San Juan del Sur Surf Guide
Solid beginner and intermediate waves, chill place to relax, and perfect in the summer months.
Quick Facts
Nice A-frame wave for beginner-intermediates
Big surf culture with hotels and camps
Not very close to airports
Tons of open nearby breaks
Introduction to San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur has exploded onto the international surf scene in the last decade. The town acts as a bit of a surf hub, offering access to multiple different breaks in the area. You’ll find plenty of international travelers, digital nomads, and backpackers. There are bays and beach breaks, reef breaks, and point breaks in the area. Where the area shines is its consistency. You’ll basically always find a surfable wave in this part of Nicaragua. It also offers some powerful point breaks and mellow beach breaks for beginners. A bit of everything for every skill level! It’s on our list of the best beginner surf spots as well as the best beginner surf vacations as there are plenty of beginner waves to be had, and room to progress. There are also plenty of schools and surf camps in the area, and the town gets pretty active at night.
San Juan del Sur Surf Season
A south-facing beach on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, this whole area is best surfed during the wet season when the S/SE swells come from the Pacific. This is generally from May to October, when you will find the biggest and cleanest waves. During the winter months, you’ll find more knee-height waves and whitewash, better for those learning to surf. In the winter/wet season, the consistency is fairly high. The dry season is likely to bring completely flat days between surfable sessions.
Where to Surf in San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a bit of a hub in the middle of several surf spots. The actual breaks are outside the town, including El Remanso, Manzanillo, and Playa Maderas. San Juan del Sur is the “big” town in the area, so it makes for a good place to stay. To get to the actual breaks, you’ll have to head north 20 minutes to Playa Maderas or down south 10+ kilometers.
Surf Camps, Classes, and Lessons in San Juan del Sur
Dreamsea Surf Camp - Located in San Juan del Sur, Dreamsea takes their students out to various spots including Playa Maderas. Dreamsea has surf camps all over. They offer breakfast and dinner at their beautiful eco-resort. You can find shared dorm rooms and private rooms, relax at their pool in the jungle, and they are pet friendly! For us, this is a plus, as many surf schools keep their students on the smaller waves/spots. Their 8 day surf camp runs around $500. They also offer all-inclusive surfing options.
Verdad Nicaragua - A boutique hotel, Verdad Nicaragua sits on Playa Escameca. There’s a consistent, relatively empty break. Their surf school, Sand Bar, is a locally owned and run team of experienced instructors, with most instruction done one on one. They have many offerings including a normal 8 day surf camp, 8 day surf and yoga camps, and 8 day coworking camps. All of their 8 day camps cost around $1,600.
Casa Happy Life - Casa Happy Life is right in the heart of San Juan del Sur. There are rooms with queen beds, rooms with bunk beds, and rooms with or without private bathrooms. Just three blocks from the beach, Happy Life is in the prime spot for surf. They offer 5 day surf camps and 7 day camps that include things like yoga, salsa classes, jungle tours, and more! Camps run from $550-700 here.
Surf Ranch - The Surf Ranch is a resort with rooms for everyone. They have a full street skatepark with a bowl, little waterpark and waterslide, rock climbing wall, gym, and more. There are hotel rooms, villas, and offerings for everyone. This is a great place to go with kids in our opinion! Their 6 day skate and surf camps run around $650 and are available year-round.
From the Store
Nearby Surf Spots
Manzanillo
It takes a bit of a detour to get to, but Manzanillo can fire when the SE swells come through during the summer. In our opinion, worth checking out only on the right days, otherwise stick to Maderas.
Crowds - Quiet
Surfer Level - Intermediate
Ideal Swell - SE
Ideal Wind - NE, Low
Break Type - Point
Consistency - 50%
Be Aware: Some rocks, a bit hit or miss
Playa Maderas
The best surf spot in the area. Super close wave to shore, tons of nature and jungle, and a solid A-frame wave. Good for beginner-intermediates or intermediates.
Crowds - Some
Surfer Level - Beginner/Intermed.
Ideal Swell - S/SE
Ideal Wind - N/NW
Break Type - Beach
Consistency - 80%
Be Aware: Beginners
El Remanso
Just to the south of San Juan del Sur, this is perhaps the closest legit surf spot near town. The wave can get crowded as it can supply rides for all levels of surfer
Crowds - Somewhat
Surfer Level - Beginner, Intermediate
Ideal Swell - S for the good swells
Ideal Wind - NE
Break Type - Beach
Consistency - 70%
Be Aware: Rocks
Other Things to Do in San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua is an absolutely beautiful country, and worth exploring on your days or times off from surfing. Here are a few things to do to make the most of your time in San Juan del Sur!
Cascada Blanca Waterfall - Take a hike to Cascada Blanca, a beautiful waterfall in the area.
Mombacho Volcano and Ziplining - This is an awesome tour that takes up a full day. You go on beautiful hikes to a volcano, and get to ride some awesome ziplines on the way back.
Mirador del Cristo de la Misericordia - Take in the view from this beautiful lookout point over the bay!
Where to Stay in San Juan del Sur
If you don’t want to stay at one of the many surf camps in San Juan del Sur, don’t trip! We have some options. There are plenty of places to stay.
Budget Friendly Hotels ( ~$40-60/night)
Rositas Hotel
Fun hybrid hotel with wellness vibes
Located about 4km from San Juan del Sur, the SPACE. is a hip hybrid-type hostel/hotel. It’s home to a bunch of backpackers and digital nomads, as well as people looking for a wellness vibe. Their sustainable hotel uses locally sourced ingredients for their delicious meals, and they offer dorms, private rooms, and suites to meet every need.
Casa Maya
Eco-lodge with beach access
Casa Maya is a small hotel near El Remanso with beach access to their three separate beach bars. A great place to be slightly out of town to the south. It’s a bit quieter and chiller than staying in San Juan del Sur proper.
Beachfront Hotels (~$100-160/night)
Costa Oeste
Beachside hotel with a pool
Costa Oeste is located right on the beach with a nice pool overlooking the ocean. There’s a spa for massages and other spa services, free WiFi, A/C in ever room, and tons of different options for rooms. If you want to be on the beach overlooking the surf out front, this is a great way to go!
Hotel Estrella
Small hotel at edge of town
Hotel Estrella is right on the edge of town at the beach. There’s no pool, but the sea is literally right there. They have single, double, and quadruple rooms, making it a great option for groups or families who wish to be on the beach!
For Groups or Families (~$350-450/night)
Casa Guadalupe
Villa in secured community
Located just a minute from the beach in San Juan del Sur, Casa Guadalupe is a three bedroom villa in a gated development. There’s a pool, a beautiful terrace, and air conditioning in every bedroom. It’s a great option for families or groups.
Malibu at Pacific Marlin
Three story villa with a pool
Located just northwest of San Juan del Sur, Malibu is a beautiful three story villa with an infinity pool. There are three bedrooms, each with air conditioning. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, wet bar, and an awesome deck to sit and watch sunrises. Another solid option for groups or families, especially if you want to be a little bit out of town where it’s quiet.
Getting to San Juan del Sur
If you’re flying in to Nicaragua, you’ll land at Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Managua. From there, it’s about a two and a half hour drive. Many of the surf camps will help set up transportation or even offer a shuttle service, so consider that option first.
Public Transportation - If you’ve never been to Nicaragua, you’re about to meet the chicken bus. These old buses travel throughout the country. You can take a taxi from the airport to the Central Market station. From there, you can take a bus to Rivas, transfer to the bus to San Juan del Sur, and you’ll be dropped right in the middle of town.
Taxi/Uber - Taxis will take you no problem from the airport to San Juan del Sur. You’ll find plenty of taxis right outside. If you don’t speak Spanish, you may want to practice what you’re going to say as English may be limited. The cost will generally be around 100 USD each way.
Private Transfer - You can get a private transfer from the airport right into San Juan del Sur. If you’re traveling with a group or family, this is the option we recommend. The cost will range from $100-200 each way.
Car Rental - Finally, you can rent a car. You won’t need a car to drive around San Juan del Sur. Everything is walkable. But you will need rides or a car to get to the different surf spots. If you do rent a car, we recommend downloading the maps for offline use on Google Maps so you don’t get lost or stuck without service!
Restaurants in San Juan del Sur
La Tostaderia - A lovely little coffee shop. Super fresh coffee. They roast their own beans! They have nice breakfasts as well as a bakery for all your baked good needs. Good spot to grab stuff to go.
Comedor Las Flores - If you’re looking for some local food, try Comedor Las Flores. Super reasonably priced food like chicken and rice, burgers, and meat. Relatively low-key, very local, and cheap.
The Art Warehouse - As the name suggests, this is an art-themed restaurant just a couple blocks from the beach. There are vegetarian and vegan options, as well as art classes for adults and children.
Wrap N’ Roll - You honestly might walk right by this place as it doesn’t look like much from the outside. A good option for Asian food and noodle bowls. They also have vegetarian options. Oh, and it’s super reasonable.
Ding Repair Cafe - This is a full vegetarian restaurant that is often packed during breakfast hours. You’ll find lots of people working here, a nice patio out back, and a skate bowl!
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