Nicaragua: The New Surf Mecca

In Nicaragua there are so many cultural expressions and a large variety of natural resources that make the country an emerging tourist destination. Due to its 24 volcanoes (between active, non-active and extinct), 3 lakes and 47 lagoons the country is known internationally as "the land of lakes and volcanoes". This synergy of fire and water has for years been the hook to attract tourists from all over the world looking for an exotic place that has not been fully explored and find the country a welcoming destination. It is difficult to summarize the amount of beauties that Nicaragua has, but among the most prominent is Lake Cocibolca, the second largest freshwater lake in America. It is also the only freshwater lake with sharks and an island within it that stands with two volcanoes.  Other prominent attractions include the Corn Islands, offering precious beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, Granada and Leon, colonial cities that treasure the history of Nicaragua and the Cerro Negro Volcano, one of the youngest volcanoes in the world and the only one where sandboarding can be practiced. 

Tourism in Nicaragua has excellent potential and represents a great opportunity for sustainable development to its people. There has been much talk of its colonial cities, impressive volcanoes, lakes and more… but it is necessary to mention the latest boom, the rough diamond that Nicaragua has, that will be considered one of its strengths in the next years: its beaches and more specifically, its waves.

The waves automatically translate into surfing, a sport born in the islands of Hawaii. This sport has rapidly expanded worldwide due to its particularity and Nicaragua has not stayed behind. Until a few years ago, the surfing potential of this Central American country did not stand out. However, as of today, four World Surfing Championships have been carried out on its coasts, bringing more than 300 surfers from every corner of the globe together in each event. 410 kilometers of coast in the Pacific Ocean, 530 kilometers in the Caribbean Sea, warm waters all year round and constant winds are what have made Nicaragua a paradise for surfers around the world. The country has managed to position itself in the top 10 best surf destinations in the world.  

Among the main reasons for Nicaragua's position in terms of surfing is the fact that it is the only country in the world where you can surf all year long thanks to a phenomenon that occurs only in Nicaragua. This phenomenon consists of strong winds on the isthmus of Rivas, between the great Lake of Nicaragua and the Pacific, that allow the necessary offshore winds to produce waves. In addition, the waters of Nicaragua are warm all year round. For these reasons Nicaragua has become one of the favorite destinations in the world for surfers.

This interactive book dedicated to Nicaragua’s Surf Route is a collaborative effort between Nicaragua Turismo e Inversion and Slick Developers with the support of the Cooperation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and was elaborated to create global awareness of the opportunities the country has to offer to surf lovers.