Suave Dulce
Testimonials
Emily Gives Back With Suave Dulce
Emily is a 10th grader at High Tech High in San Diego who had the opportunity to spend 10 days helping to build a school for kids in Northern Nicaragua. Aside from giving back, she learned how to surf, practiced yoga, and got to know the community.
Check out her story…
Ruth Gained Surfing Confidence at Suave Dulce
Ruth doesn’t look like a “Ruth”, so we started calling her “Adriana”.
She’s cute and sassy with the longest eyelashes I’ve ever seen on a surfer – definitely not what I imagined someone named “Ruth” to look like.
During her week at Suave Dulce the amiga formerly known as “Ruth” scored the best waves of her life and definitely increased her confidence in the water. Click “play” above to check out her story.
Ruth aka Adriana goes left
A Week at Suave Dulce Changed Everything
Brandy is a graphic designer from San Francisco that has been surfing for a few years. On day 1 she was riding whitewash like a champ and inspiring all the other ladies. By day 6 however, she was sitting outside and taking off on awesome green waves, pushing herself to go on bigger waves than she ever had before, and claiming that a week at Suave Dulce had changed everything!
Leeah Styles the Volcano
30 year old Leeah Chu lives in New York and had taken a three month sabbatical from her high pressure finance job to explore the world. After traveling to India and Thailand, Leeah took a last minute trip to Nicaragua to learn how to surf and charge down a volcano at 58 km/hr. She did it all with great energy and tons of style.
Learning to Surf is Easy
Who says it’s difficult to learn to surf? Not Lauren Dombowsky….
Rhea Overcame an Intense Fear of the Ocean to Learn to Surf
Rhea Manalo is 37 years old and has lived most of her life in the Philippines. She came to Suave Dulce to learn to overcome an intense fear of the ocean and fulfill her dream of riding a wave. It was a week-long process starting with just getting comfortable standing waist-deep in the water, but by the end Rhea stood up on a board and rode a few waves all the way to the sand. She was overcome with emotion. Everyone who witnessed her success was so proud of her and very inspired. Anything is possible!
Hillary Billings loves the Camera and Suave Dulce
Dear Holly,
I do not know how to properly thank you for the gifts you have given me. Within one short week, I feel like you were able to awaken a part of my soul that was dormant.
Before I came down to Nicaragua, I felt lost without a purpose or plan. Granted, even though I am only twenty two, it was not a great feeling to feel like the world was spinning without you. After having met you and experiencing the positive environment you have created, my lack of direction seems to matter less. I feel like I better understand what’s important in the world: supporting others, creating positive and unforgettable experiences, and daring to be great.
I know I certainly wasn’t the best surfer at the camp, but I appreciated how you gave me the same time, counsel, and support as the other girls. I am still riding on the high from paddling out the back with you on Saturday. Conquering that fear was an eye opener. With the right people around, you can do anything.
Your lifestyle, constant desire for adventure and demand for pushing limits is also inspiring. You are one tough woman on a mission! I already miss the simplicity of El Coco Loco already and hope to one day come back and experience that wonderland again.
I know you’re a very busy woman (with slow internet connection 
but I hope we can stay in touch. It’s not very often you meet people who are as positive, adventurous, or comfortable with themselves as you are.
Please let me know about Ecuador! I hope your dog is feeling better (and that your boy made it safely back to Nica)!
Until next time!
All the best,
Hilary Billings
Ako Matsuzaki’s Thank You Letter
To Suave Dulce,
I just wanted to quickly pop in say a huge – and I mean HUGE thank you for a making my first trip to Nicaragua a trip I will never forget. What a treat it was to be able to wake up to the sound of the waves, not to mention the natural alarm clock of the birds outside. The past two days, I have opened my eyes to only see concrete walls of my apartment and to the sound of cars. Yes, hot showers and flushing toilets are nice (though I’ve found myself hesitating to flush – ha) but for a lack of better word, being back home has royally SUCKED ASS.
Even though I’m still just a beginner, surfing has taught me so much about life in general; every wave is different and so I need to be flexible and adjust accordingly. The harder I fight things, sometimes the more difficult it gets – and even if I fall, all I need to do is just get right back up on my board because there is always another wave waiting for me. I may get tumbled under water and have no idea what’s happening, but if I just stop and take a moment to surrender, eventually – and naturally, I will find my way up and it’s all going to be okay.
What made this trip even more memorable was to be able to see all the “GOOD” that el Coco Loco and Waves of Hope are doing for the local community. I have walked away from this trip not only feeling touched – but truly inspired by the amazing work and love they are giving back and hope that one day, when I get my “big girl job” back, that I will be able to due my part in making a difference, even if it is to help one little boy or girl at a time. With that said, I will do my best to spread the word about Waves of Hope to my friends and family as well as your camp – but will also be sure to be slightly selective so I don’t crowd the secret and perfect surf spot you have found on the map 
Thank you again for allowing me to have an amazing opportunity to see the world and learn through surfing – and being an awesome & inspiring woman, Holly! I hope this week will be just as much fun as last week and please tell everyone I said hello and I miss them already!
With love, dreams and hopes of making a difference,
Ako
