The Beaches Of San Juan Del Sur
Click the video below for the beaches like you’ve never seen them!
By Joel Stott-Jess
Feb 16, 2022
Thanks for checking out this video and guide to the beaches in and around San Juan Del Sur. Hopefully it’s useful for you! The beaches area big part of the reason there's a lot of people moving down here.
It's one of the major factors and why I chose here as my favorite place in the world to live and do business. The community is centered around all the outdoor options with beach life bringing everyone together.
You can check out all the real estate in the area and see if there's a place for you that allows you to visit all these beaches on a regular basis.
With so many of the options you can choose to hit the beach that fits your mood any given day… for weeks..
For example Playa Maderas, Playa Yankee, and Playa Remanso are great for surfing. Others are awesome for families, tanning, kayaking, paddle boarding, tidal pools or a combination of all the above.
This article goes over them in order of the ones I like the most. So you get my preferences as opposed to geographic order:) The image below shows them from north on the left to south on the right Then at the bottom of each description is a clickable map link for directions from San Juan Del Sur.
Enjoy!
Map of the Beaches
Our famous home beach with the iconic statue on the hill like a mini Rio De Janiero. It’s the center of the community life here in San Juan Del Sur.
The mile long beach is soft, wide and flat. In town there are tons of bars and restaurants right on the sand. The seafood is fresh and the drinks are cold. With more than a dozen beachside options you’ll never be short a seat.
Prior to the influx of expats moving here, remote workers, and tourists San Juan was a sleepy fishing town. The protected south end of the bay is still full of the open topped “panga” fishing boats. Now they are joined by pleasure craft, bigger private fishing boats, and the handful of tourist boats that do day cruises.
The sand itself is great for sunbathing. Early mornings see joggers and dog walkers. At sunset there are volleyball games, soccer and a friendly mix of locals, expats and tourists catching the sunset.
The most famous surf spot in the region, and for good reason. Surfers have been flocking to Playa Maderas since before there was a paved toad to San Juan Del Sur.
Consistent year-round waves, which are a rarity in a good surf break, mean there’s something to ride most days of the year. Maderas has hosted numerous international surf competitions, include the Central American Games.
There are both lefts and rights to keep all everyone happy. Though the lefts do tend to be longer and more common.On land the vibe is funky and communal. The beachside bars & restaurants serve up cold drinks, fresh food, and killer views. Volleyball games often break out in front.
Hermosa is another one of those beaches that has something for everyone. From the time you enter at the private gate ($3 per person) there’s a lot to do. The Beach Club has tons of tables, chairs and hammocks in the shade, perfect for lazing about and ready a book.
The on-site restaurant has great food and cold drinks. And there are surfboard rentals and lessons if you want to get in the water. Hermosa is my favorite beach to spend a whole day at!
Get there by driving 15 minutes south of town and turning right at the entrance.
The closest surfing beach to San Juan Del Sur. Wave height depends on the swell. If the waves are big at Playa Maderas then there are probably mid-sized waves at Remanso.
It’s great beach for beginner to intermediate surfers. The waves aren’t too powerful but on a good day you can catch both lefts and rights.
If the swell is low there might not be much. But on those days you just swim, relax and grab a drink and a fish taco from one of the beachside surf shacks. The vibe here is one of the best and the local crowd will befriend you from day one.
Get there driving 5 minutes south on the paved road and turning right at the sign on the dirt road.
One of my personal favorites, Playa Yankee is an awesome surf beach that also has some of the best sand in the area. Exposed to swells from the south, the ocean throws up wedges just in front of the parking lot that make for killer lefts.
If you’re not here to surf there is a little beach shack serving up drinks, plus hot dogs and hamburgers if you’re hungry.
You can park at the north end of the beach and walk in (don’t leave valuables in your car though as there is no security.)
Get there by driving 20 minutes south and turning right at the sign.
Tamarindo is a small, usually uncrowded beach just to the south of Playa Remanso. It's surf-able with the right tide and accessible through the Remanso beach club development.
Get there by driving to Playa Remanso and taking a left just before the beach.
Just south of Playa Maderas, with access from the same branch road off of “La Chocolata”, Playa Marsella is the relaxed cousin to funky Maderas. Quiet and calm it’s great for kids and swimming.
While the swells hit Maderas, throwing up great waves, at Marsella the water is usually softly lapping on the sand. The lack of big waves keeps the younger adult crowd to a minimum. On a weekday afternoon you might have the beach all to yourself.
Get there by taking the Maderas road and turning left at the fork.
The third of the northern beaches close to town, Majagual is just North of Playa Maderas. Another one that is usually quiet thanks to the lack of surf-able waves.
Majagual has a beautiful stretch of golden soft sand and almost no development. Waves can be a little bigger than Playa Marsella, and there isn’t too much for shade, but it’s undeniably stunning.
Get there by taking the Maderas road and turning right at the sign.
Escameca is the home of the Costa Dulce community and resort. It's beautiful, usually uncrowded, and has some excellent waves. It’s popular with the surf crowd and yoga retreats so get your zen and surf on.
Get there by driving south 20 minutes and turning right into the Costa Dulce community.
Venturing further south toward the the Costa Rican border you’ll find Playa Coco. If you really want to get away from the crowds this is the spot. Another wide & calm stretch of sand, on a weekday you’ll probably be the only one there.
A couple small shops sells snacks and drinks. And the road out from San Juan is winding and pretty, if a little long. Its a great destination if you want ride out there. Bring your rental motorbikes or ATV’s.
Get there by driving 25 minutes south, the road goes right to the beach.
Playa Nacalscolo is the first beach to the north of San Juan Del Sur. It's a pebble beach so not your ideal sunbathing spot.
However the Aquaholics bar and restaurant on site has cabanas for shade, kayaks, paddle boards, a little bar. I's a great place for a family day. Entry fee is $1 per person, mostly to cover the security for your car.
Get there by driving five minutes north and turning left into the Portal del Mar entrance.
Pena Rota is an undiscovered gem about 10 minutes south of San Juan Del Sur. It's got a couple beach bar shacks on it, and usually is uncrowded. It's got a really cool rock formation and there's a great spot just to get away from it all.
Get there by driving five minutes south, then right five minutes down the dirt road.
Famous for turtles, Playa La Flor is a must-visit if you’re here during laying or hatching times. Bordered by a tropical woodland and protected by its reserve status, this beach is a haven for our aquatic friends. The Playa La Flor Turtle Reserve runs on donations so visit and slip them a few extra bucks:)
There are plenty of tours that will bring you out to see the little guys. And the night-time laying tours are especially impressive. Ask around at any of the tourist agencies to see the best time to visit!
Get there by driving thirty minutes south and taking a right at the sign.
El Toro it's a small beach just to the north of Nacalscolo. Accessible through the private community it's got a nice little combination of rock and pebble beach.
Get there by driving north ten minutes and turning left into the Cala Azul development.
Also known as Morgans Rock beach, it's located just north of Playa Majagual. A long horshoe shaped stretch of sand that's almost always deserted.
Reach it by staying at Morgans Rock or walking north from Playa Majagual..
If you're taking one of the sailing trips from San Juan Del Sur this is the beach you stop at. The land behind is privately owned but you can jump in and swim to the sand from your boat.
Get there by sailing with Nica Sail and Surf or Esmerelda Sailing
Thanks for reading!
Want to know more about San Juan Del Sur? Contact me!
Joel Stott-Jess
Cell / WhatsApp: (+505) 8176 8624
US Number: 1 786 753 8743
Skype: joelstottjess
Joel Stott-Jess is a New York Times featured agent / broker in San Juan Del Sur.
Originally from Alberta, Canada he has been doing business in Nicaragua since 2014.
An investment consultant, serial entrepreneur, surfer, and outdoor enthusiast he is an expert on the real estate and business markets in Nicaragua. He also operates The Central Investor, a real estate and investment blog focused on the entire Central American region.