Beach
both
Level 4/10

Playa Maderas

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
🌀Strong rips

Playa Maderas is Nicaragua's most beloved intermediate wave—a fun beach break near San Juan del Sur that has become the heart of the country's growing surf scene. The wave offers consistent left and right peaks that work for all skill levels, from beginners finding their feet to experienced surfers looking for playful sessions. The vibe here is pure Central American warmth: sunset sessions, beachfront bars, and a community of international travelers who've discovered Nicaragua's incredible value proposition. When the southwest swells pump from April through October, Maderas delivers daily surfable conditions at a fraction of Costa Rica's prices.

3-Day Forecast
Today
15
68
Good
1.1m
@19s
28km/h
Mon
16
78
Good
1.2m
@17s
19km/h
Tue
17
69
Good
1.0m
@17s
19km/h
+7
Unlock

Today's Conditions

Groomed
Clean faces from offshore winds
Swell
1.1m
SSW(213°)
Score: 11/25
Period
19s
Long period groundswell
Score: 20/25
Wind
28km/h
ENE(72°)
Score: 11/25
Weather
30°C
0.0mm22%
Windswell Component
0.5mENE@3s
Secondary Swell
0.4mW
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
afternoon

Location & Conditions

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0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
View in OpenStreetMap
Showing forecast for today

Tide Times

5:34 am
Low tide - -0.42m
11:55 am
High tide - 0.72m
5:51 pm
Low tide - -0.27m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

68
Good
Components
Swell Direction23/25
Swell Size11/25
Swell Period20/25
Wind11/25
Raw Score65/100
Adjustments
Wind History+6
🌊💨 Windswell-3
Adjusted Score68/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score68
✨ Groomed

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
SSW (210°)
Direction range
180° - 250°
Size range
0.8m - 2.5m
Ideal size
2.0m
Height multiplier
0.92×
Ideal period
14s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
NE (45°)
Offshore range
0° - 90°
Best window
morning

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
all
Optimal range
0.3m - 1.5m

Water temp

28°C

Wetsuit

Boardshorts / Rashguard

Difficulty

4/10

Crowd level

5/10

Access: Near San Juan del Sur. Easy beach access.

Best Season

Peak: Apr-Oct

Secondary: Nov, Mar

SW swell season April-October. Consistent beach break.

Getting There

Airport
MGA
Drive time
130 min
Data quality
verified

🤙 Strike Specialist

The Strike Specialist in Nicaragua is Sea Nicaragua Travel. Get in touch with them for the best chance of scoring the best waves in Nicaragua — and don't forget to tell 'em Barrel D sent ya.

Strike Log

Community Discussion