About San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur is the most visited vacation destination on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and has been attracting foreign visitors from around the globe for well over a century.  As the home to approximately 18,000 Nicaraguans and a steadily growing ex-patriot community, this quaint fishing village maintains its unique culture through and through. 

San Juan del Sur’s streets are lined with charming homes and store fronts built of wood painted in vibrant colors. Mornings are greeted with the sounds of roosters and church bells, and the town market comes alive where fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables are brought in for sale. Taxi and bus drivers congregate on Market Street, where they whistle and announce the next departure for Rivas or Managua, or offer their services to drive you to a local beach for the day. The crescent shaped bay is speckled with local fishing boats, sail boats, sport fishing yachts, and on some days, a large cruise ship bringing visitors in for a day.   Thatch-roofed or “palapa roof” bars and restaurants line the long, sandy beach and serve cold drinks, fresh seafood, and traditional Nicaraguan cuisine.  At sunset, both locals and visitors gather at the water’s edge to relax and watch children play soccer on the beach.  

You will find a plethora of tourist services in San Juan del Sur, including internet cafes, hostels, hotels, luxury resort-hotels, restaurants, bars, car rentals, fishing boats and water taxis, surf lessons, a tree canopy tour, scuba lessons, shopping, and   A variety of Spanish schools offer you the chance to brush up on your skills, or to learn some new ones. Knowing how to speak at least a little bit of Spanish will facilitate your travels and show respect to the local culture.