Great experience to really learn skills  - Chica Brava is a great camp if you're serious about progressing in your surfing journey. Day for day you'll get twice as much surf time as many other camps. They... read more break it down in an accessible way and help you move forward at all stages. Our group was led by Claire, who challenged us and made us feel safe and cared for at all times, and was warm and fun to hang out with as well. Between her and Marina's coaching everyone felt accomplished and empowered by the end of the week.
The staff takes care of you and the meals are great. I would go back to this camp!

Great adventure  - I had great experience attending the surf camp,I love each of our great instructors! I surfed for the first time in my life and learned to pup-up, I gained a... read more lot of knowledge about the waves, the ocean and the surfing techniques! I love the accommodations in cloud farm! Great food was made freshly every day for us! Definitely one of my best life experience ??????

Trip of a lifetime  - If you’re looking for the time of your life with the best surf surrounded by amazing women and supportive coaches look no further. We had the most amazing trip with... read more Chicabrava. You won’t regret booking this trip. The accommodation and food were the icing on the cake. We made memories and friends for a lifetime.

Chica Brava - Do it!  - I could not recommend Chica Brava highly enough. If you are considering, or on the fence about an all female surf trip, then I please book this retreat, you will... read more not look back. Not only will your surfing improve significantly, your soul will be enriched and tight friendships formed - putting yourself out of your comfort zone allows you to grow in some many ways.

I still miss the comradery and laughs with the girls in the water; whether it was I who caught the wave or another Chica Brava, the stoke was shared, and knowing the other girls had you back gave you confidence in your own ability.

The coaching is the perfect balance of professional and fun; it is evident that the instructors care deeply and want to see you surfing progress as much as you do. They are diligent, calming but also subtly push your limits too which was awesome. There is the opportunity for other activities if desired, whether it be yoga, zip lining, day sails or just relaxing by the pool, however this is a surf camp with add on's (rather than surfing as an add on) which I loved and thought the perfect balance.

I have the fondest memories of this trip and cannot wait to book Chica Brava again, hopefully one day very soon.

Thank you.

Epic surf trip with chicas  - This surf trip was amazing. The instructors were excellent. The beaches were beautiful and the waves were spectacular. It was fun to surf with so many girls. The food was... read more healthy and delicious. My favorite part was video review when we could watch each other surf close up.

An empowering experience with Chica Brava!  - Went to this camp in early April. The whole Chica Brava crew was phenomenal. Both coaches and the camp host were super supportive and encouraging. I had taken a... read more couple days lessons before this trip but was still very green. This camp taught me a ton about surf etiquette, waves, ocean safety and the mechanics of surfing. I definitely saw improvement over the course of the week. I would highly recommend this camp to anyone interested in getting started, or even those that have some experience under their belt.

ChicaBrava: a change-your-life kind of camp!  - ChicaBrava was a dream-the waves and the vibes were empowering!! When booking, their team was thoughtful and thorough-Colleen patiently answered our many, many questions. Arrival in Managua was... read more a breeze-a driver met us and drove us right to the Villa in San Juan. There we were met by the ChicaBrava team who took care of anything and everything. Francia, the coordinator, is a chica of many talents-organized our surf days, drove us to the beaches, took videos to review, made resos/plans for non-surf activities to name a few. Lead surf instructor, Clare, has knack for balancing motivational pep talks (you can do this!) with gentle encouragement (look how far you've come!). Her lessons broke surfing down to the basics and made the surfing experience both safe and so much fun! There was no cutting corners or skipping steps to meet the goal of standing on a board and Clare's instruction gave us a foundation for surfing that we could use anywhere in the world with waves. We arrived on Saturday and started surfing on Sunday. I felt like the camp had a manageable balance of surf and relaxation. Though the timing depended on the surf forecast, the daily schedules had similar components: breakfast and dinner in the villa, 3 hours of surf (2 instructional hours and 1 empower hour where we practice what we've learned), free time in the late morning or afternoon.

Of note (because I wondered this before I went), I had never surfed a day in my life when I arrived at ChicaBrava-I'm 40 and in ok but not great shape. By the end of day 2, I was "popping up" (standing on the board) and by the end of the week, I was able to paddle to the line up and catch a few waves. All thanks to the grace and guidance (and occasional push) from the ChicaBrava team.

A few other notes:
-There is a team of instructors working with Clare. I spent a lot of time with Marina who was supportive and encouraging!
-The villa, Casa Panga, is staffed by a group of women who took the best care of us! The scrumptious breakfasts and dinners they prepared were a mix of local and Western dishes-all made with fresh, local ingredients. Plus, the house and pool area were spotless.
-The photos by Eric are totally worth it! He is a master of his craft and the photos are the best "souvenir" I've ever taken home from a trip.
-Definitely recommend the catamaran trip with Salt Nica--a great way to relax mid week!
-San Juan is unique-very chill and with common sense safety measures, we never felt unsafe.
-In the trip prep, there are instructional videos to help you prepare for surfing. While not at all necessary for successful surfing, if I could change one thing, I would have done more planks and upper body work to support my poor joints and muscles on this journey. Surfing is hard. But it's the good kind of hard. 🙂

Whether you're new to surfing or want to practice your craft, I cannot imagine a more empowering program for badass chicas than that of ChicaBrava!

Chicabrava May 2024  - Chicabrava offered an incredible surf experience- the instruction was personal and thorough. They fostered a great sense of community. Our accommodations were beautiful. Our meals were delicious . I... read more felt safe and catered to. I cannot wait to go again!

Chica brava!  - My experience with Chica brava was 10/10! Everything from accommodations and activities to travel planning. The ladies at Chica brava made everything seamless! All the staff was amazing and very... read more sweet. All the surf time was unbeatable, We will definitely be back!

MUST GO!!!  - Chica brava was an unforgettable experience!! I am already planning my next trip to come back.
The staff was unmatched. Everyone is extremely professional and encouraging. If you’re learning... read more how to surf or already know how to surf I highly recommend joining chica brava for a surf retreat. The surf instructors are there to support you and you will receive undivided attention regardless of your surf experience.
Thank you chica brava !!!

Time of my life 🙂  - The entire trip was phenomenal, mostly because of the people. I had a great time with the food, the beautiful landscapes, beaches, and a fun time surfing. Claire, the lead... read more instructor, was truly caring and so obviously dedicated to her job (and very good at it). She helped me overcome a lot of fear and definitely reinforced good habits in addition to motivating us to get out there and explore. 10/10 will do again.

Surf gratitude  - I left Chica Brava a different person than I arrived. I thought I had set realistic expectations, but reflecting back over the curated week, the experience was elevated to a... read more truly magical time because of the relationship of thoughtful instructors at every turn and fellow women campers pioneering a new craft. It just is not quantifiable, but a real turning point in self-discovery at a point in my life I needed most.

You will be pampered when the time is right, challenged to the point you decide is your limit, and celebrated for your remarkable achievements, with the knowledge that each new wave after this week is a chance to practice the Chica Brava way. Kudos to the remarkable team that collaborated each day to make it a successful day for each of us campers. Their dedication to surfing is inspiring, and I thank them for giving us all the right tools to head out to open water with a board in tote, and set body, mind, and spirit to test my very own resilience and zest for life. Muchas gracias!

I went to the Chica Brava Surf Retreat in July of 2023 and had the most amazing time and progressed in my surfing more in the 5 days we surfed... read more than in the last 2 years on my own. The accommodations, staff, food, and surf knowledge was honestly without complaint. They are friendly, empowering, kind, and I would definitely do it again!!

You know you've had an amazing trip when the first thing you want to do when you get home is write a review and plan your return trip and that... read more is my experience with Chica Brava. Front the start the booking was made exceptionally easy by Colleen, the incredibly responsive booking coordinator. She helped me with recommendations with flights and was extremely helpful. I decided to fly into Liberia (Costa Rica) as I could get a direct flight there and the team arranged for me to be picked up at the airport and driven directly to the house (you do have to change cars/drivers at the border but it was easy and safe). The drive to Cloud Farm is breathtaking and even arriving after dark the beauty was evident. Elsi was there to greet me along with the house team of Juan and his wife who fed us so well the entire week. I've had countless coaches over the years, teachers, and mentors, so it's no small feat to say that Elsi is one of the best instructors that I've ever had. Never having surfed before I was in the very best hands. Her instructions were clear, our safety a priority all the while having the most fun. In the water with us every moment, Elsi was our wave guide and our cheerleader. On land she was an endless source of information about life in Nicaragua and she went above and beyond in every way to make our stay the best it could possibly be. Alongside Elsi was another top teacher, Claire. Another excellent resource in and out of the water, Claire made my week not only a ton of fun but I actually felt like a surfer after just a couple of days.
The accommodations at Cloud Farm far exceeded my expectations, comfortable, clean, quiet and the most stunning views. Daily visits from the neighbouring animals, morning wake up calls from the howler monkeys and then there's the food. The breakfasts were hearty and healthy, always beginning with delicious Nicaraguan coffee, freshly squeezed juices and fruit. The dinners were beyond my expectations, after a long day of surfing we needed nourishment and Juan blew us away daily.
Our theory classes with Elsi were so helpful with feedback and videos from our earlier surfs we were able to learn in a way that feels unique to Chica Brava.
My heart wanted to stay forever but my body was ready for a rest at the end of the week, I'd definitely recommend trying to do some conditioning before your trip.
I will recommend this spot and this team to all the chicas I know and I hope to return one day very soon.
Advice for your return trip if transiting to CR, bring extra US$. You will definitely want to have some extra money to 'bypass' the crazy long lines at the border stops. I'd say to factor in an additional $70 including tips for both drivers. Without it you could be stuck in painfully long lines.
Thanks for everything Chica Brava

This was my second time at Chica Brava and I had an incredible time. The surf instruction was amazing, the location where we stayed had one of the best views... read more I have ever seen, the food was delicious and the extra activities were great. Every aspect of the camp is very well designed! And of course it attracts wonderful women from all over the world.
My favorite part of this experience was spending time with Elsi who is a phenomenal teacher and human. She's the heart of this camp and I am so incredibly grateful for her.

Chica Brava was the BEST. Very well organized and smooth sailing! Already planning a trip back with them. The instruction was great and the video and feedback sessions were wonderful.... read more Stayed out the could farm and would 100% do it all over again!

So, so beautiful. Such a beautiful experience -- from the surf to the amazing care we got at "home." I felt so loved at Chica Brava, all while pushing myself... read more mentally and physically to surf every day, which is hard, but so rewarding! I left feeling more like myself and proud of myself! Chica Brava is such a beautiful container to explore your full, human self in relation to the jungle, the surf, and other women. It's powerful. Go!

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at a surf camp or on any kind of trip. The instruction from Elsi, Claire, and Jenn was excellent! They work with... read more you at your level and I also felt very safe in the water with them. In addition to the professionalism that everyone had, they were also so fun to spend time with during our surf camp week! I was able to pop up on the surf board by the second day of the camp! It really was so empowering to be able to learn and do so much. Elsi was not only an amazing instructor but she was also a great host and drove us to the beach every day. She is an inspirational person! She is definitely the embodiment of a CHICA BRAVA! All of them were.

I stayed at the cloud farm and it was GORGEOUS! The house was kept very clean and we had spectacular views of the jungle and sea from the pool area and balcony area. HUGE wonderful breakfasts and dinners were included with the package and it was really good! Transportation was included to and from the beach and to and from the airport in Managua. Anytime I had any questions, the team was very responsive and the whole trip ended up being really easy.

I had never traveled to Nicaragua before and I was concerned that I would feel unsafe but my experience was the opposite. From the airport, to the shuttle and throughout the entire trip I felt it was extremely safe, and people were extremely friendly!

My flight got into Managua several hours before the shuttle was scheduled to arrive Colleen advised me to go across the street from the airport to the BEST Western while I waited and that was very comfortable- for $10 they let me use the pool facilities and use the $10 towards food and drink.

I thought for what you get the price was very reasonable. It even included two yoga classes and a massage! And you have the option of getting extra massages and other excursions such as horseback riding and jungle zipping. It including one afternoon on a boat w drinks and snacks!

I can’t praise this surf camp enough!!

I traveled to Nicaragua with a friend and joined other friends of hers who traveled there from around the country to attend the surf camp. For them it was a... read more reunion, in addition to a great vacation. The surfing instruction was truly excellent. The coaches were encouraging and fun and knew just how hard to push. I hadn't surfed prior to the camp, and now I'm hooked. The accommodations were beautiful and comfortable. The food was delicious and plentiful. Every bit of the trip was awesome!

I just had the most amazing week at the Chica Brava and I’m already scoping out dates to return! My friend and I traveled together and stayed at Cloud Farm... read more June/July 2022.

I’m not a surfer, and arrived having only taken a board out once before. I’m also intimidated by the ocean and large waves. However, Elsi, Jen and Claire, our surf instructors for the week, knew exactly how to get the best out of each of us, pushing us when we needed it and letting us take our time when it seemed more appropriate. By the end of the week I was able to turtle roll through larger waves and I was successfully popping up on almost every ride, and even learning how to turn instead of riding straight to the beach.

I was impressed with how the instructors were able to accommodate the differing levels of surf abilities in our group, scoping out spots according to the wind and tides and making sure all of us were able to get out there to practice multiple hours a day regardless of our level.

The surfing though is really just part of it. You will also be taken care of like family while you're there. Elsi, the lead surf instructor, is so much more than a surf instructor. She greeted us the moment we stepped out of our cab on arrival, she greeted us early each morning at the house to tell us the plan for the day. She taught us surf theory and helped us make sense of our mistakes while watching video footage of our surfing. She ate dinner with us, kept us safe in the water, helped us fit in all extra activities (boat tours, massages, yoga, shopping, etc), drove us all over town and to all the beaches. She taught us about the local community and culture, shared her personal journey with us, cracked jokes, and was really just an inspiring person to be around 🙂

But there’s more we also had a group of amazing women cooking homemade meals for us every morning and every evening, and they were delicious and plentiful and just what we needed to be able to surf again the next day. The bedrooms were cleaned each day while we were out surfing (!) and coffee was ready made and on the table by 6am.

Shout out to surf instructors Jen and Claire as well, both of whom worked 1 on 1 with me at different points to get me comfortable in the water with my board and then later to help me learn to turn and help me conquer my fears of larger waves. Shout out to Francia for all the behind the scenes organizing and for filming us for hours each day!

Thank you so much for an inspiring week, I can't wait to return!

I emerged from Covid lockdown totally numb to life. I'd never surfed before, but it is something I wanted to learn since I was a teen. From the first time... read more I hit the water with the board, I was brought back to life! I truly cried on the beach because the gorgeous vistas, adrenaline from my first time on the board, scent of sea salt and flowers in the air, it all reminded me that life is beautiful and fun! The rest of the week continued to be beautiful... and so much fun!

The beaches are gorgeous, the town is lovely, and Chica Brava really takes care of everything so you can focus on surfing and relaxing.

Elsie is the best surf instructor on the planet. She is patient, encouraging, and so helpful. She can see what you are doing right and what needs work, and succinctly tell you what you can do to improve. I always felt very safe, and Elsie even held the board more stable when the waves got choppy to help me get up. She coached me on spotting waves, which is very helpful as you start to surf without an instructor. Joaquilia is a caring and delightful friend and the warmest presence who can take care of you at the house. She is a wonderful cook and a sweet lady!

I appreciated the "Surf Theory" part of the camp, where we learned basic things you may not pick up naturally: Reading surf weather reports, etiquette and right of way, board care.... It's what you need if you want to go out on your own.

The extra activities and excursions were great and just what we needed. When our muscles were getting tight, we did a great yoga class. When we were sore, we got a wonderful massage. We especially enjoyed the horse riding excursion with Blue on her farm.

Since Chica Brava, I've gone surfing a few times, and I feel it gave me an excellent foundation and confidence. I miss Elsie, Jen, Joaquilia, and "Mister Nicaragua" our photographer, but I know this is now a sport I will enjoy for life.

Thank you, Chica Brava! I want to come back and show you my new skills soon

I have been dipping my toe in the water with surfing and this camp was exactly what I needed to show myself that I CAN do this. It challenged me... read more mentally & physically. But it wasn't just that. The comradery I experienced with the other women was amazing for my soul. The female instructors knew what it was like, as a woman on a surfboard and were able to provide instruction on how to exceed our own expectations and preconceived abilities! On top of ALL OF THAT it was FUN!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't recommend this camp more. Ashley and her Chica Brava team have curated an incredible experience for any level of surfer!

I did Chica Brava surf camp two weeks ago and am so happy I did it! It's so valuable to have an all-female surf instructor team--the vibe is amazing, extremely... read more positive, and confidence building. I had been surfing on and off for a year when I attended, so would classify myself as an advanced beginner. But, I had been dealing with a lot of fear of the ocean/big waves as we went into the week.

Elsi Marin de Mosio and Evelyn and Clare were so helpful in building me up and helping me overcome that fear and not only catch waves but ride down the line and practice my turns. It ended up being a great week! (Also, loved the video feedback--so helpful to get that EVERY DAY!).

And last week, a week after the camp, I caught the wave of my life! So happy that I made the time to do Chica Brava. Always grateful to Elsi Marin de Mosio for her enthusiasm. And Ashley Blalock de Cabrales has been amazing about giving follow up feedback.

All that to say, I would definitely do it again!