SAN JUAN DEL SUR - THINGS TO DO
What to do in San Juan del Sur? If you like, you could just relax and not do much of anything. You can lay on the beach or in a hammock, sample all the different restaurants, walk around town and frequent some of the local bars, do a little swimming or boogie boarding and in the evening, enjoy the seemingly never-ending, crimson sunsets.
The Beaches
The beach is definitely one of the main attractions in town and what a beach! San Juan del Sur's crescent bay and the boats that anchor in its waters are like a scene from a postcard. The beach is lined with thatched-roof restaurants that specialize in fresh fish and delicious lobster meals. In town you'll also find a wide selection of restaurants from pizza to Mediterranean. Definitely not a good place if you're on a diet but early in the morning is a great time to do some running on the beach to work off some of those extra calories. Please visit our San Juan del Sur links page to check out some of the local cuisine. Besides swimming in the warm Pacific water, there are many other water activities such as sailing, fishing, diving and surfing. There are sailing charters that offer trips to the popular beaches north of town and for those who like to fish, you can charter a sport fishing boat and experience world-class sports fishing! We're talking Black Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, and Dorado.
For those who like to scuba or to dive, there are two dive shops in town that offer diving excursions and open-water certifications. Even though the water lacks the visibility of the Caribbean, there is plenty to see in the surrounding waters. You'll find tropical fish, dolphins, sea turtles, coral reefs and there's even a sunken ship offshore. As far as surfing goes, the beaches north of town is where you'll want to search for those killer waves. You can drive to some of these beaches but some of the best breaks are only accessible by boat. Year round offshore breezes help create ideal surfing conditions and these conditions attracts surfers from around the world to experience the world-class surfing off of Nicaragua's Pacific coastline. This makes San Juan del Sur the undisputed center of the surf scene. Even if you're a beginner there are surf shops in town that rent out surf boards and offer lessons. In fact, one of the most popular and easily accessible surfing beaches close to town is Playa Maderas, where both beginners and experts can find great waves.
Exploring the Area by Foot
You won't need a car or taxi to get around town, you can easily walk every street in one morning but to really capture the essence of San Juan del Sur, you should spend an entire day. There are many shops, grocery stores, coffee shops, bars, restaurants, internet cafés, etc. In the center of town, there's a Municipal Market where you'll find a variety of stalls offering local fruit, vegetables, meat, and prepared food. There are also a number of vendors that sell clothes, sandals, and household goods. The market is also a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch and for a few dollars, you could enjoy some of the traditional Nicaraguan dishes. For breakfast be sure to try gallo pinto, a flavorful rice-and-bean dish that goes great with fried eggs. Near the market is the central park and town square that has recently been given a facelift and a there's a new playground in front of the church, San Juan Bautista.
Behind the church, situated on a hill overlooking the town is the resort of Pelican Eyes Piedras y Olas. It is the only luxury resort actually located in the town. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view of the town and the bay while having lunch or dinner. Eating there also allows you the use their beautiful infinity pool, great for the kids while you enjoy a few Nica Libres, Flor de Caña rum with coke and lime. The food is a bit more pricey than the other restaurants in town but the atmosphere and the view makes it worth it! The only better view in town is from atop of the cliff north of town. It's quite a steep walk but the panoramic view is second to none. On the top is that large statue of Christ that you can see from all over town. From this observation point you can see the town, the surrounding hills, the Bahia Nacascolo north of San Juan del Sur and to the south, you can see the Costa Rican peninsula of Santa Elena in the distance.
Sea Turtles and the Playa La Flor
Nicaragua is blessed with many beaches where the Olive Ridley turtles come to lay their eggs. These sea turtles weigh about 45kg (99 pounds) and are found throughout the world though some are endangered and are under the threat of extinction. In Nicaragua there is a large population, but the poaching of eggs and the destruction of the nests are having an impact on the population. These turtles have one of the most extraordinary nesting habits in the natural world. Large groups of turtles gather off shore of nesting beaches. Then, all at once, vast numbers of turtles come ashore and nest in what is known as an "arribada". During these arribadas, hundreds to thousands of females come ashore to lay their eggs. In Nicaragua alone there are as many as 20,000 females nesting and laying their eggs on a single beach. There are many theories on what triggers an arribada, including offshore winds, lunar cycles, and the release of pheromones by females. Despite these theories, scientists have yet to determine the actual cues for ridley arribadas. Not all females nest during an arribada, instead some are solitary nesters.
Playa La Flor is one of the beaches in Nicaragua where these sea turtles come to lay their eggs and it is protected as a wildlife preserve. It is located about 18km southeast of San Juan del Sur and you can find local tour guides that will drive you down to the beach. The arribadas and hatching events both occur in the evening during each each lunar cycle between July and Februray. After reaching the beach, the turtles look for a good place to lay their eggs. After digging a big hole, the turtles start to lay their small white eggs. About 100 eggs are deposited in the hole, which is then covered by the turtle. After this impressive work, the turtle returns to the water and slowly swims away.
Witnessing this phenomena is an unforgettable experience. Tourism can help protect the turtles as it provides incentive to continue the protection of these wonderful creatures. Always be mindful not to disturb the turtles and use your common sense. It is also important not to eat sea turtle eggs in the local restaurants, consumption only supports this black market.