FASTER FREESTYLE SWIM CAMP for 2026
HUATULCO - OAXCA, MEXICO
These seven day/seven night camps include accommodation, daily breakfast buffet and much more!
Camp one: Monday, February 3rd to Sunday, February 8th and includes a day trip to a waterfall, coffee farm and a surfing beach.
Camp two: Tuesday, February 10th to Monday, February 16th includes an 500m, 1250m or 2.5k open water event on Saturday, Feb. 14th (entry fee is included) and a water safety/swim clinic for underserved youths.
SPACE IS LIMTED TO 10
About the camp….
Faster Freestyle Swim Camps offer a combination of safely guided beautiful open water swims along with private and group swim technique instruction with video analysis.
Swim in warm, clear water. Enjoy watching curious tropical fish swim so close they might try to hitch a ride in your swim suit. Feel safe while you explore hidden coves, caves and bays. Back on the beach, tilt your head back to embrace the warm winter sun as you sip on a cold drink.
Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Especially in February?
After one week, your stress will melt away while you gain confidence in the open water. You will discover strategies to help you find an easier and faster way to swim. You will leave Mexico a much better swimmer with improved technique and noticeable gains in both your speed and endurance.
Your host and coach will be 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 that loves to share the “secrets” to swimming Faster with less effort.
2025 is FULL, but you can email Karlyn to get on the waiting list for 2026!
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!
All Huatulco Faster Freestyle Swim Vacations include:
Seven nights accommodation, seven breakfasts, two dinners, two lunches, snacks and drinks after each swim and transportation to and from all swims.
Five beautiful guided open water swims approximately 2k to 4k in length exploring local beaches, bays and islands!
Video analysis of your stroke throughout the week
A one-on-one private lesson with Karlyn’s expert video analysis and feedback. Time and location TBD
Open Water Skills & Drills workshop along with technique tips for the “other” strokes…fly, back and breast!
We will be filming you daily to provide videos of your improvement as well as to document our aquatic adventures! Videos will be texted to you.
Silicone swim cap and a custom long sleeve dry-tech tee shirt
The camp includes registration in the Bahias de Huatulco Aquas Libre open water swim to be held in the middle of the camp on February 8th. Distance is 1.25k, 2.5k or 5k swim in beautiful Santa Cruz bay.
Another adventure will take us to a secluded beach called Las Arenas where we might encounter the tracks of sea turtles that have recently laid eggs before we swim around a small island located just offshore.
Our final swim will start off with a gentle 1-mike hike through a nature preserve watching for wildlife such as birds and iguanas. When we exit the forest, you will be delighted to discover an empty beach with no development in sight, sparkling blue-green water along with an enchanting island sitting right in the middle of the bay. We are going to swim around this island! Once we return from our delightful 2.5k swim, we will enjoy some free time to wander about this heavenly spot.
Meet and greet/farewell catered dinner.
All swims are supported by safety staff members in the water or on a SUP
Swim Ability: Ideally you should be comfortable in the open water and able to swim continuously 1,500 yards/meters at a steady pace. Since we will start and return to the same location, you can decide how far (and how fast) you want to swim. If you are questioning whether you think you are “fast enough” to participate in a camp, please reach out to me fasterfreestyle@gmail.com to discuss your situation.
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: Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) to Huatulco (HUX) is a 3.5 hour non-stop flight DAILY on a regional jet.
From Tijuana:
Fly out of Tijuana via San Diego…it’s easy and a lot cheaper! We recently experience a VERY pleasant experience flying INTO Tijuana. When you pick up your luggage you can use Cross Border Express (CBX) to easily and quickly clear immigration and enter the USA via a pedestrian bridge. Then you can catch a 30-minute shuttle to San Diego (SAN) Lindbergh Field. It’s amazingly easy and flights are a LOT a cheaper than US flights. From San Diego airport, shuttles run every hour to CBX where you can cross the border with ease and hop on a VOLARIS non-stop flight to Huatulco. No need to layover in Mexico City!
Volaris: Offers DAILY non-stop options from Tijuana, Mexico. Is about a three hour flight. At the time of this edit, cost including luggage was $109 US to $151 one way. Chicago (ORD) to Huatulco (HUX) on Saturday. Volaris also offers non-stops from Sacramento to Guadalajara, Mexico and then continuing on the Huatulco.
Aeromexico flies 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 Tues/Wed./Sat
Vancouver Mon./Thurs./Sat./Sun.
Toronto Friday only
Edmonton Thursday only
Air Canada flies out of Toronto Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday
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