Mike, your NicaWaves host, surfing his 2 favorite peaks, Popoyo and Santana, both within walking distance
NicaWaves aims to provide a genuine Nicaraguan surf experience in Popoyo Nicaragua for traveling surfers. Popoyo is a very short walk and other very consistent world-class surf breaks are close by. We can provide you with a cozy room with a comfortable bed and delicious food. Likewise, we can provide all the amenities for an epic adventurous surf trip!
Mike Dennison found a beautiful 2 acre property in Popoyo in 2005. With the help of a few local friends, the first small house was built on the Popoyo property later that year. Over the next few years, the property was improved and expanded to 7 acres. Hundreds of fruit and ornamental trees were planted amongst the grounds and a few more surf bungalows were completed. In 2009, the public was welcomed onto the grounds. Ever since, the rooms and houses have regularly been running at full capacity. Our guests enjoy the mellow vibe and quiet natural setting within walking distance to several epic waves.
Our cook and maid, Maria is a guest’s favorite. She whips up delicious plates of food from our cafe, which is open from 6:30am to 8pm. Maria is also available to clean your room or house and wash your clothes as well. Our other cook Julio, is one of Popoyo’s original locals and is quick with a joke so be prepared for some good-natured ribbing in spanish. He’d be stoked to surf with you during his time off too! Our friendly night watchman, Cabucho, arrives each afternoon and leaves in the morning after watering our lawns and trimming the plants and trees to perfection. Boogie is our charismatic surf guide. His job is to keep you stoked and entertained and getting you into the type of waves you are looking for! Mike lives in a small house on the grounds. He can usually be found surfing Popoyo or Santana or shooting photos of our guests. So you will always find a friendly crew on the property.
little buddy – guarding the client’s boards at the beach
Our guests also enjoy spending time with our several happy mascots. Little Buddy is our friendly beach dog, and Tigre and Yellow are our playful kittens. Rusty and Roxi are our energetic puppies. Little Buddy loves accompanying our guests to the beach and hanging out by your sandals while you surf.
If you’re thinking about coming to Popoyo, drop us a line! We’d be happy to help you find what you’re looking for. We hope to see you soon in Popoyo!
Maria, with fresh lobster caught just down the road, ingredients for the night’s special
smiles all around – making traveling surfers stoked is our bottom line
Hola Mike, just wanted to say howdy and that I should have visited you a bit more this past summer on my trip. We stayed in a house at Rancho Santana. Next year I plan on coming back to NicaWaves!!! Give my best to everyone.
Steve
Hi Steve, no worries my friend. I appreciate you coming over for a beer that afternoon and I’m glad to hear that you’ll be coming back to NicaWaves. We’ve got some new features for 2013! Will say hi to the crew for you and we wish all the best to you and Josh
Mike
Hello & hola,
Pienso ir a Popoyo a finales de Agosto principios de Septiembre…
Pienso Alquilar tabla pero veo que no tienen ninguna fun board en los 8 pies de largo y de 3 a 31/2 gruesa. (peso 220 libras y mido 6 pies).
Tienen idea de donde pudiera conseguir una fun shape board con estas caracteristicas? Por lo general NSP tiene 8.2 a 8.6 o 7S tiene un fish XL de 8 pies con caracteristicas similares!!!
Pensamos quedarnos en el Melting Elephant, que tal es ese sitio?
Hay lugares variados donde comer en Popoyo?
Por favor es nuestra primera visita…. estamos viajando entre el 30 de Agosto hasta el 10 de septiembre.
Saludos y gracias
Daniel
Hey Mike, It’s been awhile. I just booked my flight to Nicaragua for 9-1-12 to 9-8-12! Stoked to get some warm water juice! I’m looking to get an airport transfer as well as access to the quiver while i’m there. I believe Matt Smith has made arrangements on a house already. See you soon.
Samuel Wildt
Hey Mike,
Its Cody Minnick from Myrtle Beach. You remember me, “triaminnick”. How are you my friend? It looks like you’re pretty established over there nica. Since the last time i saw you I moved to Maui for a few years, met my wife, got married, had 2 children, and moved to socal. life is moving way too fast and I need a solid surf trip in a tropical setting. I’m ready to escape the 60 degree water and slip into something warmer. My buddy Matt said that he booked a trip over there with you for the first week in september. I need to know what it takes to get over there. i’d like to come see you and check out what you have going on over there. Hopefully, we can coordinate something in september. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. keep in touch
shoots,
cody minnick (triaminnick)
Just wanted to say thank you for an awesome time. My girlfriend and I stayed here a few years ago actually and had an amazing time. I was looking for this site to recommend it to a friend and thought I should mention how great this spot is. Isamar and her brother were awesome and would hang out and show us around, and the surf was epic. Can’t wait to come back.
Thank you so much for picking our son Matthew (Matt) up at the airport in Managua. We were concerned about his early arrival, especially since he was traveling alone. Again, thank you very much! Blessings to you and your family.
Hey Mike, its been a long time. Glad to see you are doing so well. Brenda and I are wanting to come to Nicaragua with our 2 boys 5 and 8. Maybe in the fall of 2012. Looks like heaven!
In case you didn’t get the facebook message bro I’ll be in town tomorrow until wednesday so be looking for us down at popoyo. see you then man.
Mike Congrats on living the DREAM!
hey mike and the whole crew at nicawaves! Myself and the boys made it back a couple weeks ago and we are still talking about our trip. your place was great the hospitality and food were off the chain! epic waves and mostly uncrowded line ups. there is no doubt we had a perfect surf trip. hope all is well down there and you'll be sure to see all 4 south floridians again! thanks, Jose
Mikey, I want to come surf your waves! I'm still in S.C. (as in Santa Cruz). I had a really good surf winter–nonstop swell and I could not say no. (Most I've surfed in years) Wohooo!!! It's hard being a grad student in chemistry. We've been getting quite a few waves this summer too. Anyways, wow, I'm impressed. Nice turns too, by the way. I've never seen you surf anything other than knee high M.B.
Do you think you'll have a board or two that will keep me happy? I don't know if I can squeeze a trip in this summer…how are the waves in September? Gabe
Gabe, just found this message. Good to hear from you! I'd be stoked to surf with you again! I've got a bunch of 6'2"s and a 5'11" you may like. September is typically very good for surf, with early September usually being better than late September. Come on down, my friend!
heyy! yo soy de nicaragua pero vivo en la ciudad de Mexico , quiero ir del 24 de febrero aprox hasta el 5 de marzo, me gustaria rentar una casa con mi pareja. Llego a managua aprox el 20 de feb y me gustaria comunicarme con uds.
i speak english also…
gracias
thanks!!
hello Michael,
John talked with your dad at the Miami show and he told us the wonderful news. We are excited for you, your place looks wonderful. We are especially happy to hear of the future birth of your first child.
I hope that we get to meet your family some day. I will talk up your place, maybe Derek and his wife would visit. He was married last September to CK. Also, I could keep practicing on my wi board and maybe I could learn to surf. Sending you love, luck and many good wishes for a lifetime of happiness.
lorna
Hi Michael – We miss you so much at the shows, your smile, your pacific blue eyes and your friendship. It is so nice to see your dream come thru. Cant wait to come
down and visit and take some surf lessons..
Love to you and the -kids-(lolo and dutchy)
Paz amor. joni
Hi Michael! We are so happy for you! Your website is wonderful & your life looks equally as wonderful . . . we are here in Jacksonville, doing the show with your Dad. Hope you are riding some fabulous wave! Maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll get to your place one day. Congratulations on the impending birth of your child as well. See you in the States (Vero?) in January. Love & Best Wishes, Janet & Lou
Hi! Just being a mom here, but my son, Brian VanDalen arrived (hopefully) at your place yesterday…just checkin that he made it safe and sound and having the time of his life! Pls. send him my love I appreciate it!
Paula
I am arriving at Managua airport on Dec. 19 and would like to find accomodation from Dec. 19 to Jan 2. If possible, a pick up from the airport would be greatly appreciated. I’m on a solo surf trip.
thanks kindly,
graham Fife (from canada)
hi we are anyoung Australian family all good surfers keen to explore new waves we are coming to nica nov 24 or so do you have a small house to rent please advise on rates to sleep 2adults. 3 small kids