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 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
Escameca Eco-Lodge - Working together with Verdad Nicaragua, you can find many surf camps of different kinds through Escameca. They have 8 day surf and yoga camps, surf and coworking camps, and a normal 8 day camp.
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. 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.
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.
the SPACE.
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 Andalucia
Small relaxing hotel just outside of town
Located just 10 minutes walking to the town, Casa Andalucia is a bit of a retreat. Sitting up on the hill, you’ll have an incredible view of the bay. There’s a pool, surf transport, massages, and delicious food.
La Veranera
Guest house with surf right out front
La Veranera is located about a half hour south of San Juan del Sur, right on Playa El Coco. The beachfront Guesthouse is a ranch-style home with a pool and tons of jungle. It has four bedrooms and is great for groups or a family!
Casa Miramar
Beautiful private house with views
Casa Miramar is just a couple of minutes from town and the beach. With AC, surfboards on site, and some seirously incredible views, it’s a great option for a group or family.
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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