Playa Maderas
San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Nicaragua
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: March–November
Playa Maderas is a beach on Nicaragua's Pacific coast in the department of Rivas, about 20 minutes north of San Juan del Sur by road. It is a short beach between rocky points, with several peaks over sand and rock.
Like much of this coast, it often has offshore winds: easterly and north-easterly trade winds blow across Lake Nicaragua and the narrow isthmus, and they are strongest in the dry season from about November to April. South and south-west swells arrive mostly from March to November, with the biggest days in the middle of the year. The waves are fast and can be hollow, especially at low tide, so the beach suits intermediate and advanced surfers; on small days surf schools also use it. Strong offshore winds can make paddling into waves hard. The line-up is often crowded, as it is the closest good wave to San Juan del Sur. Rocks lie at both ends of the beach. The water is warm, though offshore winds can bring cooler water in the dry season.
Spots near Playa Maderas
- Playa Colorado (20 km)
- Playa Santana (29 km)
- Popoyo (31 km)
- Bahía Salinas (37 km)
- Ollie's Point – Potrero Grande (51 km)
- Witch's Rock – Playa Naranjo (62 km)
- Playa Grande – Tamarindo (107 km)
- Tamarindo (111 km)