Waves

Puerto Sandino (Aka Freight Trains, La Barra, Etc.)
Our premier break at STN, located about 2 miles north and accessible only by boat or jet ski as it’s a long way offshore. It is by far one of the longest and best waves in Nicaragua. The initial take-off zone to the end of the wave usually averages over 300 yards when it’s on. It is mostly a sand bottom break, with some reef sections at certain points along with this long wave, that allows for a variety of barrels and wally sections for the length of the ride. It’s not uncommon to get two or three barrels on one wave!

Beginner (when really small) to advanced

Punta Miramar
This is a Reef point break located right in front of the camp that holds the most swell in the area with three main take-off spots. The outside works at low tide and can hold sizable swell—it’s at its best when double overhead, steep south swell and a minus tide. When conditions are like this, it’s one of the best and most challenging waves in all Central America. When the swell is smaller and during a higher tide, the inside and third take-off zone can get pretty good. This inside section, best between waist head high, is a fast, hollow left.

Beginner to advanced

Shacks/Chicken Bowls
A-Frame finicky reef break that shows up on certain bigger swells. Very rippable when it’s working, but not always the most consistent wave. It’s just a short 500-yard walk down the beach so it’s easy to score it when it’s good.

Intermediate to advanced.

Chiggas
Right reef break. Deep-water takeoff to a walling tube giving way to a rippable section. Another incredible wave that can hold just about any size! It’s about an hour boat ride from the camp.

Intermediate to advanced.

Secret Spot
Our secret spot. We can’t even tell you more than that, but the picture tells the whole story. This is a very punchy beach break that works off refraction and focuses from outer reefs. The bottom is sand and you’ll probably bounce off it at least once. It’s about a 2-hour drive north of the camp, but we’ll hit it when the swell isn’t too big and we feel like breaking surfboards!

Intermediate (when small) to advanced

Pistols
Hollow, racey wedges in a beautiful tight cove. It’s a punchy little wave and typically a bit shifty, but when the waves are small this is one of our favorite go-to spots. It’s like a skate park.

Intermediate to advanced

El Transito
Here we have a wide-open beach with some lava formations about 100 yards offshore that break up the groundswell, move the sand around and make for some various corners and sand bars up and down the beach. It’s hardly ever world-class, but it does pick up a lot of swell so we typically head down here when the swell is a bit smaller. When it gets overhead it gets a bit closed out so we look to other breaks.

Beginner to advanced

Indicators
Indicators break on the low tide and can throw a fun, rippable wall with a decent swell. We often head here when we want to get away from the occasional crowd. Called Indicators because it shows whether Freight Trains is working well.

Intermediate to advanced

Salinas Grande
Salinas Grande is good at picking up swell from any direction, but it typically needs some crossed upswell to be really good. If there’s not cross up swell there can be occasional sand bars, but it is prone to closing out. A little farther north is some outside reefs that can make some corners and another river mouth even farther north has some great drainers during the rainy season.

Beginner to advanced