A relaxed, crescent-shaped bay beach break, San Juan del Sur is the main surf town and gateway of Nicaragua's Rivas coast, from which surfers base themselves for trips to nearby world-class breaks like Popoyo and Playa Maderas. The town's own beach is friendlier and more beginner-oriented than those outlying spots, offering fun peaky lefts and rights. Nicaragua's proximity to Lake Nicaragua produces exceptionally reliable offshore winds from the northeast on over 300 days a year, keeping the surf clean well into the afternoon. Best conditions come with south swells in the northern-hemisphere summer (Apr-Oct).
🌡️ ~29.3°C now · boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Advanced: not suitable for this level
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near San Juan del Sur worth checking out.
Verdad Nicaragua is a boutique beach hotel and retreat on Playa Escameca Grande, on Nicaragua's Emerald Coast south of San Juan del Sur, overlooking an uncrowded beach with some of the best waves in Central America. We run our own surf school with surf and yoga packages for all levels, plus an open-air yoga and fitness studio, and we can arrange airport transfers from Managua and Liberia.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at San Juan del Sur. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Dec
Intermediate: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Advanced: not suitable for this level
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks San Juan del Sur's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 18 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 26° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 30° | 30° | 29° | 29° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 26° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 3.0 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 26 km/h from the NE. Water is ~26°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.0 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 28 km/h from the NE. Water is ~25°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 2.9 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 23 km/h from the E. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.0 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 23 km/h from the E. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 15 km/h from the E. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.6 ft (1.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 13 km/h from the E. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.1 ft (0.9 m), with offshore winds around 19 km/h from the E. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 3.2 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the E. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 3.4 ft (1.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 12 km/h from the E. Water is ~30°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the SE. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 15 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.7 ft (0.8 m), with offshore winds around 22 km/h from the NE. Water is ~26°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
For beginners: Jul–Aug, Dec–Apr. For intermediates: May–Nov. The biggest waves come in June, averaging 3.6 ft (1.1 m), and the smallest in December, at 2.7 ft (0.8 m).
It ranges from ~25°C in February to ~30°C in May, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
Year-round (~25-30°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Yes. The best months for beginners are Jul–Aug, Dec–Apr, when waves average around 3.0 ft (0.9 m).
The nearest airport is MGA, and the nearest town is San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
