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Travel Insurance for Surfing

From surfing swells in Sayulita to catching waves in Durban, learn how travel insurance could help Canadians

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Why buy surf travel insurance? 

Point breaks, offshore breezes, and rays of sun beating on your face. From Europe’s top surf sites to Mexico’s western coast, surfing the blue ocean can create a big adrenaline rush ─ but so can stingray encounters, jagged coral reefs, and (gulp!) shark attacks. 

Along with your sunblock and shades, don’t forget to pack your surf travel insurance. World Nomads can help get you back on your feet if your surf break turns into a wipeout. 

Our plans cover inclement weather under certain circumstances (say, a snowstorm cancels your flight or a hurricane wipes out your hotel), and include benefits for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay coverage due to a variety of reasons. Here’s what you need to know about surf travel insurance. 

Travel insurance for surfing 

As a surf enthusiast, you can catch the waves with the coverage we provide, from remote towns with pristine beaches to the most popular surf breaks worldwide. 

  • Baggage protection: Our gear coverage can help with replacing belongings that were swiped from under your nose. 
  • Baggage delays: You may be covered for baggage delays (of your checked baggage) of at least 12 hours on route to your destination. Make sure you get a Property Irregularity Report, or a similar official report and make a claim directly with the carrier first before making a claim with us. 
  • Emergency medical: Long lefthanders can be epic to ride but not if it ends up in a crash. Emergency medical coverage may come to the rescue in the case of an accident or injury or if you need to be evacuated to a medical facility. 
  • Evacuation: Your bohemian surfer paradise may be far away from the medical facilities that can give you the treatment you need. World Nomads travel insurance plans include  ground or air ambulance coverage and emergency evacuation and repatriation cover. Our 24/7 Emergency assistance team will help get you transported to a medical facility that can provide the level of care you need. Emergency evacuation back to your home province must be recommended by a physician who certifies that the severity of your accidental injury or sickness warrants your emergency evacuation and must be approved by the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team in advance. 
  • Trip cancellation: Has an unexpected sickness or injury of your travelling companion put a stop to your surf break? Trip cancellation may help with the recovery of unused, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you cancel for a covered reason. 
  • Trip interruption: Did you suffer a medical emergency and have to cut your trip short? You may be eligible for Trip interruption benefits. 

Besides surfing, World Nomads may also cover: 

Got your stuff stolen while surf town-hopping in Costa Rica or get injured while hiking to a waterfall? We get that even if your primary adventure is surfing, you may also want to do a bunch of other fun activities on your trip as well. Well, World Nomads also covers over 250 other sports, activities and experiences you might want to engage in during your surfing vacation. Some of these water-based activities include: 

  • Land surfing. 
  • Stand-up paddle surfing. 
  • Surf boat rowing. 
  • Windsurfing. 
  • Sandboarding. 
  • Kitesurfing. 
  • Wakeboarding. 
  • Scuba diving. 

You must list every activity you plan to engage in during your trip on your plan, otherwise you won’t be covered if something happens during an unlisted activity.

The coverage – and the maximum benefit limits – for your specific activity depends on which plan you buy. Our article on covered sports and activities should help you decide on whether to buy our Standard plan or our Explorer plan as they have different levels of coverage. You can’t upgrade your coverage after you purchase a plan, so it’s important to get this right on the first go. 

What surf travel insurance does not cover 

Unfortunately, we won’t cover you if you do something careless or out of control (like tackle big-wave off-shore surfing when you’re only a beginner). Some things we may not cover include: 

  • Expenses that can be recovered from another source, such as your carrier or primary health insurer. 
  • If you surf while under the influence of alcohol or drugs… never mix water and alcohol! 
  • Search-and-rescue costs. 
  • Competition surfing. 
  • Any damage related to the wear and tear of sports equipment. 
  • Any activities that aren’t on our adventure sports coverage list
  • If you travel against medical advice. 
  •  Certain pre-existing medical conditions, as listed in your policy documents 
  • Unattended baggage, sporting equipment, or personal items. 
  • Travel within your home province. 

Travel tips for surfing: 

When it comes to any sport, safety should always come first. Your health ─ and your travel insurance coverage ─ depends on your responsible behavior. Follow these tips to stay alert and aware (and to ensure that you won’t invalidate your travel insurance). 

  • Know where to go. Don’t frequent beaches with dangerous shore breaks, riptides or shark sightings. Don’t surf near areas with piers, cliffs, rocks or boats. Where there are warnings, be careful – and heed them. 
  • Don’t go in over your head. It’s not a good idea to hop on a board if you don’t know how to swim. Or attempt big-wave surfing or aerial maneuvers when you’ve only taken one lesson. 
  • Follow the rules. Check for suitable weather conditions before heading to the beach; use a surf leash / leg rope. 
  • No pro sports or athletic competitions. It’s amazing that your job involves spending time on the waves but unfortunately, professional sporting activities aren’t covered by travel insurance. 
  • Keep an eye on your equipment. Don’t leave your limited-edition surfboard unattended out on the beach when you go for a water break.

Are you travelling long-term? Lucky you! You can buy always more travel insurance when abroad (waiting periods may apply) even if you don’t have a return ticket. World Nomads plans offer coverage for up to 365 days at a time with the Standard and Explorer plans.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms and conditions of the policy. It is important you read and understand your policy as it contains benefits, conditions, exclusions and pre-existing condition exclusions. If you do not understand your coverage, or if you have questions about your coverage, just ask us. 

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Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: $5,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,500
Trip Protection
  • Unexpectedly hospitalized?
  • Travel buddy unfit to travel?
  • Close relative suddenly dies?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Explorer Plan: $10 million
  • Standard Plan: $5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need meds quick?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

We’ll get you to hospital or home quickly.

  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation
  • Banged up abroad?
  • Need a hospital urgently?
  • Medevac home?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Covers the theft, damage or delay of your bags, tech and sports gear.

  • Explorer Plan: $3,000
  • Standard Plan: $1,000
Protect your gear
  • Passport or tech stolen?
  • Airline lost your gear?
  • Bags delayed?

Help starts here.

  • Emergency Medical Expenses
  • Emergency Dental for Injury or Sickness
  • Bedside Companion Travel and Subsistence
  • Emergency Professional Services
  • Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Return of Travel Companion/Dependent Children
  • Return to Your Trip Destination
  • Return of Remains
  • Travel Accident
  • Flight Accident
  • Trip Cancellation
  • Trip Interruption
  • Trip Delay
  • Baggage and Personal Effects Theft or Damage
  • Baggage and Sporting Equipment Delay
  • Travel Documents Theft or Damage
  • Sporting Equipment Theft or Loss by a Common Carrier
  • Covered Adventure Sports listed in Policy
Assistance Services Included
  • LiveTravelTM Emergency Assistance
  • Worldwide Travel Assistance
  • Adventure Travel Hotline
  • 24/7 Security
  • Travel Medical Assistance
  • Bag Trak
This is a general summary for Canadian residents only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all provinces. Check the Travel Insurance Policy for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Telephone +1 866 878 0192 (toll-free from Canada and the Continental U.S.) or +1 416 646 3723 (collect from anywhere else in the world)

Contact the team