It’s not often that San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, is host to international celebrities, but it’s fair to say that when they do come, they fall in love with the town’s charm, just like the rest of us. Such was the case with Margot Robbie, the leading lady in Martin Scorceze’s most recent film, ‘Wolf of Wall Street’. Margot came to San Juan on a whim after chatting with her longtime friend, Steffany, both of whom grew up on the Gold Coast of Australia, leaving in their late teens to pursue their dreams. After just of week of getting to know these girls it became clear to us at Chica Brava that these girls thrive on adventure and challenge…they were right at home. In fact, Steff and Margot vibed so well with the Chica Brava lifestyle they even extended their stay, and almost didn’t leave! These Aussie’s brought an incredible dynamic to the group of nine women that attended camp last week, orchestrating things like water gun fights, easter-egg decorating, nail art sessions, and tea time. Leave it to an Aussie to bring the hospitality of a great cup of tea wherever they go! In the surf Margot mastered going left down the line, winning the ‘most goofy’ award at the end of the week (goofy is when you surf with your right foot forward), while Steffany won MVP (most valuable player), as she always put her concern for others first. In all the ample time the girls had between surfing and the million other activities they did (catamaran, ziplining, hiking, yoga, etc.), they managed to fit in...
“There’s nothing quite like hopping in a car or on a plane with a couple of your closest girlfriends for a getaway. No husbands or boyfriends, no jobs, no kids, no responsibilities...heck yes. No matter where you go, you’ll probably have a kick-bum time. Whether you’re an advanced surfer or your toes have never touched a board in your life, taking a trip to Nicaragua to hang with some amazing chicas and learn to surf would be an amazing vacation. Sand, sun, ocean...what’s not to like?” Check out the full article of SheKnows network and discover what they are saying about Chica Brava! https://www.sheknows.com/community/living/5-best-trips-take-your-girlfriends-2017
"In the past I've found that when I do the things that both excite and terrify me in equal measure, they pay off with the best rewards." - Alejandra Ramos from "Always Order Dessert" on her decision to join us. "Chica Brava is where any woman can learn to surf." Thanks Alejandra! We couldn't have written a better testimonial ourselves! Check out Alejandra's full article on her website here or see the PDF version here for easier viewing: Travel Diaries: Surfing with the ladies in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua - Always Order Dessert Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos [caption id="attachment_8441" align="alignnone" width="800"] Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8442" align="alignnone" width="700"] Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8443" align="alignnone" width="700"] Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8444" align="alignnone" width="700"] Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8446" align="alignnone" width="700"] Photo Cred: Alejandra Ramos[/caption]
We love Kaitlin's story about her journey to self discovery and how she left Chica Brava feeling like she could move mountains. Check out our favorite snippets right here on our blog. [caption id="attachment_8428" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo Cred: Kaitlin Ryan[/caption] "...[H]ere was a surf camp meant to show women like me not only that I could surf but how strong I really am when pushed [...] twenty years ago, opportunities like this were basically non-existent for women. It is an experience that will leave you proud to be a woman and make you feel like you could move mountains." [caption id="attachment_8429" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo Cred: Kaitlin Ryan[/caption] "Chicabrava is so much more than surfing. It is a metaphor for life. The women that will guide you through the journey have come from all over the world searching for meaning and purpose, and carrying with them an incredible passion for life. It is hard not to be inspired by them. It made me realize I need to stop letting life and others trample all over me. This is my life, and I have to make it what I want it to be." [caption id="attachment_8431" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo Cred: Kaitlin Ryan[/caption] "If you are looking for a new challenge, a chance to discover yourself after a difficult time or even if you just want a unique girls getaway, Chicabrava is the place for you. Whether you have never looked at a board or if you have been surfing your whole life, Chicabrava will allow you to discover something new about yourself. It captures the true spirit of life, and you will not be the same person when you leave." Read the...
With over 8.6 million followers, it's no wonder Bekka Palmer is considered one of the Most Influential People on Pinterest. Check out Bekka's Chica Brava pins on Pinterest here, here and here! Also, read Bekka's article on her experience with Chica Brava or view the PDF version here. From Bekka: "We spent a lot of time chatting with Ashley, the founder of Chicabrava, and one of the things I appreciated most about her business is that she tries to work with the community, not against it [...] instead of taking business from other surf schools, her goal is to bring people into the town that otherwise would never have come. Attracting her own set of tourists helps the local economy by bringing five to ten people into town each week that spend money at the local restaurants and shops. Besides being both conscious of and contributing to the local economy, she also provides programming for young girls in the country to learn to surf a few times each year. The biggest difference between Chicabrava and other surf camps I have been to is Chicabrava’s approach to teaching. Their instructors are so well trained and they all use the same language and methods when teaching. They also break down the movements into a simple set of steps and have you do them over and over again on the beach to get your muscle memory in order before entering the water." Photo Cred: Bekka Palmer Photo Cred: Bekka Palmer Photo Cred: Bekka Palmer Save
Check out this inspiring and informative article about the non-profit work Chica Brava does with our annual "Camp Bella" retreat and ongoing community outreach program "Chicas Adelante". Access the full article "Chicabrava: Empowering young girls through learning to surf" HERE or to read the article live on ThirdeEyeMom's blog click here. Nicole Melancon is a freelance journalist, blogger, and social good advocate who writes for her own blog ThirdEyeMom, as well as World Moms Blog, Elephant Journal and Huffington Post – Global Motherhood, where she focuses on global health, human rights, motherhood, and travel. She is also an advocate for ONE, The United Nations Foundation Shot@Life Campaign and other non-profit organizations.
Rebel Chick's blog has over 200,000 visitors per month. To check out Rebel Chick's article about her time with Chica Brava visit her website here. "Life has been so crazy lately. Between trying to get all of my work done and adjusting to life as a single mom, I feel like I’ve spent the last month in survival mode. Stressed, tired, and finally at the end of my rope, I boarded a plane headed for Nicaragua to spend five days in the company of strangers, learning to surf at Chica Brava, an all-women surf camp. It seemed like lunacy when I was driving to the Miami airport at the un-Godly hour of 3am. But you know what? It turned out to be the best decision of the year. I spent four glorious days filled with laughter, sun, amazing food, and being challenged by some amazing waves."
Nicole Melancon of blog Thirdeyemom visits Chica Brava and reports about it online magazine Epicure & Culture. Click here to access the article "How a Nicaragua Surf Camp is Empowering Women One Wave at a Time" to read about Nicole's solo trip to Nicaragua and how she breaks down some personal walls and fears while she''s at it. H Click here "You are built not to shrink down to less, but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up". – Oprah Winfrey
Jodie Oakes is a seasoned writer and an avid surfer with continuously itchy feet and a love of the finer things in life. Check out how Jodie found her happy place in Nicaragua with Chica Brava. Click to read the full article "Finding my Happy Place in Nicaragua with ChicaBrava - LuxeInACity" or visit the Luxe in a City website here.
Nicole Melancon's article from ThirdEyeMom was picked up and published by the Huffington Post! Click here to read the article: Chicabrava: Empowering Women One Wave at a Time Click to read her great story on learning how to surf with Chica Brava. Nicole on learning to surf: "It was an important reminder to me as well that oftentimes in life the only thing holding me back is myself and that I can do anything as long as I set my mind to it." A great lesson for us all :-)
