San Juan del Sur is a small fishing and surf town on a horseshoe-shaped bay on Nicaragua’s southern Pacific coast, about 30 km (19 miles) from the Costa Rican border. Brightly painted wooden houses and beach restaurants line the sand, fishing boats anchor in the bay, and on the northern headland a giant statue of Christ looks out over the town and the ocean. Most visitors come for the beaches strung along the coast to the north and south, Maderas, Marsella, Majagual, Remanso, Hermosa and others, with some of the most consistent surf in Central America, thanks to offshore winds that blow from Lake Nicaragua for much of the year. There are sunset sailing trips, sportfishing, yoga retreats, and at the nearby La Flor wildlife refuge, nights when thousands of olive ridley turtles come ashore to nest. The town itself is lively, with backpacker hostels, seafood restaurants and the famous weekly “Sunday Funday” pool crawl, but walk a few kilometers out and the coast is wild and quiet.
Right now in San Juan del Sur
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Top tours in San Juan del Sur
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San Juan del Sur at a glance
- Best for: surfing and surf lessons, beaches, sunset sailing, turtle watching, fishing and nightlife.
- How long: three nights for the town, a beach day and a sunset sail; a week for surf camps or yoga.
- Best time: November to April for dry, sunny weather; March to October for the biggest surf; July to January for nesting turtles at La Flor.
- Getting there: about 2.5 hours by road from Managua’s airport, 1.5 to 2 hours from Granada, and about 30 minutes from the Costa Rican border at Peñas Blancas.
- Before you go: entry rules, the arrival tax and money are in our Nicaragua travel guide.
The coast: where things are
The town and its bay
San Juan del Sur’s town beach curves around a sheltered bay, with calm water good for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. The town, a few blocks deep, has the market, church, banks, shops, restaurants and most budget accommodation. A dirt road and trail climb the northern headland to the Christ statue.
The northern beaches
A dirt road north of town leads about 10–20 minutes to Playa Marsella, a quiet bay, Playa Maderas, the most popular surf beach with beginner-friendly waves and sunset views, and Playa Majagual. Shuttles from town run several times a day.
The southern beaches
South of town, a separate road leads to Playa Remanso, a good beginner surf break, Playa Hermosa, a long private-access beach with surf schools, and further south Playa Yankee and the La Flor wildlife refuge.
Choosing a base comes down to how you want to spend your days. Staying in town puts restaurants, bars, banks and the bay on your doorstep, and the beach shuttles leave from the center, but nights can be loud at weekends. The northern beaches suit surfers who want to be in the water at dawn and don’t mind dirt roads and an early night. The southern beaches are quieter still, with a few lodges and Playa Hermosa’s day-use facilities, and are the closest base for La Flor. Wherever you stay, plan on taxis or shuttles after dark rather than walking the roads between beaches.
Top things to see in San Juan del Sur
The Christ of Mercy statue
On the headland north of the bay, a statue of Christ, the Cristo de la Misericordia, stands on a hilltop with a viewpoint over the whole bay and the coast. Walk up about 30–40 minutes from town, or take a taxi to the gate; there is a small entrance fee. Go in the late afternoon for sunset, but come down before dark.
Playa Maderas
The most famous surf beach in the area, with consistent waves for beginners and intermediate surfers, surf schools and board rentals, a few beach restaurants and spectacular sunsets. See our surfing guide.
La Flor Wildlife Refuge
A protected beach about 20 km (12 miles) south of town where olive ridley turtles nest in mass arrivals (“arribadas”) on some nights, mostly from about July to January, along with occasional leatherbacks. Visits are in the evening with rangers or licensed guides; follow their rules, keep lights off, and don’t touch the turtles or hatchlings.
The bay and the beaches
San Juan del Sur’s own bay is good for swimming and paddling, and the beaches north and south have sand, coves and tide pools. Many beaches have strong currents, rips and no lifeguards, and people have drowned on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, according to the UK government, so swim only where locals do and never alone. See our beaches guide.
Other things to do in San Juan del Sur
- Sunset sailing: catamaran and sailboat trips along the coast with snorkeling stops and sunset on the water. See our boat trips guide.
- Surf lessons and camps: for every level, at Maderas, Remanso and Hermosa.
- Sportfishing: for dorado, roosterfish and sailfish offshore.
- Yoga and wellness: retreats in the hills and on the northern beaches.
- Hiking and horse riding: coastal trails between beaches and through dry forest. See our hiking guide.
- Nightlife: beach bars and the weekly Sunday pool party, popular with backpackers.
Day trips from San Juan del Sur
- Ometepe: drive about 40 minutes to San Jorge, near Rivas, and take the ferry to the island of two volcanoes, about an hour across Lake Nicaragua; better as an overnight trip.
- Granada: the colonial city on Lake Nicaragua is about 1.5 to 2 hours away; see our Granada travel guide.
- Tola and Popoyo: about an hour north-west along rough coastal roads, a string of quieter surf beaches, including Playa Gigante, Popoyo and Playa Colorado, known for consistent waves and fewer crowds.
- Rivas: the busy market town on the Pan-American Highway, about 30 minutes inland, with banks, the bus terminal and the turn-off for the Ometepe ferry at San Jorge.
- Costa Rica: the Peñas Blancas border is about 30 minutes away, with Guanacaste’s beaches beyond; see our Costa Rica travel guide and our Tamarindo travel guide.
Ometepe in more detail
Ometepe is the best overnight trip from San Juan del Sur. The island is two volcanoes joined by a low isthmus: Concepción, a tall, active cone that the authorities monitor, and Maderas, a dormant, forested volcano with a crater lagoon and cloud forest. Climbing either is a long, steep day hike, and you must go with a local guide, according to the Canadian government. Gentler options include swimming in the spring-fed pool of Ojo de Agua, the beach and wildlife at Charco Verde, kayaking among the reeds of the Istián River, cycling between villages and petroglyph sites, and the waterfall of San Ramón on Maderas. Ferries and smaller boats run from San Jorge to Moyogalpa; take the larger ferries when the lake is rough.
Nearby destinations
- Granada76 km
- Tamarindo107 km
- Monteverde157 km
- La Fortuna160 km
- San José245 km
- Tortuguero National Park275 km
- Manuel Antonio National Park282 km
Getting there and getting around
From Managua airport and Granada
From Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua, it is about 2.5 hours by shuttle or private transfer along the Pan-American Highway via Rivas. From Granada it is 1.5 to 2 hours. Buses run from Managua and Granada to Rivas, with connections to San Juan del Sur. Don’t drive at night, as highways are unlit, according to the UK government.
From Costa Rica
The Peñas Blancas border is about 30 km (19 miles) away. Shuttles run from Tamarindo, Liberia and other Guanacaste towns to San Juan del Sur, crossing on foot at the border. You pay the US$10 arrival tax in cash on entering Nicaragua and may need an onward ticket, according to the UK government. Some travelers fly into Liberia (LIR) in Costa Rica, which is closer than Managua.
By sea
Cruise ships anchor in the bay on some days, with passengers taken ashore by tender. Sailors arriving by private yacht must clear immigration and customs at an official port of entry.
Getting around
The town is walkable. Shuttles run several times a day from town to the northern beaches, and taxis go to all the beaches; agree on the fare first and use authorized taxis. Many surfers rent scooters, ATVs or 4x4s, but the dirt roads are rough and dusty, and dangerous after dark.
When to go and how long to stay
San Juan del Sur is hot all year, with days of about 30–33 °C (86–91 °F) and a sea of about 26–29 °C (79–84 °F). The dry season from November to April is sunny and busy; from about December to March, strong offshore winds blow from Lake Nicaragua, which keeps waves clean but can make boat trips rough and the water cooler. The rainy season from May to October brings afternoon storms, green hills and the biggest swells; September and October are the wettest months. The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center; tropical storms mostly bring heavy rain and big seas here.
San Juan del Sur month by month
| Month | Weather | Crowds and prices | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dry, sunny and windy; offshore winds | Busy early in the month | Beginner surf, turtle nights |
| February | Dry and windy; cooler water | High season | Beach days, clean waves |
| March | Dry and hot; swells building | Very busy around Holy Week (March 21–28, 2027) | Beaches, sailing; book ahead |
| April | Hottest; first swells | Moderate | Surf, sailing |
| May | Rains begin; bigger swells | Quiet | Surfing, lower prices |
| June | Afternoon storms; consistent surf | Quiet | Surf camps |
| July | Storms, with a drier spell some years | Moderate | Surf; turtle nesting begins at La Flor |
| August | Afternoon rain; good surf | Moderate | Surf, turtles |
| September | Among the wettest months; biggest surf | Very quiet; national holidays on September 14 and 15 | Experienced surfers, turtles |
| October | Very wet; big surf | Very quiet; some places close | Turtle arribadas, quiet beaches |
| November | Dry season begins | Moderate | Beaches, turtles |
| December | Dry, sunny and windy | Busy at Christmas and New Year | Holidays, turtles, sunset sails |
| Season | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| November–January | Dry and sunny; windy; busy at Christmas | Beaches, beginner surf, turtle nights |
| February–April | Driest and hottest; Holy Week crowds | Beach days, sailing |
| May–August | Green season; afternoon rain; bigger swells | Surfing, lower prices, turtles from July |
| September–October | Wettest; biggest surf | Experienced surfers, quiet beaches, turtles |
3 days in San Juan del Sur
Day one, settle in, walk to the Christ of Mercy statue for sunset, and eat seafood on the beachfront. Day two, a surf lesson or beach day at Maderas. Day three, a sunset sailing trip, or an evening at La Flor in turtle season.
A week in San Juan del Sur
Join a surf camp or yoga retreat, explore the southern beaches, go fishing, and add an overnight trip to Ometepe or Granada.
Eating and drinking in San Juan del Sur
The beachfront in town is lined with restaurants serving whole fried fish, shrimp and lobster, with plastic tables on the sand and the sunset as a backdrop. The market a few blocks inland has cheap comedores where you can eat gallo pinto, grilled chicken and quesillo with locals, and street stalls sell vigorón and fresh fruit. The town also has bakeries, coffee shops, international restaurants and craft beer, reflecting its foreign community. Try Nicaraguan Flor de Caña rum and Toña or Victoria beer, and fresh fruit drinks such as cacao or pitahaya. Prices on the beach are higher than in the market streets, and many places add a 10% tip to the bill.
Seafood is the thing to order: pescado frito (whole fried snapper or grouper) with rice, salad and tostones (fried green plantain), shrimp in garlic butter, ceviche of fish or shrimp, and lobster in season. On Sundays and market days, look for nacatamales, and in the evenings, street fritangas grill chicken, pork and beef with gallo pinto and fried cheese. Nightlife is lively for a small town: bars along the beachfront fill at sunset, there are dance nights at weekends, and a well-known weekly pool party draws backpackers from across the region. Drink sensibly, keep an eye on your drink, and take an authorized taxi home.
Where to stay in San Juan del Sur and the hotel taxes
- In town: hostels, guesthouses and small hotels close to restaurants, nightlife and the beach.
- On the hills around the bay: villas and boutique hotels with ocean views, a short drive from town.
- The northern beaches (Maderas, Marsella): surf lodges, eco-lodges and yoga retreats, quiet but far from town.
- The southern beaches (Remanso, Hermosa): a few surf camps and resorts.
Hotel bills carry Nicaragua’s 15% value-added tax and a 2% tourism tax; check whether quoted rates include them. Many hotels quote in US dollars.
What a day in San Juan del Sur costs
San Juan del Sur is cheaper than Costa Rica’s beach towns but pricier than most of Nicaragua. Hotels, surf camps and tours usually quote in US dollars; local food, taxis and shuttles often charge in córdobas. These are our estimates for 2026, not official prices, converted at about C$36.6 to US$1, the official rate published by the Central American Monetary Council in early October 2026.
| Item | Córdobas (C$) | About (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Plate at a market comedor | C$150–250 | US$4–7 |
| Fried fish dinner on the beachfront | C$370–650 | US$10–18 |
| Local beer at a bar | C$50–90 | US$1.40–2.50 |
| Beach shuttle to Maderas (round trip) | C$180–370 | US$5–10 |
| Surfboard rental, per day | C$370–550 | US$10–15 |
| Group surf lesson | C$1,100–1,850 | US$30–50 |
| Sunset catamaran sail | C$2,200–3,300 | US$60–90 |
| Hostel dorm bed | C$450–750 | US$12–20 |
| Mid-range double room | C$2,200–4,400 | US$60–120 |
A budget traveler can manage on about US$35 to US$55 (C$1,300–2,000) a day with a dorm bed, market meals and beach shuttles; a mid-range day with a hillside hotel, a surf lesson or sail and dinners out is closer to US$120 to US$200 (C$4,400–7,300).
Practical tips for San Juan del Sur
- Money: the town has a few ATMs, which can run out on busy weekends; bring US dollars in small notes. The rate was about C$36.62 to US$1 in October 2026.
- Sea safety: rips and strong currents are common, and beaches have no lifeguards; ask surf schools about conditions.
- Getting home at night: don’t walk on dark roads or beaches at night; take a taxi.
- Safety: petty theft happens in town and on the beaches; don’t leave belongings unattended on the sand. Avoid demonstrations: foreigners may not take part in political activity, according to the UK government.
- Banned items: drones and e-cigarettes are prohibited in Nicaragua.
- Emergencies: police 118, medical assistance 128, according to the Canadian government.
What to pack for San Juan del Sur
Bring swimwear, a rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, flip-flops and water shoes, light clothes, a light rain jacket from May to October, insect repellent, a headlamp for dark roads and turtle tours (with a red light), a dry bag, and US dollars in small notes, including US$10 for the arrival tax. Plugs are the US type.
San Juan del Sur travel FAQ
How do I get to San Juan del Sur from Costa Rica?
By shuttle or bus via the Peñas Blancas border, about 30 km (19 miles) away. You pay US$10 in cash to enter Nicaragua.
Is San Juan del Sur good for beginner surfers?
Yes. Playa Maderas and Playa Remanso have surf schools and gentle waves, especially in the dry season.
When can you see turtles near San Juan del Sur?
Mostly from about July to January at La Flor Wildlife Refuge, on guided evening visits.
Can you swim in San Juan del Sur?
Yes, in the sheltered town bay. Many other beaches have strong currents and no lifeguards.
How far is San Juan del Sur from Managua airport?
About 2.5 hours by road.
When is the best time to visit San Juan del Sur?
November to April for sunny weather; March to October for bigger surf.
Is San Juan del Sur safe?
Generally yes for visitors. Watch your belongings on the beach, don’t walk dark roads at night, and respect the sea.
How much does a day in San Juan del Sur cost?
By our estimates, about US$35 to US$55 (C$1,300–2,000) on a budget and US$120 to US$200 mid-range. Bring US dollars in small notes, as ATMs can run out on busy weekends.
Can I visit Ometepe from San Juan del Sur?
Yes, best overnight. Drive or take a bus about 40 minutes to San Jorge, near Rivas, then the ferry of about an hour to Moyogalpa. Climbing Concepción or Maderas requires a local guide.
What is there to eat in San Juan del Sur?
Whole fried fish and shrimp at beachfront restaurants, gallo pinto and grilled meats at market comedores and evening fritangas, nacatamales at weekends, and fresh fruit drinks, with Flor de Caña rum or a local beer.
Plan your trip
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🇪🇸 Useful Spanish phrases for San Juan del Sur
All 38 Spanish phrases: restaurant, hotel, emergencies, romance (printable) →
Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Hurricane season: NOAA’s National Hurricane Center; the córdoba rate: the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Monetary Council (SECMCA); the arrival tax, onward ticket, drownings and sea safety, political activity, night driving and banned drones: the UK government; emergency numbers and the e-cigarette ban: the Canadian government. The town’s layout, beach names and distances, the Christ statue, La Flor’s turtle season and rules, surf seasons and winds, travel times to Managua, Granada, Ometepe and the border, temperatures, seasons, cruise visits and hotel taxes come from secondary sources or general knowledge and are flagged for checking. Prices and rules change, so check before you go. For entry rules and money, see our Nicaragua travel guide. The extra food and nightlife notes, Tola and Popoyo, Rivas, the Ometepe details beyond the guide rule, the month-by-month table and the daily costs come from general knowledge or our own estimates and are flagged for checking; córdoba amounts are converted at about C$36.6 to US$1.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)