Nicaragua Surf & Yoga Retreat: Oceanfront, All-Inclusive, Beginner-Friendly

A typical day starts early, because the surf is best before the wind picks up. You grab coffee and fruit, head out front or walk a few minutes to one of the well-known breaks nearby, and get in the water with an instructor. The waves here are consistent and uncrowded, which is the main reason the centre sits on this stretch of coast — it's beginner-friendly by design, and most people who book have never stood on a board. After the session you come back for a proper breakfast, then there's a long gap until the late-afternoon yoga class. People fill it with pool time, a walk along the beach, a massage, an excursion, or a nap. The second yoga session runs in the late afternoon in the ocean-view shala, followed by dinner. Evenings are slow — hammocks, stars, and whoever you've ended up talking to.

What separates this from other surf-and-yoga weeks is that it's a working retreat centre, not a rented villa. The property runs its own organic garden, which supplies a lot of what you eat. There are two separate shalas — an ocean-view one for yoga and a quieter meditation shala — so a group can split between practices. The pool is private and on-site, and the eight rooms are all en-suite, with AC or fans, hot water and free WiFi. Two acres of gardens sit between the jungle and the sea, so you're not looking at a road or a neighbouring hotel.

The people running it are the other difference. Rafa and Francisco handle guests day to day, and reviews repeatedly name them. The whole team is local, and the centre deliberately hires and trains from the surrounding community rather than bringing staff in. It also funds a feeding programme for hundreds of local families each year, Christmas gifts for local kids, a dog shelter and a sea turtle repopulation project. That side of it is not marketing garnish — it's how the place operates.

Location-wise, you're on the northern Pacific coast, away from the crowded San Juan del Sur corridor. Getting there takes about 3-4 hours from Managua International Airport. It's cheaper than Costa Rica or Bali for the same oceanfront tropical setup, and it still feels undiscovered — most guests and hosts arriving here had never been to Nicaragua before.

The centre runs two things: hosted retreats (where a teacher or coach brings their own group, and the venue handles lodging, meals, the shalas, surf logistics and on-site management), and its own scheduled small-group surf and yoga retreats that individuals can join. This listing covers the join-a-retreat side.

What's included

- 7 nights en-suite accommodation (shared, semi-private or private rooms) - 3 farm-fresh meals per day, largely from the on-site organic garden - Daily surf instruction and equipment, beginner to intermediate - Two yoga sessions per day in the ocean-view and meditation shalas - Use of the private pool, gardens and hammocks - Free WiFi throughout the property - Hot water and AC or fans in all rooms

What's not included

- International flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged) - Travel insurance - Massages and spa treatments - Optional excursions - Alcoholic drinks - Personal expenses and tips