My friend and i have been planning a surf trip for some time now and we are unsure where we want to go for july. We do know that it will be somewhere in Central america. we are trying to choose between Costa Rica or Nicaragua. Im pretty sure nica is offshore all day so you'll be able to surf all day long and i know that costa you can only surf dawn until 11 and then like 5 until it gets dark because the winds usually make it bad. i don't know too much information considering I've never been on a surf trip before so any thoughts and/or personal experiences will be really helpful.
ive been to both. nica was sick wasnt easy getting to the good spots, especially after downpour, little sketch, ran through a couple roadblocks. if you cant speak spanish and youve never been on a trip, go to costa. more tourist orientated. unless your staying in an all inclusive (which i dont believe in!) nica is about 1/2 the cost of costa.check this for nica, careful, these pictures will make you drool http://nicaraguasurfreport.com/reportlist.php?x_date=2012/06/10&z_date==,','&id_secc=2 ^ for this link if you can get like 4 or 5 ppl to go with you, you can rent a house for about 25 a night right on playa Colorado, if i had the money thats what i would do, only downside, no town to cruise thru unless you go to gigante wich is dead at night! costa is an easy trip. no problems never sketched. lots of english speakers and good waves. check this out http://www.malpaisurfcam.com/
You know what is my favorite place in Central America? Guatemala. Sure, it is incredibly sketchy and rough around the edges. But..there is only one main surf school and the surfing is unspoiled. Nicaruga and Guatemala beat CR anyday of the week. Just need to be safe. http://www.surfinguatemala.com/main.php
wow those pics are just way too good to say no too. My choices are playa colorado and hermosa, but does Nica get as big as costa in the summer?
What do you guys think about traveling to some of these places in Central America alone? a solo surf trip...
idk it would be sketchy to go by yourself, especially if its your first time and dont speak spanish. theres all kinds of things that could happen like a taxi guy bringing you to his house and stealing your **** or managua thugs stealing your ****! Good luck getting to hermosa in the summer. the road crosses over a river about 5-7 times and it was a foot deep when it hadnt rain in 4 months! they say you can only get to it sometimes. And for colorado. its private. you need to stay in one of the beachfront houses, walk over 2 headlands which you can only do at low tide (i made it over 1 couldnt see how the other is possible with a board), or take a boat, which gets expensive. Theres plenty of options in nica, especially if you have money, just dont flash around your wealth! and btw one thing thats important to know is that most breaks are only good at high tide. yes nica does get big*bigger than costa rica. heres something to go by, When i went to colorado it was around head high, popoyo was shoulder to head, maderas was about chest, and hermosa was knee high, so just think about that when considering wave sizes through out the country.
Just got back from el Salvador. Long right pointbreaks which were firing every day we were there. I would go back there before i'd go back to Costa (where I've only been once so take this for what it is). Never been to Nica, but everyone i know who's been loved it.
thanks so much for the information guys. i was also wondering if anyone has surfed the carribean during august. i also had a thought of going to puerto rico. if you have been there please share with me of where you stayed, how the surf was, how the nightlife was, and if it was really crowded. thanks guys
I would do it, but I would first learn a decent amount of Spanish (find a school down there - very cheap) and be suuuper careful. NEVER let your guard down. I backbacked solo for 7 months all over Latin America. Had a few close calls (like getting pickpocketed once and having to run from some dudes about to roll me at a cockfight ring) but never any big problems. You'll meet people quick and won't be alone for long anyway.
unless there's a hurricane, I'd steer clear of the Caribbean in August. And as this is your first surf trip, I'd definitely recommend Costa Rica, which is a lot easier to navigate than Nica or other countries down there. Easier to get around, more infrastructure, generally a bit safer, etc.
the winter months are when you want to go to Puerto Rico. stay on the west coast, lots of night life and cool things to do. I went with the wife and she wanted to stay in San Juan so I had to drive a little ways for good surf. how ever there is a awesome little break called aviones like 15 min from SanJuan right behind the airport. people are great foods great surfers are cool. just remember your the visitor and give respect. the boogie boarders can get a little rough, they will sit on the inside of you and try to take every wave.but I highly recommend Puerto rico I went in March and I plan on making it a yearly trip.
