Blog

The Waves

There are several fun waves within walking distance of Guasacate beach. The main waves are:

• Popoyo – A popular reef break
• North Rivermouth – An uncrowded beach break
• South Rivermouth – A less consistent beach break
• Guasacate Beach – You can find an occasional corner
• Beginner’s Bay – A soft beach break
• Popoyo Outer Reef – A gnarly barrel over shallow reef

Moderate to Advanced Surfing – best bet is Popoyo or North Rivermouth.

Beginners – best bet is Beginner’s Bay.

How To Get Stoked

Your probability for getting stoked in this area is high. All-day offshore winds keep the window of opportunity for scoring open throughout the day and consistent swell in the summer means virtually 0 unsurfable days.

• Swell – Very consistent Jun-Sep
• Tides – Mid to high is best for the beaches; reefs work on most tides
• Wind – Offshore most days
• Crowds – Can get crowded

Timing

Your best bet is to pick a chunk of time as long as you possibly can to stay in the area. The longer you stay the higher your chances are of scoring a few days where all the conditions line up. If you have a two week window, your chances of getting a few really good days is high and you’ll definitely get several fun days.

In case the best swell happens to line up with the first few days you’re there, hit the ground running. Preparing ahead of time is helpful. Getting on-the-ground information once you arrive will help fill the gaps for you. I found a lot of information online about breaks like Popoyo to be misleading. For example, when I was doing my research:

• MSW has the geolocation off by about a quarter of a mile
• Multiple local websites over-exaggerated how good Popoyo is (more than one stating it was the Trestles of Nicaragua – it’s good… but it’s not Trestles)
• No sites mentioned the nearby rivermouth which was more fun on several of the days I was there

Tips: Surf Travel: How To Increase Your Probability of Scoring

Other Somewhat Important Details

The Town – What To Expect

Guasacate is not very developed. It’s dirt roads with potholes all the way, with sparse structures leading up to the beachfront. Along the beachfront road there’s a higher concentration of homes and businesses, all of which are separated by empty lots and old abandoned or unused homes. As of this writing the main area consists of:

• One convenience store
• Several hostels / “surf camps”
• A couple hotels
• Various private homes – some nice beachfront and more “local” dwellings
• Several empty lots

Where To Stay

The area is mostly dominated by hostels, many of which have branded themselves as “surf camps”. But there are some actual surf camps where you can pay for room and board + trips to nearby surf spots.

There are a few AirBnBs / Hotels to choose from. Check ahead of time to make sure they have the amenities you want like air conditioning.

Food

There are several restaurants in the area to choose from and this is your best bet for food. The prices are very manageable so it won’t break your budget to eat out for every meal. If you rent a full house then you’ll get a kitchen and you’ll need to stop on your way in to Guasacate to get groceries. Otherwise, you’ll be limited to the restaurants and snacks from the convenience store.

It only takes about a 15 minute walk down the main beachfront road to scout out all of the food options. For the most part, you can judge the food quality by the look of the place. Keep in mind that some places close early and/or are closed on certain days of the week.

Surfing Playa Colorado – 2021: Everything You Need To Know

What is Playa Colorado?… and How are the waves?

Why is this a great surf destination?

How to get there safely

What is Playa Colorado?… and How are the waves?

Playa Colorado is a consistent beach break with fast barrels (left and right).

The Left (Average Day)

The Right (Average Day)

These are the types of waves you’ll see consistently at Playa Colorado in the summer.

What Makes Playa Colorado So Great?

1: The Surf

Playa Colorados

This beach break gets hundreds of visiting surfers every year because of its consistency. From April through September you can generally count on the waves being good because:

• The swell is consistent
• If there is wind it’s usually off-shore
• It breaks well on most tides, except extreme highs and lows (even then it can be fun with the right swell)

The waves can be fun from 2ft all the way up to 10ft. Under the right conditions you can see double overhead barrels… and people making them.

This is not a beginner wave. Under normal conditions it’s a fast breaking wave with good to very good surfers on it. You need to be able to get up quickly and tuck into the barrel or you’ll be left in the dust.

However it is relatively friendly to intermediate surfers and it’s a great place to improve your barrel riding. There’s no reef so the stakes aren’t as high as many other waves that barrel like this one. But… in my short stay there I saw multiple broken boards, leashes, and a few injuries.

If Colorados is too heavy for you and you’re looking for a more mellow wave, you can head to the other end of the beach…

Ponga Drops

On the North end of Playa Colorado is Ponga Drops. This wave is also quite consistent but much softer. The North end of the beach tends to pick up swell a little bit more than the South (where Colorados is), so Ponga is often 1-2ft bigger. However, this wave is much softer and very rarely barrels. It does have some fast sections, but for the most part you’ll be cruising and making long turns on most Ponga waves.

Ponga tends to break best on a low-mid rising tide, but depending on the swell can be good on almost all tides other than super low or super high.

If you want a break from the crowds and have a board with a little more foam… Ponga Drops is good call.

2: The Ease of Living

The Hacienda Iguana area is a gated and secured “ranch”. It’s location, demographic, and security create a surfer-friendly bubble that makes you feel like you’re no where close to the realities of a developing country.

Hacienda Igauna is basically a small, enclosed community made up of:

• Visiting surfers from around the world
• Full time retired expats
• Wealthy Nicaraguans on a getaway from Managua
• Local Nicaraguans working on the premises

You’ll find more foreigners here than you will Nicaraguans and the majority of them are here to surf. The permanent and semi-permanent residents all know each other.

Although the Hacienda Iguana property is quite large, the majority of the action is concentrated around Play Colorado.

As of 2021 the property includes:

• A 9 hole golf course
• A handful of 2-4 story condo complexes
• A few small restaurants and mini-marts
• Scattered privately owned houses (mostly concentrated by the Play Colorado beach)

In this community, most decisions revolve around the surf…

3: The Community

The Colorados community has a (generally) welcoming culture that most surfers fit right into. As long as you don’t make a kook of yourself, it’s an all-around good time, in and out of the water.

What are the economics behind the Colorados surf culture?

Here are the factors that make this destination “an all around good time”.

The Surf – Out of all attractions to this Nicaraguan paradise, the most heavily weighted factor for surfers… is the waves. When you have such a nice wave that is so consistent you get high stokage. A lot of surfers leave this break getting some of the best barrels of their life.

Surfers Out of The Water – Outside of the lineup everything involves either reminiscing about the last session or preparing for the next.

The central hub is Pili’s bar and restaurant which is literally right on the beach. This is where most surfers are either staging their next session or talking to whoever will listen about how sick their last wave was.

Permanent and Semi-Permanent Residents – Most people who live at or near Colorados are very welcoming. Owners and staff of establishments understand that visitors bring in a lot of revenue. Homeowners have a house in an amazing location and are generally well off; so they’re living a nice lifestyle and should be happy about it.

The Exceptions…

To properly set your expectations we have to also cover the exceptions. You have to know that this is not surf heaven. Therefore, some of the worst aspects of surfing still rear their heads.

Crowds – This is the most common buzz kill, but is still generally manageable for three reasons:

1. Usually the waves are consistent so there’s a lot of turnover in the lineup
2. It’s a beach break so peaks are spread out, unlike a point break where there’s only one small take off zone that gets dominated by the top surfers
3. Most rides are above average (depending on what you’re used to). Waiting 20 min for a shot at getting barreled isn’t as frustrating as waiting 20 min for a closeout.

Agro Bros – We could hypothesize about these surfer’s source of angst for hours. I’m sure there are several variables involved, but I’ll save that analysis for another post. The important takeaway here is that even though you’re at a destination surf break, some people still get aggravated and can be aggressive in the water. Colorados is not immune from the typical small-time spat in the lineup.

The Local Special – You’re likely to see a few local Nicaraguan surfers out, especially when it’s really working. It’s not uncommon for one of them to blatantly cut you off. You’ll quickly learn which locals respect the right of way and which ones cut off visiting surfers. Whether you agree with this “local right of way” or not, it seems to generally be accepted at Colorados.

If you haven’t traveled to tropical areas before, you should also be aware of the general precautions: hot and humid weather, mosquitos, etc.

The Final Word

I hope this post has helped you hone in on a realistic expectation of Playa Colorado. Mostly because it’s in bad taste to end with the few negatives… here’s a few more things to look forward to:

• Hot Bods – Personally, I was very surprised about how many good looking people there were at Colorados! There were more women than I expected… and they were surfing in next to nothing. Yes, most of them came with their boyfriends, but it was nice to have some diversity in the lineup.
• Volleyball – There are friendly volleyball matches every evening and a makeshift slackline. If you want something other than beer and bro-talk after your surf session, these are your options.
• Sunsets – If you’re there for a week or more, you’re likely to see one of the best sunsets of your life. On a partly cloudy sky the sun sets for ~2hrs, providing an orange glow and surreal horizon. Pair that with the stoke of a good wave and a cold beer…

Here are my recommendations for traveling to and from Nicaragua during COVID. This guide covers flying in and out of Managua. Many of the same tips will also apply to other entry and exit points.

Standard Disclaimer: Circumstances are changing regularly. Make sure you double check the latest restrictions, requirements, etc. regarding travel to and from Nicaragua.

For context, here is my specific case:

• Traveling between the US and Nicaragua
• Traveling during the summer of 2021
• Going to Nicaragua for a surf trip

Part 1: Entering Nicaragua

As of summer of 2021, the testing requirements are as follows:

Nicaraguan Government Requirements

• Negative PCR Test – The test needs to specifically be PCR. Other tests like the antigen test are not accepted.
• Administered within 72 hours of arrival – Your test must have been administered (when your nose gets swabbed) within 72 hours of your arrival. You can’t do it too far in advance. Depending on your airline’s requirements – see next section – this might mean you have a very small testing window.
• Must be from a valid testing lab – My airline specifically stated that the results must include a “seal from the lab” and the “signature of a physician”. Basically, it needs to look legitimate. A simple printout with text-only will likely get you denied at the border.

Here’s my actual test, which allowed me in to Nicaragua. I’ve highlighted the important parts.

When we arrived in Managua and before we went through customs, everyone’s covid results were checked by what appeared to be a physician. From my understanding, they are checking for the date and time, a negative result, and to make sure it looks official (not counterfeit). I have heard from non-verified sources that people have been turned away at the border for not having official lab tests with them.

To be sure, I booked my test with a lab that specifically caters to travelers. They reassured me that the test will suffice for entry into Nicaragua and that it will have their letterhead + a physicians signature.

Your airline will also check your test before you board the plane, so if you make it on to the plane in the first place you’re probably good.

Airline Requirements

Airline requirements may be different from Nicaraguan requirements, so it’s important to double check these. My airline required the following:

• 36hr Requirement – I had to submit my test results via email 36hrs or more before my flight. This means at least 1.5 days before your departure time you need to send in your results.
• Printed Results – I also had to have a copy of my results printed. This was checked at the checkin desk and again before boarding.
• Survey – I also had to complete a digital survey submitting my basic information such as passport number, name, etc.

Note: I flew on Avianca. I’m sure other airlines have different procedures. Check with your airline to see what their requirements are.

Takeaways & Tips for Entering Nicaragua

1. Double check your math – Between the 72hr requirement for the Nicaraguan government and the 36hr for my airline, I had a tight window of when I could get my test and get the results back so I could send it to the airline in time. Because of this I had to find a lab that guaranteed results in 24hr or less.
2. Double check with your lab – Make sure that the results you get back will look official and meet any specific requirements your airline states. Most testing labs dedicated to travel should meet your needs, but I suggest calling to double check before paying for your test.
3. Print your results – Many labs offer digital results, some of which are even in an app and have a QR code. Regardless of what your airline states, I recommend taking 2 copies of your test results so you have them on hand. While this might get you by for your checkin at the airport, in Managua they physically signed off on everyone’s test results when I entered.

Part 2: Leaving Nicaragua

As of the summer of 2021, the recommendations from Nicaragua for travelers headed to the United States is to get a COVID test in Managua before departure. This method works, but there is a much easier and more cost effective way of getting the results you need to re-enter the US.

Note: Double check restrictions for your final destination and airline. Restriction and regulations are changing regularly. This resource is helpful for checking regulations and was recommended by my airline.

Requirements: You must have proof of negative COVID-19 test results. You must have the test within 72 hours of your arrival.

A Few Key Differences

• Boarding check only – My results were only checked at check-in and during boarding. I didn’t need them once in the US.
• Timing – You still need to get your test within 72hrs, but I did not have to submit it to my airline ahead of time.
• Test type – Multiple test types were accepted (this turns out to be key in saving time and money).

Getting COVID Test in Nicaragua

You can meet all of these requirements by going to the one and only location in Nicaragua where they provide COVID testing. I have a close friend who used this method and he reported it was relatively easy (but it does require $150 and for most travelers and overnight stay in Managua).

To get a COVID test in Nicaragua you can only go through the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health. The testing is only carried out at one location and at only during certain hours:

• Location: National Center for Diagnosis and Reference (CNDR) 
• Time: from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The fee is $150 dollars. Acceptable payments:

• Cash
• Receipt from a deposit into the specific “Banpro” account

You must also have proper identification and your itinerary.

You can get the specifics at the US Embassy in Nicaragua website.

Before you commit to this method, see if the alternative described below will work for you.

Using An At-Home Test In Nicaragua

This is the test method I used. While I have not tried the other method, based on the logistics it’s likely I saved myself a lot of time and money by taking the at-home test instead of going to the Nicaragua Ministry of Health testing site.

Since the US accepts the antigen test (as opposed to only the PCR test) you can utilize and at-home test. This test comes in a small box and you administer it yourself with the guidance of a proctor via an online portal. You get your results in about 15 minutes and an official test report about 5 minutes after that (in my experience).

Key Considerations

• Buying the test – These tests are only sold inside Nicaragua second-hand. I don’t recommend trying to find one once you get to Nicaragua. Instead, buy one before you go and take it with you.
• Taking the test – You might want to take 2 tests with you just in case you get a false positive. To successfully take the test you need your phone or a computer, wifi, and an original, unopened test kit.
• Showing results – The test I took gave me my results in both a PDF and via their app. I recommend printing your results, but I was able to show them the PDF on my computer since I didn’t have access to a printer.

You can buy a pack of 6 Emed At-Home Tests for $150. If you have extras upon leaving Nicaragua, it’s likely you’ll be able to find someone happy to take them off your hands.

There are unconfirmed rumors that at-home tests are being confiscated at the airport. This isn’t a surprise, as the Nicaraguan government benefits from having the one and only testing site with a $150 fee. I recommend having a backup plan in case your tests do get confiscated, stolen, or are otherwise unusable for some reason.

If you have any additional tips, recommendations, or updates, feel free to leave a comment so future travelers to and from Nicaragua can be as prepared as possible.

Traveling to Playa Colorado is not difficult, but does take some coordination. There are a few different routes to get there. The main two are:

1. Fly into Managua, Nicaragua – then take a ~3hr car ride to Hacienda Iguana
2. Fly into Liberia, Costa Rica – then cross into Nicaragua via car or bus, then catch a ride to Hacienda Iguana

Accessing Playa Colorado

To make a proper decision about how to get yourself to Playa Colorado, it may help to understand how it’s laid out. Because it is within the gates of the larger Hacienda Iguana property, you can’t just stay in the general area.

Playa Colorado (the beach) can be accessed by:

• Car or on foot from Hacienda Iguanas
• Boat

If you’re staying at the resort to the north, Rancho Santana, you can walk, bike or drive to Playa Colorado, but it isn’t very close.

If you plan to surf Colorados more than once, your best bet (by far) is to stay within Hacienda Iguana.

Hacienda Iguana

The Hacienda Iguana area is a gated and secured “ranch”.

The property is mainly made up of:

• A 9 hole golf course
• A handful of 2-4 story condo complexes
• A few small restaurants and mini-marts
• Scattered privately owned houses (mostly concentrated by the Play Colorado beach)

If you aren’t staying at the ranch, or don’t know someone who is, it will be difficult for you to get in.

If you’ve locked down a spot inside Hacienda Iguana… getting there is your next challenge.

Getting to Hacienda Iguana from Managua

Your best bet is to arrange a ride from the airport straight to your place in Hacienda Iguana ahead of time. In 2021 the price range was $100-160 USD depending on how big of a car you need. A sedan is on the lower end and a large van is on the higher end.

You should be able to arrange transportation through whoever you booked a place with. AirBnB’s and other accommodations are used to helping people with transport. Make sure you clearly communicate your flight information, number of people, board bag situation, etc.

You’re looking at a 2.5-3hr drive depending on traffic and how aggressive your driver is.

Alternatively, you can take public transportation (this consists of local buses that are old repurposed American school buses). This will be significantly cheaper but much harder to navigate and much less comfortable. You’ll likely have to do at least 2 bus transfers and depending on your time of arrival, this may require an overnight stay in an intermediary city. Doing all of this with boards increases the inconvenience. Even if you’re looking for an unusual adventure, I’d still recommend saving the public transportation system for another day when…

• You haven’t already been traveling all day
• You don’t have boards with you
• You aren’t going as far

Getting to Hacienda Iguana from Liberia Costa Rica

This path requires a little bit more logistics, but the majority of people I met at Colorados had opted for this route over Managua (mostly because of COVID testing requirements – see next section for details).

Getting to Hacienda Iguanas from Costa Rica requires the following steps:

1. Fly into Costa Rica
2. Get a COVID test in Costa Rica (subject to change – check restrictions before traveling)
3. Get a ride to the border
4. Go through customs
5. Get another ride from the border to Hacienda Iguana (about 1.5hrs)

While the drive is shorter, you have to factor in steps 1-4 as well… which ads a fair amount of planning and logistics for you. You’re most likely looking at arranging two different drivers, and a post-landing COVID test (plus waiting for the results).

There are services that will help you arrange this whole process. You should ask your housing contact for help if you’re considering this route. They will be able to advise you on logistics, pricing, etc.

COVID Considerations

You definitely need to plan ahead and be careful about your logistics when it comes to COVID and traveling to Nicaragua. Making a mistake in this aspect of your travel might cost you your trip… here’s a full guide on how to navigate COVID for travel to Nicaragua.