In this guide
San Juan del Sur beaches sit within 19 km of town. The Lonely Planet map puts Remanso at 7 km, Marsella and Maderas at 10 km, Hermosa at 11 km, Majagual at 12 km, Yankee at 14 km and El Coco at 19 km. Marsella and El Coco suit swimmers, Remanso suits beginner surfers, and Maderas and Yankee draw experienced ones. Monkeys Travels & Tours drives you to the one that fits your day.
This guide is about choosing a beach. For the town itself, the sunset cruise and the turtles, see our San Juan del Sur page.
The beaches at a glance
| Beach | Distance from town | Best for | Access and fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town bay | in town | swimming, first waves | walkable; no fee |
| Playa Remanso | 7 km south | beginner surf | okay road; no fee reported |
| Playa Marsella | 10 km north | calm swimming, families | dusty road; loungers free if you order |
| Playa Maderas | 10 to 12 km north | surf, sunset drinks | unpaved final stretch; shuttle from town |
| Playa Hermosa | 11 km south | learning, a full beach day | US$3 per person cover (March 2024) |
| Playa Majagual | 12 km north | quiet, little shade | walk north from Maderas at low tide |
| Playa Yankee | 13 to 14 km south | advanced surf | rough last kilometer; no facilities |
| Playa El Coco | 19 km south | calm water, few people | unpaved; motorbike, ATV or private car |
Distances are from the Lonely Planet map; Mondo Surf gives about 12 km for Maderas and Along Dusty Roads about 13 km plus 1 km of rough road for Yankee. Times run from 15 minutes for Remanso to up to 45 minutes for El Coco.
North of town: Maderas, Marsella and Majagual
Playa Maderas
Maderas is the best-known surf beach on this coast. Mondo Surf describes a beach break with lefts and rights, best on a mid-incoming tide and rarely good at dead low, with 20 to 30 people in the water on busy days. Sources disagree on the level: Mondo Surf and Along Dusty Roads call it suitable for beginners, while Chica Brava rates it advanced intermediate and warns of rocks and a current that pulls toward them. In practice the answer depends on the swell that day.
Getting there: Along Dusty Roads (updated October 2026) lists a shuttle from outside Casa de Oro, one block west of the central park, at US$4 one way or US$7 return, with departures at 10:00, 12:30 and 18:00 (and 7:30 in high season) and a ride of 35 to 45 minutes. A taxi runs about US$20 to 25 for the vehicle. The last stretch is unpaved and steep after rain. There are no ATMs at Maderas, and most beach restaurants close around sunset.
Playa Marsella
Just south of Maderas, Marsella is the calm one. Along Dusty Roads describes calm water, no swell for surfers, a couple of restaurants and free loungers if you buy food or drinks. It is popular with families and quiet on weekdays. If you walk from Maderas, the river can cut the path.
Playa Majagual
Majagual is a little farther north, about 12 km from town. Visit Centroamerica describes a quiet, wide beach with cliffs and sunsets. Along Dusty Roads suggests walking north from Maderas along the coast at low tide, past Playa Rosa. Bring shade and water.
South of town: Remanso, Hermosa, Yankee and El Coco
Playa Remanso
The closest surf beach, 7 km out and 15 to 20 minutes by motorbike according to Along Dusty Roads, which describes it as good for beginners and about 300 m long. Chica Brava calls the waves slower and softer, good for learning to ride along the wave, with rocks at both ends, and The Surf Atlas says it is best surfed as the tide comes in. It gets busy on weekends.
Playa Hermosa
Hermosa, 11 km from town, is entered through a gate where you pay a cover. In March 2024 Along Dusty Roads reported a cover charge of US$3 per person, a bar and restaurant, showers, toilets, hammocks and palapas, and a rule against bringing coolers or outside drinks. Waves are small enough for lessons. Chica Brava rates the surf intermediate to advanced, with whitewater where beginners can practice getting up. The last two kilometers of road are rough.
Playa Yankee
Yankee is for experienced surfers. Chica Brava describes a powerful left wedge that can barrel, strong currents and big sets, and Along Dusty Roads notes a small parking area and no facilities. It is about 13 km south plus a rough final kilometer.
Playa El Coco
At 19 km, El Coco is the farthest of the group and one of the calmest. Along Dusty Roads describes calm water, very few facilities, no shuttle service and a drive of up to 45 minutes with long unpaved sections. Visit Centroamerica mentions calm waves and fine sand.
The bay in town
You do not need a car to swim. Wikivoyage notes that the beach is at most 500 m from anywhere in town. The bay is also the harbor, and Along Dusty Roads points to the north end as less affected by boats. Chica Brava describes a mellow wave over sand in the bay, with stronger, hollower waves near the river at the north end.
Which beach for which traveler
| You are | First choice | Second choice | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A first-time surfer | Remanso | town bay | soft waves over sand |
| An intermediate surfer | Maderas | Hermosa | consistent peaks, lefts and rights |
| An advanced surfer | Yankee | Maderas on a big day | power and size |
| A family with young kids | Marsella | El Coco | calm water |
| A swimmer | El Coco | Marsella | calm water, few people |
| Someone who wants services | Hermosa | Maderas | restaurant, showers, hammocks |
Traveling with children? Our guide to Nicaragua with kids covers what changes for families.
Practical notes before you go
- Tides matter. Chica Brava notes that most breaks near town work best at high tide, and Along Dusty Roads warns that the tide can change the size of Maderas beach later in the day.
- Bring cash in small bills. Gate fees, loungers and beach restaurants are paid locally, and Maderas has no ATM.
- Head back before dark. Along Dusty Roads advises leaving before sunset if you drive, because street lighting is limited. The US Department of State keeps Nicaragua at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel" (advisory of May 14, 2026), and Canada advises a "high degree of caution" (updated November 2, 2026). Read our summary of official travel advisories.
- Rainy season roads. Along Dusty Roads warns that the unpaved road to Maderas is particularly hard after heavy rain, and the rains fall mostly from May to October. See the best time to visit Nicaragua.
How Monkeys builds a beach day
| Tour | Duration | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Hermosa Private Beach Day | full day | from US$35 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$65 solo | private transport from Rivas, beach guide, hammock setup, fresh ceviche, water |
| Surf Lesson Playa Maderas | 2 to 3 hours | from US$35 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo | instructor, transport to Maderas, board and rash guard, water |
| San Juan del Sur Full Day | 8 hours | from US$45 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$75 solo | private guide, transport from Rivas, entrance fees, water |
The full day moves between beaches, with an optional surf lesson at Maderas, a stop for a local lunch (paid separately) and the sunset in town. For groups of 7 to 10 it drops to US$38 per person. Apart from the fresh ceviche on the Playa Hermosa day, meals are not included, and none of the three includes tips or travel insurance. If you want to know when the surf is right, read our guide to the surf season in Nicaragua.
What Monkeys does
Monkeys Travels & Tours is a private tour operator based in Rivas, founded in 2018 by Everth Palma, who was born and raised in Rivas.
- The tour is private. Your group only, never combined with other travelers.
- Bilingual bilingual guides born in Rivas, in a private vehicle.
- Daytime departures.
- WhatsApp at +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, with answers in under an hour.
- Written confirmation of price and inclusions. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure.
To book, send your date, number of people and hotel on WhatsApp.
Questions we get every week
Which San Juan del Sur beach is best for swimming?
Playa Marsella and Playa El Coco. Along Dusty Roads describes both with calm water, and Visit Centroamerica mentions the calm waves at El Coco. The town bay is also used for swimming, with the north end less affected by boats. Maderas, Hermosa and Yankee are surf beaches with stronger currents.
How far are the beaches from San Juan del Sur?
The Lonely Planet town map gives Playa Remanso 7 km, Marsella and Maderas 10 km, Hermosa 11 km, Majagual 12 km, Yankee 14 km and El Coco 19 km from town. Mondo Surf puts Maderas at about 12 km. Expect 15 to 45 minutes depending on the beach and the last unpaved stretch.
Do I have to pay to enter the beaches?
Most beaches have no entrance fee. Playa Hermosa charged a cover of US$3 per person at the gate, according to Along Dusty Roads (updated March 2024), and Playa Escameca charged US$5 at a barrier. Fees at private gates change, so carry small cash.
Which beach is best for a first surf lesson?
Guides most often cite Playa Maderas for beginners and intermediates, and it is where Monkeys runs its lesson. For the gentlest first session, Chica Brava and The Surf Atlas describe Playa Remanso, the closest surf beach, as a mellow wave. The town bay has a gentle wave in front of the surf schools. Maderas is where Monkeys runs its 2 to 3 hour lesson, from US$35 per person (groups of 4 to 6); US$55 solo.
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages, checked on the date shown above.
- Lonely Planet, San Juan del Sur map (distances to beaches)
- Along Dusty Roads, the best San Juan del Sur beaches (updated March 2024)
- Along Dusty Roads, a guide to Playa Maderas (updated October 2026)
- Mondo Surf, Playa Maderas surf spot guide
- The Surf Atlas, San Juan del Sur surf guide (updated 4 March 2025)
- Chica Brava, best surf spots in southern Nicaragua (27 March 2015)
- Visit Centroamerica, Port of San Juan del Sur
- Wikivoyage, San Juan del Sur
- US Department of State, Nicaragua travel advisory (14 May 2026)
- Government of Canada, travel advice for Nicaragua (updated 2 November 2026)