Nicaragua is where you want to be!

Playa Maderas

S A N  J U A N   D E L   S U R   -   P L A Y A   M A D E R A S   &   P L A Y A   R E M A N S O

Our first stop in Nicaragua was Playa Maderas, a beach 10km north of the touristic village San Juan del Sur. I was still traveling with Cathi and Dennis and luckily crossed the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua that day. We did travel with only a couple of US Dollars and finally we run out of money when we wanted to enter Nicaragua. Not even one ATM, which was working. I needed to go illegally back over the border to Costa Rica to withdraw money. Nicaraguan police was okay with that, but I haven't asked police officers from Costa Rica. In the end we made it late at night to the offshore winds paradise Playa Maderas in southern Nicaragua.

Strong offshore winds are caused all year around by the 'Lago Nicaragua' on all southern Nicaragua spots

Eine glückliche kurze Welle für mich

Playa Maderas with perfect looking offshore waves

On the next day we realized that it blew too heavily offshore, most waves did close out and even if they looked beautiful, it wasn't the predicted offshore winds paradise. After a stopover in San Juan del Sur having lunch at La Lancha (Red Snapper for 3€ and very tasty!) we made it to Playa Remanso, a beautiful beach looking a little bit better - but still too many closeouts. We stayed one night at this beach and surfed a couple of good waves - but to be honest, nothing really special.

Morning mood at Remanso

Playa Tamerindo and Playa Hermosa in the background

Playa Tamerindo

Playa Remanso

P O P O Y O

On our next day we organized a private Taxi transfer to Popoyo, which is supposed to be the best surf spot in Nicaragua, maybe even the best spot in Central America. We decided to stay in the comparatively expensive accomodation Magnific Rock Hotel, just because it was perfectly situated in the middle of all surf spots and built on top of a big coastal rock, which offered stunning views with a 360° outlook!

Playa Santana

Happy pigs along the way of Playa Santana

Enjoying the sunset from our accomodation 'Magnific Rock'

Popoyo Outer Reef when it gets big - a very dangerous spot which should only be surfed by professionals!

Our daily spot was Popoyo Reef - a A-Frame break with short and quick hollow rights and quick lefthanders

Popoyo when its big

Die meisten Set-Wellen waren Close-Outs jedoch konnte man oft nach der Tube Section suchen

Happy about a legendary session in Popoyo

You could actually surf Popoyo all day long - but physically you couldn't, so we had to rest sometimes

Junior surfer from Nicaragua

On the way to Playa Rancho Santana

Playa Rancho Santana

A very quick and hollow left at Rancho Santana

Found this good looking fellow on the beach - Forrest Gump is calling

Cathi and me going for some groceries in the village - definitely a mission, it took us some hours to find the fruit store!

But we did find it and got rewarded - all of these veggies and fruits for about 10€

Kids we met stoked about having us as new friends!

Next time we gonna try el 'Comedor Julia' 

On shopping tour trough 36°C hot and humid Nicaragua - Dennis had to give up at some stage

Another day at Popoyo surfers positioning for the perfect wave - can you spot me?

If you sneak me bi***, I fuc*** drop you!

Generating some nice speed with a 6'4 Rusty shortboard - perfect for these kind of waves!

Going for a left biting on the GoPro buckle

Huge set incoming at Popoyo - Grayson will go for it (on the very right)

Dennis charging a beautiful righthander at Popoyo

Midday session at Popoyo

Everyday from 3 - 6 pm we had the Cocktail Happy Hour at Mag Rock Hotel - which made us sometimes leave the water before sunset!

Mag Rock Hotel is one of the nicest places I've ever been in 

I S L A    O M E T E P E

After one week of pumping waves, Cathi and Dennis flew back home and I had to have some rest days without surfing. I took the ferry from Rivas to Isla Ometepe and spent two days on the island located in Niacaraguas biggest lake. The island is dominated by two volcanos, Conception and Maderas - on my first day in the very early morning I climbed Conception and after that cruised around with a rented Scooter to explore the backward island.

On the way to Isla Ometepe with a shakily little boat, where water entered on each side 

First thing I did when I arrived to the island - watching the German Cup Final 

Thats one of these places, where I write my stories on my blog or edit new GoPro videos

This picture was taken after having hiked volcano Conception - I started hike it at 4:30 am

Hiking trough jungle until ...

... I reached the first outlook

Arrived to the summit - it was super stormy and I couldn't see anything

On the way down to my parked scooter

Cruising around the island with the scooter and taking a picture on the smallest airport I've ever seen

Cute bird was waiting until my lunch arrived

Cute little dog - I've seen so many of them right now

Volcano Maderas in the background

Trying out a slackline at Ojo de Agua - a very beautiful spot to relax, eat and bathe

Riding over the streets of Isla Ometepe

Ride into the sunset

Barbecue at the local restaurant in Moyogalpa 

Bringing back the scooter before leaving with the ferry - very safe surfboard transport!

L E O N 

The city of Leon was the perfect stopover for me to get from the south to the north of Nicaragua. A beautiful colonial town, which tells you many stories about how and where the Nicaraguan Revolution happened. Street art, museums and people tell you what happened and how cruelly the dictators of this country treated the 'Nicas'. It is probably one of the warmest citys in Central America surrounded by Volcanos and a lot of uncrowded and high quality surf spots.

I can't remember church names, so don't judge me but there were a lot of beautiful ones along the way into the city

Mangoes - ready to eat - 25 cents

Market life in Leon

I didn't stop sweating in this city

Something typical and thoroughly tasty!

Basketball court ... 

... together with a lot of street art and history

Leon has a beautiful Cathedral - its definitely worth it going on the roof!

But don't forget to bring sunglasses - the reflections of the white color are really strong

P L A Y A   A S E R R A D O R E S    ' T H E   B O O M '

One night in Leon and I was back at the ocean. In Aserradores a little village on the coast of northern Nicaragua, I stayed at Joes Place. A great hostal built by an friendly Portuguese, who lived a long time of his live in the USA and finally found his peace in Nicaragua. Food is great, the place itself super relaxed - you will need that as you surf 4 hours in the morning and the rest of the day is just chilling - and the beach is just amazing. But have a look yourself!

Waking up at 4:30 am to make to most of the day and catch some good waves in 'El Boom'

Grayson in a slappy right

Creating some GoPro footage

Perfect left and into ...

... the tube - can you spot my GoPro?

Tube perspective shot with my GoPro Hero4Session

Joes Place

The quiet bay just behind the surf break

Lucky pigs digging for food

Taking off for a right hand wave

Barrel!

Elliot on a long wave

Lachie with his bodyboard in a nice tube!

Elliot

Jackson

Sunset in Playa Aserradores

Nicaragua was definitely one of the best surf countries I've been to - all kinds of waves, not really crowded, cheap, great people and great food. I will definitely go back to this country as it offers so much! On my last day in Nicaragua, I took the shuttle together with two Australians, Elliot and Sean to make my way to El Salvador - excited to chase the next big swell! 

Take care back home and see you soon!

Andreas