8 Day Surf and Yoga Retreat Package in Popoyo, Nicaragua for All Levels

Balance it out with surfing and yoga while keeping pace with slow life in Popoyo. This means that you will do yoga and surfing once per day (except on the day of arrival and departure for surfing; yoga is available free of charge on the day of arrival and departure).

Yoga

Welcome to Surf & Yoga Nicaragua exclusive yoga retreat, perfectly situated right near the beach in Popoyo, Nicaragua. Experience a range of yoga practices and learn the art of yoga with experienced teachers in classes who bring a balanced approach to the practice. Dive deeper into the transformative power of yoga in order to explore your mind and body.

Welcome to this Popoyo retreat, nestled right by the beach, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's haven of tranquility. There, you’ll immerse yourself in a unique yoga experience.

Each day, their skilled and passionate instructors will guide you through thoughtfully crafted sessions, blending yoga postures, mindful breathing, and meditation. Whether you’re just starting your yoga journey or deepening an existing practice, their inclusive environment will ensure that every yogi feels supported and challenged.

Beyond yoga, this retreat is a community - a place to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and cultivate lifelong friendships. Join Surf & Yoga Nicaragua in Popoyo and embark on a journey of self-discovery in one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable.

• Outdoor shala
• Different styles
• Highly experienced instructors
• Personalized classes
• Aimed at improving your surf skills

The convergence of yoga and surfing is remarkably seamless due to their common objectives and principles. Yoga’s physical regimen reinforces your core, refines balance, and amplifies flexibility and mobility - essential proficiencies for any surfer.

Complementing this, yoga’s mental facets, encompassing controlled breathing and meditation, yield remarkable results. They promote a more wholesome state of being and cultivate the concentration crucial to the psychological dynamics of surfing.

Go, disconnect from the noise of the world, and reconnect with yourself in the serene beauty of Popoyo.

Surf

Are you looking for the perfect place to learn to surf in Nicaragua? Surf & Yoga Nicaragua offers tailor-made programs for surf learners and guiding sessions for the more advanced surfers.

Popoyo is famous for its beautiful waves, and the camp’s location gives you prime access to Nicaragua’s top surf spots. From the legendary main break at Popoyo to hidden spots along the coast, you’ll find waves for every style. The instructors will match you with the perfect break for your level, whether you want to charge steep reef waves or cruise gentler spots on a longboard.

• Semi-private lesson
• Certified surf coaches
• Personalized teaching
• Top-of-the-range equipment
• Beginner to advanced

Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's surf programs are comprehensive in that they not only include plenty of time in the water, but also video analysis, feedback, and surf theory classes. Each surfing session is progressive and goal-oriented for each of the participants.

From mastering the basics of paddling and standing up to catching your first green wave, the lessons are designed to help you progress quickly and safely in the water. They are careful not to mix ability levels.

This will also mean that you will never have to wait for others to keep up or feel left behind. Simply put, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua sticks to an upper limit of 1:3 instructor-to-student ratio. Also, it’s important to note that they do not mix ability levels. Therefore, you will feel more comfortable with your instructions.

• Surf coaching with ISA-certified coach
• Transfers to / from the camp
• All surf equipment and rash vest

Location and surf check

Every morning, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua will do a surf check online and with their local surfing friends and decide which beaches to head to. This will depend on factors such as the ability level of each group and the swell conditions. This means that the chances are high that you’ll have ideal conditions whichever level of surfer you are.

Your first surf lesson

Some people are extremely confident in the waves, while other people are intimidated by just being in the ocean environment, but everyone, without exception, enjoys their first day surfing.

The location of your first surf lesson will take place at one of the finest beginner surfing beaches. The water is warm, has perfect sandy bottoms, shallow waters, and no dangerous sea life or rip currents, making it the ideal starting point for your surfing vacation.

The first element of your first surf lesson will be on the beach warming up, introducing you to the surf break and your beginner board. The trainers will move on to teach you how to lay on the board at the correct position, paddling on the board, and pop-up (the jump), or, if this is not available for you, another relevant method of getting up such as a four-step method.

By then, you’ll be ready to enter the water and enjoy the surf, but not before you learn the necessary safety techniques.

Your first day of surfing will finish with a summary of the skills that will be covered during the upcoming week, as well as what they will lead on to and that’s where the fun starts. For most, within five days, they can aim to go out and start catching waves all on their own!

Video analysis and surf theory

In addition to plenty of time in the water, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's guests will also receive theory lessons and video analysis. With this video analysis, their coaches will give you a comprehensive review of your surfing, going through your areas of strength and areas of improvement. Videos taken for surf analysis will be shared with you free of charge.

Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's surf points

Nicaragua is a paradise for surfers of all levels, and if you’re just starting out, there are plenty of beginner-friendly surf spots near Popoyo. These breaks offer smaller, gentler waves, perfect for learning the basics while soaking in the stunning coastal scenery.

• Playa Santana (Popoyo area): Just a short distance from Popoyo, Playa Santana provides forgiving beach break waves that are ideal for beginners. The soft, rolling waves there make it easy to practice your pop-up and ride long, smooth lines.
• Playa Guasacate (Popoyo): Adjacent to the main Popoyo break, Playa Guasacate offers sandy-bottomed waves that are consistent yet mellow - perfect for first-timers or those looking to build confidence on a surfboard.
• Playa Remanso (San Juan del Sur): Located just south of San Juan del Sur, Playa Remanso is one of the best spots for beginners. The waves there break softly over a sandy bottom, creating a safe and fun environment to learn and improve.
• Playa Hermosa (San Juan del Sur): True to its name, “Beautiful Beach,” Playa Hermosa is a breathtaking stretch of coastline with gentle, beginner-friendly waves and plenty of space to spread out. It’s an amazing spot for both surfing and relaxing.

Find your level

Level 1.1: Total beginners

You have never tried surfing, but are able to swim. At this stage, the focus will be on teaching you the fundamentals of surfing, which includes a dry session on the beach, focusing on:

• Introduction to the surfboard and equipment
• Correct position on the board
• Paddling technique
• How to protect yourself, board, and others in the water
• Surf etiquette
• Passing the white water
• Correct pop-up
• Correct stance

Level 1.2: Beginner who has tried surfing a couple of times before

This will be a challenging stage for both you and the coaches because at some surf schools you've had before, the techniques used may differ from the ones that Surf & Yoga Nicaragua uses. Therefore, they will stick with the ISA method of teaching. At this stage, you will focus on:

• Reviewing the basics with you and comparing it with the methods you've learned before (Level 1.1)
• Working on your stance for more balance and improving on your pop-up and paddling technique
• Teaching you about the basic stages of a wave and the shape of a wave at the particular beach
• Talk about positioning in the lineup to catch unbroken waves
• How to do the angle take-off and get into an unbroken wave to the left or right
• Learning how to slow down or accelerate according to the section of the wave
• Correct stance

Level 1.3: Advanced beginner

You have surfed more than a couple of days by now, understand the wave and board mechanics, and feel comfortable in the water most of the time. You have more control over catching the waves and your stance, but are only able to go straight. At this stage, you will focus on:

• Reviewing the basics of Level 1.1 and 1.2
• Working on wave reading and positioning in the line-up
• Improving on the angle take-off and stance
• Learning the basics of trimming on a wave

Level 2.1: Beginner intermediate surfer

At this stage, you have pretty good control over your paddling, are able to go out the back and catch unbroken waves, and go left or right. You also understand the waves, surfing, and ocean conditions. Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's focus on you at this stage will be:

• Generating speed on the wave
• Improving your wave-reading ability
• Duck-diving
• Improving your stance for more mobility
• Bottom turn and top turn fundamentals

Level 2.2: Advanced intermediate surfer

At this stage, you have very good control over your board and are able to make turns to change the direction. You can also ride a short board or a minimal surfboard. You will focus on:

• Surfing and speeding down the line on different types of waves
• Correct positioning to catch different types of waves
• Learning to cutback
• Technical analysis of your top turn and bottom turn
• Small floaters to pass the sections
• Duck dive improvement

If you aren’t sure what level you are, have no fear! Surf & Yoga Nicaragua's instructors will assess your level once you arrive and allocate you to the correct group.

The lesson time will usually be fixed the night before, making it easier for the planning. The timing depends on the best surf conditions for your level.

Every morning, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua will do a surf check online and with their local surfing friends and decide which beaches to head to. This will depend on factors such as your ability level and the swell conditions. This means that the chances are high that you’ll have ideal conditions whichever level of surfer you are.

Usually, for the Level 1 surfers, they use the soft tops for the first days, before they can call themselves an advanced beginner and the instructor decides for them to use the hard tops. For Level 2 and above, there is a range of hard tops which they can select from.

You definitely have a special connection with your own board, therefore, if it’s convenient for you, Surf & Yoga Nicaragua suggests that you bring your own board. Nevetheless, the surfboard is included in the lesson for the duration of the surf class. They will also provide you with a rash guard.

If you’ll be having your first go at surfing or have had only a lesson or two in the past, you will start from the basics. The basics include introduction to the surfboard, the surfing spot, a warm-up, a dry session on the beach explaining the basics of the pop-up and safety techniques, and then going to catch the first waves in the sub-tropical waters.

Knowing how to swim is not a must, but it is an advantage to feel confident in the water and maximize your progress and enjoyment.

Typical surf session

Your instructor will bring you to the surf spot that brings the best conditions. After an effective warm-up, your surf coach will show, teach, and help you to improve your techniques. Have the time of your life!

After four hours (driving included), the surf session will be over. You will collect your board and the equipment and leave the beach together with your group to go back to the Surf & Yoga Nicaragua camp.