Surfing in Puerto Sandido: Miramar Playa, Surf Spots, and Camps Guide
This is a quick guide to a lesser known location in Nicaragua, Puerto Sandido and its famous Miramar Playa, which hold some fantastic surf spots alongside camps to enjoy a relaxing and thrilling surf vacation at. Here is a snippet of some of the waves to be seen;
Introduction to Surfing Puerto Sandido
Located in the León department, this zone is where you go when you want to get serious about your wave count. While the southern hubs are famous, Miramar Playa and Puerto Sandino offer some of the most consistent, fantastic setups in Central America. You are looking at a coastline that acts like a massive catcher’s mitt for any swell moving through the Pacific. The main reason you come here is the variety and the sheer length of the rides. You have got everything from heavy slabs to what many call the longest wave in the country.
The typical swell is a solid south or southwest groundswell that stays clean thanks to the constant offshore flow. Because you are near a massive river mouth at Puerto Sandino, the sandbars are constantly shifting and rebuilding, creating epic banks. It is not exactly a beginner’s paradise when the swell is up; the currents can be a real workout and the waves have a lot of shove. However, on smaller days, the beach breaks at Miramar Playa are super fun for beginners to intermediates. If the ocean goes quiet, the vibe in Miramar remains centered on the surf. It is a quiet fishing village where the “after-surf” is all about fresh ceviche and watching the sunset over the point.
Best Season to Surf in Miramar
The peak season for the chargers is from April to September. This is when the Pacific really starts to roar, sending consistent overhead sets that turn the local breaks into freight trains. The offshore winds are reliable in the mornings, and the water is warm enough to stay out until your arms give up.
Overall, the best season is the middle of the year if you want to see the legendary Puerto Sandino left at its best. If you want cleaner conditions and smaller crowds, November is a sleeper month that often delivers late-season pulses with perfect wind.
Beginner Recommendation
For those looking for a more mellow mission, the months from December to March offer smaller, playful conditions. While the wind can kick up a bit more and cause some upwelling that cools the water slightly, it is the best time for progressing your skills on the reefs and beach breaks without the intimidation of the big summer swells.
Surf Spots
Puerto Sandino is a left-hand break located at a river mouth and only accessible by boat. On a good day, you can score a ride that lasts for over 500 meters. It is a massive wall of water that can offer long, hollow sections. It is best for intermediate to advanced riders because the paddle back out is a mission and the wave has serious power.
Miramar Point is a left-hand point break that sits right in front of the village. It is super consistent and offers a nice, predictable wall for carves and turns. It works best on a mid-to-high tide and is the go-to spot for locals and guests staying in the village.
Miramar Playa is the main stretch of sand in front of the camp. It is a fun beach break with multiple peaks that works well for those who do not want to commute by boat. It offers shorter, punchy rides and is great for a quick session between tides.
Shacks is a left-hand reef break that sits right on the doorstep of the local resorts. It is a bit of a slab and works best from mid to high tide. When it is on, it offers a quick, hollow ride that is perfect for those who like a bit of a challenge.
Shifty’s is south of Shacks, this is a beach break peak that offers both lefts and rights. It is shifty as the name suggests, but it provides plenty of options and is usually less crowded than the main points.
Surf Camps & Resorts
The following camps and resorts, are a good combination of both resorts, camps, or just surf lessons. However you would like combination to be, they have it.
Perched right on the water, this place is a hub for the local surf community. They offer boat trips, yoga, and have a front-row seat to the best breaks in the area.
A dedicated resort that focuses on boat access to the premier waves. They provide a comfortable base for surfers who want to maximize their time in the water at the river mouth.
How to get to Puerto Sandino
Fly into MGA in Managua. From there, it is an easy drive of about an hour and a half to two hours to reach Miramar Playa. Most resorts will arrange a shuttle for you. Once you are in the village, everything is within walking distance, but you will need to jump on a panga to get out to the main break at the river mouth.
General Costs and Considerations
Living in Miramar is affordable, though being a bit more remote means you should plan ahead. Expect to spend about 30 to 50 dollars a day on food and boat trips. The Córdoba is the local currency, but US dollars are widely used in the surf camps. There are no ATMs in the immediate village, so make sure you withdraw cash in León or Managua before you arrive.
Travel Advisories
The area is peaceful and safe, but the river mouth can have strong currents and changing water quality after heavy rain. Use a local guide for your first few boat trips to understand the lineup. Bring plenty of sun protection and bug spray, as the mosquitoes can be active around the river mouth during the rainy season.
Other things to do in Miramar
Food
Try the Ceviche de Pescado. Being a fishing village, the seafood is as fresh as it gets, usually marinated in lime and served with crispy crackers.
Location to Hike
Take a walk north along the coastline toward the cliffs. You will find some incredible viewpoints where you can see the swells lines marching in from the deep Pacific.
Cultural Thing
Visit the nearby city of León for a day trip. It is full of colonial history, massive cathedrals, and a vibrant local market that gives you a break from the salt and sand.
Conclusion on Puerto Sandino
Puerto Sandino and Miramar are for the surfer who wants to spend every waking hour in the water. It is less about the party and more about the quality of the ride. With one of the longest lefts in the country just a boat ride away and several fun peaks right on the beach, it is a high-performance destination that rarely disappoints. If you want to clock some serious flight time on a long, peeling wall, it is absolutely worth sending it for a session.