Nicaragua Surf Camp, learn to surf at Playa Maderas
Six days built around the water. Daily coaching, video reviews, jungle workouts, catamaran days and beach bonfires: the most focused way to actually get better at surfing. Show up solo, leave as family.
A week dialed for the water.
More surf, more structure, more progression, and none of the stuff that makes SYB, SYB gets lost. Same Playa Maderas villas, same crew energy, just a deeper dive into the waves.
Surf Daily
One-on-one coaching and same-day video reviews so you level up fast, every single day.
Jungle Gym
High-energy workouts and yoga set in the Playa Maderas trees, steps from the sand.
Catamaran Day
Sail to a hidden white-sand cove for snorkeling, fresh food and sunset drinks.
Beach Bonfires
Nightly hangs on the sand under the stars with the crew, the part nobody wants to end.
Sunset Yoga
Unwind on a deck over the Pacific as the sky goes on fire. Jungle behind, ocean ahead.
Chef Meals
Fresh, healthy feasts cooked daily by our local Nicaraguan team. You'll eat well.
Theme Nights
Signature SYB parties where you show up solo and leave with a whole new family.
Pro Content
A photographer and videographer capturing your best waves and biggest smiles.
You bring yourself. We handle the rest.
No itinerary to build, no logistics to chase, no awkward "so what do we do today." From the second you land to your last bonfire, it's all planned. You show up solo and slot straight into a crew.
Airport to villa
We pick you up from Managua or Liberia and handle every transfer. You never figure out a single ride.
Boards & coaching
Boards matched to your level, two coached sessions a day, video review. Nothing to rent or research.
Beds & meals
Beachfront villas, daily cleaning, chef breakfasts and dinners, open bar at the villas. Just turn up hungry.
The fun, planned
Boat day, theme nights, bonfires, a massage and a photographer, all built into the week for you.
Nobody does it like us.
Back in 2014, I started SurfYogaBeer on one slightly rebellious belief: you shouldn't have to choose between a real adventure, getting in the best shape of your life, and actually making friends. So we built trips that do all of it at once: chase waves, sweat it out at sunrise, explore somewhere new, then dance with people who were strangers on Monday and feel like family by Friday.
Nicaragua Surf Camp is that idea pointed straight at the water. Surfing gets the spotlight here, but the soul of it is pure SurfYogaBeer: move together, push together, celebrate together, and fly home with a crew you'll be planning reunions with before you've even landed.
We've been doing this longer than anyone like us. The original, since 2014. And we've never once phoned it in. That's the whole point.
Real moments. Real people.
See a week in the water.
Real footage from Nicaragua Surf Camp and the SYB crew. Swipe through and tap any clip to watch.
The ones you'll talk about for years.
🏄🏼♀️ Sunrise Surf Lessons
Hit Playa Maderas with a local crew we've worked with for 10+ years. First time standing up or chasing your cleanest ride. Sunrise, an empty beach, and every session sticks with you.
⛵️ Catamaran to Playa Blanca
Sail the coastline to a hidden white-sand cove. Swim, snorkel, eat, drink and laugh with no crowds in sight. Just your crew, crystal water, and a stretch of paradise all to yourselves.
🌅 Sunset Yoga, Ocean Views
Unwind each evening with yoga on the deck over the Pacific. Jungle behind you, ocean in front, sky on fire. The moments you carry home long after the trip.
Playa Maderas was made to learn on.
Nicaragua is one of the most reliable places on the planet to learn and level up. Offshore winds blow nearly year-round thanks to Lake Nicaragua, which means cleaner, more makeable waves more often. Playa Maderas, our home break just north of San Juan del Sur, is a forgiving sand-bottom beach break with peaks that suit total beginners and improving intermediates alike.
That's why Surf Camp works. You're in warm water (board shorts, no thick wetsuit), surfing twice a day, with one-on-one coaching and same-day video analysis built around your goals. Most people land barely standing up and leave linking turns. It's the fastest, most focused way we know to actually get better, while still getting the workouts, yoga, boat day and crew nights that make it a SYB trip.
Read the full Surf Camp guide →You're in genuinely good hands.
Every SYB trip is run by academy-trained leaders whose entire job is to make sure you have the time of your life and actually improve. In Nicaragua you also surf with a local crew we've partnered with for over 10 years, who know every peak at Playa Maderas by heart.
A photographer and videographer come along, so you can stay present and still go home with the content. You're based in a gated villa community with 24/7 security, and we've been running Nicaragua since 2015 with zero safety issues. From the moment you land, you're never navigating anything alone.
Six days, hour by hour.
Day 1Arrival Day
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Land before 3pm to catch the SYB van to Playa Maderas from Managua (Nicaragua) or Liberia (Costa Rica), about a 3-hour drive with a border crossing. Arrive at hilltop villas with panoramic beach views, settle in, then gather for a welcome dinner and orientation to set your surf goals for the week.
Day 2Surf & Workout
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Wake-up calls and your first surf session to assess skills and set goals. Then your first personalized lesson on technique and positioning, video review over lunch, and a second session in the afternoon. Pool time, a jungle gym session, then themed attire for a private beach bonfire pre-party before the local taco and tequila bar.
Day 3Surf, Yoga, Beer
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Packed with surf and personalized coaching: a morning session, a tailored lesson, video review, yoga and jungle gym, then back in the water to practice what you learned. Tonight we bring in our salsa teacher for a little lesson on how to move those hips.
Day 4Catamaran Day
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Morning workout and surf, then to the marina for a full day on a catamaran, easily one of the best days of the week. Snorkel off a white-sand beach, fresh food on the boat, drinks sailing into sunset. Pack a change of clothes: we stay in San Juan Del Sur for dinner and karaoke. Shoes optional, singing is not.
Day 5Full SYB Day
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Show off what you've learned with one final surf session and video analysis to track progress. We celebrate with a closing ceremony recognizing your improvements, wrap with sunset deck yoga, and on the last night together, the SYB awards ceremony.
Day 6Back to Reality
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Checkout at 8am and the SYB van to Managua or Liberia airport, so book a flight that leaves after noon. Until next time… or until we throw our next party, because this friendship just started.
What's included.
✅ In your trip
- ✓Beachfront accommodations
- ✓Wifi (100+ Mbps)
- ✓6am coffee station
- ✓All transportation
- ✓5 breakfasts · 4 dinners
- ✓Morning beach workouts
- ✓Jungle gym sessions
- ✓Yoga sessions
- ✓Daily surf (AM & PM)
- ✓Personalized surf lessons
- ✓Video surf analysis
- ✓Personal surf photos
- ✓Catamaran boat day
- ✓Beach bonfire
- ✓30-minute massage
- ✓Karaoke night
- ✓Open bar at the villas
- ✓Daily room cleaning
- ✓Themed parties
- ✓SYB welcome package
- ✓Photographer + videographer
- ✓Services of SYB leaders
❌ Not included
- ✕International flights
- ✕1 dinner in town
- ✕Lunches
- ✕Horseback riding
- ✕Drinks at outside bars
- ✕Travel insurance (required)
- ✕Medical insurance
Show up solo. Leave as family.
It's the line we hear most. People arrive not knowing a soul and leave with a group chat that never goes quiet. These are real reviews from the SurfYogaBeer Google profile.
This may have been the best week of my life… I was taught to surf from amazing supportive instructors… some of the most amazing souls that I now consider family.
This was my first SYB trip and it was in Nicaragua… from the airport pickup it never felt awkward. Everyone was awesome.
SYB Nicaragua was a life changing experience. Traveling solo, then leaving with a family.
Real verbatim reviews from the Surf Yoga Beer Google Business Profile (5.0 ★, 292 reviews). Shown as first name + last initial.
Straight from the feed.
Real moments from past travelers. When you join, your story becomes part of it.
Pick your week.
Not sure yet? Let's chat.
Booking a week away with people you haven't met is a big leap, and we get it. Hop on a quick, no-pressure call with Danielle from our crew. She's lived the trip, she'll answer anything you throw at her, and she'll help you figure out if Surf Camp is your week.
Booking takes two minutes. Then we take over.
The biggest worry before a trip like this is usually "what now?" Here's exactly what happens, so there are no surprises.
Secure your spot
Pay your 20% deposit. Cards, Apple/Google Pay, Klarna or a plan.
Book your flight
You're in. Grab a flight landing before 3pm on day one.
Balance, 6 weeks out
We collect the rest plus a quick form for flights and food prefs.
Guide, 3 weeks out
Trip guide, party themes and the group chat to meet the crew early.
We handle logistics
Pickups, villas, coaching and every activity, planned and confirmed.
Let's go
Show up at the airport and find the happiest crew there.
Questions, answered.
Why Surf Camp over the classic trip? +
Surf Camp is the most surf-focused option, built around time in the water with coaching, guidance and repetition that actually helps you improve. You still get the workouts, the villas, the food and the group energy, just a bit more dialed and intentional. If you want a do-everything social mix, the classic SurfYogaBeer trip is the better fit.
Can I come solo? +
Yes, and most people do. You're training, surfing and eating together, so it doesn't take long before it feels like you came with a group.
Is this trip active? +
Very. Surf is the priority so you'll be in the water daily, often more than once, plus optional workouts and mobility sessions. Not overwhelming, but it's definitely not a sit-by-the-pool week.
What skill level is it for? +
Beginner and intermediate. It's perfect for fast progression whether you're standing up for the first time or refining your cleanest ride.
Is it safe? +
We've run trips to Nicaragua since 2015 with no safety issues, working with the same trusted local team and surf partners. You stay in a gated villa community with 24/7 security, and everything from airport pickup to daily activities is organized in advance.
What's the cancellation policy? +
Bookings are non-refundable as spots are limited and trips are planned in advance. Cancel more than 45 days before the trip and you may receive trip credit toward a future SurfYogaBeer trip. Travel insurance is required and is the best way to protect your booking.
What flights should I book? +
Fly into Managua, Nicaragua (MGA), about a 2.5-hour drive and our recommendation, or Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), about a 3-hour drive with a border crossing. Try to land by 3pm on arrival day so you can catch a group shuttle, which we schedule around everyone’s flights. For your flight home, book a departure after noon.
Do I need a visa for Nicaragua? +
For most travelers, no visa is needed for a short stay, just a valid passport and a small entry fee on arrival. We send the exact details for your nationality once you book.
Where exactly do we stay? +
Villas Playa Maderas, a private, gated villa community just above the beach with 24-hour security. Air-conditioned rooms with in-room safes, two infinity pools, surf-view yoga decks and a jungle gym. We have been coming here since 2015 and it always feels easy to settle into.
What about food and dietary restrictions? +
A private chef cooks every meal with fresh, locally sourced ingredients: quality meats, organic produce, no seed oils, and 4 to 5 fresh fruit smoothies each morning. Tell us any dietary restrictions ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate.
Shared or private room, and how much? +
Choose a shared spot (girls’ or boys’ rooms) at $1,950, or a private room with an ensuite bathroom at $2,650. Both include the full 6-day, 5-night experience.
How does payment work? +
Reserve your spot with a 20% deposit (about $390 on the shared spot). The balance is due six weeks before the trip, and pay-later options like Klarna and instalments are available at checkout.
Your best surf week
is six days away.
Daily waves, a crew that becomes family, and everything handled. The only thing left is to grab your spot.