Nicaragua Surf Travel Guide

Nicaragua’s coast is divided between the Caribbean “Mosquito Coast” and the Pacific Coast, which contains the country’s best waves. On this southwest coast the presence of Lake Managua, about 50 miles inland, helps funnel wind across the country to provide 300+ days of offshore winds. These groom the Southern Pacific’s southwest swells formed in the Roaring Forties and Fifties. The result is excellent, if not exactly world class, pointbreaks and beachies that come with a rich local culture, cheap cost of living and tropical weather.

Where to surf

Nicargaua has some of the best points, reef breaks and sandbars in Central America. It’s best surf breaks are in the province of Rivas. They get the south swells from the Roaring 40’s averaging 3-5ft and average about 330 days of offshore winds.The most popular Nicaragua surfing beaches are those near San Juan del Sur, such as Playa Maderas and Playa Majagual. A bit farther north, Playa Gigante and Popoyo also offer decent breaks. Much further north is less travelled so you’ll find less crowds.

When to go

Summer has the best swell with it peaking in July and August as well as the promised moderate SW-W offshore winds coming across from the Caribbean and water temperatures ranging between 27-28°C. And it’s for these reasons that you can expect crowds.

Autumn manages to collect some southerly swells that tend not to make it up to the Californian coast, maintaining respectful swell with winds that remain as consistently offshore as in summertime (SW-W). This season however, has a tendency to be quite rainy but it does give you an opportunity to avoid the school crowds.

Winter brings the beginning of strong off/sideshore winds which can sometimes cause upwelling and in turn cool the water down to 15-17°C. Southerly swells become much smaller with less consistency and north swells don’t arrive at all. Not the best time to be in the area.

Spring early season south swells make their way into the beachbreaks and reefbreaks in this zone, although it still can be quite windy with semi-chilly water. Essentially the action picks up again early to mid march with winds calming down and swell picking up.

The Country

With a population of six million people, Nicaragua is the largest and least densely populated country in Central America. Bordering both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, it is located between Honduras and Costa Rica. It is also known as the land of many volcanoes and lakes. Nicaragua is home to the buzzing city of Leon, the more remote Corn Islands, and the largest freshwater body in South America, Lago de Nicaragua. It also boasts wonderfully preserved colonial cities and vast areas of lush rainforests, making it one of the most underrated and untouched travel destinations in the world. Nicaragua has been fully independent since 1838, but continued to endure unrest, dictatorship, and more recently, a decade-long civil war that ended peacefully in 1990. Today Nicaragua remains welcoming and tranquil, with a growing ecotourism industry and increasing number of visitors every year. The lively and blissful culture of the “Nicas,” mixed with their laidback Caribbean-like pace, make this country a haven of hospitality for all kinds of travellers.

Getting There

Major airlines throughout North (United, American, and Delta), South & Central (Avianca, Copa, and Spirit) America service Nicaragua’s airport in Managua, Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA).