Surfing Nicaragua / Everything You Need to Know (2024)

With 300+ days a year of off-shore winds, fewer crowds than its neighbor to the south (Costa Rica), and consistent waves year-round, Nicaragua should be high on your list of surf trip destinations.

In this guide to surfing Nicaragua, we’ll give you the lowdown on everything you need to know to plan your trip—the waves, travel costs, flights, food, transportation, and where to stay.

We’ve also got the lowdown on tourism seasons and what you can expect so you canplan accordingly. Surf trip costs in Nicaragua are very reasonable. You can definitely plan an incredibletrip on a tight budget. And like with most popular surf destinations out there, you also have the option togo with one of the many all-inclusive resorts or surf camps who will make it all very easy for you.

Whatever your budget is, you’re highly likely toscore plenty of waves and you’ll be happy youwent. Especially between the months of Aprilto Septemberwhen the southern hemisphere starts brewing highly desirablesouth swells which Nicaragua and the rest of Central America are directly exposed to.

There’s a lot to look forward to when visiting Nicaragua—among the list are the consistent off-shore winds, typicalwater temps around 80 degrees plus, averagesurf being shoulder high to overhead, and fairly uncrowded or potentiallyempty breaks. Whether you’re looking to learn to surf or searching for those perfect Nica barrels, Nicaragua doesn’t disappoint.

If you’re interested in checking out Nicaragua’s southern neighbor, check out this Guide to Surfing Costa Rica.

SURFING NICARAGUA

Nicaragua has more than 250 km of coastline on the Pacific Ocean. There are two main seasons; the green or wetseason (which is also the low season),and the dryor hotseason (which is the high season). The green season is from about mid-May through mid-November which is the time frame when the Pacific coast gets hit with thebiggest swellsand mostconsistent surf. Goes without saying, this is a great time to consider surfing Nicaragua.

Seasons & Swells

When it rains in southern Nicaragua it’s often light and sporadic which tends to pass through fairly quickly, and sometimes it only rains overnight (which is always welcome). September and October are the peaks of the wet season with the heaviest rain which can result in all day downpours at times. However, during these months everything is incredibly lush and green, there are fewerpeople, andwhile the surf is smaller you can still score glassy head-high perfection with little to no competition. Nota bad idea if you ask me.

January and February experience the strongest winds and upwelling which causes the water to be colder than normal. The waves tend to bethe smallest this time of year as well which is an ideal time for the beginning surfer. Wish I couldhave learned to surf in tame, clean, friendly, and uncrowded Nicaragua, as opposed to nasty, junky, jumbled, cold, and aggro Huntington Beach. Haha. Oh, the memories. Ok, HB isn’t all that bad, but Nicaragua would have been much more AWESOME! Anyways, I digress.

April typically has good waves, minimal crowds, and the water temp is back to its warm 80-degree self. However, be sure to plan your trip aroundSemana Santa, aka,the Holy Week. This is the week the leads up toEaster (Thurs-Sun) and should be avoided if you’re looking for uncrowded beaches and lineups. Thousands of Nicaraguan’s take this week off and flock to the beaches for vacation which is sure to increase the crowd factor.

Aprilthrough Septemberisa prime time to go for the more experienced surfer. This is mostly considered the green/wet season, so prices can be reduced in some cases, and as theretends to be not as much tourism. More importantly, south swells are in full swingand waves are oftenconsistently overhead and good to epic.

Late November is the start of the dry season which runs throughApriland can be a great time for any surfers looking for some milder surf and clean conditions. The dry season tends to be the high seasonin tropical destinations like Central America because most people want to avoid the chances of getting rained out on their hopefully sun-shinyvacation.

Surf Breaks in Nicaragua

Here’s a breakdown of a few of the most well-known breaks in Nicaragua. And check out our guide about thesurf in Costa Rica if you’re thinking about exploring some breaks down south.

Playa Colorado is a punchy, oftenhollow beach break with many faces. Found in the southern Pacific region. It rangesfromshoulder-hightame and rippable to hollowdouble overhead stand up barrels. Colorado’s is a pretty heavy breakwhen it’s onso be prepared to get slammed and be sure to bring an extra board (or two).

Panga Drops is just about a 15-minute walk up the beach from Colorado’s and is similar in power and shape offering some picturesque A-frames butis usually a few feet bigger. Mark and Dave’s is a very well know surf camp smack-dab in front of the break. They offer all-inclusive surf packages and accommodations if you have a higher end budget for your trip.

Playgrounds, well, is exactly that, a playground for surfers. Offering rights and lefts it’s a super fun rippable wave breaking over acobblestone ocean seafloor. Watch out for urchins. If you’re surfing Playgrounds though, you most likely got there by boat. It’s not commonly accessed by the beach as there is not much around. But you may stumble upon some local expat rippers who live nearby and canaccess by land.

Popoyo is one of the most well-known spots in Nicaragua. Somehavecompared it to Lower Trestles, but it’s a better left than it is a right and is a rocky reef bottom as opposed to cobblestone. Either way, it is an epic wave that will letyou lay down your nastiestcarves and if there is enough size and swell, you can count on snagging some incredible barrels too.

Playa Santana is a longbeach with a few spread out peaks. The main break is a left-hand wedge off to the far left of the beach that dishes out some very throatybarrels. The beach breaks have a variety of fun peaksup and down this stretch of coastbut can also close out from time to time.Playa Santana is a very popular beach among locals and they often hold surf contests there. You’ll definitely be among some local rippers, always respect the locals wherever your travels take you.

Playa Maderas is one ofthe most popular breaksnear the San Juan Del Sur area. Maderas is predominately a beach break and usually has something to offerany time of year. It’s an all-around great wave that is very rippable.

Manzanillo is a dream. One of the better waves when it’s working and a favorite of many due to its beauty. It’s a rather fickle break that needs a certain swell direction to work. Loved by all, Manzanillo is a left-hand point break, that peels off along a beautiful picturesque cliff background. There are some barrel sections to be had and wide-open faces to be hacked. Most commonly accessed by boat, this spot is a must when surfing Nicaragua.

Tourism Seasons & Surf Trip Costs

The cost of your surf trip will vary depending on the time of year, where youstay, and how much you plan to explorebreaks (because it’s often easier or simplynecessary to get around by boat).There are plenty of options to travel on every budget– whether you’re looking for a simple place to lay your head or a five-star resort experience. If you would like to have most things taken care of, there are also some really great all-inclusive surf camps.

When planning your trip toNicaragua, be sure to take into consideration the high, low, and shoulder seasons. Typically, you can expect to pay an additional 25% – 50% when traveling during the high season.

Like many tropical destinations, the high season coincides with the most travel-friendlyweather when it’s dry and sunny. What’s considered to be summertime in Nicaragua is frommid-November to April or so, when mostly dry and not raining. The low season (or winter, if you want to look at it that way) is around May to mid-November when it’s cooler and wetter.

LOW SEASON, AKA RAINY SEASON (MAY- NOV)

The low season in Nicaragua is known as invierno which translates to“winter” and is the wettesttime of year. Most people refer to this time frame as the green season since the terrainislush and green from the consistent rain.While rainfall is commonit’s also the best time for south swells making for solidsurfing conditions. And even though it’s the “rainy”season, storms come and go, the temperature is stillplentywarm, and the rain tends to keep non-surfers and tourists away making for desolatebeaches. Gotta love those empty beaches!

Once again, September and October are the rainiest months with October being the wettest, but you can still potentially get lucky.Just keep in mind that it can rain for a week straight. If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t mind the rain, then this could be a great time to visit.

SHOULDER (MAY – JULY, NOV)

There are certain months when you can still getcheaperrates, there’s likely to be fewer people, and you can generally count on niceweather. While May to mid-November is considered the wetseason; May, June, July, and November can begreat monthswhere the weather tends to be a bit milder.When it rains, it’s often in theafternoons and overnight giving way to sunshine and beautiful partly cloudy moments of bliss in-between.

HIGH SEASON, AKA DRY SEASON (DEC – APR)

The high season and dry season go hand in hand. You can expect heavier crowds and more sun-seeking beach dwellers. Prices will likely be around 25% higher. Be sure to book your accommodations well in advance and know that many places require longer nights stay. You may want to note that public holidays include New Year’s Day, Easter Week (Thurs to Sunday), Labor Day, and Christmas Day.

Independence Day (Sept 15) is followed by Día de Los Muertos (Nov 2), or the Day of the Dead, which is the Latin American version of All Souls’ Day. Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) is also known as La Purisima. So plan accordingly.

Where to Stay

When it comes to finding a place to lay your head, Nicaragua has plenty of options. From budget-friendly surf hostels to chic eco-resorts, there’s something for every traveler. Whether you’re looking for a wallet-friendly surf camp that includes meals and surf guiding or a charming boutique hotel, you’ll find a range of accommodations to suit your needs.

For those traveling with a group or family, renting a private villa is an excellent option. You’ll enjoy beautiful surroundings with extra space and privacy, often at a similar price to a boutique hotel. Nicaragua has some very beautiful surf villas on offer, perfect for creating unforgettable surf adventures with with your closest crew.

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It’s important to note that certain times of the year, particularly the Christmas and New Year holidays, can book up quickly. To ensure you have the best selection and availability, we highly recommend booking as early as possible. Keep in mind that peak holiday seasons often come with a 20% – 40% increase in pricing.

Below are a few of our top recommendations for where to stay in Nicaragua for surfing. These hotels and vacation rentals have been hand-picked based on design, amenities, reviews, and proximity to surf breaks. Enjoy the perfect blend of comfort and convenience as you embark on your Nicaraguan surf adventure.

Eat & Drink

The typical meal in Nicaragua consists of rice, beans, plantains and chicken, fish, or beef. Simple, hearty, and delicious. You should be able to find a meal like this for less than $5 including a beer. The cost of food in Nicaragua is generally pretty budget-friendly, but like most places, you can find a pricier gourmet meal if you’re looking for one. Your cheapest route, as usual, is eating like the locals and cooking for yourself.

The cost of your food will varydepending on whereyou’re staying. Some areas like Hacienda Iguana at Playa Colorado only have a restaurant or two in the areaso you may have to make arrangements for an in-house chef to cook for youor plan ahead and bring groceries from town so you can cook for yourself. When there are only a couple of restaurants in the areathat cater to the traveling surfer you can expect to see a fairly westernized menu with pretty regular prices, not as cheap as you’d imagine.

On the other hand, popular beachtowns like San Juan Del Sur have seen quite a bit of development in the last few years so there are a ton of options and the variety isendless whether you’re on a tight budget or looking tosplurge. You’ll find American-style pubs, pizzerias, burger joints, Mediterranean food, Italian food, you name it. There’s even a microbrewery in town! Needless to say, you can expect to payclose toAmerican prices withthese higher-end dining experiences.

Cost: If you visit localmercados and eat at the less touristy local style restaurants you should easily be able to get by on$10 – $15 a day, but we’d suggest budgeting $20 since you’ll probably want to enjoy a few cold brews, drinklots of bottled water, and for gratuity, etc.

Forthe mid-range to a higher budget, you can easily drop $10 – $30+ on a single meal. Which wouldend up costing you $30-$90+ a day depending on your appetite and drinking habits.

Transportation

Your transportation expenses will includeyour plane ticket, shuttles, buses, taxis, and most likely boat trips. You’ll want to fly into Nicaragua’s only international airport, which is situated on the west side of the country in the capital of Managua (MGA).Managua is serviced by American Airlines, Delta, United, Spirit, Aeromexico, Avianca, Copa, and Alaska. Check out our guide to surfboard bag fees to get an idea of how much the different airlines charge to fly with surfboards.

The drive from Managua to San Juan Del Sur, Hacienda Iguana (Playa Colorado and Panga Drops), and Popoyo is typically around2.5 hours. If you’re staying at a surf camp your shuttle is likely already arranged for you in advance.

If you’re on a tighter budget, taking a busor a taxi van with a group of people going your direction is probably your best bet.Most of the roads have been paved to these spotsnow so it’s a pretty easy drive, ten years ago that wasn’t the case.You can even pick up a six-pack and enjoy a few brews on the way if you feel so inclined.

FLIGHT COSTS

All flight prices are round-trip including taxes and shown in US dollars.

Surfboard bag fees: Unless you fly on one of the few airlines that don’t charge surfboard bag fees, tack on an additional $75- $200 each way if you want to take your boards.

LAX >MGA:

• good deal: $440
• average: $560

NYC > MGA:

• good deal: $395
• average: $500+

Miami > MGA:

• good deal: $390
• average: $440

London > MGA:

• good deal: $820
• average: $900+

Sydney > MGA:

• good deal: $1330
• high: $1,500+

Getting Around

You havesome things to consider here. Do you wantto be able to drive yourself around without having to hitch a ride, coordinate with others, orrely on taxis and shuttles? Or maybe you’recool with just posting up somewhere for the week without much need to get around. Either way, you have plenty of options, let’s take a look.

BUDGET

The Nicaraguan Cordoba (NIO) is the currency of Nicaragua. As of January 2018, $1 USD equals about 32.50 Cordobas.

Public Transportation: “Chicken Buses” are the absolute cheapest way to get around local style in Nicaragua, they can run anywhere from 20 cents to a couple dollars depending on how far you need to go. $2 USD should get you about a 2-hour bus ride. But it’ll probably take you a lot longer than you’d like with all the stops, transfers, andhassle with your luggage as you make your way tothe coast. So the express bus is the most efficient and budget-friendly option for transportationto and from Managua.

Buses going toSan Juan del Sur depart from the Roberto Huembes Market bus terminal. Express buses depart from the left side. There are two express buses that go directly to SJDS at 9:30 am and 4 pm daily. It’s about $3 USD for a 2-hour bus ride to Rivas market and then you’ll have to get a taxi the rest of the way, another 25-30 minutes. A private taxican cost you$10-20 dollars if you’re solo and depending on your negotiating skills. If you’re traveling with a crew of 4 people, you should be able to get a shared taxi, locally known as“taxi colectivo” for about $2 USD per person, roughly 50 cordobas. Always make sure that you have negotiated andagreed on a price before allowing any taxi driver totouch your luggage and give you a ride.

• Cost:
  • Bus rides: 20 cents to a couple dollars
  • Private Taxi’s: $5-$25+ depending on distance
  • Shared Taxi’s/Taxi Colectivo: $2-$10 per person can get you quite far and to just about anysurf breaks

MID-RANGE

Rent a car:For complete flexibility and mobility, renting a car is a good way to go. And while you can rent a cheap car or truck for about $20 a day, it’s always a good decision to go with a 4×4 when in Nicaragua. A 4-wheel drive truck or SUV will likely run about $60 a day when all is said and done. You’ll likely see them advertised for much less, like $32 or $44 a day, but once you add in insurance, license plate fees, environmental fees, and taxes it’ll average out to $60+ a day. We recommend youdo a quick search on theinternet for coupon codes, promotions, and discounts topotentially save you some dough.

A nine-day car rental can cost you around $450 to $650. But if splitting 4 ways, $125-$175 each isn’t too shabby for the freedom and flexibility that you get with renting a 4-wheel drive that can take you to places that you otherwise might not be able to go.

• Cost: In summary, the prices can vary significantly from $10-$60+ a day before adding in insurance, taxes, and miscellaneous fees. Insurance can run $15-$30 a day, I’d rather be safe than sorry so I tend to get full coverage. Also, you can plan to have a $500-$1000 security deposit hold on your credit card, soplan your finances accordingly.

Shared-Ride Shuttle:If you will be going to one or two main locations and you don’t want to deal with a rental car, there are manyshuttle buses to and from the airports, as well as between popular destinations.Shared-ride shuttles are faster and more convenient than buses, but of course, come with a bigger price tag. Check out Iskra Shuttles to get an idea of the going rates which range from about $25-$40 per person each way depending on if you’re alone or with a group.

• Cost: $25-$40 per person with discounts for larger groups.

Motorcycles: Once at your destination, motorbikesare a great way to get around and explorelocal villages andnearbybreaks.

• Cost: $20-$25 per day. You might be able tofind them a little cheaper ifyou ask around.

Surfboard Rentals & Surf Lessons

Surfboard rentals in Nicaraguacan range from $10 – $20 per day and a lot of surf shopsare pretty laid back and negotiable on pricing. If you rent the board for an extended period of time, you willmost likelyget a better rate. If you bring aboard, then, of course, you just have to pay forextra baggage fees. Here’s our guide to surfboard bag fees.

Nicaragua is not only accommodating to the most experienced of surfers but it’s a very beginner-friendly place too. There are a variety of surf schools, rentals, and breaks for all skill levels.

Cost of a surf lesson: $40 – $60 per 2-hour session (should include a board rental)

Boat Trips

A boat trip (or three) is an essential part of any Nicaraguan surf adventure, sobe sure to fit some in.There are so many great breaks to exploreand depending on the swell and your luck you may wantto stop tocheck a few before getting on it – a boat is the best way to do this. Also, anytime you go on a boat trip, you gain the added benefit of tapping into the captain’s local wave knowledge, which is always a good thing.

Boat trip cost: Prices canrangequite a bitbut you can plan to pay anywhere from about $20-$50+ per person for a boat trip with varying degrees of time on the water (half day – full day excursions), locations serviced, and accommodations.

• $25-$40 per person for either a half-day or full-day trip with Good Times Surf Shop
• Be sure to check ahead wherever you’re staying to see if they can get you a deal on boat trips.

Travel Insurance

While we’d all rather not think about getting injured, there are too many cases of people who didn’t think about insurance and get nailed with crazy medical bills after the matter.

That being the case, many hotels and surf properties actually require that you have approved travel insurance in case of a serious inquiry or trip cancellation, especially in the wake of COVID.

You know the deal—better safe than sorry. We recommendbattlefaceorWorld Nomads Insurance. Both companies offer very comprehensive travel insurance and cover heaps of activities, including surfing and ocean sports. You can easilycheck them out and get a fast quote below.

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To sum it all up, surfing Nicaragua should probably be high on your priority list as it’s a pretty incredible surf trip destination and is definitely worth your time and money.

Be sure to check out our ultimate Surf Trip Packing Listfor a full breakdown of everything you might want to take on your trip.

Have any questions or comments about surfingNicaragua?

Please let us know in the comments below!