THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Learn to catch the clean, learner-friendly waves of Playa Maderas with a focused 2-hour guided surf lesson — ideal for beginners and those refining basics near San Juan del Sur.
Learn to catch the clean, learner-friendly waves of Playa Maderas with a focused 2-hour guided surf lesson — ideal for beginners and those refining basics near San Juan del Sur.
You step off the sandy track and the Pacific greets you with wind and a clean, glassy line of waves that seem to be waiting for first-time riders. Salt rides on your skin; the surf coach clips fins to a board and points down the point where swell and sandbar meet. The first minutes are dry land: stance, pops, and safety drills that turn nervous energy into focused momentum.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Surf Camp Los Chamos · San Juan del Sur, Rivas
You step off the sandy track and the Pacific greets you with wind and a clean, glassy line of waves that seem to be waiting for first-time riders. Salt rides on your skin; the surf coach clips fins to a board and points down the point where swell and sandbar meet. The first minutes are dry land: stance, pops, and safety drills that turn nervous energy into focused momentum.
Playa Maderas sits a short drive north of San Juan del Sur, a former fishing town turned surf hub. The beach is carved from volcanic soils and ancient uplifted reefs, giving the break a consistent peel favored by learners and longboarders. Local surfing culture grew in the last two decades as international surfers discovered these predictable swells; small campamentos and surf schools now share the shoreline with fishermen mending nets.
Expect a hands-on, coach-led session: 20–30 minutes of warm-up and technique onshore, then water time practicing pop-ups, wave selection, and paddling for roughly 90 minutes. The coaches read the sets and place beginners in softer whitewater, while intermediate paddlers can work toward catching open-face waves at the point.
Practical tips: arrive with a light breakfast, reef-safe sunscreen, and a leash-friendly board if you have one. Swim competency is required; instructors will pair you with appropriate boards and flotation. Mornings offer smaller winds and cleaner glass, while afternoons can bring onshore chop. Respect local line-up etiquette, keep an eye on changing currents, and pack a dry shirt for the ride back to San Juan del Sur.
No — lessons are designed for beginners and provide onshore instruction plus guided water practice; tell your coach your level.
Some operators include transport from San Juan del Sur; confirm pickup details when booking or choose a local meeting point.
A swimsuit with a rashguard or a lightweight wetsuit is ideal; bring a change of dry clothes for the return trip.
Not recommended for non-swimmers; basic swimming competency is required so instructors can focus on technique and safety.
Surf Camp Los Chamos operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step off the sandy track and the Pacific greets you with wind and a clean, glassy line of waves that seem to be waiting for first-time riders. Salt rides on your skin; the surf coach clips fins to a board and points down the point where swell and sandbar meet. The first minutes are dry land: stance, pops, and safety drills that turn nervous energy into focused momentum.
You step off the sandy track and the Pacific greets you with wind and a clean, glassy line of waves that seem to be waiting for first-time riders. Salt rides on your skin; the surf coach clips fins to a board and points down the point where swell and sandbar meet. The first minutes are dry land: stance, pops, and safety drills that turn nervous energy into focused momentum.
Playa Maderas sits a short drive north of San Juan del Sur, a former fishing town turned surf hub. The beach is carved from volcanic soils and ancient uplifted reefs, giving the break a consistent peel favored by learners and longboarders. Local surfing culture grew in the last two decades as international surfers discovered these predictable swells; small campamentos and surf schools now share the shoreline with fishermen mending nets.
Expect a hands-on, coach-led session: 20–30 minutes of warm-up and technique onshore, then water time practicing pop-ups, wave selection, and paddling for roughly 90 minutes. The coaches read the sets and place beginners in softer whitewater, while intermediate paddlers can work toward catching open-face waves at the point.
Practical tips: arrive with a light breakfast, reef-safe sunscreen, and a leash-friendly board if you have one. Swim competency is required; instructors will pair you with appropriate boards and flotation. Mornings offer smaller winds and cleaner glass, while afternoons can bring onshore chop. Respect local line-up etiquette, keep an eye on changing currents, and pack a dry shirt for the ride back to San Juan del Sur.