7 Top-Rated Popoyo Surf Camps for 2026
Think Nicaragua, think Popoyo. There are few surf towns in Central America as famous as this one, yet Popoyo has managed to hold onto that sort of out-of-the-way barefoot feeling that its compadres over in, say, Indo really haven’t managed.
It’s probably just about the perfect place for a chilled, tropical surf escape. Consistent Nica offshores, loads of swell, some of the most tip-top reef breaks around, and even some fairly good spots for beginners tucked into the bays here and there.
It’s hardly a surprise that surf camping here has boomed in the last 10 years, which is why it’s high time we turned our gaze on the offering to pick out a range of top-rated options for the coming season. Happy Nicaragua everyone.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
>>Read more about surfing in Nicaragua
Quick-click guide to the top-rated surf camps in Nicaragua
- Surf & Yoga Retreat Nicaragua – A tried-and-tested brand with action-packed surf itineraries
- Tukasa – Surfhouse Popoyo – A super-stylish surf house that just looks exquisite
- Wild Waves – An affordable option with a prime beachfront location
- TwoTen° Surf Home – Self-catering surf cottages that are great for couples and those who want that homey feeling
- Sardina Surf Camp – Small-scale, off-grid, family owned and downright lovely
- Popoyo Surfcamp – Fantastically reviewed camp with daily guided surfing
- Club Surf Popoyo – One of the original beachfront surf camps in Popoyo
Surf & Yoga Retreat Nicaragua
Part of the well-travelled Surf & Yoga Retreats network – these guys now have outposts in Bali, Lombok, Portugal, and beyond – this Popoyo rendition sits just off the main road behind the beach and stretches back into the surrounding greenery.
It has a more spacious, retreat-like feel than many camps in the area, and is likely to be more chill than the beachfront ones. The setup is clean and modern with warm, earthy touches: think natural materials, hammocks, a pool to cool off between sessions, and communal dinners that double as the social highlight of the day.
The yoga-surf package offers a good balance between surf (which is what we’re guessing you came here to do) and (just as the name implies), yoga. You basically get one free yoga class each day, but go on 6x surf lessons, which are billed as semi-private, because these guys never do a bigger ratio than 3 students to one instructor – aka, there’s a lot of helpful technique feedback and the like.
It’s a good fit for solo travelers, beginner-intermediates, and anyone after a structured, community-driven retreat with proper substance to the programming. It’s also a real nice looking camping, with a pretty lush pool and cool cabana setup, so there’s a hint of tropical luxury.
Check prices and availability at Surf & Yoga Retreat Nicaragua
Tukasa – Surfhouse Popoyo
One of the newer additions to the Popoyo scene, Tukasa opened its doors in early 2024 after being purpose-built by travelers who fell for the place on a Latin America trip and decided to stay.
It sits just off Beach Front Road – only a short three-minute walk from the beach but also with wide, open fields stretching to its back (they provide the pool view, by the way!).
The whole thing has been designed from scratch with the guest experience front of mind. That means the aesthetic is a cut above the typical surf hostel. Rooms are bright and considered, with private terraces, en-suite bathrooms, queen beds, surf racks, and proper aircon – the kind of touches that make a genuine difference after a long day in the water.
It flows too – real neat polished concrete, thatch roofs, wicker lights, a cactus garden placed just right.
What gives Tukasa its character is the ethos behind it. These guys are all about locally sourced food, furniture made from Nicaraguan wood, artisanal décor, and stuff like that.
Bottom line? It’s a smart, stylish base for surfers who want comfort without pretension, and a community feel without the chaos.
Wild Waves
Sat right on the beachfront, a five-minute walk across a little rivermouth from Main Point, Wild Waves definitely has the right location for surfers who want to be on arguably the best reef in Central America as early as possible.
It’s a straightforward, no-fuss surf house that does what it needs to do well: clean rooms, good location, and packages built around actually getting in the water.
Accommodation runs from twin doubles with shared bathrooms at the budget end, up to deluxe queen rooms with aircon, private bathrooms, and hot water – all at prices that Central America would have been more likely to offer like 15 years ag.
The communal kitchen and shared spaces keep the social side of things ticking over nicely, and trips to local hot springs are a bonus. The 7-day beginner option includes guided surf tours to 2 local spots, plus transfers from Managua airport and daily breakfast.
It’s an honest, affordable base for surfers who want to make the most of one of Nicaragua’s most consistent stretches of coast.
TwoTen° Surf Home
TwoTen° is a slightly different proposition to the rest of the camps on this list. Rather than a single hostel or lodge, it’s a small collection of self-contained beach houses on Calle Guasacate, each sleeping between three and six guests, all with fully equipped kitchens, private terraces, hammocks, workspaces, and direct access to the surrounding restaurants and the minimarket across the road.
The name, incidentally, comes from the 210-degree south-westerly swell direction that lights up the Popoyo break – a little detail that tells you the people behind this place know their stuff.
The houses various houses – named things like Surfer’s, Tiny, Cozy, and Twin – vary in size and layout, but share the same simple, considered aesthetic: Clean lines, local touches, and the kind of thoughtful details (clay water filters, fresh herb gardens, surf racks as standard) that add up to a genuinely comfortable stay.
The Popoyo break is a ten-minute walk away, boat trips to more remote spots can be arranged, and board rental is available a few doors down at Popoyo Surf Shop.
It’s the pick for groups, couples, or longer-stay surfers who want their own space, the freedom to cook their own meals, and a base that feels more like a proper home away from home than a bunk in a dorm.
Sardina Surf Camp
Sardina is another one that feels genuinely different. A locally owned, Nicaraguan-British family operation, it sits on Calle Popoyo and bills itself as a local movement, not a surf camp biz.
The whole camp is solar-powered and built around two handcrafted cabanas: Ranchito, with ocean views and an open-air bathroom; and Cashew, nestled beside its namesake tree with a king bed, jungle slash mountain-view balcony, and a private outdoor kitchen.
Both are small, intimate, and beautifully done. They’ve got things like thatched roofs, natural ventilation, and the kind of considered simplicity you get from real homegrown places.
The surf program is led by a tight crew of ISA-certified local instructors who are all locals, and know these breaks through and through. Group lessons, private sessions, and guided half- and full-day trips to breaks including El Rastral, El Peñon, and Manzanillo are all on offer, with packages starting from $785 per person based on two sharing.
Here’s where this one stands out: It’s a small-group, deeply personal experience, and proudly off-grid, eco and local. All good things, eh?
Popoyo Surfcamp
With over a hundred five-star Google reviews in the bank, Popoyo Surf Camp has carved out a strong following in a relatively short time. It’s a beachside camp that takes the surfing seriously without taking itself too seriously – just think on this: Their team includes Joel, a multiple Nicaraguan surf champion who also captains the boat!
The package structure covers all levels properly. Beginners get daily lessons with surf theory, land practice, and a 1:2-3 instructor-to-surfer ratio that keeps things personal; intermediates and advanced surfers get guided expeditions to the area’s best breaks, with 4×4 transfers and boat trips built in. Video analysis, yoga, a photo session, and breakfast and lunch are included across the board, with group dinners most nights at nearby restaurants.
Accommodation runs from four-bed dorms up to private rooms and a more comfortable AC option a short walk from the main lodge. The camp also offers massages, horseback riding, fishing trips, and spearfishing for anyone who wants more than just waves.
Club Surf Popoyo
One of the originals. Club Surf Popoyo has been run by Filippo and Barbara – a Sardinian couple – since 2008 (remember the good old days?) making it one of the longest-established outfits on this stretch of coast.
It sits right on Playa Guasacate, with direct beach access, and that oceanfront position is genuinely one of the best in the area – hammocks and rocking chairs await on the porch, which gazes straight over the waves, which roll in literally meters away.
The architecture blends Spanish colonial and traditional Nicaraguan palapa style, giving it a character that the newer purpose-built camps can’t quite replicate. Rooms are straightforward and comfortable, and – here’s the kicker – the B&B rates are likely to be among the more affordable you’ll find around.
They offer breakfast as a full buffet spread, and evenings bring a menu that leans hard into the owners’ Italian roots: Wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta; not your usual Mesoamerican fare!
It’s a loveable, characterful base with real history behind it – and, judging by the reviews, deffo the kind of place that keeps people coming back.
A note on our methodology
Why these camps made the cut
Short answer: Because we think they’re brilliant.
Longer answer: we’ve spent over a decade writing about surf travel, and along the way we’ve developed a pretty solid eye for what separates a great surf camp from a forgettable one. Our picks combine strong reviews across the major booking platforms with our own editorial judgement about what actually makes a camp worth travelling to — the crème de la crème, if you will.
Our knowledge of these destinations comes from a combination of time on the ground and deep research – swell data, local knowledge, reader feedback, and years of tracking what makes a surf trip actually work. When we say a camp is good, that’s what’s behind it.
Worth knowing: our recommendations are currently weighted towards camps we can link to commercially — but affiliate status isn’t a condition of inclusion. If we think a camp belongs in this guide, it’s in. We’re always looking to broaden our selection, and where we don’t already have an affiliate relationship with a camp we rate, we’ll often reach out to try to establish one. If they say no, they stay in the guide regardless.
A heads up: some links are affiliate links — if you book through one, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s how we keep the lights on and the guides free.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
