Dream Sea Nicaragua
How to Get to Dream Sea Resort Camp Nicaragua
The easiest way to get the camp (if you are not already traveling in Nicaragua), is to fly to Managua Airport. Managua is about a 3 hour drive from Dream Sea, so you will definitely need additional transport. From the airport, you can book your own shuttle to the camp, or for 90 USD, you can have someone from the camp come and pick you up. Most locals do not speak English, so if you have limited Spanish knowledge or do not want to handle your own transport, I would recommend booking a shuttle through the camp.
What to Expect at Dream Sea Surf Camp Nicaragua
Weekly Package
For my stay, I chose the weekly package which includes dorm style accommodation for 7 days/ 8 nights, 10 hours of surf lessons (or 5 classes), daily surf theory, and 3 yoga lessons. If you’re looking to take surf lessons during your trip, this is the cheapest option. The packages costs 434 USD for the week and is cheaper than booking the activities individually.
Amenities
Dream Sea Nicaragua is a fully inclusive camp meaning you never have to leave the camp if you don’t want to. As part of the weekly package, you are given breakfast and dinner, and have the option to purchase lunch is you would like. There is an outdoor swimming pool for relaxing in the afternoons, multiple lounge areas, and a yoga room which you can use for more than just yoga. Throughout the camp there is also free Wi-Fi, so you can be connected if you so choose.
Daily Activities
Despite Dream Sea being primarily a surf camp, there were a lot of other activities that they offered. All the activities could be found on the weekly schedule, which they change every week. For the most part, the activities stay the same every week, just the timings change. The activates included daily trips into San Juan Del Sur, a visit to Playa Hermosa, watching the sunset from Hush (another hostel), a visit to the Jesus statue, and a beach picnic. I enjoyed every activity, since each was unique in its own way. They were nice ways to explore Nicaragua, with the added safety of being with the surf camp group. With surfing, yoga lessons, and the activities, there was always something to do and I was never bored!
One thing to note is some of the activities, are extra money and aren’t included in the weekly package. Those activities are the trip to Playa Hermosa (because there is an entrance fee) and the beach picnic. The cost of those trips is 13 USD and 8 USD respectively. Despite the extra costs, I would still recommend them because of how much fun they are!
Nighttime Activities
If you are looking for nighttime activities, this surf camp has you covered. Almost every night there are trips to local bars or other activities planned, so you can have a good time every night. Some of these trips are extra money, but are well worth it f you are looking for some fun. If you don’t like an activity that is offered, or you have something else in mind, you can easily take a shuttle into San Juan Del Sur and explore the nightlife on your own as well. Since the camp is in such close proximity to the city, you can take a shuttle for less than 5 USD.
Surf School
Details
As part of the weekly package, you get 10 hours of surf lessons which equates to 5 surf lessons. These lessons are for everyone regardless of whether you’re a beginner or have prior surf experience. If you are a beginner, or have no prior surf experience, you will surf the whitewash (broken waves), and if you have experience, you will surf in the lineup. For each lesson, you will be with an instructor in a group no larger than 4 people giving you plenty of 1:1 time to learn.
Surf Theory
When I went to the camp, I had no prior surf experience and started with the whitewash. By the fourth lesson, I moved up to the lineup group and was able to surf 2-4 foot waves. This isn’t uncommon, and most beginners that come to the camp get to this stage. The instructors were amazing and helped us improve our skills fast by giving us feedback after every wave. While we were in the lineup, since we only went one at a time, the experience was less scary because I always knew the instructors were watching and would help when needed, which allowed me to focus on getting better.
Surf Lessons
Aside from surf lessons, you also get daily surf theory (everyday except for Sunday). During surf theory, you will learn useful techniques to help your surfing while out of the water. Some of the topics covered include: types of surf boards, paddling, popping up, turning, how to read waves (theory behind it), rules of the lineup, etc. One one of the days, you can ask the surf instructors anything, and the goal of the lesson is to answer any and all questions you have about surfing.
Through all the lessons and surf theory, I improved my skills and had so much fun during the process. If you goal is to learn how to surf, or improve your skills, this is the perfect surf camp for just that.
Food
Aside from surfing, the food was one of my favorite parts about the surf camp. With the weekly package, breakfast and dinner is included for the entirety of your stay. For breakfast, you have 5 different options you can chose. These options do not change, and you are given the same 5 options everyday.
For dinner, my favorite part about it was that it was family style. Everyone at the camp ate together and this was a great way to get to know some of the other people staying at the camp. As for the food, it is a 3 course meal. You are given an appetizer, a main meal, and a desert. As someone with a sweet tooth, I really appreciated ending every night on a sweet note. The dinner menu changes ever night, and each morning you are presented with two options: a vegetarian option and a meat option (for example, the options may be veggie tacos and chicken tacos). The appetizer and desert are same for everyone (they are vegetarian of course), and the main meal is what changes and what you select in the morning.
The food that the camp provided, both breakfast and dinner, was phenomenal. There wasn’t a single thing they gave me that I didn’t enjoy, and it made coming back home to fast food so difficult. Aside from just tasting amazing, some dishes were very unique such as a cake with passion fruit jam. With all the dishes being prepared on the same day, you could taste the freshness and quality of each dish. As a foodie, I thoroughly enjoyed every meal.
Rooms
During your stay in the camp, you have the option of choosing private accommodation or dorm style accommodation. Since I chose the weekly package option, I was in dorm-style accommodation during my stay. Throughout the camp, there are bamboo style structures, 3 of which are the dorm rooms. Each dorm consists of 6 beds (3 bunk-beds), a center table, and a rack for hanging clothes. There is no air conditioning, but they have a giant ceiling fan to provide air circulation. With dorm style accommodation, you have access to shared bathrooms that have 2 toilet stalls and 2 showers. The facilities are very well maintained and are amazing for the price you pay.
If you chose private accommodation, you will have an entire bamboo structure to yourself with a private bathroom. While slightly more expensive the comfort and privacy this type of accommodation offers is unparalleled.
FAQs
What are the check-in and check-out times at Dream Sea Surf Resort Nicaragua?
Check-in starts at 2:00 pm and check-out is until 11 am. If you have extenuating circumstances, you may be able to contact the camp to adjust the timings.
What type of room can I book at Dream Sea Surf Resort Nicaragua?
You can book either dorm style accommodation or private accommodation at Dream Sea Surf Resort Nicaragua.
Does Nicaragua have good surf?
Yes, Nicaragua has good surf! In fact, Nicaragua has some of the best surf spots in all of Central America.
What is the best time of year to surf in Nicargua?
The best time of year to surf in Nicaragua is during Nicaragua’s rainy season. This usually occurs between the end of March and September.
How much does a surf trip to Nicaragua cost?
Personally, I spent around $1200 for a week trip in Nicaragua including plane tickets from Boston, Massachusetts.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I had such an amazing time at Dream Sea surf resort Nicaragua! I would highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway and those looking to learn how to surf. It was so nice to disconnect from the world for a week and spend time in the beautiful Nicaragua ocean’s.
