Las Peñitas Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Quick travel guide to Playa Las Peñitas Nicaragua including a map.
Playa Las Peñitas is Nicaragua’s lesser-known smaller brother of San Juan del Sur. While both towns are known for surfing, San Juan del Sur is mostly known for partying (Sunday Funday!) and Las Peñitas is much more low-key and chill.
Travel Guide to Las Peñitas Nicaragua
Las Peñitas Map
Is Las Peñitas Worth Visiting?
Whether you should include Las Peñitas in your Nicaragua itinerary depends on three things:
- Do you like beaches?
- Do you like surfing?
- Do you have enough time?
If the answer is yes to at least two out of three, the answer is yes, you should visit Playa Las Peñitas.
The beach town is not a place full of sights and activities; rather, it is a place to relax at the beach. If that is your vibe, you should definitely go!
Here’s how to include Las Peñitas in your Nicaragua itinerary:
How to Get to Las Peñitas
To get to Las Peñitas, first, you have to get to Leon.
Leon to Las Peñitas by Bus
Buses from Leon to Las Peñitas leave at Sutiava Market. The bus stop is outside the entrance of the market and clearly marked by a sign saying ‘León-Poneloya-Las Peñitas’. Buses start running at 5:40 am and stop at 6 pm. They should leave roughly every hour (when they are full) and take around 30 minutes.
Note that the bus first goes to Poneloya before turning around at the far end and going back to Las Peñitas – just stay on the bus.
Price: C$18
Leon to Las Peñitas by Shuttle
Some places – first and foremost Bigfoot Hostel – offer shared shuttles from Leon to Las Peñitas.
Price: C$180
Leon to Las Peñitas by Taxi
If you’re a larger group or don’t mind spending more money, taking a taxi from Leon to Las Peñitas is a convenient option.
Price: C$300 to C$500
Where We Stayed at Las Peñitas
We stayed at Mano a Mano Eco Hostal. It’s directly at the beach and has
- A super chill surfer atmosphere.
- Nice food and drinks.
- A kitchen.
- A yoga deck.
- Surf board rentals and tours.
Where to Eat at Las Peñitas
Our accommodation Mano a Mano Eco Hostal had a restaurant. To be honest, we ate most of our meals there for convenience reasons.
SUA is probably the most upscale restaurant in town. We loved eating pizza and sipping on a cocktail while watching the sunset.
There are also some cheap eateries in town like El Puerto del Bucanero or Cafe del Mar Comedor just opposite Mano a Mano Eco Hostal.
What to Do in Las Peñitas
Las Peñitas Beaches
The main activities in Las Peñitas revolve around the beach. There are two main beaches: Poneloya and Las Peñitas. Las Peñitas is where you can find most of the backpacker/tourist infrastructure.
Like many beaches in the Pacific Ocean, it’s quite wavy. Therefore it’s better suited for playing in the surf than swimming.
Las Peñitas Surfing
Las Peñitas is great for surfing – both for beginners and advanced surfers. There’s a consistent point break year-round with a mostly sandy bottom.
You can find plenty of surf schools and surfboard rental places.
Juan Vendado Nature Reserve
To the south of Las Peñitas, you can find Juan Vendado Nature Reserve. Here, you can explore the mangroves by kayak or on a private boat trip where you can spot a wide selection of animals from birds to alligators.
Turtles in Las Peñitas
Turtle hatching season is from September to December. You might spot them on a guided boat tour. You’ll have better chances if you stay at Palo de Oro. They have a turtle nursery and they are the only accommodation on Juan Venado Island Natural Reserve.
Infrastructure in Las Peñitas
Supermarkets in Las Peñitas
There are no supermarkets in Las Peñitas, only small Pulperías which were quite pricey and not very well stocked when we visited.
We recommend you to stock up in Leon, for example at Sutiava Market as this is where the bus leaves anyway.
ATMs in Las Peñitas
Currently, there are no ATMs in Las Peñitas. We recommend taking some cash with you because not all places offer card payments and if they do extra fees might apply.
Internet in Las Peñitas
The internet was stable enough to work remotely at Mano a Mano Eco Hostal.
How Much Time Do You Need in Las Peñitas
How long you need in Las Peñitas strongly depends on your preferences. Many travellers visit Las Peñitas as a day trip from Leon.
If you’re a surfer or a beach bum (which we are) you probably want to stay longer.
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