Every month, Sayulita Life sets aside $5,000 to invest in a local organization doing meaningful work in our community. This August, that donation went to Mar y Vida Surf Camp — a program that’s been putting local kids on boards, in the water, and on a path toward more confidence for the past eight years.

We sat down with the program’s founder Risa Mara Machuca to talk about how Mar y Vida got started, what a typical camp day looks like, and why Sayulita’s businesses keep showing up for it year after year.

How it started

Risa was invited to work in Sayulita in 2010 and never really left. Mar y Vida launched in 2018 as a way of giving back to a town that had given so much in return. That first summer was special and it worked, with many of the original sponsors still on board today. A special mention goes to Karen Chakmakian, Tania Cruz, and CVIS, who have been part of running the program since day one.

The camp has evolved since 2018. It started as an opportunity for kids with strong grades coming from underprivileged homes. Today, it runs on a more inclusive model — teachers at Damian Carmona select students who show promise, regardless of their background.

A day at camp

No two days look exactly alike. Some mornings start with water safety and rescue training, others with art or a different kind of adventure, with surf as a priority. This year, shifting ocean conditions meant moving surf sessions to midday instead of the usual morning slot — an unplanned lesson in patience for everyone involved. One of the standout days each summer is the trip out on the Ally Cat to explore the Bay, a highlight the founder looks forward to every year.

The lifeguards

The local Bahía de Banderas Government provides lifeguards and has also been a partner with Mar y Vida since 2018, bringing certified rescue training and equipment. Some of the same lifeguards have been with the program long enough to start recognizing familiar faces — this year, one thought he spotted a former camper, only to realize it was the kid’s younger brother. Both, as it turns out, excellent students.

It takes a village

Mar y Vida runs on community support, and this year’s list of local business contributors reads like a love letter to Sayulita:

• Don Pedros
• Mi Chula
• Las Bayadas
• Pinche Mexico te Amo
• Tierra Viva
• Azul Sayu

Sayulita Life’s August donation will go toward transportation and a cake for the closing ceremony.

Building a team

Some staff members have been with Mar y Vida since the very first summer, alongside newer faces each year. While volunteers make up some of the team, the founder has learned that certain roles — surf instructors, drivers, and venue staff — need to be paid positions. Every staff member is chosen with care, for people who show up ready to do the work with joy and enthusiasm.

A kid worth mentioning

Every year brings stories worth telling, but this year one camper stood out: Angel. Described as “a gem of a human in the making,” Angel experienced the Ally Cat for the first time this summer, and it clearly left a mark. He now knows there’s a board waiting for him courtesy of Mar y Vida — and if he keeps chasing that feeling, Risa has already offered to help him find a sponsor for one of his own.

What kids take home

Beyond water safety skills, the goal is something bigger: helping kids understand that their community sees them and values what they’re already achieving. The hope is that campers leave with more self-confidence, a stronger desire to give back, and a deeper connection to the ocean — along with a sense of responsibility for protecting it.

Looking ahead

Asked about the hardest part of keeping the program alive for eight years, the answer was simple: nothing, really. Sayulita always shows up.

Camp may be over for the summer, but the door isn’t closed — the founder is already looking into arranging additional surf lessons for this year’s alumni. Anyone interested in supporting that effort, or Mar y Vida more broadly, is encouraged to reach out.

A huge thank you to everyone who supports Mar y Vida — and to everyone who shows up for community programs like it. It matters.