Nicargaua is a swell magnet for S swells, a long season spanning approximately 9 months from March to November. Deepwater swell averages 3-5 ft with bigger swells of 6-8ft occuring regularly especially from April-October. Due to the Lago de Nicaragua effect, the wind blows offshore here 330 days per year!! With solid S swells and some of the best points, rock reefs and sandbars in Central America this is a recipe for perfection. Unlike Costa Rica to the south, Nicaragua's best surf breaks are not spread out all over the country but concentrated in one area along its SW Pacific coastline in the province of Rivas. Most of the surf is hard to find, difficult to access and requires a 4x4 truck or a boat.

POPOYO SURF LODGE is located in Las Salinas, in Nicaragua’s Rivas Province, 2.5 hrs. from Managua, hosted by expatriate Floridian surfer JJ Yemma and his staff which includes resident surf guides John, Mike and Manuel. Popoyo guests will be met at the international airport in Managua by Popoyo staff and transferred directly to Popoyo Surf Resort and do not need to rent a vehicle. Base package includes 6 nights/7 days accomodation, 3 meals per day, all non-alcoholic beverages and daily surf tours. (There is a cash bar which sells cold beers, BYO liquor). Popoyo's hardware now includes 2 boats, a 25ft boat w/soft roof and 85hp Yamaha outboard, and a new 26ft boat w/hard roof and 150hp Yamaha outboard. Both boats shown here are fully outfitted for surfing and near shore fishing.

photo D.J.

Host JJ Yemma is a very accomplished surfer who has spent the last several years of his life building and operating "Popoyo" and dialing visiting surfers into the nearby surf. JJ is also an accomplished individual outside of surfing, a person of spirituality, goodwill, and very dedicated to the Las Salinas community and giving back to people less fortunate. Here is JJ below reaping the benefits of life in Nicaragua...

At Popoyo and in the vicinity you will find a plethora of surf breaks ranging from hollow, A-frame beach break to super fun, classic point breaks, to ruler-edged, tubing, inner rock reefs, to massive and critical outer reef breaks. These surf breaks benefit from Nicaragua’s permanent "Santa Ana condition", and enjoy offshore winds over 330 days per year. The Lago de Nicaragua effect is a phenomenon whereby the dominant NE trades from the Caribbean are accelerated across Nicaragua’s narrow land mass by the absence of mountains in this southern region and by the presence Lake Nicaragua, a massive inland lake approximately one-half as wide as the country. As the NE trades sweep across the narrow isthmus of the country towards the Pacific ocean they blow straight into the approaching SW ground swells. The offshore winds groom these swells into clean hollow lines and almond-shaped barrels at the many points, reefs and beachbreaks which bless Nicaragua’s Southern Pacific coastline.

Unlike the Papagayo winds which blow in Guanacaste, Costa Rica generally from December-April only, the Nicaragua lake-effect winds blow offshore year-round. This means the only quality surf for much of the year isn’t just found from 6-10 am before the winds come up and blow it out. The surf here is good all day, so plan on surfing 2-3 quality sessions per day, bring plenty of sun protection, and arrive in good physical fitness (swimming, running, situps and pushups are excellent if your local surf hasn’t done it for you). There are surf breaks here which work on all tides, high, mid and low, so the action never stops!! JJ and his resident surf guides John, Mike, Manuel and staff are SO on it, and will make sure you get into some deep pits or classic lines...

Nicaragua - Political
There are many common misconceptions surrounding Nicaragua. What people often expect is an unstable country with guerrillas running around in the jungles. This could not be further from the truth. There was a Sandinistan Revolution beginning in 1979. The US intervened with the revolution, sponsoring many anti-Sandinistan contra guerrillas through much of the 1980's. Free elections in '90, '96 and in 2001 have seen the Sandinistas defeated in a democratic manner. During these years the country has stabilized. The economy is now growing at a rapid pace and Nicaragua is learning from its neighbor Costa Rica and is encouraging tourism as a main form of income for many of its lesser fortunate people.