Located 20 km north of Costa Rica, this once small fishing village has become the headquarters of surfers and other sun and beach lovers. With its small marina, promenade, restaurants and bars by the sea, it is very pleasant to enjoy this beautiful bay watched over by a huge statue of Christ on the hill overlooking the beach.
Not far from the city there are many beaches including the famous Playa Maderas, one of the most attractive beaches for surf lovers. But not only that. Leaving early in the morning and exploring the area and the coast by small side paths guarantees you a beautiful walk where you will appreciate the different rocky forms and vegetation. You may be lucky enough to come across a Sacuanjoche, the national flower.
To the south of San Juan del Sur are the beaches Remanso, Hermosa and El Coco but also the natural reserve Vida Silvestre Punta La Flor where you can admire the spectacular phenomenon of the turtle arribadas !
San Juan del Sur Bay
This former fishing village, located 140 km southwest of the capital Managua, on the Pacific coast has become in a few years the most visited seaside town in the country by national and foreign tourists but also by surfers.
This incredible U-shaped bay is surrounded by green hills, its sand is white and lighter than on other Pacific beaches. A statue of the Christ of Mercy watches over this crescent of sand at the top of the hill.
A bit of history…
The city of San Juan del Sur, founded in 1851 in the department of Rivas, is the capital of the municipality of the same name, which covers more than 410 km2 with almost 15,000 inhabitants.
Its port, also called Puerto de la Independencia, has been and still is linked to the history of the city. Note that the first port of San Juan del Sur was built long before the birth of the city, the point was strategic. It is in 1522 that a Spanish navigator discovered this magnificent bay, this last one was in search of a passage or a strait to join the Caribbean.
San Juan del Sur had its importance and its reputation, in the last century, it was still a transit point for some boats going to San Francisco in the United States. By digging a little deeper into history, we also learn that San Juan del Sur was a necessary and saving stop for gold diggers and the caravan that followed on the road to California.
During this same period, the city was the scene of an epic naval battle, in late 1856, off the bay. It was the war, called the National War or the war of William Walker (the Yankee pirate who dreamed of being president of the region). The battle pitted a Costa Rican brig against an American schooner. After four hours of cannon fire and maneuvers, the Costa Rican ship finally exploded, the American buccaneer had won a battle! History has it that this was the only naval battle fought by Costa Rica, a country that today has the characteristic of having no armed corps.
Let’s finish on a lighter tone, not far from the city was shot famous episodes of reality shows or American survival games in 2010 and 2011, which gave a small spotlight to the region.
Besides this media and television component, San Juan del Sur remains a center and an important national venue not only for its attendance and reputation but also because it is often designated and chosen as host of surfing or sport fishing competitions. It is easy to imagine the potential of the region when you first set foot there, the freebooters and other conquistadores were not mistaken.
What to do in and around San Juan del Sur?
San Juan del Sur and its surroundings offer multiple possibilities for water activities and hiking. Here are some ideas :
Experiences to live in San Juan del Sur :
- an outing on a sailboat or catamaran
- scuba diving
- a horse ride on the beach
- a walk in the forest or on a deserted beach
- whale and dolphin watching
- a swim on the surrounding beaches
- a surf session
- arribada of sea turtles
San Juan del Sur beaches
The city of San Juan del Sur is surrounded by beaches, each one as beautiful and desert as the other. Here are the main ones from South to North :
Playa El Ostional
Located less than 15 km from the Costa Rican border, the small village of El Ostional is a true haven of peace, still little frequented by tourists, and whose inhabitants are warm and welcoming. From its wide beach surrounded by cliffs we can see the coasts of neighboring Costa Rica and go on boat trips to fish or visit the surrounding virgin beaches accompanied by a local fisherman.
Playa La Flor
This wide beach of fine white sand is a protected area, a refuge for wildlife managed by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
It is on this beach that every year thousands of Paslama and Tora turtles come to lay their eggs from August to November before the hatching of the small turtles a few weeks later. Opposite, there is a small island where many sea birds nest.
Read more below : Nature Reserve Vida Silvestre Punta La Flor.
Playa El Coco
The secret and discreet beach of El Coco, whose track to reach it is not simple, hence its low attendance, invites to rest and relax in the few inns, hotels and restaurants present. What an enchantment to discover this long and wide beach (at low tide) of white sand and its calm waters.
Closed to the south and north by rocky formations, as is the case with many beaches in Nicaragua, Playa El Coco is the perfect place for a small excursion on horseback or bicycle.
Playa El Yankee
El Yankee Beach is certainly the least known beach in the region, with no tourist infrastructure to spend the day or night. Its formidable wave nevertheless attracts experienced surfers in search of sensations.
Playa Hermosa
The long Hermosa beach surrounded by lush forests and rocks is a paradise beach of fine white sand. Its blue waters invite for swimming and its constant waves for surfing.
Playa Remanso (El Sucio)
The beach of El Sucio, more commonly known as Remanso, is the closest southern beach to the city of San Juan del Sur. Ideal for surfing and swimming, a few restaurants have opened their doors there to welcome tourists who wish to spend the day there.
Playa San Juan del Sur
It is around this bay that the city of San Juan del Sur was built. You will find many stores and restaurants by the sea to enjoy a seafood platter or a freshly caught grilled fish from the cooperative located at the end of the beach. You will be able to swim in the calm waters of this beach protected from the winds and currents where fishing and pleasure boats anchor for the night.
Playa Marsella
Located 5 km north of San Juan del Sur, this fishing beach is mainly popular with local tourists who meet during weekends and vacations in the few bars and restaurants facing the sea and a small island where different species of sea birds live. Some surfers also go there to enjoy the powerful waves of this bay.
Playa Maderas
Right next to Marsella beach is Maderas beach. This beach delights young and old alike because of its few rocks where children are happy to go crab hunting, its surrounding dry tropical forest, its few restaurants and its waters perfect for swimming and surfing.
Maderas is certainly the best known and recognized beach of San Juan del Sur by surfers because of its constant waves. Many surfing courses are offered there for all levels.
Playa Majagual
Located next to the Maderas beach, Majagual is much less crowded. The few tourist infrastructures present assure you a calm and relaxing climate and magnificent sunsets in the middle of rocky formations.
Playa Ocotal
The access to the beach of Ocotal has been privatized by the most beautiful hotel of the region, Morgan’s Rock. As the beach is not private, you can only access it from the sea side by foot or by boat.
Practical information
1 – The roads leading to the different beaches around San Juan del Sur are dirt roads. Even if they are regularly resurfaced and in good condition, it is preferable to travel in high and powerful vehicles such as SUV or 4×4 especially during the rainy season (May to October).
2 – Many daily shuttles leave from San Juan del Sur to the different beaches.
Nature Reserve Vida Silvestre Punta La Flor
The renowned Punta la Flor Wildlife Reserve and Refuge is a public nature reserve, nationally known and recognized for its turtle arribada! A stop is a must.
Located on the beach La Flor about twenty kilometers south of the city of San Juan del Sur, it covers more than 3000 hectares. This reserve is mainly dedicated to the protection of the thousands of sea turtles Paslama and Tora that come every year to lay their eggs on this beach.
We observe 7 main arribadas and several others of lesser importance between the months of July and January following the cycles of the moon, during which these turtles of more than 40 kg come out of the water, go up on the beach at the edge of the forest, dig a hole to deposit their hundred eggs each before closing it again and going back to sea. The eggs hatch between 45 and 60 days later. There begins the difficult journey of thousands of small turtles to first reach the sea and then grow up without being devoured by the many terrestrial, aerial and aquatic predators. These same turtles will come back several years later to lay their eggs themselves as adults on this same beach!
The reserve is to be visited with a maximum of respect for the natural environment of the inhabitants of the place. It is a real enchantment!
