Friends' house energy in Popoyo's wave garden
Friends' house energy in Popoyo's wave garden
Nicaragua's Pacific coast is a geological gift for surfers. Volcanic points, empty beaches, and offshore winds some 300 days a year. That statistic alone explains why Bastien, Nicolas, Benjamin, and Thomas chose this stretch over everywhere else they'd surfed.
Nicaragua's Pacific coast is a geological gift for surfers. Volcanic points, empty beaches, and offshore winds some 300 days a year. That statistic alone explains why Bastien, Nicolas, Benjamin, and Thomas chose this stretch over everywhere else they'd surfed.
They zeroed in on Popoyo, where eight reef and beach breaks sit within minutes of each other. It’s far enough to feel removed, accessible enough to actually reach. An emerging surf and design culture is taking root here, though the town retains the atmosphere of a place that hasn't been discovered to death yet.
After travelling around the world and staying in hundreds of surf hostels, camps, and hotels; the Frenchmen knew exactly what the perfect surf house would be. A place that took design and hospitality seriously without taking itself seriously. Where you could work on your laptop between sessions, cook dinner with strangers who become friends, and stay for weeks without going broke. Tukasa is this surf house.
This isn't luxury, and this isn't basic. Not a party hostel, not a silent retreat. Just a well-run surf house with good beds, fast WiFi, and waves within walking distance. The design channels tropical brutalism: exposed concrete softened by local wood, abundant light, and a riotous palette of colour. It’s open, airy, and unapologetically bold, not another beige minimalism or boho cliché.
Capacity sits at 34, small enough for familiar faces, large enough for fresh conversations. The crowd skews young but not exclusively: digital nomads setting up for months, couples escaping winter, solo travellers who heard about it from someone who heard about it from someone. Guests linger by the pool, or at the bar that also welcomes locals (which immediately tells you something about the vibe).
They zeroed in on Popoyo, where eight reef and beach breaks sit within minutes of each other. It’s far enough to feel removed, accessible enough to actually reach. An emerging surf and design culture is taking root here, though the town retains the atmosphere of a place that hasn't been discovered to death yet.
After travelling around the world and staying in hundreds of surf hostels, camps, and hotels; the Frenchmen knew exactly what the perfect surf house would be. A place that took design and hospitality seriously without taking itself seriously. Where you could work on your laptop between sessions, cook dinner with strangers who become friends, and stay for weeks without going broke. Tukasa is this surf house.
This isn't luxury, and this isn't basic. Not a party hostel, not a silent retreat. Just a well-run surf house with good beds, fast WiFi, and waves within walking distance. The design channels tropical brutalism: exposed concrete softened by local wood, abundant light, and a riotous palette of colour. It’s open, airy, and unapologetically bold, not another beige minimalism or boho cliché.
Capacity sits at 34, small enough for familiar faces, large enough for fresh conversations. The crowd skews young but not exclusively: digital nomads setting up for months, couples escaping winter, solo travellers who heard about it from someone who heard about it from someone. Guests linger by the pool, or at the bar that also welcomes locals (which immediately tells you something about the vibe).
Rooms
Five private rooms and four dorms carry the house aesthetic into the quiet moments: cool surfaces, soft light, breezy space. The green plants remind you you're in the tropics, the AC and ceiling fans help you forget it.
The private rooms (each about 25 m²) have been designed for pairs and solo travellers who want a comfortable sanctuary. Queen beds, open-air private bathrooms and a private terrace. Thoughtful touches add up: your own surfboard rack by the door, and a desk that actually works for laptop sessions.
Dorms run from four to eight beds, including a women-only option. These aren't the squeaky metal bunks of budget travel, think Scandi-style cabin berths. Semi-private sleeping pods with real blackout curtains, individual reading lamps, power sockets that don't require yoga to reach, and lockers that can fit more than a daypack. The shared bathrooms are kept impeccably clean and show the same design consideration.
Five private rooms and four dorms carry the house aesthetic into the quiet moments: cool surfaces, soft light, breezy space. The green plants remind you you're in the tropics, the AC and ceiling fans help you forget it.
The private rooms (each about 25 m²) have been designed for pairs and solo travellers who want a comfortable sanctuary. Queen beds, open-air private bathrooms and a private terrace. Thoughtful touches add up: your own surfboard rack by the door, and a desk that actually works for laptop sessions.
Dorms run from four to eight beds, including a women-only option. These aren't the squeaky metal bunks of budget travel, think Scandi-style cabin berths. Semi-private sleeping pods with real blackout curtains, individual reading lamps, power sockets that don't require yoga to reach, and lockers that can fit more than a daypack. The shared bathrooms are kept impeccably clean and show the same design consideration.
Food & Drinks
Days at Tukasa start with Nicaraguan coffee and breakfast included for all guests. The rotation features fresh tropical fruit bowls, homemade granola, banana bread, and the usual gallo pinto for those who need proper fuel before paddling out.
The open-air café-bar is the social heartbeat of the property, welcoming both guests and locals, which explains the consistent hum of conversation. By day it's a laid-back coffee shop serving artisan espressos and hearty smoothies. By late afternoon, the bartenders shift into cocktail mode. Their espresso martini now has a following in Popoyo. Once a month, Tukasa hosts a house party open to the neighbourhood, free for guests. It's the sort of thing that blurs the line between hotel and community, intentionally.
The shared kitchen has full-sized appliances, decent knives, and enough counter space for multiple people to prep simultaneously. Guests shop together at local markets, split ingredient costs, and cook communal dinners that stretch into long conversations. Even those who planned to eat out often drift back, drawn by the smell, laughter, or gravitational pull.
Days at Tukasa start with Nicaraguan coffee and breakfast included for all guests. The rotation features fresh tropical fruit bowls, homemade granola, banana bread, and the usual gallo pinto for those who need proper fuel before paddling out.
The open-air café-bar is the social heartbeat of the property, welcoming both guests and locals, which explains the consistent hum of conversation. By day it's a laid-back coffee shop serving artisan espressos and hearty smoothies. By late afternoon, the bartenders shift into cocktail mode. Their espresso martini now has a following in Popoyo. Once a month, Tukasa hosts a house party open to the neighbourhood, free for guests. It's the sort of thing that blurs the line between hotel and community, intentionally.
The shared kitchen has full-sized appliances, decent knives, and enough counter space for multiple people to prep simultaneously. Guests shop together at local markets, split ingredient costs, and cook communal dinners that stretch into long conversations. Even those who planned to eat out often drift back, drawn by the smell, laughter, or gravitational pull.
Activities
Tukasa's idea of wellness skips the jargon. The emphasis is on recovery and connection rather than performance. Yoga sessions happen in the mornings and evenings, but nobody will scold you if you show up with a hangover or skip entirely.
The approach is refreshingly practical: take what you need (a surf, a nap, a stretch, a laugh) and you might find you feel pretty great without ever uttering the word "detox." A sunset surf and a cold beer can be as therapeutic as any yoga class, and here you're free to enjoy both in equal measure.
The team curates daily activities: boat trips, horseback rides on the beach, creative workshops, movie nights by the pool. They’re invitations, not obligations, to meet people and try something new. Their motto "less egos more amigos" would be cheesy if it didn't accurately reflect the approach. If you want a more traditional wellness hit, staff can help arrange sauna and cold-plunge sessions, and gym workouts at nearby resorts.
Tukasa's idea of wellness skips the jargon. The emphasis is on recovery and connection rather than performance. Yoga sessions happen in the mornings and evenings, but nobody will scold you if you show up with a hangover or skip entirely.
The approach is refreshingly practical: take what you need (a surf, a nap, a stretch, a laugh) and you might find you feel pretty great without ever uttering the word "detox." A sunset surf and a cold beer can be as therapeutic as any yoga class, and here you're free to enjoy both in equal measure.
The team curates daily activities: boat trips, horseback rides on the beach, creative workshops, movie nights by the pool. They’re invitations, not obligations, to meet people and try something new. Their motto "less egos more amigos" would be cheesy if it didn't accurately reflect the approach. If you want a more traditional wellness hit, staff can help arrange sauna and cold-plunge sessions, and gym workouts at nearby resorts.
Surfing
Popoyo is one of Nicaragua's best surf zones. Eight distinct breaks catering to every level and 300 days of offshore winds annually (the statistic sounds made up until you're here wondering why every day is perfect).
Water stays warm year-round. November through March brings small to medium swell. April through October brings serious size, the kind that attracts professional surfers from around the world. Beginners have manageable beach breaks. Intermediates find forgiving walls to practice timing and trimming. Advanced surfers have heavier options when the Pacific brings size.
Tukasa is a 5-minute walk from the beach. Even the laziest surfer has no excuse. The team are all surfers themselves and organise daily sessions, boat trips to remote waves, or just point you toward the best conditions. Surf instructors are available for proper coaching and you can rent a variety of surfboards.
Nicaragua doesn't draw the crowds of Costa Rica or Mexico. Popoyo gets busy enough for energy, but not packed. You'll share waves, but won't be fighting for them. The local surf community maintains a respectful vibe.
Sunset sessions run until dark, sunrise sessions are worth the alarm. The consistency is what brings people back.
Popoyo is one of Nicaragua's best surf zones. Eight distinct breaks catering to every level and 300 days of offshore winds annually (the statistic sounds made up until you're here wondering why every day is perfect).
Water stays warm year-round. November through March brings small to medium swell. April through October brings serious size, the kind that attracts professional surfers from around the world. Beginners have manageable beach breaks. Intermediates find forgiving walls to practice timing and trimming. Advanced surfers have heavier options when the Pacific brings size.
Tukasa is a 5-minute walk from the beach. Even the laziest surfer has no excuse. The team are all surfers themselves and organise daily sessions, boat trips to remote waves, or just point you toward the best conditions. Surf instructors are available for proper coaching and you can rent a variety of surfboards.
Nicaragua doesn't draw the crowds of Costa Rica or Mexico. Popoyo gets busy enough for energy, but not packed. You'll share waves, but won't be fighting for them. The local surf community maintains a respectful vibe.
Sunset sessions run until dark, sunrise sessions are worth the alarm. The consistency is what brings people back.
The People Behind
The founders, Bastien Viguier, Nicolas Sorin, Benjamin Nicolas, and Thomas Mourry, met each other in the kinds of far-flung places that surfers tend to converge. Four Frenchmen with a shared restlessness and an appetite for the ocean.
Together, they stayed in hundreds of hostels, camps, and hotels on their surf trips. With backgrounds spanning digital marketing, finance, hospitality and real estate, they had the tools. Rather than channel their expertise into another soulless resort, they poured it into Tukasa, distilling the best aspects of everywhere they'd stayed.
What they built is neither hostel, nor hotel. It’s a community in motion that feels like a friend’s house. The kind of place where arriving solo is an opportunity rather than a predicament. They incorporate Popoyo’s essence into every detail: the furniture is crafted from local wood, the coffee is Nicaraguan, all food is local and seasonal, the water gets recovered and reused. Operational decisions, not marketing points.
And perhaps that’s why Tukasa feels so different: it was built by people who would genuinely want to stay there themselves. Even the name “tu casa” nods to it. In an industry full of cut-and-paste boutique concepts, this surf house stands out as something personal.
The founders, Bastien Viguier, Nicolas Sorin, Benjamin Nicolas, and Thomas Mourry, met each other in the kinds of far-flung places that surfers tend to converge. Four Frenchmen with a shared restlessness and an appetite for the ocean.
Together, they stayed in hundreds of hostels, camps, and hotels on their surf trips. With backgrounds spanning digital marketing, finance, hospitality and real estate, they had the tools. Rather than channel their expertise into another soulless resort, they poured it into Tukasa, distilling the best aspects of everywhere they'd stayed.
What they built is neither hostel, nor hotel. It’s a community in motion that feels like a friend’s house. The kind of place where arriving solo is an opportunity rather than a predicament. They incorporate Popoyo’s essence into every detail: the furniture is crafted from local wood, the coffee is Nicaraguan, all food is local and seasonal, the water gets recovered and reused. Operational decisions, not marketing points.
And perhaps that’s why Tukasa feels so different: it was built by people who would genuinely want to stay there themselves. Even the name “tu casa” nods to it. In an industry full of cut-and-paste boutique concepts, this surf house stands out as something personal.
Booking
Prices
Private rooms: from $120/night
Dorms: from $28/night
Contact
You can check out their availability and book here.
Instagram: tukasa.surfhouse
email: hola@tukasasurfhouse.com
Prices
Private rooms: from $120/night
Dorms: from $28/night
Contact
You can check out their availability and book here.
Instagram: tukasa.surfhouse
email: hola@tukasasurfhouse.com