SURF
Playa Escameca
You’ll never find a crowded line-up anywhere around Playa Escameca - one of the perks of being truly off the beaten path. The swells from September through May are genuinely perfect for beginner to intermediate surfers, because the waves tend to be a bit smaller those months, but surfers of all levels still enjoy the smooth long ride. The waves are good here from middle to high tide, so you’ll get a good three our four hours in the water if you want it!
During swell season, from May through September, the constant off-shore winds off of Lake Nicaragua bring in epic overhead waves, that more advanced surfers are always stoked to ride. Short-boarders have the opportunity to work on carves and snaps, while long-boarders get into hanging-ten, and of course, Tim, who runs the Vital Actions Turtle Sanctuary at Escameca, is known ride the waves in a headstand!
That’s not to say that beginner and intermediate surfers won’t be able to surf here come May. It’s a great opportunity for less advanced surfers to progress into bigger waves and up their skill level. No matter what time of year it is, the locals are happy to share the stellar waves. The energy out on the water is super friendly, and the bottom is always sandy.
Surf School
La Escuelita at Verdad, a group of Nicaraguan surf coaches with a combined 40 plus years of experience coaching, direct all of our surf lessons. Their surf pros employ a specialized teaching program which guides you toward improving your skills no matter what level of surfing you start at.
The La Escuelita team, including Jose Espinoza Vanegas, the longboard champion of Nicaragua, and his business partner Wesley Bermudez, have carefully chosen and trained the other coaches at Verdad. They all use the personalized and structured program that Jose and Wes created which includes individual assessment and daily video review and analysis in every session. The coach to student ratio is usually 1:1, but we never have more than 8 people in a group with four coaches, so there’s never more than two people per coach.
Daily surf lessons with the professional coaches of La Escuelita at Verdad, and board rentals are available at Playa Escameca, as well as any beach nearby. Learn more about the current surf package offerings through La Esceulita at Verdad Nicaragua. Packages cater to everyone: first timers who’ve never been on a board as well guided surf experiences geared toward advanced surfers.
Beaches and Breaks Nearby
Whether you're an advanced surfer in search of the perfect wave or a beginner looking for a change of scenery during your stay here in Nicaragua, La Esceulita’s professional surf coaches will always know which local beach has the best break of the day. They all grew up surfing here and have an innate sense of where you’ll find the swells that suit you. Check out this BLOG to learn more about Nicaragua’s best beaches and surf breaks!
Playa Yankee
Playa Yankee, known for its strong left wedge and sandy bottom is most loved for its barrels. Yankee is good to surf from middle to high tide, so you can get a full four hours of excellent surf in at Yankee everyday. It’s definitely more of a short board break, but local boogie-boarders are often there too, sharing the waves and getting barreled!
Yankee is easily accessible by a trail walk, short paddle, or we can take you there in our 4x4.
Playa Remanso
Just a short drive away is Playa Remanso. It’s an excellent smooth wave for beginners, though that doesn’t mean you won’t see more advanced surfers there. Remanso, which is the closest surf break to San Juan Del Sur, is a favorite spot for surf camps to take groups. The wave is slower than other places, and doesn’t usually get bigger than four feet, so it’s a great place to learn. With a few lively beach bar restaurants where you can enjoy tacos and Toñas (our favorite Nicaraguan beer) you can easily make a day of hanging there.
Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa — which literally means ‘beautiful beach’ in Spanish — offers visitors crystal clear blue waters and gorgeous scenery. World famous for its outstanding surf, it is a must visit if you are looking to catch some fun, punchy waves. Hermosa is one of the best maintained beaches in the country (the access is privately owned, so you pay a small fee to enter). It’s also the longest beach in the area, so it’s known for an uncrowded break. Hermosa has one right and three lefts for most of the year, and during swell season, the waves can get BIG! There’s only one restaurant on the premises, but they have a varied menu and facilities that are open to all guests, as well as several palapas with hammocks and lounge chairs.