Guided Tours Around San Juan del Sur

Advisory note, October 2026: The US State Department currently lists Nicaragua at Level 3, “Reconsider travel”, pointing to a serious risk of wrongful detention by the authorities, arbitrary enforcement of laws, searches of electronic devices and very limited consular help. Some US citizens have been refused entry or expelled. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel, though it says foreigners must stay out of political activity and that owning or flying a drone is banned. San Juan del Sur is an established tourist town with a steady stream of visitors. Read the US State Department page and the FCDO page before you book, carry insurance and do not bring a drone.

Organised outings around San Juan del Sur are few but varied: a brewpub, a cacao class, a sail, a zipline, a horse ride and a night with nesting turtles. Most are sold through hostels and tour desks in town. This page runs from the easiest to arrange to the most demanding, and quotes prices in US dollars.

Cacao and Beer in Town

Casa Oro Eco Hostel, in the town centre, runs a guided cacao session on Saturdays at 10:30. It lasts about half a morning and costs US$10.

Cervecería San Juan del Sur, also known as Nicaragua Craft Beer Co., is a brewpub in town. Two American surfers started it around 2013 to 2014, and its flagship beer is Panga Drops Keller Pils. Ask at the door for opening hours and prices.

Under Sail

Casa Oro also sells a catamaran trip for US$80. It leaves at 13:00 and returns at 18:00, includes snacks and an open bar, and runs only with six or more passengers. A group of friends can fill it, while two travellers may end up waiting for others to sign up. Beach stops reported on these trips include Playa Blanca and a “secret beach”. Private catamaran charters for up to eight guests appear on boat-hire sites from about US$800 to 1,300.

Canopy Ziplines

Aventura Las Nubes is a canopy park on the ridge about 10 minutes above town, with views of the Pacific and of Lake Nicaragua. Listings count nine platforms. Guided tours that include transport start from about US$40 for a two-hour zipline, and one listing for a package with transport, admission and lunch quotes about US$102. No price list is published, so ask exactly what a quote covers. The minimum age is about 8 to 10, depending on a child’s weight.

Horses

Rides at Rancho Chilamate start from about US$65 to 75 and are arranged through the ranch.

Turtles at La Flor

Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor lies 18 to 22 km south of town, a drive of 30 to 45 minutes. The first stretch is paved and the last is dirt with seasonal stream crossings, so a high-clearance or 4WD vehicle is needed from May to October. The night drive on those roads is the biggest risk of the outing, so choose a driver who knows them.

The turtles are olive ridleys. Mass arrivals, called arribadas, run from July to January and sometimes into February, peaking in September and October. They are unpredictable, so ask the ranger station or your operator on the day. Hatching runs roughly from October to February.

Casa Oro sells a turtle expedition for US$30 between July and February. Other operators quote about US$25 to 35, normally covering transport and often the entry fee. Going alone, expect a refuge fee of about C$200 (roughly US$5.50) for foreigners, with half price for children, plus US$25 to 40 each way by taxi. Camping at the ranger station costs about C$500 per tent.

Rules posted by the rangers include no flash and no white light, so bring a red-filter torch. Follow the rangers’ instructions, stay a few metres behind a nesting turtle, and never touch turtles, eggs or hatchlings. Swimming and surfing are not allowed in the refuge because of rip currents and the nesting beach. MARENA runs a hatchery for nests that have been relocated, and no turtle outing can promise a sighting.

Before You Pay

  • Ask what the price includes, because entry fees, meals and transport are sometimes extra.
  • Confirm the pick-up point and time the day before.
  • Bring US dollars in small notes.
  • Skip any trip that needs a dirt-road drive after dark with a driver you do not know.

Read more: the day trips page covers the lake and volcano outings, and the sightseeing page lists places that need no booking. A wider route is laid out in the Nicaragua 4 day itinerary .

To see what other operators offer, browse GetYourGuide results for San Juan del Sur tours and the Casa Oro Group listings.