San Juan del Sur surf has grown and grown in popularity in recent years, making this beach-fronted towns one of the centers of the sport in Nicaragua.
An introduction to San Juan del Sur surf
San Juan del Sur has risen and risen in popularity in the last 10-15 years, establishing itself as both a surf mecca and a digital nomad hub. We’d say it’s probably a little better at the latter of those two, becuase there’s not actually a surf break on the doorstep. San Juan del Sur playa is more for fishing boats and beach parties, although we can hardly deny it makes an amazing place to return to after you’ve surfed the nearby breaks.
Talking of the nearby breaks…welcome to Rivas. For 20 miles to the south and 5 miles to the north, the shoreline here offers bay after beach after reef for surf-hungry visitors. It has excellent consistency and a great variety of wave types, ranging from mellow beachies to beefy points that can keep more experienced rippers smiling as they sip their sunset cocktails back in San Juan del Sur.
There’s decent public transport on offer to the beaches around town (especially Maderas). However, we still think the best way to go about organizing a surf trip here is to pick a good surf hostel/camp that offers transport to and from the neighboring breaks. That way, you won’t have to hassle about how you’re getting to your dawn patrol and whatnot. It’s all done for you.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Nicaragua
San Juan del Sur surf at a glance
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What’s in this guide to surfing in San Juan del Sur?
A guide San Juan del Sur surf spots
San Juan’s surf spots string up to the north of the town and down to the south, where they finally end with the Costa Rican border, around about 18 miles away. You will be traveling that shoreline on a surf trip here – either by boat, bus, or rental – because there’s no break on San Juan del Sur beach itself.
Playa Maderas
If you’re planning on hitting the San Juan del Sur surf this year, then you should definitely get to know about Playa Maderas. This A-frame break on the north side of the town is the premier wave in the area. It’s 20 minutes away but is the go-to option for surf schools and even local rippers, offering good consistency and shape throughout a long season.
We’ve got a complete guide to surfing in Playa Maderas right here
Playa Remanso
Playa Remanso reminds us a little of Sri Lanka’s Weligama in that it’s usually a learner’s haven but can sometimes drop bombs in the middle of the wet season. Most of the time it’s a mellow beach wave that stays green for a nice long ride across the bay. It caters to all levels and is best surfed when the tide’s approaching. Most surf camps will come here with intermediate and lower groups, and it’s a convenient 10-minute drive from San Juan del Sur town.
Playa Hermosa
Not to be confused with its more-famous bro across the border in Costa Rica, this Playa Hermosa is one of the stars of the San Juan del Sur surf scene. It’s just over a mile in length, and has good wind protection on stronger days from the headland at the north end. The whole bay has peaks when there’s a big swell, and they can even get tubey and hollow in the middle of the rainy season. Dry season, this one’s an unbusy spot with glassy A-frames that go right and left at about chest height. Get the groveler out when it’s smaller and you’ll have some nice ankle-burner fun. There’s a small entry fee for Playa Hermosa ($3 last time we were there).
El Yanke
Also known as Playa Yanke or Playa Yankee, this one is a little more exposed to the open Pacific than its compadre to the north. That means you get some bigger waves come through, especially when there’s a strong W element to the swell. The lefts tend to be the better ones and can wall up more than anything else in the area. About 20-30 minutes from San Juan del Sur town.
Playa El Coco
Playa El Coco is about 30 minutes’ drive south of San Juan itself. There are a couple of good lodges where you can stay if you don’t want to make that drive but do want the break right on your doorstep each morning. Another sand-bottomed beginner and up spot, it’s not as busy as the other beaches closer to the town and offers lovely chest-high peelers that are great for longboarders or starters.
Sally Ann’s
The last of the well-known spots (shh – there are others!) before you pass into Costa Rica is Sally Ann’s. 40 minutes south of SJDS, this one’s a fickle but rather perfect A-frame that shapes up beautifully when there’s a good SE swell. Morning sessions without any wind are best. They can see the spot offer up a circular tube to the right and a tighter hollow pocket to the left. It’s best for expert surfers.
Where to stay when surfing in San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is packed with some of the best beach and surf camps in Nicaragua. It’s actually one of the most-visited towns in the country, so you can expect a mix of hotels to match. The options below are the ones that we think stand out from the crowd, both in SJDS itself and close to the best breaks in the nearby beaches.
the SPACE.
the SPACE. is a super-cool hangout spot with a swim-up cocktail bar and loads of room for the laptop warrior digital nomad surfers out there. We really like the style (it’s got a hint of Bali to it) and the mix of suites and dorms to suit all budgets. Yoga classes and fitness facilities are also part of the package.
The Beach House Nicaragua
The Beach House Nicaragua is just about as close as you can get to the sands in San Juan del Sur. The highlights are the salt-breezed restaurant and the deck spaces out front, where you’ll watch some of the most dazzling sunsets you’ve ever seen after a surf session.
Dreamsea Surf Resort Nicaragua
The Dreamsea Surf Resort Nicaragua isn’t actually in the core of SJDS. It’s just up in the hills behind the town, but that adds to the experience because the jungle peers in close and you get howler monkeys and exotic birds for company. They’ve done a cracking job of making a lux-end surf camp with a pool and great surf trips organized for you on site. Highly recommend.
Step-by-step guide to planning your San Juan del Sur surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the San Juan del Sur surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
The San Juan del Sur surf season
The top time to surf in San Juan del Sur is the wet season, between May and August. Yes, the weather isn’t as beach-worthy, but the waves are at their biggest, forming on strong SE Pacific groundswells that start very far away in the Antarctic latitudes. The season basically has surf every day but it does vary – some sessions are chest high and small, others are barrels that peak overhead. Beginners – like total beginners – can come to San Juan del Sur surf spots pretty much any month, except February, which sees a distinct dip in swell quality in our opinion.
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!
