FAQs - All Girls Surf Camp & Women's Surf Retreat in Nicaragua, CHICABRAVA®

1. Why Nicaragua?

Southern Nicaragua benefits from offshore winds almost year round creating perfect conditions and perfectly groomed waves. It is quickly becoming recognized as one of the best places to visit in Central America for surfing. And it’s still un-crowded compared to most any other surf destination in the world. To make things even better, Nicaragua is beautiful and most of the coastline remains undeveloped. Nicaragua has a rich local culture, which predominates over the recent increase in tourism. San Juan del Sur itself is a tranquil fishing village set around a beautifully picturesque horseshoe-shaped bay. The town has lots of energy and unique culture. There is a plethora of amazing restaurants and sizzling nightlife! The people here are as warm and friendly as the weather.

2. Why CHICABRAVA?

We have been in Nicaragua since 2003 and are the country’s very first and best surf camp for women. Our program is unparalleled and our team of instructors has years of experience surfing, instructing and coaching. Upon arrival we determine each surfer’s goals for the week and, with mid-week check-ins, we work hard and are successful at helping you reach those goals. We film your sessions and do video analysis to help you improve. In addition, we follow a daily curriculum of surf theory lessons, created by CHICARBAVA founder, 6-time Nicaraguan National surf champ, Ashley Blaylock. Whatever your goals are, you’ll achieve them at CHICABRAVA!

Unlike everywhere else in the world (including central and northern Nicaragua) the southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua benefits from off-shore winds 300+ days a year, which basically means we can surf all day long, only having to take the tides into consideration! Since we are located in San Juan del Sur, we have the best of both worlds – a teeming city of fun-loving locals and close access to totally empty beaches with no one around, except for the occasional ox-drawn cart.

3. Is Nicaragua Safe?

Yes. Nicaragua has the lowest reported crime rate and is considered the safest county in Central America. INCAE (the Harvard Business school affiliate in Nicaragua), INTERPOL, and the Inter-American Institute on Human Rights support this claim placing Managua as the safest capital in the region, and Nicaragua as the safest country in Central America and among the safest countries in the world. Recent studies also point to Nicaragua’s low reported crime rate (lower than in Germany, France or the U.S.). Most of the unsettling discussion and travel advisories directed at Nicaragua concern the current perceived political situation. Understanding a bit about Nicaragua’s past may help to put things into perspective. Please see the “Nicaragua Safety” and “Political History” sections on our website under the Location/Travel Info tab for more information.

The town where we are located, San Juan del Sur, is tiny. The anonymity relied upon by most criminals in large cities does not exist here, making crimes difficult get away with; and hence there is an extremely low incidence of crime. As a good rule of thumb, you should always plan to exercise a responsible amount of caution while traveling abroad. At CHICABRAVA, we start by meeting you at the airport before your plane even lands and then transporting you directly to our camp.

4. What if I am traveling alone?

GREAT!! As it turns out, the majority of our guests are solo travelers! Join a group of other adventurous women and experience Nicaragua with new friends! Many women are reluctant to travel alone. At CHICABRAVA we provide a safe, supportive environment where you can comfortably feel inspired and empowered, conquer fears, and push yourself to the next level.. . or just come and relax and experience a foreign country in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere! Unless you request otherwise, we will put you in a shared room with one of the other chicas.

5. What if I want to a single room?

We recommend sharing to enhance the surf camp “experience” but we understand the value of privacy. Single rooms are available at an additional cost. Please see the pricing section on our website.

6. Where do I fly into? What airline should I use?

Nicaragua’s international airport is Managua International Airport, located in the capital city of Managua. The airport code is MGA. Direct flights from major cities in the United States are available from United, American, Delta, Sprit, and TACA. Be sure to check fares against travel search engines like Kayak.com.

7. Do you provide transportation to and from the airport?

Yes, we provide a free shuttle from the airport at 12:30PM on the Saturday of arrival and from San Juan del Sur to the airport on the Saturday of departure at 7:30AM (arriving at the airport at 10:00AM). We can arrange transportation for you with the shuttle company outside of these days/times for an additional cost of $45/person each way (during regularly scheduled shuttle times) and $85 – $120/each way if requiring private shuttle or nighttime travel. San Juan del Sur is 2.5 hours from MGA and the roads are poorly lit and bordered by farms on both sides, making for frequent animal crossings and thus hazardous conditions for nighttime travel. If you are only able to find flights arriving MGA at night (or departing MGA early morning), then we recommend coming in a day early/leaving a day late and either staying at the Surf House for $40/night (check for availability) or staying overnight in Managua for travel to the camp/ airport the next morning. We pick up and drop off at the two hotels near the airport in Managua: the Best Western and the Camino Real.

8. How do I book a reservation and pay my deposit?

We require a 50% deposit to book a reservation and all camp participants are required to fill our our registration form and read/sign our camp waiver form. The deposit is payable via PayPal (even if you don’t have a PayPal account) or by wire transfer to our U.S. bank account.

9. Why am I being charged 3% on my PayPal invoice?

There is a 3% transaction fee charged by PayPal for all transactions which is added to your amount due. For wire transfers, you will be charged a $10 transaction fee per transfer in addition to any fee your bank may charge. Most guests find PayPal to be the most convenient and least costly payment method.

10. When can I expect the final PayPal invoice to be sent to me?

The balance is due one week prior to Camp. We send out an invoice 7-10 days prior to the due date.

11. What if I have to cancel or change my reservation?

Please see our full bookings and cancellations policies.

12. What level of experience should I list when registering?

At CHICABRAVA, we have the resources and expertise to accommodate all experience levels during the same camp week, from first-time beginners to advanced surfers. Before your arrival, we like to have a good idea of your experience level so we can plan accordingly. We have found it helpful to see the following list of descriptions to help you ascertain what category you might fall into:

- A “beginner” has yet to successfully paddle out alone and catch/ride a wave clearly to its logical finish. This includes someone with ZERO experience as well as someone who is able to stand up and surf in the white water, while being pushed in or paddling into the whitewash yourself.

- An “advanced beginner” is able to paddle to the outside in small conditions by using the adequate techniques (turtle rolling and/or pushing yourself up/over/through breaking waves), catch waves and ride them straight to the beach or at an angle.

- An “intermediate” surfer can successfully paddle out alone at a familiar location and catch and ride waves to a logical finish frontside or backside, trim along the wave face at an angle, and either confidently use or attempt to use the three basic surfing turns – bottom turn, top turn and cutback. An intermediate surfer is able to read the waves and determine whether to ride them right or left.

- An “advanced intermediate” is able to paddle out in up to 4-6 ft. conditions on an unknown break and catch and ride waves, being able to perform all of the above.

- An “advanced” surfer can paddle out alone to a surf spot she has never ridden, assess the lineup, and catch and ride waves to her choice of finish, confidently using a full range of turns and maneuvers. The advanced surfer has full knowledge about surf etiquette, types of breaks, conditions, and what board is best to ride in which conditions.

13. What’s a typical day look like?

When you arrive at camp, we will have a thorough orientation, welcoming you to the camp and presenting the week’s schedule, among other things. Below is an excerpt from a camp week schedule to give you an idea of what a couple of days look like during a typical camp week:

Monday, May 7
(LT0.7- 9:19am /HT8.8- 3:31pm)
6:00am Coffee’s On!!
8:00am Theory Lesson – Perfecting the pop-up and paddling
8:30am Local Breakfast made daily with fresh fruit and juice
10:00am Surfs Up!! at Playa Remanso
5:30pm Sunset/Candle-lite restorative Yoga at Zen Yoga Studio
7:00pm Sunset Dinner option: El Timon “Lunes de Relax” – enjoy live music and local dishes while taking in the beautiful sunset!
Surf Video option: Roxy Shimmer

Tuesday, May 8
(LT0.7- 10:10am/HT8.7- 4:22pm)
6:00am Coffee’s On!!
7:00am Local Breakfast made daily with fresh fruit and juice
7:30am Video/Photo feedback session and goals check!
8:00am Theory lesson – Paddling to the outside / Line-up
9:00am Canopy tour option – The Flying Frog Canopy tour will lead you through the amazing cloud forest in the jungle! You can count on seeing many different types of animals as you are flying thru the air, including howler monkeys and sloths!
11:30pm Surfs up!! at Playa Hermosa
6:00pm Soothing deep tissue massage with our incredible US-licensed Massage Therapist!
7:30pm Dinner option: El Colibri – Enjoy a Mediterranean style meal with the best Sangria in town!

14. What’s the surf schedule like? How much water-time will I be able to get?

At CHICABRAVA, we have the unique ability to surf all day because in our area we have offshore winds all day long, over 300+ days/year!!! Unlike most places around the world, including even central and northern Nicaragua, we are not limited by onshore winds to surfing only morning and evening sessions. Instead, our strategy includes choosing the best time to go, as determined by the tides, and spending as much time as desired at the beach. When the tide permits, we are able to go to two different beaches in the same day! The average group spends an average of about 4-5 hours daily at the beach. Many guests anticipate wanting and being able to spend more time in the water, but, realistically find that they are physically unable to once here. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and we have some groups or individuals within the group who surf more or less depending on their desires. Whatever your personal desires and abilities, prepared to get “surfed-out”!!!

In addition to daily in-water instruction and coaching, we follow a daily curriculum of surf theory lessons, video/photo feedback sessions, and a mid-week goals check to ensure you progress and meet or surpass your goals while with CHICABRAVA!

15. Where do we surf? Do we get to surf a variety of beaches?

We’re located in San Juan del Sur and our Surf House location sits directly on the beach! Although you can just grab a board a walk across the street to surf the bay in front of the Surf House, we generally do not do so (except for those rare occasions that the wind goes onshore and it’s better in the bay than anywhere else) because we want you to be able to take advantage of the variety of amazing breaks and diversity the southern coast of Nicaragua has to offer, as well as see the countryside as we travel to the different spots! Why stay in one spot the whole time? This is a surf trip after all and we want to make sure you get the best experience possible!!!

Within 15-25 minutes of San Juan del Sur, we have access to 4-5 distinct breaks. The breaks are all within 5-7 miles of San Juan but we drive slowly over the dirt roads to respect the local community and to give you a chance to enjoy the beautiful landscape. For beginners and intermediate surfers, there are 3 distinct and ideal breaks with sloping rolling waves over a soft sand bottom. For more experienced surfers, the close-by breaks are mainly beach breaks – with some EPIC ones – including a surfable Newport-style left wedge, a super bowly and amazingly fun empty beachy, and two points that work when the conditions are right. Within 1-1.5 hours from San Juan we have access to 5 or more breaks along the Tola coast – heavier barreling beach breaks and long perfect reefs. Here in Southern Nicaragua, we’ve got a BIG selection of waves to choose from! Where we go when you are here will depend on size, swell direction, tides and your personal desires and experience level.

16. Will there be time for other activities besides surfing?

While surfing is the main focus, we do make available for you a ton of optional fun activities including a first-day visit to the colonial city of Granada, zip-lining through the cloud forest at the canopy tour, rappelling over the Pacific Ocean off of a 250ft sheer rock-face, horseback riding on pristine virgin beaches, additional spa treatments such as Thai massage and body scrubs, additional yoga classes through Zen Yoga studio, pool-side lounging at Pelican Eyes, rewarding volunteer work, engaging in the local community, and more! You can discuss these options with our Camp Coordinator when you arrive. She will guide you in scheduling/paying for activities that interest you.

17. What are the average wave heights throughout the year?

Nicaragua, like most of Central America, is a “south swell spot”, meaning we rely on swells generated by winter storms in the southern hemisphere (March-Nov) to send good waves our way. Both in terms of weather and waves, these are our key months! Wave heights from March through November generally range from 4-7ft (chest to head high+) and from December through February they stay around 2-5ft (waist to chest +). For beginners, any time of year is good, as even when the surf is bigger, we are able to stay south where the coast is shielded and get you riding the “green” part of the wave in smaller waist high conditions. For more experienced surfers, we stick with the spots that can pick up the bigger swell.

18. What is the average weather and water temp?

Nicaragua has two distinct seasons: the green season and the dry season. The green season runs from mid-May to November and coincides with the best surfing months in Nicaragua. This time of year is called “invierno” (winter, although we are technically still northern hemisphere). During these months, we usually get a light nightly rain, enough to make things beautifully lush and green. In October, the rains can get heavier and last through the daytime, so to be safe, we close the camp during this month. We open up again for November which is one of the most beautiful months as the rains have just ended leaving everything perfectly lush and green and the rivers full. December is more of the same! The dry season, “verano” (summer), is from December- April. Early in the dry season, light showers are not uncommon and the scenery is still lush and green. As the dry season progresses, the jungle dries out with almost no rain for 4-5 months, and from Jan-March, the offshore winds get stronger and the water gets colder. See the chart bellow:

Average Weather and Water Temperatures Year Round

19. Will I need a wetsuit?

If you’re attending camp from November – April, wetsuit tops and/or spring suits are a must. The water can get cooler due to upwelling caused by stronger offshore winds in these months. It’s always best to be prepared. The summer months, May to October, are warm so you’ll not need them at all.

20. Can I bring my own board?

We have a huge quiver of surfboards for guests to choose from ranging in size from 5’11″ to 9’6″ as well as soft-top longboards for beginners. If you would like to bring your own board that is perfectly fine, just be sure to check with your airline first as most charge a fee.

21. Is there Wi-Fi?

We have Wi-Fi at both the Cloud Farm and Surf House. If you want to use the internet, you will need to bring your laptop or Smartphone.

22. Will I have cell phone coverage?

This depends on your carrier, so please check with them before coming down. There is a Vonage phone at the Cloud Farm that you are welcome to use to make calls to the U.S.

23. Can I use US Dollars?

You can use US currency everywhere in Nicaragua. It’s good to have smaller bills ($5s, $10s, and $20s) as getting change for larger bills has to be done at the bank. Note: local businesses will not accept US currency with markings or rips; these must be changed at the bank. If you don’t have US dollars and/or want to convert into local currency (the Nicaraguan Córdoba), you can easily do so with your passport at one of the banks in town. There are ATM’s here as well. The current currency conversion can be viewed by trying a currency converter such as http://www.xe.com/ucc/ and plugging in “NIO Nicaraguan Cordoba”. Currently it’s around 23 cordobas per $1.

24. Do I need to bring an electricity convertor/adaptor?

Nicaragua has the same electrical outlets as the US and Canada. If joining us from Europe, bring the same converter you would bring for travel to the US.

25. Do I need to take Malaria antiviral medications or other precautions before coming?

Malaria is not an issue in our area. We recommend that your routine immunizations are up to date.

26. Is it safe to drink the water?

At the Cloud Farm, the water is safe, natural well water. All of our guests enjoy it. Each guest is provided with one reusable water bottle. If you prefer to buy bottled water, we can take you to pick some up in town. For environmental reasons, we encourage our guests to refill the bottle provided. For all other areas we recommend bottled water only.

27. Are there laundry facilities?

At the Cloud Farm location, we provide laundry services. If you are staying at the Surf House, we can help you arrange to have your laundry cleaned by one of the local laundry services for about $5/load.

28. Is there an in-room safe to store cash, passport, or other valuable?

We do not have a safe at either location and with reasonable care this is not an issue.

29. Is there an emergency contact phone number?

You can call/text (713)252-5545. You will be provided with additional details in an Intro message that you will receive a week prior to Camp. Your loved ones can also use this U.S.-based phone number to get emergency messages to you immediately during your stay.