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Travel Insurance for Surfing

Discover travel insurance options for surfing adventures with World Nomads USA.

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For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.

Why buy travel insurance for surfing?

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 azure ocean blue 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 travel insurance*. World Nomads can help get you back on your feet if your surf break turns into a wipeout.

From pre-trip medical support and car rental protection to emergency evacuations, optional cancel for any reason coverage, and even pet kenneling if your return trip is delayed, we’ve got your back. Our plans cover inclement weather under certain circumstances (say, a snowstorm cancels your flight or a hurricane wipes out your hotel), and include benefits like trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay coverage due to a variety of reasons, including natural disasters.

Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for surfing.

Travel insurance for surfing

As a surf enthusiast, you can catch the waves with the coverage we provide, from uncharted 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 at least 12 hours on route to your destination. All plans also include non-insurance service Blue Ribbon Baggage, which will track and expedite the return of your airline baggage. Note that if your surfboard is delayed, lost, or damaged, you must report the incident as soon as possible to a responsible officer for the carrier. 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. With emergency evacuation, you may get transported to the medical facility which may be best for your care. An emergency evacuation must be ordered by a physician who certifies that the severity of your accidental injury or sickness warrants your emergency evacuation and is approved by the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team.
  • Trip cancellation: Has a sick or injured traveling companion put a stop to your surf break? Trip cancellation may help with the recovery of missed, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you cancel for a covered reason.
  • Trip interruption: Did an emergency cut your trip short? Trip interruption may cover you.

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.

The coverage – and the maximum benefit limits – of your specific activity depends on which plan you buy. Our article on covered sports and activities should help you decide on whether to buy a Standard, Explorer, Epic or Annual 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 travel insurance for surfing does not cover

Sorry – 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… water and alcohol never mix!
  • 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.
  • Search-and-rescue missions.
  • If you travel against medical advice.
  • Any pre-existing medical condition, unless you purchased your plan within the time-sensitive period and have a waiver.
  • Unattended baggage, sporting equipment or personal items.
  • Travel within 100 miles from your home.

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 or surf near areas with piers, cliffs, rocks and boats. Where there are warnings, be careful – and heed them.
  • Don’t go in over your head. 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. So cool that your 9-to-5 is 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. Those “I spaced out” moments don’t qualify for coverage.

Are you traveling 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 180 days at a time with the Standard, Explorer, and Epic plans. And if you plan to take numerous trips during the year, then the Annual Plan could be best for you. It has a trip length maximum of 45 days.

Get a quote 24/7

With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance before you go or when you're already traveling, anytime, anywhere, 24-hours a day. Fill out a quick form and get an instant quote.

*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company’s travel protection plans.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Protection

Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.

  • Standard Plan: $2,500
  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Epic Plan: $15,000
  • Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Work emergency?
  • Weather delay?
  • Travel companion sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Insurance

Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.

  • Standard Plan: $125,500
  • Explorer Plan: $150,000
  • Epic Plan: $250,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?
  • Need a hospital?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Evacuation

We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.

  • Standard Plan: $400,000
  • Explorer Plan: $500,000
  • Epic Plan: $700,000
  • Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
  • Ambulance transfers
  • Medevac flights
  • Medical escort services

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

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

  • Standard Plan: $1,000
  • Explorer Plan: $2,000
  • Epic Plan: $3,000
  • Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Stolen I.D.s
  • Checked-in sports equipment
  • Damaged luggage

Help starts here.

The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.

Protect your health

  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
  • Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
  • Emergency Evacuations
  • Bedside Companion Travel
  • Emergency Medications

Protect Your Trip

  • Trip Cancellation
  • Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
  • Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
  • Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
  • Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)

Protect Your Stuff

  • Baggage Delay
  • Passport and Visa Loss
  • Lost or Stolen Bags
  • Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
  • Baggage Return After Evacuation

Non-Insurance Services

  • Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
  • Translators Available
  • Runway Health
  • FootprintID
  • Blue Ribbon Bags
This is a general summary for US residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefits limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the plan documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

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

Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone: +1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada

Contact the team