7-Day Surf Camp on Nicaragua's Emerald Coast

A typical day starts early, because the wind is offshore in the morning and that is when Colorados and Panga Drops are at their best. You eat breakfast at the casita, load boards into the transport, and head to whichever break is working. Sessions are coached, and your instructor films you so there is something concrete to look at afterwards. Afternoon video analysis is where most of the improvement happens — you watch the footage, see what your take-off actually looks like, and get one or two things to fix in the next session. Professional surf photos are taken during the week so you go home with pictures of yourself actually surfing, not just standing on the beach.

Two evenings include a restorative or yin yoga session, which is a sensible pairing after several days of paddling. Two group dinners are homemade, with vegetarian options, and the rest of the evenings you are free to eat out or cook in the casita. There is a rest day built into the rhythm of the week, and the optional add-ons — volcano boarding, horseback riding on the beach, ocean-view jungle hikes, catamaran trips, cupping — can be booked through the local guides.

What separates this from a generic surf camp is the setting. Playa Colorado sits inside a gated beachfront community on the Costa Esmeralda, so the casitas are surrounded by tropical gardens rather than a backpacker strip, and you hear monkeys and exotic birds from your terrace. The two breaks are genuinely world-famous, and the offshore wind means the wave faces stay clean and green rather than closing out.

The casitas are new builds with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, high ceilings, good ventilation, air conditioning in every room and three private terraces. That makes the camp work well for a family or two couples travelling together, and the per-person price falls as the group grows. Solo travellers are welcome too — you will just be sharing a casita.

Instructors are provided by the surf school running the camp, and all equipment — boards and wetsuits — is supplied, so you do not need to bring your own. Lessons are pitched at all levels, with beginners looked after closely in the water. The minimum requirement is that you can swim; there is no upper age limit, and the school regularly teaches children and adults in the same group.

What's included

- 6 nights / 7 days accommodation in newly built Eco Casita villas - Airport transportation on arrival and departure - Transportation to different surf beaches, depending on the breaks - Fresh, healthy breakfast every morning - 2x homemade group dinners (vegetarian options available) - 2x restorative/yin yoga sessions - Daily video analysis - Professional surf photos - Surf equipment, including surfboards and wetsuits

What's not included

- International flights - Lunches and dinners other than the two included group dinners - Travel insurance - Optional add-on activities such as volcano boarding, horseback riding, ocean-view jungle hikes, catamaran trips and cupping - Personal expenses