San Juan Del Sur

Our first adventure in Nicaragua was to San Juan del Sur, a beach near the southern border of Nicaragua on the Pacific Coast. I think the majority of us wanted to catch some rays so that we might even look like we’ve been in the tropics when we come home in August rather than looking like we’ve been in workshops up to our elbows in transistors and solder. The beach is only about 80 miles away from Managua but our average transit time was about 4 hours each way.
San Juan del Sur is a small port town with a hundred small fishing boats anchored in the harbor and just as many independent hotels, bed and breakfasts, and hostels along the mountainous cove to accommodate the tourism and surfing industry. The beach is equipped with very muddy brown sand and knee-high waves (also laden with mud). But, just about 12 kilometers north, Playa Majagual boasts a light sands, prominent rock formations, fifteen foot waves, and deserted beaches.

When we first got to the beach, we went to check out the rocky point of the island. We skirted around the edge of a cliff and crossed a shallow area of water where the point breaks away from the main land. “Wouldn’t it be funny if the tide came in while we are out there?” I asked more astutely than I knew. Neel reassured us that “The tide is usually high in the morning.” Right. Let’s go. Anyways, we trekked around the point and climbed on the rock formations there. I also learned the how to raise waves with sweeping arm motions (inspired by Mickey Mouse in Fantasia). Jordan didn’t master the trick though, and found himself fighting his way back across to the mainland after the tide did indeed cut us off.