SURF RANCH · TWO NICARAGUA DESTINATIONS
San Juan del Sur or Popoyo?
Choose San Juan del Sur for a resort day around the pool, skatepark and surf lessons. Choose Popoyo for a home with a kitchen, space for a group and days exploring the Emerald Coast. The hillside homes in the cover photo are at Surf Ranch Popoyo.
TWO WAYS TO STAY
Which resort fits your trip?
| Your plans | Surf Ranch San Juan del Sur | Surf Ranch Popoyo |
|---|---|---|
| A place for four | A condo has two queen beds. A villa has two bedrooms and a rooftop terrace. | Two-bedroom condos sleep up to four and have full kitchens. Check the listing for the bathroom count. |
| Six or eight together | Compare a combination of rooms, condos or villas and decide who shares each unit. | Look at a three-bedroom single-level house for up to six or a two-story house for up to eight. Selected houses have private pools. |
| Mealtimes | Direct room bookings include breakfast. Add all-inclusive if you want meals and national drinks at the resort. | The booking is accommodation only. Shop for the kitchen and leave some meals open for restaurants along the coast. |
| Arrival and departure | Check in from 2 pm and check out by noon. | The current house and condo listings show 3 pm check-in and 11 am checkout. |
SAN JUAN DEL SUR · THE RESORT
A lesson at Remanso, then the pool
The SJDS resort is inland. Make the beach a planned outing, with the pool, waterslide and splash pad waiting back at the resort. A first-time surfer can book a package lesson at Playa Remanso with a board during the session and return beach transport. Friends who prefer dry land can bring a board to the skatepark.
For an evening in town, leave dinner flexible and head to the San Juan del Sur waterfront. For a full day at the resort instead, compare the all-inclusive plan with breakfast included before booking.
Compare SJDS meals and surf packages
POPOYO · THE HOUSE OR CONDO
Breakfast in your kitchen, then the coast
Start with the floor plan. A private-pool house lets six or eight guests spend the day together. A two-bedroom condo suits a smaller group that wants to cook and head out independently. Check the amenities of the exact home you select.
Explore the beaches around Popoyo, the tide pools at Guasacate or the coast of El Astillero. If the group wants a pool and restaurant together, direct guests can buy the partner beach-resort pass across the road for US$10 plus tax per person per day. Food and drinks are extra. The Popoyo site lists its own main pool and restaurant as opening soon.
See Popoyo homes and guest access
MATCH THE TRIP TO THE GROUP
Three common decisions
Two parents and two kids? Choose SJDS if the children want splash-pad mornings and you’d like breakfast ready. Choose Popoyo if separate bedrooms and a kitchen for early meals would make the stay easier.
Travelling as eight adults? Compare several SJDS rooms against one available two-story Popoyo house. Check how many bedrooms and bathrooms your group needs, and compare the full accommodation price for the same dates.
Want a lesson-led surf trip? SJDS has bookable surf packages for three, five or seven nights. For a surf trip built around your own plans, Popoyo’s homes give you a base to explore the coast and return to your own kitchen.
PLAN BOTH STOPS
Can you stay at both resorts?
Yes. Treat them as separate bookings and check availability for each leg before paying. If you start in SJDS, check out by noon, plan lunch and confirm your arrival time at Popoyo. Arrange your ride between resorts separately. Use the live route for the drive on your travel date.
Open directions between the resortsUse the same email when booking direct at both properties. Your stays earn 2% back in Surf Ranch Rewards after checkout and full payment, with one balance across the resorts.