San Juan del Sur
With a rich history as a sea port and fishing village, and as the most popular Nicaragua vacation destination on the Pacific coast, San Juan del Sur offers a lively mix of local culture and international flare. Direct access to a wide variety of activities, sports, nightlife, and amenities makes San Juan del Sur the ideal location to enjoy your Nicaragua vacation. Visit our lovely beach town and experience for yourself the natural beauty, friendly people, and local style that make it so unique.
About San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
San Juan del Sur is the most visited vacation destination on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and has been attracting foreign visitors from around the globe for well over a century. As the home to approximately 18,000 Nicaraguans and a steadily growing ex-patriot community, this quaint fishing village maintains its unique culture through and through.
How to get to San Juan del Sur?
San Juan del Sur’s streets are lined with charming homes and store fronts built of wood painted in vibrant colors. Mornings are greeted with the sounds of roosters and church bells, and the town market comes alive where fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables are brought in for sale. Taxi and bus drivers congregate on Market Street, where they whistle and announce the next departure for Rivas or Managua, or offer their services to drive you to a local beach for the day. The crescent shaped bay is speckled with local fishing boats, sail boats, sport fishing yachts, and on some days, a large cruise ship bringing visitors in for a day. Thatch-roofed or “palapa roof” bars and restaurants line the long, sandy beach and serve cold drinks, fresh seafood, and traditional Nicaraguan cuisine. At sunset, both locals and visitors gather at the water’s edge to relax and watch children play soccer on the beach.
You will find a plethora of tourist services in San Juan del Sur, including internet cafes, hostels, hotels, luxury resort-hotels, restaurants, bars, car rentals, fishing boats and water taxis, surf lessons, a tree canopy tour, scuba lessons, shopping, and A variety of Spanish schools offer you the chance to brush up on your skills.
Click here to find out how to get to San Juan del Sur
Sport Fishing in Nicaragua
Nicaragua is slowly becoming discovered for its world-class sport fishing. Pacific offshore fishing will score you Black Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado. Nicaragua’s inshore fishing can be just as exciting, and will score you Rooster Fish, Jacks, Barracudas, and Mackerels. With sea life teeming along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, you can expect to see Jacks swimming in the waves you paddle out through, and don’t be surprised if you hook a Wahoo or Dorado just a couple hundred yards off the beach! The nicest thing about fishing out of San Juan del Sur is that you will most likely be able to count the other boats you see all day on one hand!
San Juan del Sur offers a variety of sport fishing options. You can hire a local panga for the day, and go out with a fisherman whose life, and most likely his ancestry has revolved around fishing. Or you can charter a sport fishing boat and have all the creature comforts and gear
Nicaragua Surfing
San Juan del Sur’s beaches have much smaller crowds than Costa Rica, making them a great place for both beginning and advanced surfers. The most popular and easily accessible surfing beach close to town is Playa Maderas, where both beginners and experts can find great waves. Playa Maderas will pick up most swells that hit Nicaragua, and will usually break best at a medium to high tide. Waves can range anywhere from chest high and crumbling to double overhead and barreling, depending on the swell size and direction. Playa Maderas maxes out at about 8 foot. If you are not traveling with your own board, you can rent one at Playa Maderas or at many sporting good rental shops in town.
Another option for surfing in San Juan del Sur is Playa Yankee, which is approximately 30 minutes south of town by auto and is also best on a medium to high tide. Playa Yankee is much less frequented and is a more advanced but fickle wave than Playa Maderas. Waves can range from chest high to a little overhead. You will not find any rental boards on this beach, so make sure to rent a board in town before going.
A number of other surf breaks around San Juan del Sur can only be accessed by boat. You can easily charter a boat for a full or half day in San Juan del Sur.
Reporte del Clima en San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
