Nicaragua

hey man me and a couple friends were down there at the end of december. we stayed at 2 brothers surf in popoyo. real good time and had a nice swell. really fun break, couple rocks underneath but aweosme lefts. we were told not to put anything on the beach or it would get stolen so camera was kind of out of the question for us. we did have a gopro that we used, we just werent good at it

downside of popoyo is depending when you get into the country, the trip could be 3 hours from the airport. the roads are unpaved and locals dont want to drive the shortcut to get to popoyo during the night. if you come when its light out its a 2 hour trip from the airport. either way i recommend going there.

 

This thread is begging for a comment from Lauren Ginsberg. Rumor has it she's hot, surfs, and is part of a newly formed militia that will protect gringos and their cameras....

 

Are you driving? The cops will pull you over, time & time again. Doesn't matter if you actually did anything wrong. You're 'Driving While Gringo' and you gonna have to pay, mang. So bring cash & your best negotiator. Do not display all your money while you're paying the pigs or you're going to pay a lot more. A duplicate DL never hurt, either.

Might want to bring a PacSafe bag to lock up your basics (passport, cash, iPhone, camera) while you're in the ocean.

Make copies of your passport & keep them separate from your passport, in case the real McCoy gets lifted. Have the number of the American embassy in Managua written down. Understand how to make phone calls from Nica to the USA; it's not the same as here. Make copies of the cred cards & DL & stuff that you bring on your trip and leave the copies at home; in case everything gets ripped, you know what you lost & who to call.

Fall in lust with a local chica at least once. Be very friendly & kind to her family, esp her brothers. Be very friendly & kind to all who you encounter, actually.

I get it ... your first-time tropical adventure; you'll have stories to tell for years, cool; but make sure that someone at home knows your itin & how to get you out if you gotta get out. That includes medical evac.

Not gloom & doom. You just want to close the windows of disaster so you can enjoy the windows of opportunity.

 

The PacSafe is a tough animal, I take it with me on all surf trips; put your valuables inside it, wrap the cable around something solid, lock it, take the key with you & go surf. Unless the thieves totally demo whatever it is you wrapped the cable through, they aren't going to get your stuff. Cutting through the bag? Not happening. Most of the crime there is 'crime of opportunity.' You leave it laying around, it's gone. And that includes housekeepers. Lock it up.

Dry season now, so roads won't be too pitted out.

Don't know your destination in-country, but bear in mind that MGA is 3 hours drive from San Juan del Sur (for example). You will likely want to have transpo once you get to where you're going. I'd say rent a larger 4wd. If you can rent a Prado or full-size Land Cruiser, it's worth the extra daily fee for the bigger rig. Plenty of room for gear, boards on roof, bring your own straps. Those rigs hold up well, esp the tires are bigger & tougher. No fun to flat at night on those cratered dirt country roads. Check the jack & the spare before you leave the rental place. Bring a couple small flashlights, btw. And, the rental places at MGA will make you take the daily insurance; you can't decline it like you can in the States.

Might want to enlist a reputable surf guide to get you to what's firing, seeing as how it's a limited-duration trip & you probably have people of all different surfing abilities. If you search swellinfo forum, you'll find plenty of info from the guys who have been there & post here.

Buena suerte

 

Man, go find a 4-door Hilux diesel.... The truck that Toyota has taunted the states with for decades but never imported. Pretty much a Land Cruiser with a truck bed.

 

stay at a surf lodge within walking distance to a break, you can take pictures of your buds surfing, then you can walk back to put it in your room and go back out to surf with them worry free. having a grand worth of camera equipment looking pretty in your truck, you'll most likely end up with a broken window no matter what part of the world your in.
the water started to drop the last week in the south here low 70's, bring a topper or a spring suit for the AM sessions. can get chilly with the winds. feb can be windier too, its been gusty offshore the last week or so, but not bad. have fun

 

Yah those Hilux diesels are the deal, too. Only caveat might be the 6 people in his travel crew....

 

Have a good time, kid. And, on behalf of the guys who took the time to give you a bunch of info....you're welcome.