Planning a SALTY fitness retreat in Nicaragua? Here is what you need to know about San Juan del Sur before you book your flight.

November through April is dry season on Nicaragua's Pacific coast: sunny and hot, with offshore winds grooming the surf. SALTY runs its Nicaragua trip in January, mid-dry-season, for great conditions and a very smug feeling relative to the weather back home.

Fly into the airport named on the retreat page. For Nicaragua that means one of two options: Managua, about 2.5 hours from San Juan del Sur, or Liberia in neighbouring Costa Rica, which is often cheaper and better-connected from the US and involves a straightforward border crossing. SALTY coordinates transfers from both, so pick whichever flight looks best.

San Juan del Sur is a long-established surf and travel town that has hosted international visitors for decades, and it's widely considered one of the most traveller-friendly corners of the country. You're based at a private gated property, moving as a group with SALTY hosts, with transfers and excursions organized end to end. If you have any concern before you fly, message us and we will talk it through.

Nicaragua is visa-free for most North American and European passports for short tourist stays. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. If you're flying into Liberia and crossing by land, check current border-crossing rules with your government's travel site before you fly.

Nicaragua's currency is the córdoba, but US dollars are widely accepted, especially in San Juan del Sur. Cards work in most restaurants and shops in town; carry some small bills in córdobas or US dollars for local vendors and tips.

Expect hot, sunny days in the dry season, with steady offshore winds. Rain is rare in January, and the ocean is warm enough for surfing and swimming every day of the trip.

Meals are big villa spreads built for training appetites: fresh and plentiful, served with a Pacific view, plus nights out in San Juan del Sur's restaurant and bar scene. Expect fresh seafood and tropical fruit, plus the discovery that post-workout food tastes better at an infinity pool. Dietary needs are handled if you flag them ahead.

Optional surf lessons run with local instructors on beginner-friendly breaks offshore, so no experience is needed. Three infinity pools at the villa and the beach below town cover the rest of your swimming.

San Juan del Sur wakes up slowly and stays up late, with hills studded with villas and a horseshoe bay that photographs like it's staged at sunset. It's also the base for day trips inland to colonial Granada if you want a change of pace from the coast.

Beyond the standard SALTY packing list, bring a swimsuit you don't mind chlorinating in three different pools and a light sweater for cooler villa evenings. See "What to Pack for a SALTY Retreat" for the full list.

Read the full destination page at getsaltyretreats.com/destinations/nicaragua, and see the retreat page at getsaltyretreats.com/retreats/nicaragua-fitness-retreat for dates and pricing.

Message us at [email protected], or on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/14318291135. Nate or Erin will get back to you as soon as possible.