getting there:
The best way to arrive by car is via Bordeaux, Donostia or San Sebastian, and Bilbao. An alternative for those who have a lot of time, come from elsewhere in the Mediterranean, or are already in Spain is to travel south of the Pyrenees, via Zaragoza, Logroño and Bilbao. Here you save a large part of the expensive French toll fees, but you drive a few extra kilometers and hours.

The exit from the Autovía del Cantábrico (A8 or AP8) to Playa des Isla is well signposted (Isla, Noja, Ajo). Drive towards Noja and then towards Isla and Playa de Isla and follow the signs to the campsite, outside the village.

When making travel arrangements, please don't forget to ask the other participants whether they are looking for or offering a ride.

Unfortunately, getting to Playa de Isla by public transport is not that easy. There is an unbeatably cheap Flixbus from Zurich to Bilbao, but it takes almost 22 hours. Train connections from CH take the detour via Paris and from there by TGV to the Spanish border in Hendaye in just under 5 hours. From here there are various options for continuing the journey via Donostia / San Sebastián and Bilbao and Laredo. From Laredo you have to take a taxi.

Flying: Certainly the easiest and fastest means of transport to Cantabria is by plane. There are cheap and direct connections from Zurich or Munich to Bilbao, for example. From Bilbao there is a bus to Laredo, from there you take a taxi.

If you want to fly to Santander, you usually have to change in Madrid or Barcelona. The way from the airport to Playa de Isla is quick, easy and even affordable by taxi (approx. 50 euros).

If you are joining us from the UK or Ireland, we recommend taking the ferry from Plymouth to Santander or from Roslare to Bilbao. These are by far the most comfortable connections to Spain and from Santander it's just a couple minutes to our campsite in Playa de Isla. And you possibly have your car, van or motorbike with you, ready for an extended holiday in Spain.
Accommodation
The base of our course week is the beautiful Camping Playa de Isla in Cantabria.

If you don't want to stay at the campsite, you can of course also look for an alternative nearby (holiday apartment, AirBnB, hotel, etc.). However, it is important that you are able to get to the agreed meeting point on time, independently and without any problems.
Please remember that either way you are responsible for organising, booking and paying your accommodation.
Rations
In all Salty Cosmos programmes, food and drinks are generally the responsibility of the participants. Please consider whether you would like to cook for yourself or eat in a privately organised communal group.
Insurance
Accident insurance, travel health insurance, rescue and recovery insurance
In all Salty Cosmos programs, accident insurance, travel health insurance and rescue and recovery insurance are the responsibility of the participants. Please take care of these things early.

Cancellation cost insurance
Please take out cancellation insurance when you complete your booking. If you were to become sick ahead of the programme, it would be a pity if you were not only missing out, but also losing money.

More questions? See our FAQs

This is what Silvy Seal says

This is the course I look most forward to: Nine days with simply an incredible amount of new things to learn and discover! We won't even need to waste time on car shuttles. In addition, it is simply beautiful here: the beaches are great, but of course I personally like the rocks and cliffs best. I find it funny when people practice seal-style landings on the flat rocks with their kayaks! As if that were so difficult! ;-) But of course, not everyone was born on a rock in the surf...

By the way, Frédéric also really looks forward to this camp. He's not really keen on practicing so much, for him it's more about life in the camp. No wonder, because we will really enjoy the best holiday atmosphere here – right above the beach, with a view of the Atlantic.

Normal price
1850 CHF*

Price including use of our gear

This price includes a kayak, paddle and all the gear you need for participating. You need to order this gear separately after booking, ahead the programme.

Arrival and departure, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the participants and are therefore not included in the price.

Reduced Price
1700 CHF*

Price with your own material

Price if you participate with your own equipment. You are responsible for bringing your kayak and equipment and, if necessary, transporting them during the programme.

Arrival and departure, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the participants and are therefore not included in the price.

*Net price plus Spanish VAT (21%)

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