Best Beaches in Nicargua :Alright, so let’s talk Nicaragua. This Central American gem is wildly underrated—like, how are we not all living here already? With coastlines on both the Pacific and Caribbean, Nicaragua’s beach game is chef’s kiss. Think black-sand volcano shores, party bays, secret snorkel spots, and Caribbean hideaways you legit have to take a chicken boat to find. I wandered through most of these with a backpack, a dying phone, and zero sunscreen, so you better believe I’ve got the goods—and the burn lines—to back this up.
Whether you’re a hammock dweller, wannabe surfer, or someone whose dream is to say “I swam with turtles today,” you’re about to find your kind of paradise.
Here are Nicaragua’s 7 most remarkable beaches—in all their sandy, sunburned glory.
1. Otto Beach, Little Corn Island
Best beach for Caribbean vibes
Okay, Otto Beach on Little Corn Island is so dreamy it almost feels illegal. You take a tiny plane from Managua, then hop a sketchy boat that 100% will soak your backpack, your hopes, and maybe your soul. But when you land? Boom—turquoise water, reggae on the breeze, and nothing but soft sand and sea turtles.
I passed out in a hammock here after two Toñas and woke up to a hermit crab crawling across my stomach. I named him Harold. If you like your beach days slow and your seafood fresh, this place delivers. Stay at Yemaya Reefs if you’re feeling spendy, or just grab a cold beer and let the sun do its thing.
Local tip: Rent a snorkel and swim out to Blowing Rock. It’s a full-on underwater disco—parrotfish, rays, neon everything. And get the fried plantains. Don’t argue. Just do it.
Also Read: How to Visit Naples on a Budget
2. Playa Maderas, Rivas
Best beach for surfing
Playa Maderas is like that effortlessly cool person you meet at a hostel—surfboard in one hand, coconut in the other. Located just north of San Juan del Sur, this beach is surf central. Lefts, rights, and a whole lotta wipeouts (I’m talking “face full of sand” levels of grace here).
This is where I thought I was gonna go full Kelly Slater—spoiler: I ate it five times in twenty minutes. But whatever, the fish tacos healed me. Between the laid-back beach shacks, the bonfires at night, and the steady rhythm of waves, you’ll forget Slack even exists.
Surf secret: Go early if you’re a newbie—less crowded, less terrifying. And if Maderas feels too spicy, check out Playa Remanso for beginner-friendly waves. Still gets you that surf-in-Nicaragua street cred.
3. Playa La Flor, Rivas
Best beach for sea turtle spotting
Okay, real talk. Nothing prepares you for the magic of Playa La Flor. From July to January, thousands of olive ridley sea turtles pull off this synchronized nesting act called arribada. You sit there, watching them lay eggs like it’s the world’s chillest miracle. And then? BABY TURTLES, MAN.
I slept on the sand with two granola bars, a busted headlamp, and a heart full of awe. No Wi-Fi. No light pollution. Just moonlight and these tiny flippered dudes doing their thing.
Turtle tip: Camp here, but come prepared. Like “no one’s saving you” prepared. Or stay nearby at Playa El Coco if you prefer your adventures with a mattress.
4. Playa San Juan del Sur, Rivas
Best beach for party people
Let’s not lie—San Juan del Sur is where chill goes to get wild. This beach town’s vibe is half surf-town, half Spring Break that never ended. On Sundays, there’s Sunday Funday, which is exactly what it sounds like: a pool crawl where you lose both time and flip-flops.
I ended up dancing with a guy dressed as a pineapple, ate three fish tacos at midnight, and found my sandals two days later at a taco stand named after someone’s grandma. No regrets.
Party pointer: Climb to the Cristo de la Misericordia statue before sundown. That view? Iconic. Also, sobering—great for that “why did I take seven shots of rum” moment of reflection.
5. Playa Las Peñitas, León
Best beach close to a city
Need to escape the molten lava hot colonial streets of León? Playa Las Peñitas is your salty oasis just 30 minutes west. Take a chicken bus—mine had a goat in a backpack, and I wish I was kidding—and boom, you’re at the coast.
The beach is long and low-key, great for catching sunsets, beers, or a rogue surf lesson. I ate ceviche that slapped so hard I cried a little. Also, a dog tried to surf here. Not well, but hey, points for effort.
Don’t miss: The nearby Juan Venado Island Nature Reserve is an actual slice of paradise. Kayak through the mangroves, spot birds, and pretend you’re in a David Attenborough doc.
6. Punta Jesús María, Isla de Ometepe
Best beach for volcano views
Punta Jesús María is basically Nicaragua’s mic drop. It’s a sandbar that stretches out into Lake Nicaragua, with Volcán Concepción looming dramatically in the background like it owns the place. And honestly? It kinda does.
I walked the sandbar at sunset, tequila in hand, yelling something poetic-slash-dumb like “this is MY kingdom.” The black sand gets warm from the sun, the lake water is calm, and the view is all vibes. Perfect place to pretend you’re in a movie.
Bonus: Rent a bike to cruise around Isla de Ometepe—but fair warning: the roads are a nightmare. Like, “why are we bouncing into the next century” levels of rough. Still worth it.
And no shade to naples, but this ain’t Florida. This is full volcano fantasy at backpacker prices.
7. Pearl Cays
Best beach for would-be castaways
Ever dream of being Tom Hanks in Castaway, minus the volleyball trauma? The Pearl Cays are your scene. Eighteen tiny islands off the Caribbean coast, reachable via boat from Bluefields—yes, it’s a trek, but holy paradise, Batman.
Our boat stalled out halfway there and we floated with a pod of dolphins for, like, 20 minutes. Honestly, it was the highlight of my accidental meditation practice. Most of the cays are deserted, the kind of places where time stops and you’re just a human-shaped dot on a map.
Real talk: Go between December and April. Pack your snacks, sunscreen, and a healthy respect for open water. Ain’t no Uber Eats out there, friend.
8. Playa El Coco, Rivas
Best beach to disappear and read a book
You ever want to just vanish into a hammock with a novel and not come back to reality for a week? Playa El Coco is that. Super quiet, barely any cell signal, and a vibe so slow it practically naps on its own. No loud music. No party bros. Just crashing waves, the occasional howler monkey, and you.
There’s a small eco-lodge with solar panels and really solid gallo pinto. Pro tip: skip the sunscreen and use one of the palm-leaf palapas for shade like a beach genius
9. Jiquilillo Beach, Chinandega
Best beach for catching waves and no crowds
Way up north and off the usual tourist radar, Jiquilillo is a surf town that forgot to become a surf town. Which is perfect. You’ll get long stretches of golden beach and uncrowded waves all to yourself.
The sunsets here are like God spilled orange juice on the horizon. Plus, there’s a surf camp that doubles as a community project, so your surf lessons come with a side of good karma.
10. Playa Hermosa, San Juan del Sur
Best beach for a luxe surf day
This beach is like San Juan del Sur’s chill cousin who has their life together. It’s not too far from the party zone, but way quieter and surrounded by jungle. There’s an entrance fee, which weirdly keeps it classy. You get showers, a restaurant, and cabanas.
Great place to surf, chill, or sip smoothies next to people who do yoga but don’t make it their whole personality.
11. Las Salinas, Tola
Best beach for hot springs and healing vibes
Las Salinas isn’t just a beach—it’s also got hot springs, natural clay pits, and that low-key wellness energy. You come here to detox from everything—social media, city noise, that one ex who still watches all your stories.
Swim in the ocean, then soak in hot volcanic water. Rinse. Repeat. Pair it with a cheap massage under a tree and you’re basically reborn.
12. El Transito Beach, León
Best beach for digital detoxers
No ATMs. Spotty Wi-Fi. One tiny tienda that closes when the owner feels like surfing. Welcome to El Transito. This place is the anti-itinerary beach. Bring books, beers, and board games because your phone isn’t helping you here.
There’s also a reef you can snorkel when the tide’s right, and tide pools that turn into fishy infinity baths.
13. Playa Gigante, Tola
Best beach for backpacker-meets-bougie balance
Gigante is that sweet spot between rustic and comfortable. You’ve got cheap hostels and fresh-caught grilled lobster. You can camp or rent a swanky Airbnb. The beach curves just right for sunset selfies, and the hiking trail to Playa Amarillo offers cliff views that will murder your last five Tinder bio photos.
Bonus: there’s a bar with hammocks and 2-for-1 mojitos every Wednesday. You’re welcome.
14. Corn Island (Big Corn)
Best beach for chill before the chill
Before you jump to Little Corn, spend a night or two on Big Corn Island. Yes, it’s got more buildings, but the beaches are still insane. Think white sand, pelicans, and old reggae mixtapes crackling out of speakers that haven’t seen a volume knob since 2002.
Great spot to gear up, gear down, or just sip rum and plan your Little Corn escape. Don’t miss picnic-style lobster near Long Bay.
15. Playa Amarillo, Tola
Best beach for empty waves and epic hikes
Hidden behind some jungle trails near Gigante, Playa Amarillo is a near-deserted beauty. You hike 20 minutes and bam—you’re standing on one of the prettiest beaches in Nicaragua with nobody around but the occasional dog and maybe your conscience.
The waves are decent, the sand is golden, and you can nap under driftwood shadows without anyone judging your sand-in-the-hair aesthetic.
16. Playa Majagual, San Juan del Sur
Best beach to escape San Juan without really leaving
So you partied too hard in San Juan del Sur and now you want to hear your own thoughts again? Playa Majagual’s your ticket. It’s 25 minutes up the coast but feels like a whole new country.
It’s raw, rugged, and the perfect spot to lay in a hammock and think about your life choices—or not. I camped here once and fell asleep to a symphony of crickets, waves, and one very persistent frog.
17. Playa Los Cocos, El Ostional
Best beach to feel like you found a secret
This one’s a real wild card. Playa Los Cocos is near the Honduras border and rarely sees tourists. You’ll find long untouched sands, a sleepy fishing village, and coconut trees that bend just right for a nap.
I bought fish directly from a kid who caught it 30 minutes earlier and grilled it with lime and garlic. It was better than most five-star meals I’ve had. Also, the stars here? Unreal.
So whether you’re shredding at Playa Maderas, dancing at San Juan del Sur, or whispering life advice to baby turtles at La Flor, Nicaragua’s beaches are straight-up spellbinding. They’re raw, wild, occasionally weird, and completely unforgettable.
Forget naples. Nicaragua is calling—and trust me, you want to answer.
