San Juan del Sur, much more than “Sunday Funday Pool Crawl”.
San Juan del Sur is a beautiful fishing village and beach town on the Pacific Ocean, in the Rivas department in southwest Nicaragua. It is located 140 kilometers south of Managua, the capital. The city is a magnet for surfers and sunbathers, also popular a vacation spot for many Nicaraguan families and foreign tourists.
Its population is more than 17.000, consisting largely of families engaged in fishing or the tourism industry and foreigners from the United States, Canada and Europe. While the local economy was, for many years, based on fishing and shipping, it has shifted towards tourism in the last 20 years.
Other important facts about the city are: San Juan del Sur is the port on the Pacific that has been focus of many historic and modern day Nicaragua Canal proposals because of its location. Also, the city has become a hot spot for international surfing competition with a good range of dining, drinking, shopping and nightlife venues.
What are the most popular attractions among the backpackers (diving/surfing/skiing/climbing/hiking etc.)
The most important attractions are related to the sea and SJDS’s beaches, such as: surfing, sunbathing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, boat cruises, ziplining, spanish courses, volunteering projects and, of course, partying at the famous “Sunday Funday Pool Crawl”.
What are the “must see or do” attractions?
- Hike to Christ Statue
- Madera, Hermosa, Remanso, Yankee, El Coco or El Majagual Beaches for surfing or sunbathing
- Marsella Beach for snorkelling
- Sunday Funday Pool Crawl (a marathon party every sunday)
- Sunsets at the beachfront bars
- Playing volleyball at the beach
- Admire the art on the street (El Gato Negro, Simon Says) and at the local art gallery
What are the best restaurants for backpackers? What those restaurants has to offer? (Mediterranean/Italian/Caribbean/ any another type of cuisine).
San Juan del Sur has selection of beach front restaurants, snacks and sandwiches, happy hour specials and live music fits all kind of tastes but in general makes it difficult to eat healthy. From American barbecue, Indian cuisine, Spanish tapas, Asian wraps, five authentic Italian restaurants, gourmet food restaurants, handcrafted donuts and beer, Nicaraguan beach cuisine, and more announce that San Juan del Sur is indeed a place for “foodies”. Almost all the good options are located at the two main streets, some of them are: Local Market (Nicaraguan breakfast and fruits), Parlour (pick you plate-tasty-goodservice-goodprice place), Dale Pues (tasty sandwiches), Simon Says Smoothie Bar, Taco Shop and The Taco (mexican food), El Timón (Traditional restaurant with Nicaraguan cuisine), Café de las Flores, Barrio Café and El Gato Negro (good breakfast and the last one with a nice environment), Buddha Garden (healthy food), Loose Moose (Canadian cuisine) and Super Fruto (best ice cream in town).
What are the best nightclubs? What did you specially liked about them?
At night, the beach still pulsates with movement, thanks to some beach bars, hostel parties and popular nightclubs. The most famous party still the “Sunday Funday Pool Crawl” (a sunday party at 4 different places) but there are also another good options during the week: Pachamama Hostel night events (Beer Pong night, for example), Lit (always on and a good place to dance), Arribas Bar (final stop at the Sunday Funday and also crossover music just in front of the beach for the other days).
What are the best bars? What did you specially liked about them?
Most of the restaurants at the city also offers a good quality/affordable drinks. Some of them are: Simon Says (best passion fruit mojito ever), San Juan del Sur Cerveceria (excellent craft beer, specially the passion fruit), Republika Bar(live music), Henry’s Iguana Beach Bar & Restaurant (a good option with a beachfront) and The Blend Factor (frozen cocktails).
What are the coolest places around the city you’ve visited?
Definitely the beaches! For beginners or advanced surfers or even just chilling, the beaches are the main attraction and beautiful to visit. The city got my attention with the quality of food and places with a different vibe and style. For example the local brewery, San Juan del Sur Cerveceria, very well designed and excellent (but not cheap) beers. Hipster restaurants like Simon Says and Parlour. And also clothing stores with selling local brands and an art gallery.
Where backpackers usually continue after the place you’ve been?
The ones that are going to stay at Nicaragua usually continue to Ometepe Island, Granada or Managua (a small group also goes to Popoyo or Gigante Beach). The one that are going to leave the country usually goes to Costa Rica.
From where they are usually coming?
San Juan del Sur combines travelers from Nicaragua itself and foreigners backpackers. They usually come from Holland,US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland.
What did you feel was missing in the city? What could make your visit to a perfect one?
First, a good WiFi for sure! Second, healthy good food at night! For a small beach town the city has a quite good infrastructure (small markets, banks, drugstores, stores, etc.) and entertainment (bars, live music, parties, etc.) but if you need to work or study is hard to find a place for it (a new co-work just opened nomad.life) and having healthy meals for a good price is also hard.
If Selina will set a hostel there — how do you imagine it?
For Selina would be a good option having a hostel that combines party, social/touristic activities and a work/study place. A combination of hostel and co-working offering facilities like: healthy and Nicaraguan food, Spanish and surfing classes and also volunteer experience. The city has been growing a lot and seems like people come to visit and extend their stay because they like it a lot (longer stays when compared to other beach towns). And a few people never leave! They open a small business and start a new life at SJDS. Based on that, Selina could be the first “home” for this audience despite of a good place to hang out!
Eventually, please write in your own words your opinion and describe your personal experience
I had the best experience in San Juan del Sur, a good combination between living with locals and learning more about their easygoing lifestyle, surfing and having a great time with foreigners during the days at the beach and parties!
This is a city where you will cool down and also party hard and maybe that’s why people like staying here. It is a place full of good energy and hipster spots. That you could go back many and many times!
Cheers,
Ariadne Nardeli (Brazilian Backpacker Researcher for Selina Hostel)
