FAQ

Southern Nicaragua benefits from offshore winds almost year round creating ideal surf conditions and perfectly groomed waves. It is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best places to visit in Central America for a surf trip, and it’s still un-crowded compared to most any other surf destination in the world. Adding to the appeal, is Nicaragua’s beauty and heavily undeveloped coastline. Nicaragua has a rich local culture, which predominates over the recent increase in tourism. San Juan del Sur itself is a tranquil fishing village set around a beautifully picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay. The town has lots of energy and unique culture. There is a plethora of amazing restaurants and sizzling nightlife. The people here are as warm and friendly as the weather.

We have been in Nicaragua since 2003 and are the country’s very first and best surf retreat for women. In addition to our unparalleled program, we have a team of instructors with years of surfing experience and coaching backgrounds. Upon arrival we determine each guest’s goals for the week and, with mid-week check-ins, we are successful at helping you reach those goals. We film your sessions and offer daily video analysis to help you improve. In addition, we follow a daily curriculum of surf theory lessons, created by Chica Brava founder, 6-time Nicaraguan National surf champ, Ashley Blaylock. Whatever your surfing goals, you’ll achieve them at Chica Brava !

Unlike everywhere else in the world (including central and northern Nicaragua) the southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua benefits from off-shore winds 300+ days a year, which basically means you can surf all day long, only having to take the tides into consideration. Since we are located in San Juan del Sur, we have the best of both worlds – a teeming city of fun-loving locals and close access to virtually empty beaches.

Nicaragua is widely regarded as one of the safest countries in Central America, and visitors are often surprised by how peaceful and welcoming it feels. While the U.S. maintains a Level 3 travel advisory, this has more to do with politics than with the actual experience of travelers on the ground.

San Juan del Sur, where we are located, is a small, friendly beach town with a strong sense of community. The closeness of the town makes it difficult for issues that are common in big cities to take root here, which is why visitors consistently describe it as safe and inviting.

As with any international trip, it’s always wise to practice general awareness and responsible travel habits. At Chica Brava, we make things even easier: we meet you at the airport as soon as you land and bring you directly to our camp, so your experience is seamless and stress-free from the very beginning.

GREAT! As it turns out, the majority of our guests are solo travelers. Join a group of other adventurous women and experience Nicaragua with new friends! Many women are reluctant to travel alone. At Chica Brava we provide a safe, supportive environment where you can comfortably feel inspired and empowered, conquer fears, and push yourself to the next level or just come and relax and experience a foreign country in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere! Unless you otherwise request, we will put you in a shared room with one of the other guests. (Read More…)

Private rooms are subject to availability and can be confirmed closer to retreat start date at an additional cost. Please see the Availability section on our website.

Nicaragua’s international airport is Managua International Airport, located in the capital city of Managua. The airport code is MGA. Often times, cheaper airfare can be found by flying into Costa Rica’s Liberia International Airport, located an hour from the border with Nicaragua. The airport code is LIR. Direct flights from major cities in the United States are available to both airportsfrom United, American, Delta, Sprit, and TACA. Be sure to check fares against travel search engines like Kayak.com.

We provide a free shuttle from the MGA airport to San Juan del Sur departing at 1:30PM on the Saturday of arrival and from San Juan del Sur to the airport departing at 7:30AM on the Saturday of departure (arriving airport at 10:00AM). If you are unable to make use of our free shuttle we can arrange airport transfers at other days/time and from LIR airport in Costa Rica for an additional cost.

Note for late-night arrivals: If you are only able to find flights arriving MGA at night (or departing MGA early morning), we recommend coming in a day early (or leaving a day late) and staying overnight in Managua for travel to the camp (or airport) the next morning. We pick up and drop off at two hotels near the airport in Managua: the Best Western and the Camino Real.

We require a 50% deposit to book a reservation and all retreat participants are required to fill out our registration form and read/sign our camp waiver form. The deposit is payable via PayPal (even if you don’t have a PayPal account) using a credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer.

There is a 3% transaction fee charged by PayPal for all transactions which is added to your amount due.

The balance is due one week prior to your arrival. We send out an invoice 7-10 days prior to the due date.

Please see our full bookings and cancellations policies.

At Chica Brava, we have the resources and expertise to accommodate all surfing levels during the same week, from first-time beginners to advanced surfers. Before your arrival, we like to have a good idea of your experience so we can plan accordingly. Please use our surf levels designations which can be found here.

When you arrive at Chica Brava, we have a thorough orientation, welcoming you to the retreat and presenting the week’s schedule, among other things. Below is an excerpt from a schedule to give you an idea of what a couple of days look like during a typical week:

Monday, May 7
(LT0.7- 9:19am /HT8.8- 3:31pm)
6:00am Coffee’s On
8:00am Theory Lesson – Perfecting the pop-up and paddling
8:30am Local Breakfast made daily with fresh fruit and juice
10:00am Surfs Up at Playa Remanso
5:30pm Sunset/Candle-lite restorative Yoga at Zen Yoga Studio
7:00pm Sunset Dinner option: El Timon “Lunes de Relax” – enjoy live music and local dishes while taking in the beautiful sunset.
Surf Video option: Roxy Shimmer

Tuesday, May 8
(LT0.7- 10:10am/HT8.7- 4:22pm)
6:00am Coffee’s On
7:00am Local Breakfast made daily with fresh fruit and juice
7:30am Video/Photo feedback session and goals check.
8:00am Theory lesson – Paddling to the outside / Line-up
9:00am Canopy tour option – Zip line through the amazing cloud forest in the jungle! You can count on seeing many different types of animals as you are flying thru the air, including howler monkeys and sloths!
11:30pm Surfs up at Playa Hermosa
6:00pm Soothing deep tissue massage with our incredible Massage Therapist!
7:30pm Dinner option: The Chicken Lady – enjoy some of the best local food in town!

At Chica Brava, we’re uniquely positioned to surf all day thanks to consistent offshore winds more than 300 days a year. This means we aren’t restricted to 5am departures or short morning and evening sessions like many other surf camps, including those in central and northern Nicaragua. Instead, we plan around the tides, choosing the best times to go and spending as much time at the beach as conditions allow.

Each day we spend a minimum of five hours at the beach, with three full hours of in-water instruction. Lessons are structured as three one-hour blocks, each followed by a 20-minute break. Almost always, these three blocks flow together as one longer surf session, though on rare occasions the tides may require us to split them into two. During breaks, we provide real-time personalized feedback so you can apply improvements immediately, while also giving you a chance for water, sunscreen, and a quick reset before paddling back out. Most guests find this rhythm strikes the perfect balance, leaving them happily “surfed out” by the end of the day.

Beyond the water, our program includes a daily curriculum of surf theory lessons, video and photo feedback sessions, initial goal setting, and mid-week goal checks to keep you progressing toward your goals.

We’re based in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, a laid-back surf town with access to some of the best and most consistent waves in Central America. Rather than staying in one spot, we take you to different world-class breaks along the southern coast so you can experience a variety of conditions and see the beautiful countryside along the way. A surf trip with us is about more than just catching waves. It’s about progression, exploration, and the full Nicaragua experience.

Within 10–20 minutes of San Juan del Sur, there are 4–5 distinct surf breaks. Although these spots are only a few miles from town, we drive slowly on the dirt roads to respect the local community and give you time to enjoy the scenery. For beginners and intermediate surfers, there are three excellent breaks with gentle, rolling waves over a soft sand bottom, perfect for learning and progressing safely. For advanced surfers, the nearby breaks include more powerful beach breaks and epic conditions like a Newport-style left wedge, a bowly empty beach, and two points that fire when the tides and swell align.

We also have access to more than five additional surf breaks along the Tola coast, about 1–1.5 hours from San Juan del Sur. These include heavier barreling beach breaks and long, peeling reef waves that make surfing in Nicaragua a world-class experience. Each day we choose the spot based on tides, swell, and your skill level and goals so you’re always in the right place at the right time.

While surfing is the main focus, we do make available optional activities including a first-day visit to the colonial city of Granada, zip-lining through the clouds, horseback riding on pristine beaches, spa treatments such as massage and body scrubs, additional yoga classes through Zen Yoga studio, pool-side lounging, volunteer work, engaging in the local community, and more! You can discuss these options with our Retreat Concierge when you arrive. She will gladly schedule any additional activities that interest you.

The waves in Southern Nicaragua are amazing because of the 24/7 “offshore” winds we have over 300+ days per year here exclusively in our area! At Chica Brava, we are located with access to a variety of waves for every skill level. The best months for our area are March – December (except during the peak of rainy season in October when we close for the month).

For beginners, all season offers good surfing. Even if the waves get bigger, we are able to stay south where the coast is shielded and get you riding the “green” part of the wave in smaller waist-high conditions. For intermediate and more experienced surfers, we can stick with the spots that can pick up the bigger swell.

Like most of Central America, Nicaragua is a “south swell spot”, meaning we rely on swells generated by winter storms in the southern hemisphere (March-Nov) to send good waves our way. Both in terms of weather and waves, these are our key months for more consistent waves. Wave heights from March-November generally range from 4-7ft (chest to head high+) and from December-February they are considerably smaller and stay around 2-4ft (waist to chest). Note: The water gets colder and the winds get very strong during January, February, and sometimes early March.

Nicaragua has two distinct seasons: the green (or “rainy”) season and the dry season. (Read More…)

You will need a light wetsuit (1.5-2mm spring suit) if you are attending Chica Brava anytime from late November-early April, when a combination of coastal currents and wind chill can make the water wetsuit worthy (as low as 65 degrees F). While there is a chance you might not need your spring suit the whole time, it is always best to be prepared. Here are some examples of suits we like:

*Note: wetsuit sizing is NOT always equal to dress sizing so please be sure to carefully review sizing chart information.

We have a huge quiver of surfboards for guests to choose from ranging in size from 5’11” to 9’6″ as well as soft-top longboards for beginners. If you would like to bring your own board that is perfectly fine with us! Be sure to check with your airline as most charge a handling fee.

We have Wi-Fi at the retreat. If you want to use the Internet, you will need to bring your laptop or Smartphone.

This depends on your carrier, so please check with your provider before arrival and be sure to turn on international roaming with them before your departure.

You can use U.S. currency everywhere in Nicaragua. It’s good to have smaller bills ($5s, $10s, and $20s) as getting change for larger bills must be done at the bank. Note: businesses will not accept U.S. currency with markings or rips. If you don’t have US dollars and/or want to convert into local currency (the Nicaraguan Córdoba), you can easily do so with your passport at one of the banks in town. There are ATM’s here as well. The current currency conversion can be viewed by trying a currency converter such as https://www.xe.com/ucc/ and plugging in “NIO Nicaraguan Cordoba”. Currently it’s around 23 Córdobas per $1.

Nicaragua has the same electrical outlets as the U.S. and Canada. If joining us from Europe, bring the same converter you would bring for travel to the US.

Malaria is not an issue in our area. We recommend that your routine immunizations are up to date.

At the retreat we provide you with a complimentary souvenir water bottle that can be refilled with filtered water while at the house. For all other areas, we recommend bottled water only.

Laundry services is provided once during your stay.

We do not have a safe at either location. With reasonable care this is not an issue.

You can call/text (713)252-5545. You will be provided with additional emergency details one week prior to arrival. Your loved ones can also use this U.S.-based phone number to get emergency messages to you immediately during your stay.