San Juan del Sur

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San Juan del Sur is a port on the Pacific coast of south western Nicaragua.

San Juan del Sur

[edit] Get in

From Rivas take a taxi or the bus directly to San Juan del Sur. It is about a 1 hour ride. "Colectivo" taxis cost 25 cordobas per person, no matter how full the taxi is. However, that means the driver might try to fill up the taxi before leaving. Taxi drivers are honest as to whether it is a colectivo or not. The easiest place to find taxis from Rivas is from the bus terminal.

In Rivas, there are buses south (to the Costa Rican border), and north to Managua.

[edit] Get around

Walk. The town is small. There are also constant offers of "Taxi, Sir?". Some hotels have shuttle service to other beachs.

[edit] See

There's a couple of coloured houses which land on every tourist's camera but that's about the beauty of San Juan.

[edit] Do

Hang out, talk, drink, eat. It is very laid back here. Move a bit and you might find a good beach to surf.

Rent bicycles and explore the smaller beachs to the south and north. They cost $5 per day to rent, but are not in very good condition.

Take a day trip water taxi to Playa Madera, north of San Juan de Sur for $8. Sign up at the stand in front of Hotel Estrella. It leaves about 10AM and returns at 4PM. The boat ride is about half an hour.

There is a light house that no longer resembles a light house. But the point is not the destination, rather the journey. The view of the coast and the bay of San Jan de Sur is amazing. To get there, pass through the small port entrance, find the overseer of the property where the light house is and convince him you wont take pictures of anything. If he lets you pass, keep your promise.

[edit] Buy

This is a small town. There are shops and a market area aimed at local needs. You will not find much targeted to travelers. But there's an English library with a café in it, wide range of all kinds of different books, just ask your way around, it's not hard to find.

[edit] Eat

There are a string of open air cafe/restaurants along the waterfront. They serve excellent fresh seafood. You get local breakfast offers in the market where there's a few little Sodas in a row.

[edit] Drink

You are in Nicaragua, so drink Flor De Cana.

[edit] Sleep

• Hotel Gran Oceano, Del parque, 2 c hacia el mar, e-mail: hgoceano@ibw.com.ni. Among the nicest. They also arrange boat trips.

• Hotel Estrella Better avoid that one, it's right on the beach, but the balconies are accessible from each other, and the doors are only lockable from the outside. Some have had to put a stone in front of the door just to keep it shut. There are stories of other people that said they had bats coming in the window, banging against the walls and falling on their beds. 5 US$ per person per night, make sure you chose a good room and not those with the balcony.

There are dozens of cheap and moderate hotels within blocks of the beach. Homestays are available, prices very negoyiable.

[edit] Get out

To leave, head to the market to get a bus or taxi to Rivas. From there buses go either up to the North (Granada, Managua) or down to Costa Rica.