San Juan del Sur

A surf town on a Pacific bay, surrounded by beaches such as Maderas, Majagual and Hermosa, plus the La Flor sea turtle refuge.

San Juan del Sur lies on the Pacific coast of Rivas Department in southwestern Nicaragua, about 40 km from the Peñas Blancas border crossing with Costa Rica, and is Nicaragua's best-known beach and surf town. The town wraps around a horseshoe-shaped bay, with the Christ of the Mercy statue on the hilltop at its northern end as its landmark. With the town as a base, beaches such as Marsella, Maderas and Majagual lie about 7–10 km to the north, while Remanso, Hermosa, Yankee and El Coco beaches and the La Flor Wildlife Refuge lie 5–20 km to the south. The beaches are linked by dirt roads, and shuttles run to and from town. November–April is the dry season, with plenty of sunshine and offshore winds that favour surfing; May–October is the rainy season, with frequent afternoon showers, bigger waves and muddy roads. July to January is turtle nesting season, and mass nestings (arribadas) may occur in August–November. Getting there: about 2.5 hours' drive from Managua airport, or about 2 hours from Liberia airport in Costa Rica via the land border; you can also change buses in Rivas. Granada is about 2 hours away, and the San Jorge ferry dock for Ometepe Island about 40 minutes. Plan on 3–5 days: one day for the bay and the Christ statue, several days rotating between surfing and swimming, plus a night of turtle watching in nesting season. The town has a strong backpacker and nightlife scene. Entry rules and the security situation can change quickly, so check the latest entry requirements before you travel, and don't linger alone on remote beaches at night.

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