Clifftop Surf & Yoga Retreat in Northern Nicaragua

Amaru is a small resort built on a cliff overlooking the Pacific in northern Nicaragua, in the region around the Boom, a well-known right-hand point break. It was named after a mythological double-headed serpent representing balance and transformation, which is about as much philosophy as the place asks of you — most of the week is spent between the water, the yoga deck and the dining table. Guests sleep on site in rooms spread across the property, eat three meals a day prepared by the kitchen, and use the resort as a base for both surf sessions and the wellness programme.

Surf coaching is the core of the week. Beginner groups work on the softer waves a short walk from the property, while more experienced surfers paddle out to the Boom with a coach and work on specific manoeuvres — one guest writes that a coach named Victor advanced their surfing more in seven days than in months on their own. Boards are available, and sessions are split by level so nobody is stuck in the wrong group. Between sessions there's time to swim, read, or head into the nearest town for lunch.

The wellness side runs alongside the surf. Daily yoga classes are scheduled around the tides, and massage is available on site. A guest who came specifically to disconnect from city life described the wellness programme here as very special, and specifically called out the daily yoga and clean local food. The kitchen cooks mostly Nicaraguan dishes with plenty of vegetables and fresh fish; dietary needs are handled if you tell them in advance.

What separates Amaru from other surf camps in the region is the location itself. You walk down the resort's own stairs to the water — no shuttle, no long drive to the break — and the property sits high enough that the views from the rooms, pool and yoga deck look straight out over the Pacific. Several guests note that you can reach multiple waves on foot, which is unusual for the area. The resort also hosts outside retreat groups, so the schedule occasionally overlaps with a hosted programme.

The climate is hot and dry for much of the year, with the surf season running roughly from March through October and the biggest swell in the middle of that window. Outside the water, the region offers volcano hikes, estuary boat trips, and cultural excursions, all of which the staff can arrange. It's a place that suits people who want structure in the mornings and genuinely slow afternoons, rather than a packed activity schedule from dawn to dark.

What's included

- Accommodation on site at Amaru - Daily surf sessions with coaching, split by ability - Daily yoga classes - Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Board rental during your stay - Access to the pool and communal areas - Wifi throughout the property - Arrangement of airport transfers on request

What's not included

- International flights - Domestic flights or airport transfers to/from Managua unless arranged separately - Travel insurance - Alcoholic drinks and personal expenses - Massages and spa treatments - Optional excursions (volcano hikes, boat trips, cultural tours)