Wondering What Surfboards to Bring to an All-Inclusive Surf Camp in Nicaragua (From Someone Who’s Broken Enough Boards to Earn the Right to Say This)
By Gregory “Goyo” Chrisman – Sirena Surf Lodge, Punta Miramar/Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua
You may feel the ocean — but it doesn’t feel you.
The ocean doesn’t care about your boards, your passport, your bank balance, your Instagram following, or whether you breathe or not. The waves breaking on coastlines around the world — including the ones detonating right in front of Sirena Surf Lodge at Punta Miramar and around the corner at Puerto Sandino Nicaragua — are just nameless henchmen doing Neptune’s dirty work.
Here on Nicaragua’s Central Pacific Coast, mile after mile of exposed shoreline stares straight into the deep blue engine room of the Southern Hemisphere. The same swells that light up Chile and Teahupoo, Costa Rica and El Sal’ wrap their way into Punta Miramar and Puerto Sandino, producing some of the most consistent, uncrowded surf in the world.
And if you’re coming here, you’re going to need a board or two… or maybe not as many as you think. Hence the title: The Non-Definitive Guide To Bringing Boards.
Surfing Nicaragua: Powerful, Playful, and Occasionally Ruthless
Right in front of the lodge you can find some bombs at Punta Miramar
(I’m on a 6’8″…that buckled on this wave)
Nicaragua isn’t always Hawaii — But the water is warmer and its got juice .
It isn’t Nazaré — and we’re fine with that.
What Nicaragua does have is real waves of consequence, and they give zero f**ks about your quiver, your ego, the time you surfed Pipe, how long you waited for that custom board or the logo on it.
Sandbars shift overnight and user-friendly rollers become slabby surprises come morning. Bring some skills, get barreled, or don’t, but let’s try not to blame it on the board.
I’ve been surfing the Pacific Ocean among others for over 40 years and guiding surfers in Nicaragua for 15. I’ve seen waves change character between tide cycles, and Nicaragua plays by the same rule as everywhere else which is to say 👉 There are no rules.
And often a big question every surf traveler asks…
Should I Bring Surfboards to Nicaragua?
Short answer: Maybe, alot depends on your ability
Long answer: Probably not all of them.
Even on pumping days at Puerto Sandino, most accomplished surfers need only need one board. In the event of breaking a board, the boat ride back to the house to grab a new one is only 10 minutes round trip. When the waves are smaller and we’re hitting Punta Miramar, Transito, or Salinas Grande it’s the same deal, most of the time one board will get you through a week assuming you don’t make too many bad decisions. Some of this depends on ability to consistently knife into barreling waves and some depends on if the shape and size of the board you’re riding are right for the conditions. So before duct-taping your life savings into a coffin bag, let’s talk about what actually makes sense for making the best of your all-inclusive surf camp experience here in Nicaragua.
Airlines Charge for Surfboards … As much as a weekly Rental
Surfboard airline fees are brutal. Oversize baggage, damage risk, lost bags — it adds up fast.
Between airline fees, broken boards, and stress, many surfers realize that renting boards at Sirena Surf Lodge is often cheaper and smarter than flying with a full quiver.
We keep a large, diverse board quiver on hand so you don’t have to gamble your trip on airline baggage handlers.
If You Bring Boards, You Probably Won’t Ride Them All
I often see guests unpacking 3 or 4 boards and most of the time they might use 2 at the most.
- Pumping Waves (8-10’+) → 1–2 boards
- Mellow Waves (4-6′) → 1–2 boards
- Occasionally you are the guest who arrives to shoulder high peelers and two days later are faced with overhead bombs… in that case, you might want some variety.
With forecasting tools I can usually give you a good idea at what kind of surf is expected for your trip and what boards make sense. If there’s a grey area and it seems logical to bring more than two or three, you can opt to do so at that time. And If you find yourself under-gunned, we’ve got step-ups. If you’re over-gunned, we’ve got grovelers.
And if you break one which is very possible at Punta Miramar, Puerto Sandino and Salinas Grande, it hurts a lot less when it’s not your favorite baby from home (Keep in mind that when renting…you break it you buy it;-)
Traveling With a Buddy? Don’t Put All Your Boards in One Bag
Traveling with a buddy? Split the quiver among two bags. Put one or two of yours in his bag and take one or two of their in yours.
If one bag disappears, you still surf.
Airlines lose bags. TSA opens them. Sometimes things come back… rearranged. Travel insurance helps. Smart packing helps more.
What to Pack – Whether You’re Renting or Bringing Boards
In addition to your boards, bring some essentials:
- Extra fins & fin key
- Two leashes (…not comp leashes!)
- Tropical wax
- Ding repair resin
- Sunscreen (seriously)
We sell everything here, but buying it at destination prices always costs more than packing it smartly.
If You’re Not At Least A Confident Intermediate Surfer: Rent Boards and get the truly All-Inclusive Surf Camp Experience.
This is where all-inclusive surf camps in Nicaragua really shine.
At Sirena Surf Lodge, you get:
- Access to a large rental quiver
- Daily surf checks with your own eyes
- Local knowledge of Punta Miramar & Puerto Sandino
- Honest advice (including telling you when a board idea is terrible)
Renting lets you:
- Travel lighter
- Demo boards
- Match boards to daily conditions
- Spend more time surfing, less time stressing
If You Do Decide To Bring Boards: Recommended Travel Quivers
Solo Surfer
- Groveler or fish
- Performance shortboard
- Step-up or hybrid (depending on forecast)
Surf Trip With a Buddy
- Groveler and a Fish
- 1 Standard short board each
- 2 Different Size Step-ups
- Mini-gun (Optional and only rarely needed…just confirm the forecast before you pack one)
This setup covers 90% of conditions you’ll see in Nicaragua.
Beginners and Intermediates Should Almost Always Rent: What Level Are You Really? (Be Honest)
- Learner: < 5 years surfing
- Intermediate: 75+ surf days/year
- Advanced: Daily surfer for years… you might want to bring boards
- Expert: Makes others hate themselves…you’re bringing boards
If you’re not advanced or expert, a board with volume and paddle power will matter more than sexy high performance board with brand name logos. The right board catches more waves — and catching waves is the whole point. If you have a 32 litre board and you can’t catch waves, I would recommend a 40 litre board…if you don’t catch waves on that, we’ll move you to a 50 litre board. If you can’t catch waves on that…you’re probably a longboarder!
Why Nicaragua Is Perfect for Surf Progression
With warm water, consistent swell, uncrowded lineups, and variety, Nicaragua is one of the best places in the world to improve your surfing. If you do bring a variety of boards and fins, it can be the perfect place to get a feel for how those boards work and/or the subtle difference fin changes make.
At Punta Miramar and Puerto Sandino, you’ll find:
- Long walls good for multiple turns
- Playful points good for various board shapes
- Heavy days (when conditions line up) that will challenge you and get you tube time
- Plenty of room to learn without pressure… not always, but often
That’s why surfers keep coming back — and staying longer.
Why Stay at an All-Inclusive Surf Camp in Nicaragua
When you stay at Sirena Surf Lodge, you’re not just booking a room.
You’re getting:
- Beachfront access to world-class waves
- All-inclusive meals
- Board rental quiver
- Local surf guides and expertise
- Daily surf planning
- A community-focused surf experience
No guesswork. No wasted days.
Ready to Surf Nicaragua?
If you’re looking for:
- An all-inclusive surf camp in Nicaragua
- Daily Uncrowded waves for beginners and experts alike at Punta Miramar, Puerto Sandino, Salinas Grande, Shacks, Shifties, Playa Hermosa (Fish n’ Chips), and El Transito.
- A place where surf comes first and ego comes last
- Special tours to The Boom, ‘secret’ spots, volcanoes, Leon, and more!
👉 Book your stay at SirenaSurfLodge.com
Follow us on Instagram: @sirenasurflodgenicaragua
Tag us, share the stoke, bring your crew.
Just get here.
The waves are waiting.
— Gregory “Goyo” Chrisman
