A week of relaxation, rejuvenation, adventure, and delicious food in a tropical paradise… get ready for the highlight of your year! There’s a reason why we love both surf and yoga so much. They go hand in hand. Yoga allows you to challenge your body and mind, while also creating space and peace. It prepares you mentally & physically for the movements involved in surfing, as well as contributes to recovery post-surf. Surfing, too, is a balance of hard work and ease. 

There’s something so magical and humbling about being immersed in nature while sitting on a surfboard (especially when the water is 80+ degrees!). These together are our definition of bliss. 

Experience this bliss with us this September in Playa Gigante, Nicaragua! 6 nights in a beachside boutique hotel, daily yoga & surf, 4 wholesome plant-based meals per day, a day trip to San Juan Del Sur for a Canopy Zipline Tour, and more! All levels welcome for both surf and yoga. No experience is required! 

As described by the owners of our space in Nicaragua: “Playa Gigante is a charming, tropical fishing village that sits along the beautiful Emerald Coast of Southern Nicaragua. The vibrant, friendly, local community creates the chance to immerse in the culture + expand perspectives through travel. Our hotel is the perfect private oasis in the heart of the community, directly across the street from the beach + just a 10 min walk to surf.”

Traveling with us removes the headache of any planning or confusion and allows you to focus on the good stuff - getting excited for your surf/yoga adventure to Nicaragua! 

Natalie and Jess are a husband and wife team with a passion for surf, yoga, travel, the environment, and connection with other rad humans! They led their first surf & yoga retreat together in December 2021 and it was nothing short of pure magic. They are so excited to be putting together another one alongside Room To Roam!

Jess Kraus: Jess is a dedicated environmentalist, day trader, and student of the market. He loves to surf, hike, and spend the most time he possibly can outdoors and making new friends. He is passionate about plant-based nutrition and helping the people around him thrive! Jess has a very active background in sports such as rugby and surfing and loves to meet others who care for the ocean and our planet as much as he does. 

Natalie Kraus: Natalie is a multi-passionate human to say the least! She began teaching yoga in 2018 after getting her 200-hour RYT Vinyasa certification. She’s currently in the process of launching Earthy, an eco-conscious swimwear line. When she’s not teaching or working, Natalie loves to surf (especially with Jess), travel, take yoga classes, cook and eat delicious vegan foods, hike, be outdoors, and now - run retreats! Retreats were something Natalie dreamed of leading ever since she attended her first one in Bali in 2017. Today, she is stoked to be able to bring her passions together in a tropical setting alongside other incredible humans.

To learn more about us, connect with us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/nataliejkraus, https://instagram.com/jessfkraus
Send any questions to swellsolretreats@gmail.com 

 Equipped with a sparkling pool, WiFi, and A/C, you’ll be able to enjoy comfortable accommodations without losing the rustic touch that makes Gigante unique. Yoga sessions will be held between a tropical open space underneath our newly built grand palapa and a cliffside ocean view shala. 

Breaks in the day are encouraged, so feel free to take a moment to relax in one of our day beds or hammock, and appreciate the cloudy blue skies, palm trees, and gift yourself the feeling of serenity. 

Plant-based nutrition is a key component to Swell Sol Retreats, as Natalie + Jess are strong advocates of living, active + healthy lives fueled by powerful, natural nutrients and vegan dishes.  

You will enjoy delicious, healthy food with tons of fresh, local fruits and veggies.

Creative meals that showcase how versatile and flavorful plant-based eating can be.

Additional dietary restrictions can be accommodated upon request!

 Nicaragua is home to so many world-class waves, and many are within easy access from our beachside hotel along the Southern Pacific coastline. We have great options available by foot, car, or boat!

Playa Gigante specifically gives you easy access to both the waves within walking distance, as well as the waves accessed from a panga ride.  We partner with a local family for shaded panga boat rides, and pro surf guides to get to the best waves.

 Home Break: Playa Amarillo (North and South) Beach breaks
~walkable x 10 min (or Surf Wagon) x 5 minutes
-can work all levels depending on swell
~South Amarillo is usually little bit smaller than the North with super good surf vibes.
~North Amarillo can offer bigger, fun beach break with no crowds 

Colorados:

~5 min Panga Boat ride or 30 min beach walk

~Known for shallower beach break barrels

-not usually advised for beginners

~Can have bigger crowds

Panga Drops:

~10 min Panga Boat ride

~Panga Drops has large, slopey wave faces Lefts and rights, semi-beginner friendly and good at all tides, can get huge also

~Sensitive to high winds, can be worse in afternoon

Mag Rock/Beginner Bay:

-25 min Surf Wagon drive

-fun, beginner-friendly point break

-better mid-high tide

 Popoyo:

25 min Surf Wagon or Panga ride

-Pretty clean A-Frame reef break 

-intermediate  +  skill level

-good mid to high tide

Lance’s Left:

45 min Panga boat ride

-Long, FUN, left reef break–can work in all tides (high tide a little mushy if swell is small)

-Good for all levels, can get huge when swell is big. The wave face stays open for long, fun rides with room to maneuver

Playgrounds:

60 min Panga Boat ride

-A-Frame reef break

often compared to Lower Trestles

-mid-high tide best

Intermediate + skill level

Manzanillo:

15 min Panga Boat ride

-Left reef break, only works on certain swells -intermediate + skill level

-mid tide

 A colorful fishing village off the beaten path, El Gigante is located just over an hour north of San Juan Del Sur on Nicaragua's beautiful Pacific Coast. The town is aptly named “big foot” when translated from Spanish to describe the gentle green foothills that meet the ocean with such ease. A town filled with untouched beaches, roaming farm animals, and dirt pathways; you’ll quickly remember the importance of slowing down and to embrace living simply.  

The lifestyle and culture here very much embodies the phrase “Take it Easy”. Arriving here feels like taking one long exhale and a chance to just be.