A villa above the Pacific and one of the best surf coaching programmes
A villa above the Pacific and one of the best surf coaching programmes
San Juan del Sur sits on the Pacific coast in southern Nicaragua, surrounded by lush hills and a scattering of surf breaks. It is a small town, lively without being overwhelming, with a walkable strip of restaurants, cafés, and beach bars that fills out during the surf season.
San Juan del Sur sits on the Pacific coast in southern Nicaragua, surrounded by lush hills and a scattering of surf breaks. It is a small town, lively without being overwhelming, with a walkable strip of restaurants, cafés, and beach bars that fills out during the surf season.
This is where Barefoot Surf Travel have been running their retreat since 2012, drawn by the quality and diversity of breaks and the 300+ days of offshore wind a year.
Barefoot have become a global reference, having built one of the most complete surf coaching curriculums. Their Instagram, YouTube channel, and online courses are go-to resources for surfers looking to improve.
The format of the retreat has been refined over more than a decade: a hilltop villa overlooking the bay, twelve guests at a time, and a week built around actually making you a better surfer. The programme is methodical and structured while keeping the whole experience fun.
This is where Barefoot Surf Travel have been running their retreat since 2012, drawn by the quality and diversity of breaks and the 300+ days of offshore wind a year.
Barefoot have become a global reference, having built one of the most complete surf coaching curriculums. Their Instagram, YouTube channel, and online courses are go-to resources for surfers looking to improve.
The format of the retreat has been refined over more than a decade: a hilltop villa overlooking the bay, twelve guests at a time, and a week built around actually making you a better surfer. The programme is methodical and structured while keeping the whole experience fun.
Rooms
The villa is in the hills above San Juan del Sur, surrounded by lush tropical forest and overlooking the ocean. An infinity pool faces the Pacific. Palapa-shaded terraces wrap the outdoor living areas. The villa is exclusive to the week's cohort, and there is enough space that twelve people never feel stacked on top of each other.
Seven bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and air conditioning. The interiors are clean-lined and comfortable. Rooms are configured for one, two, or three guests. Three private rooms can be upgraded for solo occupancy.
The town is a twelve-minute walk. Close enough for an evening out. Far enough to feel remote.
The villa is in the hills above San Juan del Sur, surrounded by lush tropical forest and overlooking the ocean. An infinity pool faces the Pacific. Palapa-shaded terraces wrap the outdoor living areas. The villa is exclusive to the week's cohort, and there is enough space that twelve people never feel stacked on top of each other.
Seven bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and air conditioning. The interiors are clean-lined and comfortable. Rooms are configured for one, two, or three guests. Three private rooms can be upgraded for solo occupancy.
The town is a twelve-minute walk. Close enough for an evening out. Far enough to feel remote.
Food & Drinks
Breakfast is included and served daily at the villa: fresh fruit, local coffee, and a buffet built to fuel a morning in the water. Lunches typically happen near the surf. The standard stop is a taco shack by the beach, simple and local, exactly right for a break between sessions.
Three group dinners are included across the week. For the remaining evenings, the group heads to San Juan. The town is a short walk from the villa and offers enough variety to keep it interesting. Small restaurants, beach bars that fill up after sunset, fresh seafood, and reasonable prices.
Breakfast is included and served daily at the villa: fresh fruit, local coffee, and a buffet built to fuel a morning in the water. Lunches typically happen near the surf. The standard stop is a taco shack by the beach, simple and local, exactly right for a break between sessions.
Three group dinners are included across the week. For the remaining evenings, the group heads to San Juan. The town is a short walk from the villa and offers enough variety to keep it interesting. Small restaurants, beach bars that fill up after sunset, fresh seafood, and reasonable prices.
Surfing
This is exactly why you are here. And you are in very capable hands. Barefoot has built one of the most thorough coaching programmes in surf education. A structured curriculum, hundreds of video tutorials, and clear explanations of the skills and techniques.
Coaching is structured around progression. Before the trip, guests complete a profile outlining their experience and goals. Coaches build from there. During the retreat, mornings start with surf theory sessions. Guests typically spend around four hours at the beach each day with 90-minute coached sessions at a 2:1 student-to-coach ratio and ample time to surf again before or after. Each session is filmed. Personalised video analysis follows every afternoon back at the villa. By the end of the week, each guest has a full personal video folder. After the trip, guests retain 12 months' access to Barefoot Premium, the online coaching platform, and a custom progression plan.
You are in one of the best places in the world to progress. The winds blow offshore for more than 300 days a year, offering consistent conditions. The breaks around suit all levels: exposed beaches that work on small days, sheltered bays that stay manageable when the size builds. Sandy bottom. Warm water. No wetsuit needed.
The programme covers absolute beginners and intermediates. Surfboards are included and can be swapped as the week progresses, drawing from their strong quiver covering longboards, mid-lengths, fish, and hybrids.
This is exactly why you are here. And you are in very capable hands. Barefoot has built one of the most thorough coaching programmes in surf education. A structured curriculum, hundreds of video tutorials, and clear explanations of the skills and techniques.
Coaching is structured around progression. Before the trip, guests complete a profile outlining their experience and goals. Coaches build from there. During the retreat, mornings start with surf theory sessions. Guests typically spend around four hours at the beach each day with 90-minute coached sessions at a 2:1 student-to-coach ratio and ample time to surf again before or after. Each session is filmed. Personalised video analysis follows every afternoon back at the villa. By the end of the week, each guest has a full personal video folder. After the trip, guests retain 12 months' access to Barefoot Premium, the online coaching platform, and a custom progression plan.
You are in one of the best places in the world to progress. The winds blow offshore for more than 300 days a year, offering consistent conditions. The breaks around suit all levels: exposed beaches that work on small days, sheltered bays that stay manageable when the size builds. Sandy bottom. Warm water. No wetsuit needed.
The programme covers absolute beginners and intermediates. Surfboards are included and can be swapped as the week progresses, drawing from their strong quiver covering longboards, mid-lengths, fish, and hybrids.
Activities
Two restorative yoga sessions are included in the week, aimed at improving breathing and flexibility. A practical complement to surfing. Beyond that, Barefoot's approach to wellness is implicit rather than programmed. If you surf hard, eat properly, sleep well, and relax by the infinity pool, you will feel fine without a spa menu.
The week is physically demanding but not relentless. There is time for rest and exploration. Downtime is genuine downtime, not a rebranded activity. You’re on holiday after all.
Two restorative yoga sessions are included in the week, aimed at improving breathing and flexibility. A practical complement to surfing. Beyond that, Barefoot's approach to wellness is implicit rather than programmed. If you surf hard, eat properly, sleep well, and relax by the infinity pool, you will feel fine without a spa menu.
The week is physically demanding but not relentless. There is time for rest and exploration. Downtime is genuine downtime, not a rebranded activity. You’re on holiday after all.
The People Behind
Gab and Alex grew up 500 kilometres from the nearest ocean in inland Canada. They came to surfing without guidance: wrong boards, wrong spots, no useful feedback for years. In 2012, they built Barefoot Surf to provide what hadn't existed for them.
Barefoot now operates across three countries and seasons: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Mentawai Islands. The operation has grown, but retreats stay intimate by design.
At each destination, Barefoot works with local surf coaches and operators rather than importing its own infrastructure. Local knowledge is an operational requirement, not a marketing detail. One per cent of every sale goes to ocean-protection nonprofits through the 1% for the Planet programme.
The observation that recurs most often is that guests wished they had come sooner.
Gab and Alex grew up 500 kilometres from the nearest ocean in inland Canada. They came to surfing without guidance: wrong boards, wrong spots, no useful feedback for years. In 2012, they built Barefoot Surf to provide what hadn't existed for them.
Barefoot now operates across three countries and seasons: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and the Mentawai Islands. The operation has grown, but retreats stay intimate by design.
At each destination, Barefoot works with local surf coaches and operators rather than importing its own infrastructure. Local knowledge is an operational requirement, not a marketing detail. One per cent of every sale goes to ocean-protection nonprofits through the 1% for the Planet programme.
The observation that recurs most often is that guests wished they had come sooner.
Booking
FROM
$3,680
USD
per person
FROM
$3,680
USD
per person
What is included