San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Our big adventure today was focused on surfing. Before we met up with our surf instructors we stopped at the local panaderia (bakery) for some snacks to take to the beach. Sam has fallen in love with the pineapple cookies. The lady at the bakery knows us now.

After a 20 minute drive through the countryside we landed on the most beautiful beach, Playa Hermosa, which means pretty beach. On Playa Hermosa sits the Playa Hermosa Surf Camp, which was our base for the day. The Surf Camp is newly opened and consists of a “hotel” of dorm rooms, hammocks, an outside bar and grill, and endless waves. Our instructors Saul and Roberto led us onto the wide, flat beach and explained the fundamentals of surfing. We learned the parts of the board and the technique for getting on it. It was a LOT easier to do on the sand than it was in the water!

After about 20 minutes of instruction we hit the waves.

Roberto worked with us while Saul worked with the other guys in our group. So, we basically had private instruction. Unfortunately, that’s not enough to make us “real surfers.” Steve was able to stand up once during our two hour session and Marnie chose to stay on her stomach or knees. Nevertheless, we were amazed at how fast you could go on the long board when you caught the wave just right.

We are grateful that we also had our own photographer with us. The photos are courtesy of Sam, who documented the entire experience.

Two hours in the water was enough for us and we headed back to the surf camp for a few beers and our tasty snacks from the bakery. Another hour or two in a hammock and we were ready to head back to the hotel. We’ll never be pro surfers, but today was an experience we won’t soon forget. Surfing is really fun!

Our day ended on the beach in San Juan del Sur with grilled whole snapper at a popular restaurant, El Timon.

We watched the sunset and enjoyed a live Latin band. Steve and Sam finished up the evening poolside at the hotel drinking Flor de Cana, the local favorite.

Evenings and days like this have made us fall in love with this warm, friendly, and beautiful country. Despite its political and economic challenges, Nicaragua is endearing and we are so happy we’ve spent our holiday here.

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San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

This will be a short report, as there’s not much to say when you spend the day hanging out in a beach town. We hiked to the lookout above town which is adorned by a 4 story Jesus Cristo statue. It is really warm here during the day, so a morning hike is the best option.

We could see up and down the coast and down onto the beautiful village of San Juan del Sur. Most of the hike is through a very swanky neighborhood and at the top there is a guard who collects $2 per person to enter the site. Under the statue is a church.

When we got back to the hotel we enjoyed another Nicaraguan breakfast, though this one did not compare to the others we’ve had. After some pool time, a wander through town, a run for Steve, and then a few beers, it was time for a nap. Exciting huh?

Tonight the beach bars and restaurants are packed and the music is pounding.

Sam keeps asking, “where did all these people come from?” The answer for the most part is Managua. San Juan del Sur is the getaway and party location for the Nicaraguans. We’ve got a front row seat.

Tomorrow we attempt surfing. Should be interesting…

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San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

After another wonderful Nicaraguan breakfast of eggs, gallo pinto, fried cheese, and plantains, we headed back to our cabin to pack up and prepare to catch the ferry. On the way we ran into our second snake. Steve spotted it first and he swears it was BIG. As the folks at Totoco continued to remind us, “Welcome to the Jungle.”

We were sorry to leave the peaceful confines of Totoco but excited to reach our final destination: San Juan del Sur. Before catching our taxi to the ferry on the other side of the island we once again relaxed in the hammocks and enjoyed the roars of the howler monkeys. It would be easy to get used to this, snakes and all.

Once we made the journey across Lake Nicaragua to the mainland, our driver Sergio greeted us with a big smile. It’s been nice to have a friendly face at each transfer and we are beginning to make friends that keep turning up at each of our stops. It seems we are on the tourist path: Leon, Granada, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur. When we planned the trip it all sounded so exotic. Now it is just “what everyone does” when they visit Nicaragua.

San Juan del Sur will be our home for the next four nights. It is the main beach destination on the Pacific coast and is a mecca for surfers. Cruise ships occasionally stop in SJDS and today there was one in the bay. In fact, we were on a holiday cruise two years ago that stopped at this port, but we were only here for a few hours. We are excited to explore this little beach town more than we were able to before.

As soon as we checked into our base hotel for the next four nights, Hotel Victoriano, we found the closest pizza place. Wood fired four cheese pizza with a cold beer at a beachside restaurant never tasted so good! Next Steve and Sam continued a ritual they started years ago in Costa Rica of getting a haircut while traveling. For $3 they each got a haircut and Sam got a shave thrown in for a few more dollars.

While sitting the barberia, we met the barber’s family. They own and live in the building in which the barber shop is located. Dad used to cut hair and now the son has taken over. Mom came out of the home and welcomed us to Nicaragua. She was playing loud latin music inside the home and when we asked her if they had started the New Year’s party early she said, “No. Solo alergria.” “No, just happy.” Nicaraguans really are a happy bunch.

After returning to the Victoriano we hit the pool, which overlooks the beach. The beach road runs between the hotel and the beach but we look right onto the action.

We were even able to swing an upgrade to our room for the first two nights so that we overlook the pool and beach. It’s only for two nights, but it’s nice!

Nicaragua is fiercely proud of its local liquor: Flor de Cana rum. We just had to try it and the pina coladas were spectacular. Note the photo below of Steve and Sam in the hot tub with their umbrella drinks.

Our plan is to spend the next four nights in this little slice of paradise. It appears to be the center of everything New Years in Nicaragua. The hotels are packed, the crowds are growing, and they are setting up big mobile discothèques on the beach. We are looking forward to just hanging out and watching it all unfold over the next few days. In between we plan to do a little local hiking, hit the beach, and continue to learn what to do with Flor de Cana rum. We’re also hoping to meet up with several friends we’ve met along the way so that we can all celebrate together.

We’ll post reports and photos along the way but you can probably predict that they will include the beach and umbrella drinks. Stay tuned and thanks for reading.

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