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?
- Travel insurance for surfing
- Besides surfing, World Nomads may also cover:
- What surf travel insurance does not cover:
- Travel tips for surfing
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
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Contact the teamCamping travel insurance
Simple and flexible travel insurance to take you camping around the world. Buy at home or while travelling, and claim online from anywhere in the world.
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We get it – you want to escape from the hustle and unwind under a blanket of stars. From lush northern European forests to the endless horizons of Australia’s Outback, a camping trip offers every manner of revival. As exciting as planning your outdoor adventure is, travelling far from home and urban comforts also comes with risks.
World Nomads Travel Insurance Standard and Explorer plans have been designed to cover sudden and unforeseen events that can happen when camping, such as when your hiking boots go missing or you slip and fall on the trails.
What’s covered for camping?
When you’re roughing it in the woods, your travel insurance plan should get your back. World Nomads provides coverage for:
- Baggage protection: have your tent, sleeping bag or camping chairs gone missing? Our gear coverage may help with replacing or reimbursing belongings.
- Emergency medical: camping and fresh air can be great for the body and soul but not if you get into an accident. Emergency medical coverage can help protect you against a mountain of medical bills if you get sick or injured. To be eligible for the maximum benefit under your travel insurance policy, you must be covered under your Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) for the full duration of your trip.
- Emergency ambulance transportation: your campground may be deep in the wilderness far from any type of hospital or medical help. Our coverage provides for the cost of local ground ambulance services (or local taxi fare if ambulances aren’t available.) Subject to pre-authorization from the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team, our plans also cover the cost of an air ambulance to transport you to the nearest qualified medical service provider.
- Trip cancellation: an emergency can prevent you from going on your trip. With this benefit, you can get reimbursed for your non-refundable, pre-paid travel expenses such as your accommodations and flights if you cancel your trip for a covered reason.
- Adventure activities: if you’re planning on hitting the mountain biking trails or trekking to the top of craggy peaks, our plans can cover more than 150 adventure sports and activities, which you can read more about in our Help Center article. An additional premium may apply for certain adventure sports, activities, volunteer and work experiences.
What’s not covered?
Some things we may not cover include:
- Any pre-existing medical conditions, as defined in your policy.
- Expenses that can be recovered from another source, such transport carriers or accommodation providers.
- Unattended baggage or personal items.
- Working or participating professionally in any activity or sport.
- Any search-and-rescue missions.
- Misuse of alcohol or drugs to the extent that it risks your health or impairs your faculties.
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.
Need help planning your camping trip? Read our article on camping tips and hacks.
True Claims Stories
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical assistance or emergency evacuation, our teams 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?
Contact the teamTravel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Been working hard for your trip?
We'll work hard to protect it.
Trip Protection
- Work emergency?
- Weather delay?
- Travel companion sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Expenses
Feeling fit and healthy? What if you get sick or injured?
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
- Need a hospital urgently?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transportation
Know where the nearest hospital is?
Don’t stress, we’ll get you there quickly.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Ambulance transfers
- Medevac flights
- Medical escort services
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Love photography, filming or sport?
Cover your bags, tech or gear.
Protect your gear
- Stolen I.D.s
- Checked-in sports equipment
- Damaged luggage
Help starts here.
- Emergency Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
- Trip Cancellation or Interruption
- 24-Hour Assistance Services
- Baggage
- And more (depending on your country of residence)
