A-Frame FAQ's

The A-Frame Yoga & Surf Camp is located in El Palmar, a small coastal town in Andalusia, in the south of Spain. El Palmar is located on the Costa de la Luz and is therefore directly on the wave-rich Atlantic Ocean. The nearest airports are in Jerez de la Frontera (40 minutes), Seville (1.5 hours) and Malaga (2.5 hours away). By plane you can reach Andalusia from Germany in 3.5 to 4 hours. You can find out more information about how to get to us at How to get here.

The quickest way to reach us is by plane. The three nearest airports are Jerez de la Frontera, Seville & Málaga. Even low-cost airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair fly to all three airports. From the airport, you can either book a rental car (very cheap in Spain, especially if you book in advance) or have our cab driver pick you up for an extra €90 (only applies to arrivals in Jerez de la Frontera).

You can arrive at any time. It is not always possible to have your accommodation ready before 2 pm, as our cleaning staff have to prepare everything for you first. If you want to arrive early and your accommodation is not yet available, you can explore the area, go for a walk on the beach or simply have a coffee with us at the camp and arrive in peace. You can leave your luggage with us until then. Check out is officially at 10.30 am. If you book a transfer from the airport in Jerez to us, please let us know your arrival time. Please note that if you give the wrong arrival or departure dates and we send a transfer, this will be considered your transfer.

Your room will be ready around 2.00 pm on the first day. Of course, you can still arrive earlier and have a look around the camp or the surrounding area, have a coffee or join us for lunch. Things really get going at 19:30 with a delicious dinner. After dinner, our team will introduce themselves and you will find out what the next few days will be like.

There are no yoga classes or surf courses on the first and last day. You can still use your surfboard and wetsuit until 6 pm on your last day.

On the day of departure, you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast with us. Checkout is at 10.30 am so that our cleaning staff can prepare the accommodation for the next guests. However, you are welcome to stay the whole day and use the surf equipment until 6 p.m.

The shuttle from the airport in Jerez de la Frontera costs 95 € per vehicle. If you join up with other travellers, it will be cheaper for you as a single person. A shuttle from Seville costs 195 € and a transfer from Málaga costs 255 € per vehicle. As a rule, it is also worth hiring your own car, as hire cars are relatively cheap in Spain. The best place to look for a cheap hire car is DoYouSpain. https://www.doyouspain.com/mietwagen/index.htm

Our shuttle prices are:

Jerez de la Frontera: 95 €
Sevilla: 195 €
Malaga: 255 €

As we have already described here under Arrival, it is nice to have your own car to explore the surrounding area. And if you are traveling as a couple, a rental car is usually even cheaper than our cab shuttle. However, if you come alone, you can also come to us by bus or conveniently book our shuttle. And there are often opportunities to travel with other guests on site.
A car is not necessary for everyday camp life. The beach and surf spot are right on the doorstep. The yoga studio right next door. And supermarkets for small items just 50 m away.

Our Beach Camp is, as the name suggests, right on the beach. The Oasis Camp is around 400 meters from the beach.

The age of our guests ranges from mid/late 20s to mid/late 40s.

We have a lot of solo travelers as guests. That's not a problem at all. But just like single travelers, we also have friends, couples and families at the camp. It's always a good mix and there's never been a problem. You'll meet lots of other people with whom you can attend surf or yoga classes or meet up for meals. And: you'll have a great time with us.

It's entirely up to you. At 7:30 pm we all have dinner together. Afterwards, you can end the evening relaxing in your accommodation. You can also have a glass of wine with the other guests in the camp or make El Palmar unsafe. El Palmar also has several bars and restaurants where you can end the day with a view of the sea. We also organize a movie night, a BBQ and a cocktail evening at the camp once a week. So there is also a bit of a program here at the camp.

These are our arrival and departure times:

At the beach camp, arrival and departure are always on Saturdays. But in the period from mid-November to the beginning of March, you can arrive and depart on any day of the week.
In the Oasis Camp, you can arrive and depart on any day of the week in spring and fall.

If you have booked the all-inclusive package, everything is included. Not included are optional offers such as:

• Open yoga lessons (€15 for 90 min.)

• 1h massage

• Ayurveda consultation

• Alcohol and drinks from our drinks fridge (included are: water, tea, coffee, ginger water, various juices)

We are open continuously from September to June.
We are closed in the summer months (July, August). But then the waves are too small anyway and El Palmar is very crowded (Spanish summer vacations).

Yes, we are open continuously from September to the beginning of June.

Our surf camp is located directly on the beach. Therefore you can walk around all day in board shorts, bikini and flip flops if you like. Pants and sweaters are sometimes needed, especially in winter when the evenings can be chilly, so warm clothing is a good idea at this time.

We have wetsuits for surfing in the camp. However, you should bring a bikini or swimming trunks or board shorts to wear underneath.

If you would like to take part in our yoga classes, we recommend comfortable clothing such as leggings or jogging bottoms. We have material on site.

Families with children are always welcome. The accommodation offers plenty of privacy so that you can relax and enjoy your family vacation. We also have a children's room with lots of toys in the camp. You can find more information about surfing vacations with the family at Family.

From children's travel cots to playrooms, sandals, children's bikes, balance bikes, children's surfing courses and childcare, we have it all. You can find more details about our offer for families with children on the family page.

Tip: Your kids will find the most playmates during our popular family weeks. These take place on five dates a year. You can also find the dates on the family page.

The standard of service and cleanliness is exactly the same in both camps. Our team is friendly and welcoming in both camps and is looking forward to your visit. Both camps use the same yoga and surf equipment, which is always new, clean and in top condition. And last but not least, the food is equally excellent and fresh at both camps.

You don't have to. We offer entire accommodations, but you can also book just one room (single room) in our houses (casas) for an extra charge. In this case, you may be sharing a house with another guest. However, you will have your room to yourself.

A second option is to book a double room at no extra charge. In this case, you may be sharing the room with another guest. If you would like to stay alone or as a couple, we recommend that you book a 2-bed studio and let us know your wishes when booking. We will try to accommodate all requests.

All accommodation is fully equipped. You don't need to bring anything. The accommodations have a fully equipped kitchen with fridge, stove, oven, dishes, etc., as well as a bathroom with toilet, bed linen, towels, washing machine, BBQ, almost everywhere also a terrace or garden.

If required, we can provide you with a travel cot.

Your bed is of course already made, you do not need to bring bed linen.
We have towels for the bathroom. Please bring your own beach towels.
A hairdryer is available in every accommodation.

Wi-fi is available in the main buildings and in our own accommodation. We also have an office room where good Wi-Fi is available throughout. You can also retreat there to work or check your emails undisturbed.

We serve excellent yoga and surf food. Our food is really good. Depending on the package you book, breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Our camp chefs prepare fresh, international dishes every day. We are happy to cater for allergies, intolerances and vegetarian or vegan lifestyles. Between meals, you can help yourself from our "guest fridge". Fruit, water, juices, tea, coffee and ginger water are also available to you throughout the day.

A typical day: A hearty breakfast after morning yoga with fresh smoothies, eggs, fruit, fresh bread, chia pudding, goji berries and nuts. For lunch, there are homemade afternoon treats after surfing and a three-course gourmet dinner after evening yoga. Lots of beautifully prepared and varied vegetable dishes, vegetarian or vegan if you prefer. Ginger water, tea, juices, water and coffee are available to you throughout the day.

We recommend not drinking tap water in Spain, even in hotels, as it contains many more minerals than the water in Europe and is also highly chlorinated. This is often not a problem for local people, as their bodies are used to it and can cope with it, but for travelers, drinking tap water usually leads to illness. That's why we provide you with free drinking water - as much as you want.

During your vacation with us, we take your preferences and intolerances into consideration when it comes to food. You can eat vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free with us.

No. There is no ATM here. The nearest ATM is in Conil de la Frontera. 5 minutes away by car.

There are plenty of restaurants and cafés in El Palmar. We are happy to recommend our favorite restaurants on the spot. There is also a supermarket that sells fruit, vegetables and other essentials. There is a well-stocked pharmacy, a tobacconist and a few surf stores. Unfortunately, there is no ATM yet. The nearest ATM can be found in the neighboring town of Conil de la Frontera.

A whole lot! Climbing, hiking, whale watching, sightseeing, beach volleyball and much more. Get inspired by our blog post on the most beautiful sights in Andalusia. You can find other activities on our website. We also provide lots of tips on must-dos in Vejer de la Frontera, Tarifa and Conil de la Frontera in our blog.

In principle, yes. In fall, it is usually still warm in summer. And in winter it is wonderfully mild at 15 to 20 degrees.

In some months, like everywhere else, there are mosquitoes. So make sure you have sufficient mosquito repellent. Some of our accommodation has fly screens. We are happy to provide you with an anti-mosquito plug everywhere.

Vaccinations and precautions against malaria are not required for visitors to Spain. We have first aid equipment and trained staff to administer first aid. In case of emergency, there are hospitals and clinics nearby. Medical costs depend on the treatment received, so make sure you have travel insurance before you arrive. There is a well-stocked pharmacy in El Palmar, which is open from Monday to Saturday.

Our surf and yoga camp has been around since 2005 and you can read more about it in the A-Frame Story.

The rustic and authentic flair of El Palmar immediately enchanted Arne and Katrin, the owners of the camp. You can read the full story about the A-Frame surf and yoga camp and Arne and Katrin in the A-Frame Story.

An A-frame is a wave that can be surfed both to the left and to the right. This means that the wave breaks from the peak in both directions.

In Andalusia, it is warm all year round. Even the winters are wonderfully mild here and it never actually gets colder than 15 degrees. Here you can find more information about the Surf Report El Palmar.

The water temperature rarely falls below 16 degrees. In summer, you can sometimes surf in board shorts. For detailed information, we recommend our Surf Report El Palmar. There you can see the average temperatures for each month.

Bring your surfboard
With such a wide range of different waves, you can bring a few surfboards with you, from shortboards and minimalibu to longboards, everything is possible. If you don't want to surf waves that are too big, an all-rounder like a minimalibu will suffice. It's best to check the surf forecast before you arrive. In the surf spots section, we have also described the most important spots in the area with all their peculiarities.

Surfboard rental
We offer all shapes and sizes of boards at our surf camp. Softboards for beginners, different minimalibus and shortboards (even shortboards with soft-top from Ocean & Earth), longboards and SUPs (for flat days). Depending on the package, the surfboards are already included in the price or you can book them spontaneously on a daily basis.

There are surf stores in El Palmar. There you can buy clothing, wetsuits, board shorts, bikinis, rashguards, zincs and surf ponchos. There is also plenty of hardware: surfboards, leashes, surf wax, deck grips, fins, etc. Most surf stores in El Palmar also offer repairs.

No. Surf courses are only included in the All Inclusive package and in the Self-catering package as well as in the Surf Yoga trips. Surf courses are not included in the so-called individual packages. If you spontaneously decide to take a surf course after all, you can book a place on one of our surf courses on site at any time. Most yoga retreats include a surf taster course. Equipment is always included, so you don't need to bring anything with you.

No, you can also book the so-called individual package. This package includes accommodation and meals. You can then surf on your own. In our surf spot guide, you can get an overview of the surf spots in Andalusia before you arrive. Our home spot, Playa El Palmar, is right on our doorstep.

We are happy to welcome all guests, whether you are a beginner or an advanced surfer. We will assign you to the appropriate group.

In any case. If you feel that you would like to move up or down a group or level, let our team know and we can move you to the appropriate group the next day.

No problem. We always have surf instructors for every level. So we can divide the groups into different levels as required. We have extra groups for children.

In Andalusia, there are different waves at every time of year. And every surf spot offers different conditions. It's therefore best to take a look at our wave guide and our spot guide. Then you'll be well prepared.

If you stay with us for a whole week, you can take part in 5 surf lessons. A surf lesson usually lasts 2.5 - 3 hours. You can of course conquer the waves on your own on the surf-free days. You can also go surfing on your own before or after the courses. You are free to use the surf equipment throughout the week. In addition to the surfing courses, we will do a video analysis of your surfing skills with you, and you will also receive surf theory twice a week.

The surfing conditions depend on the tides, waves, wind and weather. We can therefore only predict the time of the surf courses the evening before. Only then do we know what the forecast is for the next day. We always let you know the schedule for the next day at dinner.

You can read about the content and schedule of the surf lessons in the surf course section on our website.

You can but you don't have to. Your course already includes a wetsuit and surfing equipment. You can use the surf equipment and wetsuit freely throughout the week.
If you haven't booked a surf course, you can also rent equipment from us spontaneously.

This depends a little on how cold you feel. In the warmer months, a wetsuit in 3/2 is sufficient. Sometimes you can even go into the water without any wetsuit at all. Depending on the time of year and how cold you feel, a 4/3 may also be necessary. Especially in winter. We have 4/3 rental wetsuits at the surf camp, so you can also spontaneously rent a thicker wetsuit.

We offer open yoga classes 5 days a week. You can join in spontaneously. A yoga session (90 minutes) costs €15.

Our trips take place from 3 participants and we have space for a maximum of 15 yogis in our yoga house.

The yoga style depends on the yoga retreat or trip you have booked. The styles are explained in the descriptions of the yoga retreats and yoga trips. In the yoga classes open to everyone, we focus on your energy and your level. This can be anything from hatha yoga to dynamic vinyasa flow classes to relaxing yin yoga classes.

Yes, absolutely! Our experienced and fully trained teachers create courses for all levels. There are always plenty of options and modifications to enable beginners and experienced practitioners to deepen and develop their practice. Inspiration for all is guaranteed! We teach precisely and innovatively on all the basics and always offer advanced options so that everyone can progress during their stay.

Not at all. We encourage everyone to do as much or as little as they want to create "their" perfect vacation.

Yes, absolutely! Our experienced and fully trained teachers create courses for all levels. There are always plenty of options and modifications to enable beginners and experienced practitioners to deepen and develop their practice. Inspiration for all is guaranteed! We teach precisely and innovatively on all the basics and always offer advanced options so that everyone can progress during their stay.

The exception is the Jivamukti Retreat, as it is very challenging and intensive and the sessions are longer.

Yes - and we love getting people out on the waves for the first time! El Palmar is spoiled with beautiful surf spots that are perfect for beginners, and we have our great surf instructors to help you surf the waves. We welcome surfers of all levels, and our experienced surf guides will take you out on the waves every day (if you want) and choose the best spots for everyone to take their lessons and surf safely.

If you don't want to, you don't need to bring your own yoga mat. Because the A-Frame Yoga House is fully equipped with everything you need: yoga mats, blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets and lavender eye pillows.

Yoga clothes, beach clothes, beach towel, sunscreen (is more expensive here), something warm for the evenings & early mornings (almost any time of year, just in case, especially between November and March), a good book for the beach.

We provide you with material such as yoga mats, bolsters, blocks, straps, blankets and eye pillows. Surfing equipment such as surfboards and wetsuits for your surf course are also provided.