FASTER FREESTYLE SWIM CAMP – HUATULCO, OAXACA, MEXICO
February 10–16, 2026
Swim in warm, clear water exploring hidden coves, calm bays, and secret caves while tropical fish glide around you. Back on the beach, soak in the sun and relax after every incredible swim.
In just one week, you’ll gain confidence, refine your technique, and swim faster with less effort—leaving Mexico stronger, more efficient, and ready for your next open-water adventure.
Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Especially in February.
Dates: Tuesday, February 10th (check into the host hotel at 2:00 pm, followed by our first swim) to Monday, February 16th (checkout February 17th)
Location: Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Length: Seven days / seven nights
Spots Available: Limited to 10 swimmers with only spaces still available!
All Faster Freestyle Swim Camps offer a combination of beautiful, guided open-water swims along with plenty of swim technique instruction, including a private session with video analysis.
Your host and coach is Hall of Fame swimmer Karlyn Pipes. To date, Karlyn has set over 236 FINA Masters World Records. While Karlyn is an exceptional swimmer, she is an even better swim technique coach who loves sharing the “secrets” to swimming faster with less effort.
This seven-day, seven-night camp includes accommodations, a daily breakfast buffet and and INCLUDES your entry fee for a local open water event with following events offered: 500m, 1250m, or 2.5k on Saturday, February 14th. as well as participation in a water safety and swim clinic for underserved youth.
Space is limited to just 10 swimmers
Swim ability:
If you are comfortable swimming in open water and can swim 500 yards/meters nonstop at a steady pace, you’ll fit right in. We always start and finish at the same spot, so you choose the distance and speed that feel right for you. You will also have a great time swimming in beautiful open water with like-minded people—but the real WIN is heading home with a faster freestyle, better endurance and more confidence. If you’re unsure, feel free to email Karlyn at fasterfreestyle@gmail.com to chat about your situation.
Free Community Swim Clinic for Local Kids:
Giving back is an important part of our Mexico camps. This free swim clinic teaches local children water safety, basic swim skills, and builds confidence in the water—because swimming is a gift that can truly save a life. Camp participants and staff volunteer their time to create a fun, encouraging environment, and we bring free goggles and youth swimwear thanks to generous donations from our swim community.
It’s a deeply rewarding experience that creates lasting memories, makes a real impact, and reminds us all why swimming matters.
So many bays, so many days to explore them!
We are SUPER excited to share with you this amazing water, the warmth of the people, as well as the delicious Oaxacan cuisine.
Where the heck is HUATULCO??
If you look on a map, it is not easy to locate this former fishing village. It’s almost at the very bottom of Mexico near Guatemala, located where the foothills of Sierra Madre del Sur meet the Pacific Ocean. It’s adjacent to the quaint town of La Crucecita and nearby Santa Maria Huatulco, the location of a small international airport (HUX).
There are plenty of things to love about this quintessential Mexican town. First, it’s VERY CLEAN. It’s also friendly, charming and best of all…it’s very safe. Prices for taxi’s are fixed, so no need to haggle. Oaxacan food is a favorite for most Mexican nationals, who luckily have been vacationing here for years.
There are 36 beaches, nine bays, a multitude of coves, inlets, and offshore islands as well as plenty of empty beaches to relax and unwind. Click here for a full list of the beaches and bays of Huatulco.
The “winter” water temperature averages 78° which is perfect for open water swimming. The ocean is super clear and there is an abundance of marine life to keep you entertained as you swim along.
Our host hotel is Casa Danna, which is only steps from a beautiful 400-meter long beach called Chaue (see photo below). When I was there in January 2023, this is where I started my day. Sunrise (at 6:50 am) followed by 400m Chaue “laps.” It was heaven!
Casa Danna is centrally located near a number of restaurants, shops, a large grocery store and local fruit markets etc. The hotel is a 2-min. walk to the beach, 15 minute walk to Playa Santa Cruz and a 15 minute walk to the charming town of La Crucecita.
Travel insurance is a must, but due to the large population of Canadian “snowbirds” who discovered Huatulco years ago, you will be glad to know that the health care system here is top notch.
YES! You will fall in love HUATULCO. If you would like to watch a YouTube VIDEO, please scroll all the way to the bottom and click!
Camp Highlights & What’s Included:
Accommodation & Meals: Seven nights of accommodation, seven breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, plus snacks and drinks after every swim. Transportation to and from all swims is included.
Guided Open-Water Swims: Five to six beautiful swims, approximately 2k to 4k each, exploring local beaches, bays, and islands.
Video Analysis & Private Coaching: Video analysis of your stroke throughout the week, plus a one-on-one private lesson with Karlyn’s expert feedback (time and location TBD).
Swim Clinics: Open Water Skills & Drills workshops and technique tips for other strokes—fly, back, and breast.
Daily Filming: Staff will film your swims to show your improvement and document our aquatic adventures; videos will be texted to you.
SWAG: Custom long-sleeve dry-tech tee shirt, BOCO visor, silicone swim cap, and a beach tote bag to carry all your gear.
Special Event Swim: Registration in the Bahías de Huatulco Aquas Libre (open-water swim) on February 14th, with distances of 1.25k, 2.5k, or 5k in beautiful Santa Cruz Bay. Event swim cap and tee shirt included.
Adventure Swims:
Secluded swim at Las Arenas beach, where you may spot sea turtle tracks before swimming around a small offshore island.
Final swim begins with a gentle 1-mile hike through a nature preserve, emerging onto an untouched beach with sparkling blue-green water and an enchanting island in the bay. Swim approximately 2.5k around the island, then enjoy free time to explore this heavenly spot.
Safety & Support: All swims are supported by trained safety staff in the water or on SUPs.
Social Events: Meet-and-greet and farewell catered dinners to celebrate your week.
Cost per person for Karlyn’s world-class coaching, seven nights accommodation, seven breakfasts, Snacks/Brunch, lunch one day on an excursion, two dinners and transportation to and from all swims and our boat tour are included in this price. Airfare and Airport transfers Are not included.
$2295 USD Per person with shared room. If you prefer to have your own room or will be Bringing a non-SWIMMING spouse or friend to share a room, please add $400 USD (Breakfast for “non swimmer” is not included). Airfare and Airport transfers Are not included.
Deposit: to reserve your spot, please inquire as to paypal options. Or, mail a check made it out to Aquatic Edge and Send to: Karlyn Pipes, 77-6479 Kilohana St., Kailua Kona, Hawaii, 96740. FiNal Payment may also be made by check.
Payment: Full Payment is due tHree months Prior to Camp start and Payment options will be sent to you via email once your deposit is received.
cancelation policy: cancel Two month prior to the camp start Date and you will receive a refund, minus the $500 deposit or you can opt to recive full credit for a future camp. Cancel less than 1 month OUt and if we are able to fill your spOt, YOU will receive a refund minus the deposit. At any time, reservations are transferable with no fee.
HOTEL: We will be staying at centrally located Hotel Casa Danna, only a few steps From the beach, across the street from a huge grocery store, fruit and veggie shops and Plenty of restaurants nearby.
AddItional nights before or after the camp are AVAILABLE to book directly through cAsa Danna. Please click here
Traveling to Huatulco
Due to the ever changing world conditions, please WAIT until THREE MONTHS prior to your camp to book your flights.
Flying from USA:
American Airlines has a seasonal, daily NON-STOP 3.5 hour flight from Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) to Huatulco (HUX) making it an easy connection from just about anywhere in the county.
Aeromexico and Volaris offer flights to Huatulco from many cities in North America. However, most of these flights will take you through Mexico City. From there, its a short 90-min flight to HUX.
Flying from Canada:
Westjet flies non-stop to HUX out of:
Calgary: Mon/Tues/Wed/Friday/Sat
Vancouver: Mon/Thurs/Sat/Sun
Toronto: Tuesday/Saturday
Edmonton: Thursday/Saturday
Air Canada flies out of Toronto on Tuesday and Saturday
From Mexico City numerous airlines fly daily to Huatulco: Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Airbus
Faster Freestyle Swim Camp will be offering
FREE COMMUNITY SWIM CLINIC for kids and adults
We want to give back to Huatulco and leave it a safer place. Can YOU help us by sharing your swimming experience and knowledge with kids and adults who want to learn basic swimming skills & water safety? We hope so! This free community is held in the calm water of Santa Cruz Bay. Date and time TBA.
DONATIONS NEEDED. Do YOU have a collection of new or used caps and goggles that you can donate? Check your drawers, look in lost and found, and even ask your friends for donations. I bet we can give something to every participant