Promising miles of white sand beaches, a beautiful coastal landscape, and a vibrant nightlife and party scene, San Juan del Sur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nicaragua and offers a plethora of activities for visitors, ranging from active outdoor adventures to simply relaxing beach holidays.
Whether seeking the monster swells of Nicaragua’s world-class beaches or a soothing margarita admiring some of the country’s most breathtaking vistas, these are just some of the best things to do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for visitors seeking a thrilling holiday on the country’s Pacific Coast.
Planning a trip to the city? Check out my complete comprehensive San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Destination Guide.
1. Learn to Surf
San Juan del Sur may at one point have been a traditional fishing village, but consistent swells, rolling waves, and sprawling white-sand beaches have since turned the small coastal community into one of the world’s premier surfing destinations.
Attracting beginners and seasoned pros from across the globe, San Juan del Sur is home to several beaches offering varying swells perfect for surfers of all experience levels.
Those seeking to catch their first waves should plan their beach excursion to Playa Remanso for reliably consistent waves and sandy ocean floors. Meanwhile, the colossal swells of Playa Hermosa are a fan favourite amongst big-wave surfers and adrenaline junkies.
What makes San Juan del Sur an even better destination for learning to surf is that the community is well aware of its surf town identity and features several board rental and lesson operators both within the community and scattered throughout its various beaches.
While prices vary, board rentals typically average around 10 CAD a day, with lessons costing upwards of 20 CAD. Alternatively, visitors can instead join a multi-day surfing camp with accommodation, meals, and board rentals, all for a single cover charge. However, this cover charge varies between centers.
2. Hike to Cristo de La Misericordia
The towering visage of Cristo de la Misericordia overlooking the town from its perch in the coastal cliffs is one of the first things visitors will spot as they approach San Juan del Sur. And like ‘Christ the Redeemer’ in Rio, hiking to the monumental statue is one of the most quintessential things to do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
The hike up the hill requires approximately 45 minutes to an hour from the town and features a steady incline along a paved road. The walk itself is well worth the trip and offers visitors an exploration of the city’s residential neighbourhoods.
Upon summitting the top of the hill, visitors must pay a small $2 admission fee to enter the grounds around the statue, making it one of the most affordable things to do in San Juan del Sur.
While visiting the area allows visitors to get up close and personal with the Cristo de la Misericordia and admire it in all of its intricate details, it also grants visitors one of the most picturesque vantage points at which to admire the city and coastal landscape.
The statue is open throughout the day, but the best time to visit is at sunrise. During these morning hours, crowds are thin, the weather is cooler, and the early morning light reflects off the natural landscape, providing a truly breathtaking view.
3. Explore a World Class Beach
While catching a wave may be at the top of most visitors’ minds when visiting Nicaragua’s surfing capital, San Juan del Sur’s sprawling shores of white sand beaches of crystal-clear waters are perfect for relaxation and taking a day to unwind with a nice book or delicious cocktail.
Visitors can leave their boards at home and head to one of the numerous beaches in the area, including Playa Hermosa, Playa Remanso, and Playa Nacascolo. While these coastal hot spots range from commercialized stretches of beach to wholly deserted sprawling sands, the most popular day beach in San Juan del Sur is Playa Madera.
Playa Madera is a lightly developed beach with cooling tidal winds, soft white powder sands, crystal clear waters, and even an onsite bar and restaurant. While still popular among surfers, Playa Madera offers plenty of room for a calming beach day. Snuggling up in your own corner of the shoreline is one of the best things to do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
4. Admire the Sunset at San Juan del Sur Beach
While numerous world-class beaches are within a 20-minute drive of San Juan del Sur, visitors don’t need to leave town to experience one of the region’s most breathtaking sunsets.
While not many visitors spend the day on the shores of San Juan Del Sur Beach, several people from around the community flock to the waterfront in the evening to admire the shifting skylight as the sun slowly descends along the horizon, reflecting off the Pacific Ocean and the town’s coastal cliffs.
It may not be the most enticing beach to visit, but San Juan del Sur Beach is home to easily one of the best sunsets in Nicaragua, and the evening display is hands down one of the must-experience things to do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
5. Partake in the Famous Sunday Funday Pool Crawl
As a famous tourist town, it is only natural that San Juan del Sur is home to the country’s most vibrant nightlife and party scene. In fact, the city’s weekly Sunday Funday Pool Crawl is easily the largest weekly party in Nicaragua, and possibly in all of Central America.
Organized by the Naked Tiger and the Pachamama Hostels, this celebrated party stops at both hostel’s pools and ends at a nightclub featuring local and international DJs. Hosting hundreds of tourists, this party is a fantastic social event for meeting like-minded travellers.
Visitors can arrange their tickets to the party either by staying at one of the hosting hostels, or they can arrange to buy their tickets separately while staying in a more cost-effective hostel in the city.
6. Sample Local Craft Beer
While the local beer is delicious, visitors will be begging for something other than a Victoria or Tone by the time they reach San Juan del Sur along their Nicaragua travel itinerary. Luckily, the city’s craft beer scene is alive and active and offers various flavours for guests to sample.
San Juan del Sur Cerveceria is home to the city’s widest and most varied selection of craft beers and is located only a couple blocks from San Juan del Sur Beach. Guests to the brewery can choose to try one of the beers on tap or craft their own brew directly onsite featuring a diverse array of ingredients and flavours.
Regardless of whether you are a beer aficionado or casual sipper, exploring Nicaragua’s craft beer scene is easily one of the most unique and exciting things to do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
7. Take a Food Tour of the City
San Juan del Sur is Nicaragua’s boiling pot of international cultures, and this stretches to include the city’s diverse food scene. The town features a wide selection of internationally inspired restaurants with menus that include everything from local cuisine to sushi, americano, Chinese, and much more.
In fact, tourists can spend a whole day exploring the many flavours of the world within the small beach city and still not sample everything San Juan del Sur offers.
Still, while a food tour of the city should be tailored to the taste buds of each traveller, some specific stops should be included in any exploration of San Juan’s food scene.
For starters, San Juan del Sur is home to some of the most flavorful street food in the country, including some of the best burritos I have ever had. To explore this street-style food, visitors should plan to stop at least once at Taco Stop during their tour.
Additionally, San Juan del Sur started as a traditional fishing town, and visitors can still explore the region’s original roots at La Lancha. Locally owned and operated along San Juan del Sur Beach, this restaurant features full shrimp, red snapper, and lobster plates served with a salad, rice, and plantain chips.
Regardless of where you choose to eat, exploring the city’s vibrant food scene offers a fun and exciting thing to do in San Juan del Sur.
Check out my complete Nicaragua Travel Guide for more information and itineraries for your next adventure through the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes.