Often overshadowed by Costa Rica, its neighbour to the south, Nicaragua has loads to offer as a Central American destination: gorgeous colonial cities, massive volcanoes, genuine and welcoming people, and miles of glorious beach. Since the conclusion of a civil war that rocked the country in the late 1990s, Nicaragua is now one of the safest countries in Central America. Let’s head out on a visual exploration to San Juan del Sur along the country’s southern Pacific coast. I’ve been lucky enough to visit this beautiful area on and off for the past ten years and have seen the area blossom and grow. The beaches remain some of my favourites in the entire world, and San Juan del Sur itself is a great home base with good restaurants, great nightlife, and plenty of beaches and laid-back environments perfect for relaxing. Surfing is a major draw for many visitors due to consistent conditions and an annual average of 300+ days of offshore winds.
Restaurants built in traditional palapa-style on San Juan del Sur beach.
The main street along the beach in San Juan del Sur.
Delicious local fare. Plantains, rice, beans, cabbage salad and various stewed or barbecued meats.
A mural of Augusto César Sandino, a Nicaraguan revolutionary figure and national hero.
Playa Hermosa was used for the filming of “Survivor: Nicaragua.” Most beaches outside of San Juan del Sur only have a handful of visitors at any given time and are mostly empty.
A typical traffic jam on the road leading to Playa Hermosa.
Surfers aren’t the only creatures hanging out at the beach. Howler monkeys are a common sight around here.
Playa Maderas is the most popular surfing beach in the area. On clear days, you can see Costa Rica in the distance.
Settle in with a Flor de Caña rum & coke for some of the most beautiful sunsets.
Getting There
G Adventures runs a number of departures to Nicaragua encompassing a wide range of departure dates and activities to cater for different tastes. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours— check out our small group trips Central America here.
