Surf course in Zarautz

Pukas has a school in Zarautz, at Calle Lizardi 9, a step from the beach. It offers 3-hour weekend courses, 5- or 10-hour weekly courses, 12-hour monthly courses and a 20-hour mini-camp, in individual, pair, trio or group classes. Its website does not publish prices: they appear when you book each course. Telephone 943 890 636.

Why Zarautz for learning

Zarautz has the longest beach in Gipuzkoa, some 2,500 metres of sand open to the Cantabrian Sea. According to Zarautz Turismo, surfing arrived in the village in the 1960s and today there are waves all year round, with surfers of all levels: experts, families and students. The beach is so long there is room for everyone, and the village's schools work with beginners who have never stood up on a board.

Pukas has two schools, one in San Sebastián and one here. The Zarautz one is right in the centre, on Calle Lizardi, and caters to beginners and to those who already have some level.

The courses

The shortest format is the weekend course, of 3 hours in total: it works for finding out whether you like it. The weekly ones, of 5 or 10 hours, spread the classes over several days, which is how you really progress. The monthly one adds up to 12 hours and is only done in a group, and the mini-camp, of 20 hours, has a morning-only option. All of them, except the monthly and the mini-camp, can be taken as an individual, pair, trio or group class.

The school's website does not publish prices, minimum ages or what equipment each course includes. Ask by phone or at [email protected] before booking, especially if you are going with children. Nor does it publish times: fix the day and time with the school before organising the rest of your trip.

In the water

On the beach, watch the flags. Zarautz Turismo explains the code: green, free swimming; yellow, swimming with caution; red, no swimming; and red and blue, a zone reserved for water sports, where surfing takes place. Anyone swimming with floats must stay in the green-flag zone. In summer the water is between 19 and 21 degrees, according to the tourist office; the rest of the year, with a wetsuit, you can learn too.

On the beach there are showers, toilets, lifeguards and parasol hire, and on the promenade the Itsasertza information point operates in summer (943 890 377). The tourist office is at Kale Nagusia 30 (943 830 990).

Before and after

Arrive in good time: in summer the parking beside the beach is regulated and fills up. Without a car, the Lurraldebus from San Sebastián or Bilbao stops in Zarautz. After the lesson, stroll to the Iñurritza dunes or keep walking to Getaria. If you stay overnight, the Gran Camping Zarautz hires surf equipment.