Things to Do in Popoyo, Nicaragua: 8 Picks on the Tola Beaches

In this guide

Our top picks for things to do in Popoyo and the Tola beaches start with surfing the Popoyo reef, which Mondo Surf rates very consistent (more than 150 days a year) on all tides, plus Guasacate, Playa Santana, Playa Colorado and Playa Gigante. Add Ometepe with pickup in Popoyo and, from July to January, the La Flor turtles.

Popoyo is in the municipality of Tola, west of Rivas. Wikivoyage places it 100 km south of Managua: you leave the Panamerican highway at Paso Real de Ochomogo and drive west until the road ends at the beach. Mondo Surf gives the same route toward Las Salinas and recommends a 4x4 for the dirt roads.

This ranking is the order we would suggest for a first visit, with the source for each fact. Monkeys does not sell a guided beach tour in Tola today: we drive you to your hotel on this coast and pick you up there for Ometepe. For the turtles and the wider area, see our La Flor and Tola beaches page.

The ranking at a glance

#	What to do	Where	Good for	Main source
1	Surf the Popoyo reef	Playa Popoyo	intermediate and advanced surfers	Mondo Surf
2	Stay and surf in Guasacate and Las Salinas	north of Playa Popoyo	all levels, budget stays	Mondo Surf, Everyday Nicaragua
3	Playa Santana and Rancho Santana	El Limón	intermediate surfers, resort stays	Mondo Surf, Rancho Santana
4	Playa Colorado and Hacienda Iguana	Hacienda Iguana	fast, hollow waves; golf	Mondo Surf, Hacienda Iguana
5	Playa Gigante, the fishing village	Gigante Bay	calm water, boats to the breaks	Everyday Nicaragua
6	Guacalito de la Isla and Mukul	Playa Manzanillo	a quiet beach, golf	Mukul, Preferred Hotels
7	Ometepe in a day, pickup in Popoyo	Lake Nicaragua	volcanoes and the island	UNESCO, Monkeys catalog
8	The La Flor turtles in season	San Juan del Sur	July to January	MARENA, La Prensa

1. Surf the Popoyo reef

Mondo Surf describes a reef break over coral reef and sand with A-frame peaks, lefts and rights, rides of 50 to 150 meters, and a wave that works on all tides. It rates the frequency as "very consistent (more than 150 days a year)" and the level as intermediate.

There are two reefs. The main reef suits intermediate surfers. The outer reef is about a 15-minute paddle from shore and, according to Mondo Surf, is for experienced surfers only: it can get very large in the rainy season, from May to September. Mondo Surf also warns about rips, undertow and rocks, and suggests parking next to the restaurants closest to the break.

2. Guasacate and Las Salinas

Playa Guasacate sits just north of Playa Popoyo, and Mondo Surf notes that some people call it Popoyo Beach. It is a sandy beach break with lefts and rights, best at high tide and suitable for all levels, a good option for a first session on this coast. The beach is in front of the village, with public access points from the main road.

Everyday Nicaragua describes Guasacate and Popoyo as one main road along the beach with no private community, aimed at budget travelers and backpackers, and Mondo Surf mentions hostels, surf camps and restaurants nearby. A few landmarks help you find your way: Wikivoyage places Magnific Rock on a 30-meter cliff above Playa Popoyo, in Las Salinas, and Finca Popoyo describes itself as a surf hotel and 90-acre coastal property in Popoyo.

Staying here? See our transfer to Guasacate and Popoyo.

3. Playa Santana and Rancho Santana

Santana, also known as Playa Jiquiliste, is near the village of El Limón. Mondo Surf describes a beach break that stretches for several kilometers over sand and rocks, with a main peak that works best on the incoming tide, a level for intermediate surfers, and hazards that include rocks, urchins and strong rips.

Behind the beach is Rancho Santana, which describes itself as a resort and residential community with five beaches and three surf breaks, at Comarca Limón #1 on the Las Salinas road in Tola. Everyday Nicaragua names those beaches as Santana, Duna, Rosada, Escondida and Los Perros, and places Rancho Santana 22 km from the town of Tola. Mondo Surf notes that access to Santana is through the resort for renters or owners, or by a marked dirt road past the entrance.

Staying at the Ranch? See our transfer to Rancho Santana.

4. Playa Colorado and Hacienda Iguana

Playa Colorado is a different kind of wave. Mondo Surf describes a sandy beach break with lefts and rights shorter than 50 meters, fast and hollow, for intermediate surfers, with the best swells from May to September. It also warns that it gets crowded, with more than 30 surfers in the water at peak times.

The beach sits next to Hacienda Iguana, which describes itself as a private beachfront community with golf. Lush Palm places it in Tola, Rivas, a 6 to 8 minute walk from Panga Drops and Playa Colorado, and Everyday Nicaragua mentions a 9-hole golf course just off the beach. According to Mondo Surf, the beach is private but public access is possible by law, and most surfers reach it by staying at Hacienda Iguana or by boat from Rancho Santana or Gigante.

Staying at Hacienda Iguana? See our transfer to Hacienda Iguana.

5. Playa Gigante, the fishing village

Everyday Nicaragua calls Playa Gigante a classic Nicaraguan fishing village for budget travelers. The beach itself is protected from surf, so the water is calmer, and boats take surfers to the nearby breaks. You can stay on the beach in a hostel or up the hill in a rental with views of Gigante Bay.

Behind Gigante Bay, on a hillside, Aqua Wellness Resort & Spa has its own private beach, according to Everyday Nicaragua. Staying in Gigante? See our transfer to Playa Gigante.

6. Guacalito de la Isla and Mukul

Farther along the coast is Guacalito de la Isla, a low-density beachfront community. Mukul, which takes its name from the Maya word for "secret", describes itself as a boutique hotel and spa there, with 7 km of beach at Playa Manzanillo. Preferred Hotels lists an 18-hole, par 72 golf course designed by David McLay Kidd, plus surfing, nature walks and sea turtle education.

Everyday Nicaragua mentions Manzanillo among the Tola beaches with waves for beginners. Mukul's website says the resort is relaunching as a members club, so confirm access and bookings directly with the resort before you plan around it. Going there? See our transfer to Guacalito and Mukul.

7. Ometepe in a day, with pickup in Popoyo

For a day away from the beach, our Ometepe Island Full Day picks you up at your hotel in Rivas, San Juan del Sur or Popoyo. It covers private transport to the San Jorge pier, the round-trip ferry, a vehicle and local guide on the island, and the entrance fees for Ojo de Agua and the reserves; stops include Ojo de Agua, Charco Verde and Punta Jesús María. Lunch, tips and travel insurance are not included.

UNESCO gives 2010 as the year Ometepe was named a biosphere reserve, with the Concepción volcano at 1,610 m and Maderas at 1,394 m. The ferry from San Jorge to Moyogalpa covers 17 km in about 60 minutes, according to Ometepe Nicaragua; we plan the day around that schedule. The price per person depends on group size: US$95 for one person, US$70 for 2 to 3, US$55 for 4 to 6, US$48 for 7 to 10 and US$42 for 11 to 15. The start is early, so we confirm the pickup time at your Popoyo hotel when you book. For the full day plan, read Ometepe in one day.

8. The La Flor turtles, in season

The La Flor Wildlife Refuge is in the municipality of San Juan del Sur, south of the Tola coast, and receives mass nestings of olive ridley turtles (paslama). The season runs from July to January according to MARENA, quoted by 100% Noticias. La Prensa reported that the sixth arribada of 2026 began on October 1 with 32,949 females.

Each arribada lasts a few days: MARENA counted four days for the one of September 2025, and La Prensa reported seven days for December 2025. For watching, 100% Noticias recommends not pointing lights at the turtles, not touching them and keeping noise down. Our La Flor turtle season guide has the recent counts and what to expect at night.

Getting to Popoyo and the Tola beaches

Monkeys runs two private transfers to this coast, both priced per vehicle. Both cover every beach in Tola and Popoyo at the same price, door to door to your hotel or villa.

Transfer	Time	Price per vehicle	Border
Managua airport (MGA) to Popoyo and Tola	2.5 to 3 hours	sedan US$80 (1 to 3 people), Hilux 4x4 US$100 (4), HiAce minivan US$130 (5 to 15)	none
Liberia airport (LIR) to Popoyo and Tola	3.5 to 4 hours	sedan US$140 (1 to 3 people), Hilux 4x4 US$160 (4), HiAce minivan US$200 (5 to 15)	Peñas Blancas

From Liberia the transfer includes help with the immigration steps at Peñas Blancas; the border fees are paid by each traveler. Read our Peñas Blancas border crossing guide before you fly. The times are those of the transfer listing and depend on traffic and, from Liberia, on the queue at the border.

When to go

Lonely Planet gives December to April as the high season, dry and sunny, November as a shoulder month when the rains ease on the Pacific, and May through October as the rainy low season, with September and October the wettest months. It also notes that the biggest Pacific swell arrives in that season, and Mondo Surf points to May to September for the bigger waves at Popoyo and Playa Colorado. Our guides to the surf season in Nicaragua and the best time to visit Nicaragua go month by month.

Before you travel, check the official advice. 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.

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.

Private transfer, only your group, never mixed with other travelers.
Door to door to any hotel or villa in Popoyo, Guasacate, Santana, Hacienda Iguana, Gigante or Guacalito.
Pickup at your Popoyo hotel for the Ometepe day.
Price and inclusions confirmed in writing. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
WhatsApp +505 8506 1173, every day from 7:00 to 20:00, replies in under 1 hour.
Not included: tips; on the Ometepe day, also lunch and travel insurance; from Liberia, the border fees.

To book, send your date, number of people and hotel on WhatsApp.

Questions we get every week

Where is Popoyo, Nicaragua?

Popoyo is on the Pacific coast in the municipality of Tola, west of Rivas. Wikivoyage places it 100 km south of Managua; you leave the Panamerican highway at Paso Real de Ochomogo and head west to the coast. Guasacate, Las Salinas, Santana, Playa Colorado and Playa Gigante are the beaches around it.

Is Popoyo good for beginner surfers?

The main reef is rated for intermediate surfers by Mondo Surf, and the outer reef is for experienced surfers only. For beginners, Mondo Surf lists Playa Guasacate, a sandy beach break best at high tide, as suitable for all levels.

How do I get to Popoyo from Managua or Liberia airport?

Monkeys runs private transfers to any hotel in the Tola and Popoyo beaches. From Managua airport the trip takes 2.5 to 3 hours, from US$80 per vehicle (sedan, 1 to 3 people). From Liberia airport in Costa Rica it takes 3.5 to 4 hours with the Peñas Blancas crossing, from US$140 per vehicle.

Can I see the turtles at La Flor from Popoyo?

La Flor is in the municipality of San Juan del Sur, south of the Tola coast. The nesting season runs from July to January according to MARENA, and each mass nesting lasts a few days. Our La Flor season guide has the recent counts and what to expect at night.

Sources

Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages, checked on the date shown above.