Outer reef, Popoyo, Nicaragua...going off. 

Update from the mountains of Chiapas

COSTA RICA

In no particular order the following breaks were surfed.

Tamarindo Playa, Estero & Playa Grande.

Good swell for two of the five days we were here and a consistent, well known series of breaks. Nevertheless surprisingly un-crowded by UK standards given the reputation of this place as the best known surfing destination in Costa Rica. The house Julie had rented was right on the Etstero which made it perfect for all concerned and the very best location for surfing here.

Playa Avellanas

Just down the coast from Tamarindo, and free camping right on the beach. Loads of easily accessed surf, in idyllic setting, uncrowded, rights and lefts off a series of rocky reefs on long sandy beach. Good for all the family.

Salsa Brava

See previous. After I wrote that blog we stayed another few days with double overhead surf pretty much non-stop. Nothing short of epic to describe this break.

Estrillos Ouest

Free camping under trees, right in front of the break. Mellow rollers for all the family- all the kids scored fabulous waves here. Great bars and restaurants within walking distance of the camp. No crowds,,,, fab spot.

Boca de Barranca

One of the longest left points in the world, and we were lucky enough to see it on a day when it was working. Great waves. Free camping in front of the break, (paid a bit to the restaurant for plugging in the battery charger).

Malpais

This is high on the nice surf holiday destination list- always something rideable, points, reefs, beachbreak all within easy access. The malpais surf camp provides everything you need but anywhere along this stretch is great really. We loved it and had a nice swell come in for two of our 5 days here.

Witches Rock

One of Costa Rica's legendary, but hard to access waves. We camped in the National Park campsite and were ferried down the torturous access track in a 4wd by Eladio, the mad local surf guru. Tent and water, mozzie repellent and surfboards were about all we had room for, so only stayed two days... but what a place! Tas dropped into one of the waves of the year.

NICARAGUA northbound.

Having missed Popoyo on the way south we were determined to hit this reef break of high repute on the way back up. Access from the south turned out to be harder than expected but the reward was a big swell and great surf. Cheap camping and mellowish scene ashore, but not as chilled as Majagual further south so on balance we felt that Majagual edges it for overall fun. Surf undoubtably high quality with some big, tubing A- frame waves on the outer reef, nice lefts and some rights on the inner. The kids enjoyed the lagoon too.

Coming back out we took the torturous dirt road towards Masaya and this turned out to be a real adventure through remote vilages and several dodgy river crossings. Directions for this route are available on the Popoyo surf camp website, but the surf camp itself is a fair distance from the break, so we stayed up by the lagoon in the backpacker's campsite, right by the break.

Tas at Witches Rock, what a place!