Activity Guide to San Juan del Sur

Advisory note, October 2026: At the time of writing the US State Department puts Nicaragua at Level 3, “Reconsider travel”. Its reasons include a serious risk of wrongful detention by the government, arbitrary enforcement of laws, searches of electronic devices and little consular help, and some US citizens have been denied entry or expelled. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel to Nicaragua, but foreigners must not take part in any political activity and drones are banned. San Juan del Sur has been a tourist town for a long time. Look at the US State Department page and the FCDO page before you book, buy travel insurance and leave drones at home.

Days in San Juan del Sur tend to fall into one pattern. Mornings go to the surf beaches, the hot middle of the day to shade and a long lunch, and the late afternoon to a boat, a hilltop or the bay. This guide sorts the main activities by the time of day that suits them best. Prices are in US dollars, which shops, tour desks and taxis accept widely, and the local córdoba (C$) trades at an official rate of about 36.6 to US$1.

Morning: Surf Beaches

Playa Maderas, north of town along a dirt road, is the usual place for a first lesson. Allow 15 to 30 minutes each way. The break is a steady A-frame, so waves peel to both the left and the right and suit every level, and beach bars and restaurants sit behind the sand. Casa Oro Eco Hostel, in the town centre, runs a shuttle to Maderas for US$7 return, leaving at 10:00, 12:30 and 18:00. Its surf class costs US$35 with a board and the shuttle included, and it goes out on the 10:00 run. The Casa Oro Group site shows current times.

The other breaks lie south of town. Playa Remanso is the nearest, a mellow beach break for beginners and intermediates with surf shacks on the sand, though it can turn heavy in the middle of the wet season. Playa Hermosa is a 1.5 km beach reached through a private gate that charges about US$3 a head, and it has a beach club with shaded tables and a restaurant. Its waves peak both ways and hollow out in the wet season. Playa Yankee is exposed and rocky near the parking area, with a left wedge for intermediate and advanced surfers and no security on site. Surf shops in town also run shared shuttles to Hermosa and Remanso, often from about US$7.

Reading the Water

Maderas, Hermosa and Yankee have no lifeguards, and the currents are strong. The UK government links drownings on parts of this coast to missing warning signs and rescue equipment. Surf within your level, never go out alone and do not count on a lifeguard at any beach here. For a gentle swim, go to Playa Marsella, about 25 to 35 minutes from town, where the water laps calmly.

Midday and Afternoon: Cacao, Turtles and Sails

On Saturdays at 10:30 Casa Oro hosts a guided cacao session, a half-morning chocolate tour that costs US$10. Between July and February it also sells a turtle trip to the La Flor refuge for US$30. Olive ridley turtles nest there, and some nights bring none, so no trip can promise a sighting. The attraction tours page goes into the refuge rules.

The same hostel sells a catamaran sail for US$80. It runs from 13:00 to 18:00, includes snacks and an open bar, and needs at least six people to go ahead.

Evening: The Hill and the Bay

The Christ of the Mercy statue overlooks the northern end of the bay and is about 24 m tall including its pedestal. Entry costs about US$2 for foreigners. The climb is steep and thieves have been reported on it, so go in daylight and keep valuables out of sight. The bay below has a dozen or more beachside bars and restaurants, and sunset is the busy hour.

Sunday Funday is a roaming pool and bar crawl held each week, open only to guests aged 18 and over. It starts at Hostel Pachamama and finishes at Naked Tiger Hostel. Tickets are reported at about US$30 to 35, or about US$15 for guests of the hostels involved, and include five bars, a shot at each and a tank top. Make sure it is still on before you build a day around it.

Getting Around

  • Use taxis or a driver you have arranged, and agree the fare before you set off.
  • Managua airport is about 135 km away, a 2.5 to 3.5 hour drive, and a taxi costs about US$90.
  • Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned and can be confiscated.

Read more: the sightseeing page covers the statue and quieter beaches, and the day trips page covers Ometepe and Granada. For a longer route through the country, the Nicaragua 5 day itinerary is a useful companion.

Surf lessons and boat trips can be compared on Viator searches for San Juan del Sur surfing .