Tourism in San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is considered one of the main tourist destinations in the Pacific – a place to enjoy the sun, beaches, and parties.
It is a small town that is easily walkable to enjoy the bay and beach. Several other beautiful beaches (e.g., Playa Maderas, Remanso, Blanca, etc.) are 30 minutes or less driving distance away. You can also get to any of these beaches by bus, taxi, motorcycle, boat, etc.
San Juan del Sur is approximately 10 miles away from the Costa Rican border.
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What to do in San Juan del Sur?
What to visit, see, and do in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua: The San Juan del Sur Beach, promenade, sculpture in homage to Felix Ruben Garcia Sarmiento, the Mirador de Cristo de la Misericordia, the Christ of Mercy, the Parish of San Juan Bautista, Luis Rodolfo Romero Herrera Municipal Market, San Juan del Sur Municipal Park, etc.
Playa San Juan del Sur
The beach of San Juan del Sur has the shape of a crescent or “u”, and is surrounded by mountains with vegetation, and on the mountain you can see the Christ of Mercy. On the bay there are various bars and restaurants where you can eat or have drinks and enjoy the amazing sunsest.
The San Juan del Sur Bay
Its bay has a wide promenade where there are palm trees, benches, volleyball courts, a food court, handcrafted gifts, bars, and restaurants. It is perfect for walks. At the southern end of the bay, there is a sculptural ensemble that pays homage to Rubén Dario (Nicaraguan poet, journalist and diplomat).
San Juan Mirador
The sculpture of Jesus of Mercy, is located at the top of the city, the northern end of the Bay of San Juan del Sur. The sculpture is considered as the largest statue of Christ in Central America, is 15 meters high, being supported on a pedestal of 9 meters, with a total of 24 meters high, at 110 meters above sea level.
It is made of fiberglass with metal structure inside and is the work of architect and sculptor Max Ulloa Rayo. Under the statue there is a small prayer chapel, and a view from where you can get incredible panoramic views of the Bay and town of San Juan del Sur.
The end of the road is uphill with quite a slope, so it is advisable to visit early in the morning (not as hot), wear shoes that are good for walking, water, sunscreen, or hat. The place only has toilets. Open from 8am to 5pm.
How to get to San Juan del Sur?
San Juan del Sur does not have its own airport, but the nearest airport is Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport (MGA), in the city of Managua (capital of Nicaragua), which is approximately 87 miles away. To get to San Juan del Sur from there you can go by mini bus, taxi or direct bus that leaves from the Roberto Huembes market terminal, and the trip is approximately 2 ½ hours.
There is also the Guanacaste Airport (LIR), its official name is Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport, and is in the city of Liberia, Costa Rica, which is approximately 84 miles away, but you must cross the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border.
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What is the weather like in San Juan del Sur?
The climate is tropical with an average temperature of 27°C or 80.6 F. There are two seasons: Dry and wet. The dry season is the best time to travel to San Juan del Sur, which is from mid-November to April.
The rainy season runs from May to early November. If you travel from July to January then you might see the arrival of the turtles. Between the months of November and March you will have the possibility to do some whale watching. It is important to clarify that nature is unpredictable and sightings are not guaranteed, but going during this time increases the possibility of seeing them.
What should I keep in mind before traveling to San Juan del Sur?
- The city is safe, but like any city it is wise to be careful and keep an eye on your belongings, especially phones.
- The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish,
- The official currency is the Nicaraguan córdoba (C$), but they accept dollars in most places. The exhange rate is approximately 36 córdobas for $1 USD.
- It is best to avoid eating at street stalls and drinking tap water.
- Protect yourself from possible medical emergencies with travel insurance.
- Be careful and avoid fraudulent vacation rental services by reading our Tips’ section Tips to avoid fraud in vacation rentals in San Juan del Sur.
Where to stay in San Juan del Sur?
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