I have the best memories from our time at Dreamsea Surf Camp Nicaragua. New friends, incredible food, relaxing yoga, surf lessons, parties in SJDS, picnics on the beach, lazy afternoons in the pool… it was magical. If you’re looking to learn something new, or would like to break up your backpacking itinerary. I highly recommend adding Dreamsea Nicaragua to your Central America travels.
What are the best surf camps in the world?
Nicaragua is up there with Costa Rica, Bali, Portugal, Spain and Sri Lanka as one of the best countries for surf lessons. Dreamsea are a top tier franchise with eleven surf camps across seven counties. What makes their luxury surf camp Nicaragua branch so special, is the incredible quality of service and facilities, in addition to it being the cheapest surf camp I’ve been able to find – ANYWHERE. I extensively researched all the surf camps in Central America and I could not find one that matched Dreamsea Nicaragua in terms of:
(1) Reputation
(2) Value for money
(3) Quality of accommodation
(4) Food and;
(5) Social community vibe
We paid $379 a week per person for glamping accommodation, daily yoga lessons, daily surf lessons, breakfast and a 3-course dinner all included. It was unreal 🙂
What to expect at Dreamsea Surf Camp Nicaragua
A typical day at Dreamsea
Picture this, you wake up to soft morning light peering through the palm leaf ceiling of your spacious cabana. You make your way down to the three story bamboo treehouse that’s home to chill out areas, a studio and the restaurant. First things first, morning yoga. Lessons are held on the top floor so you’ll be treated to refreshing ocean breeze and views over the surrounding forest. After your yoga lesson, you fuel up on breakfast. You’ll want to make your way through every item on the breakfast menu because everything is delicious (a coffee and your choice of smoothie is also included). Talk about starting the day right. It’s then time to relax (and play with the resident kitten) before the group surf theory lesson. This is where you learn the nuts and bolts of surfing from one of the expert instructors.
Straight after, you pack up your things, grab a board and a rash vest and load up the jeeps. Every morning the instructors pick a nearby beach with the best weather conditions. You have over an hour in the water before a free afternoon to crack open some Toña’s and chill with your new friends to watch sunset. Free time is completely up to you so you can head back to the resort to make the most of the pool or head into San Juan Del Sur to soak up the cafe and boutique scene.
Night activities
Back at the Nicaragua surf hotel that night, it’s time for your 3-course communal dinner. Every night we indulged in something new and delicious and the communal table set up meant getting to know a gorgeous group of travellers. Wether you opt for an early night or want to head out to party – it’s completely up to you. Whatever your choice, your comfy bed in your airy boho cabana will be waiting for you at the end of the night for a good sleep to start it all again tomorrow.
Dreamsea Nicaragua Surf School
On arrival you are broken into different groups based on your skill level for both the theory and the practical lessons. No matter where you are on your surfing journey you’ll get one-on-one time with the instructors. I found the theory lessons really helpful to get the technique right before we made it to the beach. Once at the beach, you’ll get specific feedback after each wave. The groups are small (around 6 people) so by the time I rode my wave and paddled back out, there was no waiting time. This made me feel like I was making the most of each lesson. That’s another amazing thing about Nicaragua waves, the wave sets were regular and consistent!
San Juan Del Sur Surfing
There are a lot of good places to surf in Nicaragua (Popoyo, Tola, Las Peñitas) but San Juan Del Sur is considered the best. This is because it has an average of 300+ days of offshore winds annually, making surfing optimal all day long. Playa Maderas is the most popular and easily accessible surfing beach, and is walking distance from Dreamsea Surf Resort. It is a location where both beginners and experts can find great waves.
Looking for more Central America inspo? Why not check out:
Dreamsea Nicaragua – Yoga
Yoga improves your balance, focus, and breathing, which perfectly compliment the practice of surfing. Yoga is offered both in the morning and evening. The morning lessons are meant to energize your body and mind, and the evening lessons are meant for stretching sore muscles and helping you relax, ensuring a great night’s rest. I opted for the morning lessons to stretch out before a day of surfing.
Nicaragua Surf Camp – Food
Prepare to eat WELL. The food was an absolute highlight of the Dreamsea retreat. All the food is amazing quality and huge portions. Breakfast so much so, that I was fueled up for my surf lesson everyday and I only ended up buying lunch a few times over the week.
Nicaragua Surf Resort Rooms
Dreamsea Nicaragua is a jungle village. The eco-resort is effortlessy integrated into the surrounding nature and oozes good vibes. It’s perfect for a swim in the pool, or enjoying a tropical fruit smoothie while reading a book or lying in a hammock. Thanks to the bamboo structures, the canvas walls and the palm leaf ceilings, the cabanas are airy, spacious and yet private enough to feel removed and secluded from the communal areas.
The private rooms have ensuites and the dorm rooms have a shared bathroom. The communal bathrooms are kept impeccably clean and are also designed with the trademark boho aesthetic.
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Dreamsea Surf Camp Nicaragua Optional Activities
Sunday Funday San Juan Del Sur
One of the most well-known things to do in San Juan Del Sur is Sunday Funday, which is essentially a club crawl. I wasn’t sure it’d be up my alley but because there was such a big group of us from the surf camp, going along ended up being a heap of fun.
Nicaragua Surf Camp Beach Picnic
This was AMAZING. They had the most beautiful set up. Bonfire, rugs, cushions and a stellar array of platters with all beers and wine included. This was the perfect end to our time at Dreamsea surf camp Nicaragua.
Book Surf Camp Nicaragua
Having visited several other Nicaragua surf resorts during my time in Central America, I can confidently endorse Dreamsea as the best surf camp in the region. Especially if you’re a solo traveler, the community vibe makes Dreamsea a stand out.
Click here to book Dreamsea Nicaragua Surf Camp.
I chose the weekly dorm package for $379 per/person which includes: Breakfast + dinner, 10 hours surfing lessons, daily surf theory, 3 hours yoga lessons, free access to equipment, accommodation (7 nights / 8 days), transfers and a welcome drink.
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