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Mark and Dave’s

  • All Year
  • 12 Guests
  • $200+
  • 4 Star Rating
  • Airport: MGA

Mark and Dave’s offer deluxe oceanfront accommodations, spectacular scenery, unparalleled ocean views, and a myriad of surfing adventures. Guests enjoy a restful retreat accentuated by refreshing offshore breezes in one of the most beautiful regions in Nicaragua.

Wake up in the morning, walk out of your room or casita and watch the waves breaking from the tranquil Hacienda. Mark and Dave’s offers an all-inclusive package and a relaxing environment that sleeps up to 12 guests. It is located on two acres of immaculate beachfront property and was built by a team of Nicaraguan craftsmen in traditional style. Enjoy the infinity swimming and lap pool, and exclusive access to one of Nicaragua’s best golf courses.

There is no need to use a boat to access the surf, although this is an option for day trips and excursions. They are located directly in front of Ponga Drops and Colorado’s, known as the best wave in Nicaragua, is only a three minute walk away.

Mark and Dave’s trips operate on a Saturday to Saturday schedule year-round. Shorter trips or altered dates may be available depending on availability.

 

 

Why

Instead of searching for waves via boat or a sketchy 4-wheel drive mission, Mark and Dave’s guests are already at the most wave-fertile beach in Nicaragua — no boat or car required and no reason to go anywhere else! With the wind almost always offshore due to “the Lago Nicaragua effect,” be prepared for a good mix of barreling beachbreaks, reefs and points during your visit. Since Mark and Dave’s place is located directly on the beach, you can pick and choose when you want to surf, hit up a round of golf or capture another magical sunset in paradise. They’ve got you covered.

Come down and escape your day-to-day life to enjoy the Nicaraguan culture and the beauty of the tropics. Turn off your computer and cell phone and immerse yourself into the daily peace and serenity. Sit back in the pool and enjoy a cold drink while watching your friends surf in front of the house. There is nothing better than being in paradise — make the most if it!

How

Trips to Nicaragua require guests to fly to Managua and then take a shuttle transfer to the coast.

  • Once you arrive into Managua a representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to a passenger van
  • On the way to Mark and Dave’s you will travel back in time through a landscape of grass fields, active volcanoes, and colonial cities.  Sit back and relax and enjoy the ride. Cold drinks are provided in the van along with a stop (est.2 hours into the drive) in Rivas for a Pizza lunch. Pizza is ordered en-route, so there will be little time waiting.
  • Back on the road you will wind your way towards the ocean and eventually onto a 12 mile (35 minutes) road to Mark and Dave’s.
  • Once you arrive at the “Hacienda” there is little reason to leave. With some of the best surf at your doorstep, fishing and a private golf course.  Their staff can accommodate you with horseback riding and an assortment of other activities within the region.
  • Your daily routine will focus on the waves and activities available inside the compound; however, if you are interested in a surf excursion,  fishing, or sight seeing, their ground staff in Nicaragua will help coordinate whatever you desire.

Once your trip is complete, you’ve got your last surf in and are ready to go – you will head back to the airport 2 1/2 hours away, catch your flight, and they’ll see you again next year!

 

Key Facts

  • Operates on a set Saturday to Saturday  schedule
  • All inclusive
  • You get more than what you pay for
  • Offshore beach breaks and reefs right out front
  • Authentic accommodation and a relaxed atmosphere
  • Easy to travel to.
  • Waves that work on any swell, tide or wind direction
  • Averages only 10 surfers per trip onsite.
  • Great food, great staff, great location
  • Local voltage is 220 to 240 volts AC.
  • Free Internet Access and Limited Phone Coverage available

Included/Not Included

Package Includes:

  • Seven nights oceanfront living on the best beach at the best location in Central America.
  • Airport transfers with food and drink. Two and a half hours to house in a spacious 24 passenger van.
  • Three incredible meals per day with App’s every pre-sunset. Pre breakfast starts at 5:30 a.m. then hot breakfast at 8:00am. Hours for lunch are from 11:30-2:00 p.m. and then everyone sits down together for dinner at 7 p.m.
  • House comes with several long boards, 1- 11 ft. SUP and 4 INT soft top 8 ft. long boards. The INT’s are perfect to learn on. Also fun if you have had a few cold ones and want to have some fun with your buddies. They do have a good assortment of short boards to rent if you don’t want to hassle bringing your own.
  • All drinks with 1.5 cases of beer per guest.
  • Unlimited wireless internet.
  • Satellite T.V. and Apple T.V. on a big 60″ LED flat screen. There are also 20″ flat screens in every room with DVD player.
  • Service- Their managers will take care of your every want and need. You want a massage, fishing (best from March-October), canopy tour, volcano tour, horseback riding, golfing, etc.? You name it they will have it for you. Your biggest worry may be how to stay up for dinner cause you did so much in one day. Come join us for an unforgettable trip and you will understand why the surf industry and our returning guests have only one spot to stay in Nicaragua, Mark and Daves.

*Packages do not include airfare to Nicaragua or staff gratuity.

Local Climate

A tropical climate can be observed in Nicaragua. Just as in the other Central American countries, there are two seasons: the dry and the raining season. During the dry season (January – June) there is virtually no rain and trees and plants start to dry out. Once the rains come around June, July, everything starts growing and the yellow plants and leafless trees turn green and start blossoming. In August and September it often rains once a day. Fortunately, it just rains for a short period of time and these are often spectacular, tropical downpours.

There are three temperature zones in Nicaragua. In the lowlands (Pacific and Atlantic coast) temperatures vary roughly between 72° F at night and 86° F at daytime (22° C – 30° C). Temperature can reach 100° F in May (38° C). The central part of the country is about 9° F (5° C) cooler, and in the mountains in the north it’s about 18° F (10° C) cooler.

The lake effect of southern Nicaragua is surely one of the largest advantages to surfing in this region of Central America. With consistent swell, these strong off-shore winds groom the surf all day long, giving you the ability to surf multiple sessions and choose ideal tides without being compromised by afternoon on-shores. The Lake effect is caused by extremely strong winds coming from the Caribbean being funneled between the land north and south of Lake Nicaragua and directly toward the Pacific. These trusty off-shores have blessed southern Nicaragua with a massive advantage when it comes to surf.  Thanks to the lake effect we are able to focus on which spot to hit and at what tide versus constantly worrying about onshore winds.

The Resort

Mark and Dave’s was built with the intention of providing a hassle-free, safe surf experience at an affordable rate.

The house’s greatest asset is their massive palapa lounge areas. When out of the surf, you’ll find yourself relaxing in the palapas 95% of the time, checking out the waves, doing yoga, watching TV, listening to music or swinging in the hammock. All your meals are eaten in the open air — the definition of a core surf trip! Each air-conditioned room provides adequate sleeping for two with two new “pillow top” full beds, each with a sense of warmth and identity. Each room comes with a small closet and drawers to store clothes and bags, TV/DVD, iPod stereo dock and private bathroom with sink, toilet, shower and bath towels. We encourage our guests to bring down their cell phones with international coverage and computers equipped with Skype to make free or very inexpensive phone calls through our unlimited wireless Internet connection. No extra charges; bring your laptop and plug in. Electrical outlets are the same as the United States.

“The Hacienda” crowns the property and is loosely connected by shady terraces and a palm-vaulted walkway to the guest rooms, an unforgettable space for welcoming guests. The open-air, 40-foot thatch palapa is the inner sanctum of the property and offers an outdoor retreat anytime of the day. Relax in the morning while sipping coffee and checking the surf, enjoy a cold beverage with friends and family while watch the sunset, and enjoy flavorful hors d’oeuvres before an amazing dinner. “The Hacienda” is the perfect setting to start and end the day. A walkway sits behind the inner sanctum of the Hacienda to the guest rooms, with four additional individual rooms providing independence and privacy.

Get out of the sun and stay cool and refreshed! The relaxing infinity-pool and terrace are shaded by a woven thatch roof and surrounded by the beauty of tropical paradise. Sit back and watch your friends surf Panga Drop’s while relaxing for yet another surf session at one of the three breaks in walking distance.

The lap pool sits parallel with the sandy shoreline of the Pacific Ocean in which endless ocean and shoreline views are made for entertaining guests and relaxing, all while enjoying our completely inclusive dining experience, game of ping pong with friends, or just sit at the Iguana bar while watching the sunset and enjoy a cold beverage. Steps away from every room on the property enjoy magnificent views of the sea.

The style emphasizes a sensual blend of local colors, textures, and materials in a manner that renders the structure an integral part of its environmental surroundings. Traditional hardwoods with elements of tropical modernism set the mood for a calming tropical oasis. Mark and Dave’s provides a blissful ocean front escape in a perfect tropical setting.

Accommodation

The Casita

Down a grass path from “The Hacienda”, you will discover “The Casita”, a circular, palm-thatched building with a traditional thatch roof. While a 20 foot circular wall encases the building, the front of the structure is open with panoramic windows, creating views of the waves and headlands. Combined with a mesmerizing 13-foot-tall ceiling, the Palapa makes a stunning tropical “air conditioned” guest room that is perfect for couples or groups of two or three. A queen sized bed, full sized couch bed, and modern bathroom retreat offer a sanctuary away from the heat of the tropics.

Surrounded by the sea and set among beautifully maintained gardens with mature trees and tropical plants, The Casita’s setting allows for tranquility and peaceful relaxation. Stay cool with air-conditioning or open the windows in the evening to enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze.

The Hacienda Rooms

Centrally located and steps away from “The Hacienda”, four private and individual individual “air conditioned” guest rooms, with private bathrooms and showers, await you. Each room provides two full size beds, comfortably adequate for sleeping two. Enjoy restful sleep on these amazing pillow top beds. Travel in comfort and enjoy our media player with over 300 movies and an iPod docking station. The Hacienda rooms are perfectly equipped to comfortably house two guests and small families with young children.

The style emphasizes a sensual blend of local colors, textures, and materials in a manner that renders the structure an integral part of its environmental surroundings. Traditional hardwoods with elements of tropical modernism set the mood for a calming tropical oasis.

The Boardroom

A short walk through the garden to  “The Hacienda”, the Board Room is a quaint and quite air conditioned guest room located on the north side of “The Hacienda”, with an outdoor shower.  The Board Room provides two twin size beds, comfortably adequate for sleeping two.  Take a sneak peak out the window to view the waves at Panga Drops.  This room is equipped with a flat screen TV, hard drive with movies, and Bluetooth speaker.  Please note –  The bathroom is not connected to this room.    Originally designed for all the house surfboards, but we turned it into a guest room because we had so many guests asking to rent the room do to it’s quite and relaxing location.  This is the perfect room for guests on a tight budget.

Dining – Savor the gourmet culinary offerings of Chef Zac’s amazing international cuisines. You will enjoy the convenience of meals and drinks included in Mark and Dave’s all inclusive program. They offer Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten free and specialty dishes upon request (please inform World Wave Expeditions prior to your departure). They also provide various drinks and one and a half case of beer per guest or 3 bottles of wine.

 

Experiences

Nicaragua is an outdoor enthusiasts dream. With an obscenely consistent temperature range and weather pattern, not only is the wind almost always offshore, the waves are almost always pumping. Most guests prefer to enjoy the amenities, waves, fishing, and golf around the resort; however, for those who want to explore what else Nicaragua has to offer, there is a multitude of additional activities for the adventure seeker: local hot springs at Las Salinas; historic sites in Grenada; canopy tours; Lake Nicaragua excursion; Mombacho volcano exploration; or get touristy in the nearby fishing village of San Juan Del Sur. They are happy to help coordinate any of these items for your group via our event coordinator on the ground in Nicaragua, who will be there to meet the group upon arrival.

Golf: Mark and Dave’s is located within a two-minute walk from one of Nicaragua’s premiere 9 hole golf courses — a great activity after a long surf session. A beautiful course with breathtaking tees like #5, perched high atop a hill overlooking the entire beach. With its small, tiered greens, it’s definitely worth a few rounds during your visit. Feel free to bring your own clubs or rent a set from the pro shop. Mark and Dave’s guests pay only  $20 green fee (pull cart included; mention that you’re staying at Mark and Dave’s for this pricing); $25 with golf cart, $20 golf club rental. Pricing subject to change without notice.

Fishing: Nicaragua’s Pacific coast offers incredible fishing: tuna, dorado, red snapper, jack trevalle, mackerel, mahi, roosterfish and sailfish. The best fishing is October-March, and there are a variety of options from deep-sea fishing to a near-shore spear fishing mission. Contact their staff and they’ll help facilitate a fishing adventure. There’s no need to bring any of your own equipment. Just grab a case of beer and a few friends, and head out to the open ocean for the day. Prices start around $140 for half-day trips and go up depending on services and availability. Pricing subject to change without notice.

Yoga and Your Guides

Surf and yoga resort managers, Zac and Kim Hyland, have turned the cliché of living the dream into a reality. When Zac and Kim left New Zealand on their honeymoon more than seven years ago they transferred their individual passions and love for travel into full time jobs.

Kim, a qualified yoga instructor and physical therapist, Zac a Qualified Surf instructor and Chef, have experienced how opportunities have presented themselves to do what they love whilst traveling.

Rates

THE HACIENDA ROOMS

Centrally located and steps away from “The Hacienda”, four private and individual “air conditioned” guest rooms, with private bathrooms and showers, await you. Each room provides two full size beds, comfortably adequate for sleeping two. Enjoy restful sleep on these amazing pillow top beds.

1-4 guests: $1,550.00 USD per person double occupancy
6+ guests: $1,450.00 per person
Single traveler: $2,650 per person

THE CASITA

Down a grass path from “The Hacienda”, you will discover “The Casita”, a circular, palm-thatched building with a traditional thatch roof. While a 20 foot circular wall encases the building, the front of the structure is open with panoramic windows, creating views of the waves and headlands.

1-2 guests: $1,850.00 per person double occupancy
3 to a room: $1,450.00 per person [based on availability] Single traveler: $3,250 per person

THE BOARD ROOM
For people traveling on a little bit more of a budget we offer our “Board Room”.

2 guests: $1,250.00 per person double occupancy
Single traveler: $2,050 per person

OTHER
BOARD RENTALS- Please note that you will be charged $125 by Avianca/Taca Airlines for up to 3 boards each way. Rates are subject to change without notice.
 Firewire surfboards are available for rent. Board rental package rates are available if you do not want to take boards with you.
TRAVELING SOLO? We can put you in with another vacationer or you can have your own room for a slightly additional cost.
FAMILIES- Please ask about our family and children price discounts.

The Surf

Nicaragua is blessed with an abundance of good waves, offshore winds, and sunny weather year-round. Mark and Dave’s Place is situated in front of the best waves the country has to offer with a climate that averages around 80 degrees and water temps that hover between 75 – 85 degrees. The surf rarely drops below 2 feet at any time during the year and bigger swell events are likely – up to 8 feet – between April through September. Mark and Dave’s is located ocean front on one of the most fertile surfing beaches in all of Nicaragua. A boat or car is not required and there is little reason to go anywhere else! The wind tends to blow offshore due to the Lago Nicaragua effect so be prepared for a good mix of barrels, beach breaks, reefs, and points during your visit. There are several other breaks within driving distance or a boat ride away. Our surf guide will set up a trip to the break of your choice including Astellero, Chacosante, Manzanillo, Outer Reef, Playgrounds, Popoyo, Rosada, Santanas, and many more!

  • Waves Rating by Month

    • Ideal Size: 2′ – 6′
    • Tides: ALL
    • Swell Angles: SW / S
    • Wind Direction: E / NE
  • Average Wave Size (feet) and Period (seconds)

  • Average Water and Air Temperatures by Month (°F)

Waves Overview

  • Playa Colorado

    More

  • Out Front

    More

  • Panga Drops

    More

  • The Right

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Surf Travel Inquiry Form