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Nicaragua


Nicaragua is my favorite place on the planet, and the safest country in Central America (yes, it’s safer than Costa Rica!) With warm water, uncrowded surf, friendly locals, and located a relatively short flight away from the US, it’s the perfect place for a week-long escape. There are great waves to learn to stand up on a surfboard for the first time or get the barrel of your dreams.

Escape reality for a week of unforgettable adventure!

It all starts with surfing.
Whether you are ready to catch your very first wave, become more confident in the water, transition to riding a shortboard, or improve your existing skills while making new surfing friends, we will help you achieve your goals. There are great waves for beginners, advanced beginners, intermediate, and experienced surfers all within walking distance. Getting you into the best waves is our top priority. If you are willing to think positively, push yourself, and listen to feedback you will leave the retreat a better surfer.

A perfect beginner's wave


Lindsay McDonald from Halifax Canada on the wave of her trip!

After surfing we’ll do yoga.
Yoga is so good for your body and mind. After a morning at the beach and an awesome meal, we’ll head up to the elevated ocean-view yoga studio. Yoga is a great way for surfers to work on core strength, flexibility, balance, and breathing. The yoga sessions will vary between strength building and restorative yoga. The instructor will provide modifications of poses so that every yogi will feel supported and challenged.



Afternoon Adventures

If the wind cooperates and the waves are good in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the beach for a second surf session. Otherwise we’ll set off on an adventure. We’ll hop on horseback and gallop down the beach, take a day-trip to the colonial city of Leon and hike up, then board down an active volcano, get dressed up and indulge in incredible French food at a hilltop restaurant with a 360 degree view. If conditions permit we may take a boat cruise to check out a secret surf spot.


Open air travel



Gourmet dining

The Difference
The difference between Suave Dulce and other women’s surf and yoga retreats is attitude and experience. Unlike other places where the instructors are barely intermediate surfers themselves, when you stay with us you will be coached and supported by Holly Beck, a professional surfer with a keen eye for how to help you specifically improve. We video every session and go over the footage so that you can see what you’re doing right and what little changes might help you really improve.

We also create a culture of support. The other girls will become your new surfing sisters, yelling and cheering and clapping and dancing in celebration of your awesome rides. You just don’t get that anywhere else.

$1,700 all inclusive package includes ($1,600 early bird special if booked 2 months in advance):
- two way airport transfer (if you get a flight that arrives on the first date of the retreat and departs on the last day.)
- 7 nights accommodation in a shared cabana
- 3 deliciously healthy meals per day
- all beverages (juices, sodas, beer, rum)
- daily surf lessons with professional surfer Holly Beck
- all afternoon activities such as yoga, horseback riding, volcano boarding, estuary cruising, and other surprises
- professional video footage and photos of you riding the best wave of your life

Typical Daily Schedule looks like this:
6:30am wake up for buffet breakfast of coffee, juice, cereal, toast, yogurt, fruit
7:30am – 11am surfing, surfing, surfing!
11:30am delicious lunch
2pm yoga
4pm second surf session or other adventure
7pm dinner with new friends

See the Schedule Link for available dates

A 50% deposit secures your spot. Contact SuaveDulce@gmail.com for booking info or other questions

Travel Info
- Fly into Managua International Airport (MGA)
- Taca (via El Salvador), American Airlines (via Miami), Delta, and Continental (via Houston) all have reasonable schedules, but Continental occasionally does not allow surfboards so if you plan to bring your own, check to make sure you are allowed.
- Nicaragua charges a $10 tourist tax that is collected at the airport when you land. They only accept cash so it’s convenient to have a $10 bill on hand when you arrive.
- No vaccinations are needed to travel to Nicaragua. Malaria is not a problem on the Pacific Coast, but protecting yourself from mosquitoes is always a good idea.

- Health insurance coverage is mandatory.  We recommend travel insurance that covers changes to travel plans, cancellations, lost baggage and supplementary health coverage.  The one we use is Travel Guard (click the button below to sign up)…
Travel Guard Insurance

Packing List
- Sun protection: sunscreen, hat, long-sleeve rashguard, etc.
- refillable water bottle
- flashlight or headlamp
- light weight long sleeve top and pants for wearing in the evenings to protect from mosquitoes
- yoga wear and yoga mat
- sturdy, closed-toe shoes for volcano boarding
- jeans for horseback riding
- one cute outfit or sundress for dinner at a nicer restaurant
- camera
- beach towel
- beach bag
- adventurous attitude

Things you don’t need
- blow dryer
- makeup
- computer
- voltage adapter (Nica is the same as the US)

Discussion

10 Responses to “Nicaragua”

  1. Is there going to be a camp sometime near June 2011? Or another time during summer…

    Posted by Amanda Nazzal | December 14, 2010, 7:14 am
  2. where do I find out details about surf camp in Nicaragua? How much is it? What are the dates for this coming year? And is it suitable for beginning surfers?

    thanks!

    Posted by Jessica | January 13, 2011, 4:06 am
  3. Hi there Holly, I think your surf retreat looks amazing. I’m a surfer from Oregon and first saw your retreat on House Hunters, and what you’re doing just totally spoke to me and a part of myself that has been lost since having a beautiful daughter and launching back into school. I’ve thought about that episode from time to time, it reminds me about something I love (surfing and travel) and helps me remember who I am.
    As circumstances have it I have just been accepted into a 2 week study abroad program in Nicaragua that will find me building structures and taking care of people outside of Managua. It will be my first time away from my daughter for so long (she’s two) and thought part of me will be sad, the other part of me is looking forward to rediscovering what makes ME happy while I’m down there. So naturally your retreat came to mind right away.
    I’m writing for two reasons, to let you know that you’re story touches and inspires someone far away (I’d love to know that if I were you). And to see if it’s possible to spend a day or two at your retreat, I will have a couple free days while there. I don’t know how far you are from Managua, and I don’t know if you take people for short times like that. Do you teach lessons? Maybe it’s a stretch, I just am having a hard time getting a sense of what you offer there. Let me know OK?
    Hope your day is wonderful.
    - Amie :)

    Posted by Amie | March 4, 2011, 10:01 pm
  4. Hello Holly,
    Is this just for girls or can guys go to? I am really interested in this, and i been looking for something like this for a while now.

    Posted by Matt | April 13, 2011, 10:47 am
  5. What are the waves like the end of August–early September? I want to make sure they are big enough–but not too big!

    Posted by Lindsay | July 22, 2011, 4:12 pm
  6. Great post! Worth reading for.

    Posted by Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat | August 11, 2011, 10:04 am
  7. I became curious about your surf camp after seeing an episode of Househunters International last night. Are either of your camps near Padre Ramos Estuary? I was down there last January kayaking, camping, and exploring. Do you know Jenn from Ibis Kayaking? Would love to come back someday and thought it might be fun to combine both experiences. Thanks!

    Posted by Lisa | October 26, 2011, 3:06 pm

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