Popoyo
Rivas, Nicaragua
Tue, Oct 27 – Fri, Oct 30
- 5 ft · 14sSurf on your dates
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- BWI → MGANearest airport
- 86°F waterBoardshorts
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Popoyo surf forecast
Better surfweekendWed 4 Nov – Sat 7 Nov
Updated
Trip dates
Friday, Oct 23
5-7ft7/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 11s SW
- Wind
- 9kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:34am to 5:22pm
- Dawn5:34 to 8am7ft7kt offshore6/10
- Morning8 to 11am6-7ft11kt offshore7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft10kt offshore6/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft8kt offshore7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:22pm5ft8kt offshore7/10
Saturday, Oct 24
5ft7/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 11s SSW
- Wind
- 10kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:35am to 5:22pm
- Dawn5:35 to 8am5ft9kt offshore5/10
- Morning8 to 11am5ft12kt offshore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft11kt offshore6/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft9kt offshore5/10
- Dusk3 to 5:22pm5ft7kt offshore7/10
Sunday, Oct 25
4ft7/10Best at midday
- Swell
- 11s SW
- Wind
- 7kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:35am to 5:21pm
- Dawn5:35 to 8am4-5ft6kt offshore6/10
- Morning8 to 11am4ft8kt offshore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft7kt offshore7/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft8kt offshore5/10
- Dusk3 to 5:21pm4ft6kt offshore7/10
Monday, Oct 26
4ft8/10Best at midday
- Swell
- 12s SW
- Wind
- 7kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:35am to 5:21pm
- Dawn5:35 to 8am4ft6kt offshore7/10
- Morning8 to 11am4ft8kt offshore5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft7kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft8kt offshore5/10
- Dusk3 to 5:21pm4ft6kt offshore6/10
Tuesday, Oct 27
5ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 12s SW
- Wind
- 7kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:35am to 5:21pm
- Dawn5:35 to 8am4ft7kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am4-5ft9kt offshore5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft6kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft6kt offshore7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:21pm5ft5kt offshore6/10
Wednesday, Oct 28
5ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 8kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:35am to 5:20pm
- Dawn5:35 to 8am5ft7kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am5ft9kt offshore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft8kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft7kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:20pm5ft7kt offshore6/10
Thursday, Oct 29
5ft9/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 9kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:36am to 5:20pm
- Dawn5:36 to 8am5ft8kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am5ft10kt offshore8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft9kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft8kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:20pm5ft5kt offshore9/10
Friday, Oct 30
4-5ft9/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 18s SW
- Wind
- 10kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:36am to 5:20pm
- Dawn5:36 to 8am3-5ft9kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am3-4ft10kt offshore9/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft11kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft10kt offshore9/10
- Dusk3 to 5:20pm5ft7kt offshore9/10
Saturday, Oct 31
8ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 10kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:36am to 5:19pm
- Dawn5:36 to 8am7ft8kt offshore7/10
- Morning8 to 11am8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm8ft12kt offshore7/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:19pm8ft7kt offshore7/10
Sunday, Nov 1
8ft7/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 13s SW
- Wind
- 11kt offshore
- Water
- 86°F
- Suit
- Boardshorts
- Light
- 5:36am to 5:19pm
- Dawn5:36 to 8am8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Morning8 to 11am8ft11kt offshore7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm8ft12kt offshore6/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm8ft12kt offshore7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:19pm8ft10kt offshore7/10
Monday, Nov 2 Long range
8ft7/10Best at dusk
- Swell
- 15s SW
- Wind
- 10kt offshore
- Light
- 5:36am to 5:19pm
- Dawn5:36 to 8am8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Morning8 to 11am8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm8ft10kt offshore7/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm8ft9kt offshore7/10
- Dusk3 to 5:19pm7-8ft7kt offshore7/10
Tuesday, Nov 3 Long range
7ft8/10Best in the afternoon
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 9kt offshore
- Light
- 5:37am to 5:18pm
- Dawn5:37 to 8am7ft9kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am7ft9kt offshore8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7ft8kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm7ft8kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:18pm7ft8kt offshore8/10
Wednesday, Nov 4 Long range
4-5ft9/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 18s SW
- Wind
- 6kt offshore
- Light
- 5:37am to 5:18pm
- Dawn5:37 to 8am4ft6kt offshore9/10
- Morning8 to 11am4ft6kt offshore9/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4-5ft7kt offshore9/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft6kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:18pm5ft6kt cross-shore7/10
Thursday, Nov 5 Long range
7ft8/10Best in the morning
- Swell
- 16s SW
- Wind
- 6kt offshore
- Light
- 5:37am to 5:18pm
- Dawn5:37 to 8am7ft6kt offshore8/10
- Morning8 to 11am7ft6kt offshore8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm7ft7kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm7ft6kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:18pm7ft6kt offshore8/10
Friday, Nov 6 Long range
6ft9/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s SW
- Wind
- 6kt offshore
- Light
- 5:38am to 5:18pm
- Dawn5:38 to 8am6ft6kt offshore9/10
- Morning8 to 11am6ft6kt offshore9/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft7kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm5ft6kt cross-shore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:18pm5ft6kt cross-shore7/10
Saturday, Nov 7 Long range
4ft9/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 16s SW
- Wind
- 15kt offshore
- Light
- 5:38am to 5:18pm
- Dawn5:38 to 8am4ft10kt offshore9/10
- Morning8 to 11am4ft14kt offshore8/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft16kt offshore8/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft17kt offshore8/10
- Dusk3 to 5:18pm4ft16kt offshore8/10
Popoyo surf guide
The wave. Main Reef is an A-frame over a rock and coral ledge right off the beach, with hollow lefts and rights. Outer Reef, farther out, needs a big swell and breaks as a heavy, slabby left.
When it works. South to southwest groundswell is the best match, and the northeast wind off Lake Nicaragua blows offshore most days. Guides count more than 300 offshore days a year. It surfs on all tides, so sessions can run from dawn to dark.
Watch out for. Rips, undertow and rocks are the main hazards, so watch a few sets before you paddle out. The lineup gets busy when the surf is up, and the locals expect respect. Outer Reef holds big sets and is for experienced surfers only.
Who it suits. Main Reef rewards upper intermediate and advanced shortboarders with regular barrels. Beginners do better at Beginner Bay, at the south end of Playa Guasacate, where a breakwater softens the swell.
Nearby. Playa Santana, to the south, has several sand peaks that get hollow at mid tide on strong southwest swells. Playa Guasacate, to the north across a rivermouth, is a sand-bottom beach and home to many surf camps.
Getting there
A haul, 2 hr 13 min from MGA
- MGA
- 99.6 km, about 2 hr 13 min
- the wave
The last few kilometres are dirt. High clearance helps in the wet season.
Free-flow driving time, not traffic.
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Price per night$23 – $325+
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No places in this price range.
Checked Oct 2026
Season
Year-round · consistently good
Best months: Mar–Nov · typically 4–6 ft faces
Month by month
Every month here is at least half as good as the best one, so there is no season to miss.
| Month | Relative quality | Typical face | Surfable days | Water | Wear | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 ft | 93% | 27 C / 80 F | boardshorts | Steady | |
| Feb | 4 ft | 98% | 26 C / 78 F | boardshorts | Steady | |
| Mar | 4 ft | 97% | 27 C / 81 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Apr | 5 ft | 100% | 28 C / 82 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| May | 6 ft | 100% | 30 C / 86 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Jun | 5 ft | 96% | 30 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Jul | 5 ft | 100% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Aug | 5 ft | 100% | 29 C / 84 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Sep | 5 ft | 91% | 30 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Oct | 5 ft | 92% | 29 C / 85 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Nov | 4 ft | 93% | 28 C / 83 F | boardshorts | Best | |
| Dec | 3 ft | 94% | 27 C / 81 F | boardshorts | Steady |
Medians from years of hindcast, not a forecast (how we read the hindcast). Water temperatures come from an offshore model grid, which reads a little warm on an upwelling coast. Head to head: El Salvador vs Nicaragua.