Nicaragua sometimes gets bad press in the United States but is actually the safest of all the Central American countries both for petty theft and dangerous crime. Interestingly, Costa Rica is more dangerous in both respects. People that travel extensively through Latin America often think that Nicaraguans are trying to take advantage of them when they arrive here because they are not accustomed to the genuinely helpful and kind people of Nicaragua.
Yes! The beauty of northern Nicaragua is that it offers waves for everyone. Your Surf Tours Nicaragua guides will make sure that everyone on the tour gets exposure to waves that will be fun and challenging for them. Whether this is your first time surfing, or you are an old guru that likes double-overhead barrels, we have access to waves that will suit you and challenge you.
Surf Tours Nicaragua prides itself on being a low-volume tour operator, which allows us to offer a great deal of flexibility to our customers. Because of this, we custom design each and every tour that we offer. Although that means that we have some downtime during our high season from April through September, it is worth it to offer our clients exactly what they want. Therefore, you may start your tour on any day of the week you would like. We only ask that your all-inclusive tour last a minimum of 7 days, but it can be as long as you would like.
Entry and exit to/from Nicaragua are very easy, but keep the following in mind as requirements:
- Passport must be valid 6 months beyond your intended stay in Nicaragua.
- Ticket for return or onward travel.
- Tourist card (US$10.00) when arriving in Nicaragua (must be paid in U.S. dollars), valid for 90 days in Nicaragua.
- A valid entry stamp is required to exit Nicaragua.
- Airport Departure fees are included in the price of your ticket.
Bring some or all of the following – THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR YOU:
- Passport valid 6 months beyond intended stay in Nicaragua.
$10 entry fee. - Extra cash (US Dollars) for ADD-ONS, beverages, tips and incidentals. Only clean untorn $ bills are accepted in Nicaragua.
- Single Day Board Bag (this is a single board bag, not a sock; to ensure the safety of your board).
- Extra Leash
- Wax
- Rash Guard
- Ding Repair Kit
- Sunblock – Not available for sale so be sure to bring.
- Sunglasses.
- Hat.
- Beach Towel.
- Bug Spray – Not available so be sure to bring.
- Flashlight.
- iPod Player.
- Shoes & socks (volcano hikes).
- Light long pants (mosquito protection & volcano).
- Light long sleeve shirt (same).
- Camera.
- Benadryl and Epipen (if you are allergic to anything).
- New & Old Surf Mags to share with us– Thanks!
- DVDs to watch on the projector
- Basic First Aid (Band-aids, gauze, aspirin, Neosporin, Imodium AD, etc.)
- Toothpaste, Toothbrush.
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap.
- Anything you might want to give away to locals such as old clothing, toys, electronics, sports gear, fishing gear etc. People are really poor here and anything you might not want they will find a use for.
To make a reservation, you must put down a $200 per person deposit non-refundable. The deposit can be made via PayPal, Venmo or Credit Card on our contact page. Once we receive confirmation of your deposits, we will reserve the time you are interested in and begin to custom-build your Surf Tours Nicaragua adventure. Be sure to check our Availability before making a reservation deposit.
The best time to learn is mid-November to mid-March, as the waves are normally smaller so you can surf a wider variety of spots and have a higher success rate. It is possible to learn during the bigger months of April till October, but it can be very challenging as the waves can be massive. However, we have had lots of intermediates and some beginners who have had great success during the bigger months catching the biggest waves of their lives, but for complete beginners, November to March is easiest.
Vegetarian options are definitely available. We custom design your menu to suit, so if you have any food preferences or allergies, just let us know in the comments section of your inquiry form, and we will take it into account when planning your menu.
The weather in Nicaragua is fantastic for most of the year. The “rainy season” coincides with the consistent wave season and is generally from May to October. A “rainy” day in that season may consist of 1-2 hours of rain in the afternoon, with sun and warm weather on either side. The rain is a welcome break from the heat most days. You can expect sunny days in the ’90s, and water temps in the ’80s. Unlike southern Nicaragua, where water temps often drop into the 70’s when the offshores are howling, requiring wetsuits, northern Nicaragua’s coast has temps between 80 and 84 degrees year-round.
Yes, you can travel with a board, but check with your airline directly to see about blackout dates for oversized luggage. The schedule seems to be ever-changing, but it is worth a call beforehand to ensure that you can get your board on the plane when you arrive. We also offer board rentals from $100 per week and have an 80 board quiver, so keep that in mind as well.