Best Time to Surf Nicaragua
The best time to surf Nicaragua is April to October: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 21 of the 22 Nicaragua breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in Nicaragua month by month
How many of the 22 breaks we map in Nicaragua are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
0 at their best · 1 in season
February
0 at their best · 1 in season
March
9 at their best · 10 in season
Astillero, Gavilan, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock, Popoyo, Playa Maderas, Playa Colorados, Playa Remanso +1 more
April
20 at their best · 21 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock, Manzanillo +12 more
May
21 at their best · 22 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock +13 more
June
21 at their best · 22 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock +13 more
July
21 at their best · 22 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock +13 more
August
21 at their best · 22 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock +13 more
September
21 at their best · 22 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Los Perros, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock +13 more
October
18 at their best · 19 in season
Astillero, Chacocente, Gavilan, IDK's, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock, Manzanillo +10 more
November
1 at their best · 2 in season
December
0 at their best · 1 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in Nicaragua
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | Gavilan, Lance's Left, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock | Los Perros | — |
| Reef | La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Manzanillo, Outer Reef, Playa Rosada, Rubber Duckies | — | IDK's, Playgrounds, Popoyo |
| Beach | — | — | Astillero, Beginners Bay, Chacocente, Playa Amarillo, Playa Santana, Playa Maderas, Playa Colorados, Playa Remanso, Playa Hermosa |
Season at every Nicaragua break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Astillero
Astillero
- Wave
- Rivermouth / Beach Break · Right / Left
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- March - October
- Tide
- Mid Tide / Rising
- Watch out
- Rips and river-mouth currents, with shifting sandbars. Heavy rain brings runoff through the river mouth. Fishing boats work the bay, so keep clear.
- Chacocente
Chacocente
- Wave
- Beach Break · Right / Left
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced / Pro
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- Low to Mid Tides
- Watch out
- Protected wildlife refuge with seasonal turtle nesting and access restrictions; surfing may be prohibited during nesting, so check current rules locally. Rocks, strong currents and rips. Remote, with rough roads in the wet season and minimal facilities.
- La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef
El Astillero
- Wave
- Outer Reef / Slab · Left
- Level
- Advanced Only
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- Medium - High Tide
- Watch out
- La Burra is a powerful outer-reef slab and should be treated as a serious big-wave surf location. It requires substantial swell, advanced wave-reading skills, excellent paddling ability and experience in heavy reef conditions. Takeoffs can be critical, and local sources report that jet skis are sometimes used for assistance when the wave is large. Surfers should understand the reef, currents, entry and exit options, changing tides and emergency considerations before entering the water.
- Lance's Left
El Astillero
- Wave
- Point Break / Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate / Advanced
- Season
- May – November
- Tide
- All Tides with Mid–Low preferred
- Watch out
- Rock reef and boulders, sea urchins and strong currents. The lineup is remote and the walk-in is rocky, so many surfers come by boat. Swell-dependent and powerful at size. Do not leave belongings on the isolated beach.
- Panga Drops
El Gigante
- Wave
- Sand Reef Combo · Right and Left
- Level
- All levels
- Season
- April through September
- Tide
- Best on a low to mid-tide
- Watch out
- A lot of water moves on bigger days, and the reef is powerful. The peak shifts, so watch a few sets before paddling out. Access is through private property or by boat.
- Playa Colorados
El Gigante
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars and the closeouts are heavy on bigger swells. Check the banks before you paddle out. Access is through private property or by boat, so arrange it in advance.
- Beginners Bay
Las Salinas
- Wave
- Beach Break / Scattered Rocks · Left / Right
- Level
- Beginner / Intermediate
- Season
- Year Round
- Swell
- S / SE
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Busy with surf schools and beginners, so keep your board under control. Rocks near the point and a current there on bigger swells. Tide-dependent: it is best from mid to high tide.
- Gavilan
Playa Gavilan
- Wave
- Point / Rock Break · Left
- Level
- Beginner / Intermediate
- Season
- March–October
- Tide
- Mid - High Tide
- Watch out
- A rock at the main peak and other submerged rocks. Faster and steeper above chest high, with stronger currents on bigger swells. Beginners should surf the smaller days. Fishing boats work around El Astillero; keep an eye out, and respect the quiet local lineup.
- Playa Amarillo
Playa Gigante
- Wave
- Beach / Reef Break · Right / Left
- Level
- Beginner / Intermediate / Expert
- Season
- April to October
- Tide
- Mid / High / Rising Tide
- Watch out
- Rips • Shifting Sandbars • Shorebreak • South-End Reef/Rocks • Hollow When Bigger • Limited Facilities
- Playa Santana
Playa Jiquilite
- Wave
- Beach break · Left & Right / A-Frame
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April–October
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Strong rip currents; fast shorebreak; shallow sandbars at lower tide; scattered flat rocks/boulders; powerful closeouts on larger swells; and competitive crowds around the best peaks. A river empties near the main surf zone and helps replenish the sandbars, but after significant rain it can also discharge dirty runoff, debris and branches into the lineup. Keep valuables off the beach as local surf guides also flag petty theft as a concern.
- Mag Rock / Magnific Rock
Popoyo
- Wave
- Point break · Left
- Level
- Beginner / Intermediate
- Season
- March–October
- Swell
- S–SW
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide / High Preferred
- Watch out
- Rock/Reef • Shallow Inside • Urchins • Point Current • Low-Tide Exposure • Larger-Swell Power
- Popoyo
Popoyo
- Wave
- Reef break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Rubber Duckies
Popoyo
- Wave
- Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- April to October
- Playa Rosada
Rancho Santana
- Wave
- Reef break · Left
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- April–October
- Tide
- Low
- Watch out
- Very shallow lava-rock reef, sea urchins and submerged rocks. Fast, slabby take-off with heavy consequences for a missed drop. Strong north-running current on bigger days. Paddle out from the middle of the beach, not off the rocks; high tide hides rocks in the wave's path. Access is through Rancho Santana.
- IDK's
Tola
- Wave
- Shallow Reef Break / Slab · Right / Left
- Level
- Advance / Expert Only
- Season
- April to October
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Extremely shallow rock reef • sea urchins • critical takeoff • heavy square barrels • severe consequences for mistakes • boat-only access • remote location • difficult rescue potential • highly fickle conditions • Expert Only.
- Los Perros
Tola
- Wave
- Reef / Point break · Right
- Level
- Advanced / Expert
- Season
- March – September
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Shallow Rocks • Strong Currents • Slabby Barrels • Closeouts • Backwash • Big-Swell Only • Advanced/Expert
- Playgrounds
Veracruz de Acayo
- Wave
- Reef break · Left / Right
- Level
- Intermediate - Advanced
- Season
- April - October
- Tide
- Mid Tide
- Watch out
- Sharp cobblestone reef and barnacles; sea urchins; boat access; shallow sections; faster and more consequential rights; currents and tiring paddle-backs when larger. Don't put your feet down on the reef unless you want to leave with a souvenir. The southern/right-hand portions become shallower and more advanced.
- Manzanillo
- Wave
- Reef Break / Point Break · Left
- Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Season
- April–October
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Rocks • reef • rip currents • swell-direction sensitivity • limited access • powerful surf when large. The point needs the right SW swell angle; a poorly angled swell can make it mushy, sectiony or close out. Rocks and currents are the primary hazards. Access is more restricted than at many public Tola breaks, so surfers commonly reach Manzanillo through authorized local access through Guacalito or by boat.
- Outer Reef
- Wave
- Reef Break · Left
- Level
- Pro to Expert
- Season
- April–September
- Tide
- Mid to High Tide
- Watch out
- Extreme wave power; expert-only conditions; extremely shallow rock reef; exposed/dry reef during drops; strong currents; critical takeoff; very large surf; long offshore paddle; strong offshore winds; difficult rescue environment; and rivermouth runoff after heavy rain. Surfline specifically lists the wave itself, shallow/dry reef and currents among the hazards and recommends a gun or tow setup.
- Playa Hermosa
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Playa Maderas
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars, and the shorebreak gets heavy on bigger swells. Busy with surf schools and shuttle groups.
- Playa Remanso
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- March to October (south swells)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
Surf spots in Nicaragua by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Nicaragua?
The best time to surf Nicaragua is April to October: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 21 of the 22 Nicaragua breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf Nicaragua all year round?
Yes. At least one of the 22 breaks we map in Nicaragua is in season in every month of the year, though the most are at their best in April to October.
When is the best time for beginners to surf Nicaragua?
The 6 beginner-rated breaks we map in Nicaragua (Gavilan, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock, Panga Drops, Playa Amarillo, Playa Maderas and Playa Remanso) are mostly at their best in April to October. Smaller days in the shoulder months are easier to learn on.
Which surf breaks in Nicaragua are lefts and which are rights?
Lefts: Gavilan, La Burra / Astillero Outer Reef, Lance's Left, Mag Rock / Magnific Rock, Manzanillo, Outer Reef, Playa Rosada and Rubber Duckies. Rights: Los Perros. The table below splits every break we map in Nicaragua by type and direction.