EL SALVADOR + COSTA RICA + NICARAGUA

AREA 

EL SALVADOR

El Salvador is a fascinating country with natural and cultural wonders, from dramatic volcanoes to Mayan ruins. Most importantly for us, it also has a surf-rich coastline.

Our accommodation is located in a quiet region, around 45 minutes from San Salvador. Expect a warm welcome from the locals.

When you’re not surfing, relax in a hammock, hike up a volcano or splash in a waterfall. For a dose of culture, visit a nearby village, tour a local tea plantation or visit an ancient Mayan archaeological site.

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica’s surf scene is epic – but there’s plenty more on offer, including hiking, zip wiring through the rainforest and horse riding.

Just a few miles from our accommodation, the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is Costa Rica’s first protected area. It is home to hundreds of different bird species, plus monkeys, anteaters, jaguars, iguanas and parrots.

Back at the beach, relax between surf sessions by snorkelling or swinging in a hammock. As well as being an active holiday, there’s plenty of downtime. Want to get zen? Stretch your surfing muscles with a beach yoga session.

NICARAGUA

With its dense jungle, craggy mountains, sparkling lakes and scattering of islands, Nicaragua is like the land that time forgot. Our accommodation is in a quiet region, around 2.5 hours from the city of Managua.

As well as being a prime surf spot, there are plenty of other activities to do in the area, including jungle trekking, wildlife spotting and offshore fishing.

You could also book a volcano tour, visit a turtle hatchery or check out local markets and colonial cities nearby. Other optional activities include horse riding, snorkelling, and beach yoga.

WAVES

EL SALVADOR

It may be the smallest country in Central America with a surfable coastline of just 300km – but what El Salvador lacks in length, it certainly makes up for in quality.

For regular footers, El Salvador is a dream as it’s known for countless right hand point breaks – all shaped by the volcanic landscape. These long rights are perfect for refining manoeuvres.

Less than 80 metres from the sundeck of our accommodation, there’s a fun beach break, a right hand point break and a mellow left-hand reef. And if that’s not enough, jump in a vehicle and head just 20 minutes up or down the coast. You’ll find another half a dozen fantastic rights and lefts with waves for everyone.

COSTA RICA

Each day we’ll get up early and track down the best surf spots. With low crowds at dawn, high swell consistency, offshore winds and a variety of surf spots, we’ll have loads of surf options around Santa Teresa and south to Playa Carmen.

Our friendly team of surf instructors make it their mission to find the best waves for all abilities. If you’ve never surfed before, you’ll love the mellow beach breaks. For more seasoned pros, there’s a huge variety of waves to advance your surfing. But there’s no pressure and we’ll go at your pace.

NICARAGUA

Nicaragua is one of our favourite trips – and for good reason. During the low season, there’s still plenty of swell, generating clean, fun waves.

There are uncrowded waves for everyone along this two-mile, multi-peak beach. If you’ve never surfed before, you’ll love Beginners Bay with its super mellow breaks. If you’re more advanced, push yourself at Popoyo. This epic reef break is just around the headland and has consistent lefts and rights.

Our base is right by the beach. Watch the sun rise, check the conditions and enjoy a dawn surf – all within moments of getting out of bed.

CLIMATE

EL SALVADOR

The equatorial tropical climate is predictably constant year-round. We travel midway through the dry season, which extends from November to April. The average high temperature is 29°C and the average early morning low is 19°C.

The dominant winds are offshore from the north east, meaning offshores in the morning and, more often than not, again in the evening.

Sitting just north of the equator means the sea temperature in El Salvador is a bath-like 28°C to 30°C.

COSTA RICA

We visit Costa Rica during the dry season. Santa Teresa has one of the driest climates in the country.

Unlike some tropical destinations, local microsystems don’t affect the weather. It’s very predictable, with constant sun, high temperatures and a guarantee of no rain.

Average air and sea temperatures hover around 28°C. You’ll need bikinis, boardshorts, rash vests and sun cream – whether you’re on land or in the sea.

NICARAGUA

Sunshine and heat are pretty much guaranteed during Nicaragua’s dry season, when we visit. Expect clear skies and incredible sunsets every day.

Nicaragua is generally hotter and drier than Costa Rica, but thanks to the “Papagayos” offshore breeze, the temperature is always comfortable.

The dry season also means fewer mosquitos, and clearer water for surfing and snorkelling. There’s less foliage in the canopies, so it’s also easier to spot wildlife like monkeys and birds.

The sea temperature is routinely 27-29°C. So if you’re a cold water surfer looking to experience surfing in a bikini for the first time, this trip is an absolute must!

If you have your own kit, great! You’re more than welcome to bring it with you.

There’s a good range of kit available to hire. Not sure what you need? No problem. Just contact us and we’ll let you know. If you need to hire anything, we’ll make sure it’s ready for you when you arrive.

See our equipment hire costs under the ‘Prices’ tab for details.

SURFBOARD

If you’ve never surfed before, we suggest learning to surf on a foam board or “foamie”. They’re super floaty and make it much easier to catch waves. You’ll progress quicker than being on a hardboard or riding a board that’s too small for you.

BOARDSHORTS / SURF LEGGINGS AND RASH VESTS

On any tropical surf trip, you should invest in a couple of pairs of high quality, lightweight, board shorts, bikini bottoms/one piece that stays in place or surf leggings. You’ll also need a lycra rash vest for sun protection. A lycra swimsuit with long arms and short legs is another option.

LEASH

This is essential for attaching your surfboard to your ankle and will save you a swim!  Bring a spare leash with you. When you hire a board from us, you’ll get a leash too.

BOARD BAG

A decent board bag will protect your kit. They range from £50 to over £100. The more you pay, the better the storage and protection you get.  Use bubble wrap and pipe lagging to help protect your board as much as possible during flights.

BOARD SOCK (OPTIONAL)

This will protect your board from the sun and double up as a board towel. It’s a lighter option for carrying your board between surfs, especially if you’ve invested in a heavy duty travel surfboard bag. Put your board in a sock between surf sessions to stop the wax from melting.

SURFBOARD WAX

Pack a few blocks of tropical wax in your board bag. You’ll need a hard wax to prevent it melting in tropical water temperatures.

ACTIVE WEAR / YOGA KIT + TOWEL  (OPTIONAL)

Bring a pair of trainers for hiking. Remember to bring yoga clothes and a towel. You don’t need to bring a mat.

SUN PROTECTION

There’s nothing worse than ruining your holiday through sunstroke and sunburn. It’s painful but completely avoidable if you cover up sensibly.  Wear waterproof sunscreen and re-apply regularly. Zinc-based sticks are a good option and won’t run into your eyes.  Wear a hat while surfing if your head burns and wear a lycra rash vest over your bikini or swimsuit.

SUNGLASSES

Protect your eyes from the sun – the better the lenses, the more effective the sunglasses will be at blocking out the sun’s harmful UV rays.

FIRST AID KIT

As well as basics like painkillers, plasters, antiseptic cream, wipes, Vaseline and mosquito repellent, you may want to pack Imodium if you experience travel sickness or have a sensitive tummy.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Don’t forget your passport, boarding pass and travel insurance documents. Bring any medical cards / information that you usually carry with you. Take photos of your documents and email them to yourself as back ups.

EXTRAS TO MAKE YOUR TRIP MORE COMFORTABLE 

These include:

• Ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper
• A good book or Kindle
• iPad with downloaded movies
• Music on your phone
• Sweets for the flight, especially if your ears pop due to cabin pressure
• Surf ear plugs
• Portable phone charger
• Headphones

CLOTHING

Bring comfortable clothing, particularly for changing into between surf sessions. We recommend bringing:

• Bikinis/swimsuits
• T-shirts
• Surf leggings or boardshorts
• Rash vests
• A hoodie to wear during the flight
• Shorts
• Skirts or dresses
• Vest tops
• Flip flops
• Trainers
• Activewear ie yoga leggings and vests
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Towel or sarong for surfing

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

Please bring a reusable water bottle. As surfers, we’re all for limiting our use of plastics.

EL SALVADOR

It’s awesome! In addition to the country’s staple diet, a typical restaurant serves burritos, quesadillas, tacos, salads and a variety of rice dishes. Simple, clean and full of flavour and energy.

In El Salvador, sampling a “pupusa” is a must. These thick, saucer-sized corn tortillas are filled with beans, cheese, veggies, meat or seafood, and served with a marinated cabbage salad. Don’t forget a local Pilsener beer to go with it!

To take the hassle out of catering for yourself, our resort offers excellent food onsite. It’s good value for money with faultless service. It’s trustworthy, healthy food with no concerns about stomach upsets, which can be a pitfall of eating outside of the camp. Our hosts put a huge focus on great meals.

For breakfast you can choose between local dishes and surf camp favourites, such as banana pancakes, superfood chia bowls and bliss balls. Lunch is typically Central American with a delicious variety of meat, seafood or veggie burritos, tacos, quesadillas and salads.

Dinners are a real highlight. Our host cooks up a three-course feast of European influence. We’ll eat together around a beautiful long wooden table (another of the host’s creations) with top-notch service to match the fine cuisine.

COSTA RICA

Prepare your tastebuds for some truly delicious food. Many surf-loving chefs from around the world visit this peninsula and never go home. Lucky for us, they set up kitchens in paradise resulting in some fantastic food.

The restaurant at our accommodation offers a great selection of dishes. We can send you a varied menu before the trip begins.

There’s also a nearby supermarket if you want extra snacks. If you’re on a budget or prefer to cook for yourself, you can use the self-catering facilities on-site.

NICARAGUA

Our surf camp has its very own beachfront restaurant offering tasty food all day, including a hearty breakfast, scrumptious lunch options and a fantastic evening meal with choices such as lobsters, steak and homemade pizza. They also offer soft drinks and snacks as well as unlimited drinking water for those eating in the restaurant.

You’ll need to budget around $35/$40 per day for food should you choose to eat at the surf camp. Prices do vary at alternative restaurants close by but we advise a similar daily budget.

One evening we will organise to eat out together at a stunning cliff edge restaurant with superb sunset views. You should budget around $20 USD for this.

The price of alcoholic drinks is generally between $2 to $4 USD, so please budget for these according to your thirst.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

You need to arrange your own flight to Juan Santamaria International Airport in Costa Rica, and a flight back to the UK from Augusto Cesar Sandino international airport in Managua, Nicaragua. Flying into one country and then out of another isn’t necessarily more expensive than flying in and out of the same country.

FLIGHTS WITH CONNECTIONS 

If your flight includes a stop, please allow enough time to make your connection and factor in short delays. If you’re flying from Europe, your stop will often be in New York, Miami or Atlanta.

It’s best to book a ticket that transports your luggage directly to the airport in San Jose if possible.

RECOMMENDED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES 

We suggest you book a flight, which arrives no earlier than 10am and no later than 9.00pm. If you can only arrive outside of these times, please contact us.

Please arrange your departure flight to leave Managua, Nicaragua between 7am and 9am.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS 

We offer airport pick ups in Costa Rica included in your package price at 11am, 2pm, 5pm and 8pm. If you arrive outside these times, we’ll email you taxi details to travel the short distance to the hotel.

On the last day of the trip we organise your transport back to the airport.

BAGGAGE FEES 

Make sure you check the airline’s baggage charges when you book, especially if you bring your own surfboard.

We also hire equipment. Just let us know in advance – see the ‘Prices’ tab for more info.

WELCOME MEETING 

Once we’ve all arrived at our accommodation and checked into our rooms, we’ll rest and meet up the next day. At our welcome breakfast (on us) in our hotel’s zen garden, we’ll chat about the holiday ahead. It’s time to get stoked for a week of waves!

TRAVELLING FROM EL SALVADOR TO COSTA RICA

Please chat to us and we will advise you which flight to book from El Salvador to Costa Rica, as the Women + Waves team will be travelling with you.

TRAVELLING FROM COSTA RICA TO NICARAGUA

When we finish our Costa Rica leg we travel by Tica Bus to Nicaragua. This is a really cool way of experiencing the interior or Costa Rica and Nicaragua. A central American border crossing is an experience that every traveller worth his or her salt should experience. We organise this travel and are with you every step of the way.