Macao Surf Camp started in the Summer of 2009, after  Armando Reid, Gustavo Alvarez, and Rafael Ferreras, longtime friends and Jesus-loving surfers, came together in Punta Cana after moving there from Santo Domingo. They would usually meet on weekends at Macao Beach, to surf one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean with six different surfing breaks. 

They began teaching Armando  kids along with  some of their friends the basics of surfing. It was so much fun that they decided to start a surf school! The main idea was to f give back to the youth of Punta Cana, sharing all the benefits that surfing brought to their lives, while also earning money by doing something they were passionate about. Collectively , they all had over 35 years of surfing experience and were actively involved in surfing associations and the National Surfing Federation. Additionally, Gustavo is a surfing pioneer in the Dominican Republic.  Prior to opening Macao Surf Came, he founded the first surf school in the country at Encuentro Beach, Puerto Plata.

“God had a plan for my life, a plan better than I ever dreamed…”

– says Rafael Ferreras, Director of the School.

The surf school was a success from day one, not in terms of the number of students, but in how fast students learned and how fun the lessons were. Soon, word spread within the community and,  given that Punta Cana is the top tourist destination in the country, visitors began to hire their services. The demand for surfing lessons with Macao Surf Camp started to grow rapidly. That’s when Sonia Mercado, Rafael's wife, became a partner and took charge of the administration.

In just a few months, Macao Surf Camp was serving all the resorts and hotels in the Punta Cana area and, with the support of the Dominican Surfing Federation (FEDOSURF), became the first surf school certified by the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic.

“The beautiful beach of Macao is perfect for the whole family to share the experience. To encourage this, we organize monthly barbecues where family and friends of our students can participate and enjoy a day at Macao. Aside from basic understanding and advancement in the sport, one of our main objectives is environmental responsibility, which, along with ocean knowledge, we call Ocean Consciousness. With this concept, we pass on love and respect for the environment through our students. Additionally, our students learn about wave patterns and water safety, giving them the confidence they need to protect themselves while surfing”.

– Gustavo Alvarez, Co-Owner
Certified teachers

OUR CAMP IN ACTION