Dale Dagger Surf Tours "What to Expect" Nicaragua

Welcome to Nicaragua! You will be experiencing life in a third world country for a week, and staying a fishing village of 200 people. One should hardly expect Five- star accommodations here, but should expect adventure and relaxation. Though we might not have the finest goat cheese or proscuitto or caviar... we've got the nicest place in town. Expect to find a custom built surf lodge right on the beach, abundantly flowing warm water showers, air conditioned private rooms, boats at your disposal, wireless internet, massage therapists, world class surf, yoga mats, fishing gear, surf lessons, home cooked meals, board rentals, cold beer and a smiling staff ready to please.

Don't expect to find shopping malls, fast food, (fast anything), pay phones, ATM's, parking lots, cruise ship tourists, nightclubs, champagne, veggie burgers, and Wal-marts.

THE FOOD

We serve just about anything you want (that we can get here), and are open to suggestions. Breakfast, on average, consists of granola with raisins and yogurt, fresh local fruit, steel cut oats, golden pancakes, gallo pinto and peppered eggs. Not always all together... depending on your appetite. Lunch is Snapper tacos with homemade corn tortillas, homemade chicken soup, Quarter pound cheeseburgers, Nachos with fresh salsa, fresh local ceviche and crispy Nicaraguan taquitos. Dinner can be grilled garlic & lime local fish, Home-made pizza, zingy barley salads with fresh basil, savory Lobster tails, homemade beefy Lasagna, fried plantains, and sometimes the biggest pile of sashimi you've ever seen (depending on our fisherman/boat captain Walter).
We've also got snacks, cookies and soda for you junk food lovers. Your first beer is on the house, and after that they are a buck a piece, based on the honor system.

FYI - the fruit & veggies that we get here are selective to this area. We always have an abundance of bananas, pineapples, plantains, tomatoes, garlic, cucumbers, carrots, and peppers. In the spring season we have mangos, avocados, cantaloupe, and papaya. You won't find plums, grapes, strawberries, or kiwis unless you want to pay big money to have them shipped over.

THE LODGE

There are four rooms, each with a private bathroom. We have an 8 person capacity, and normally room friends together. The lodge has a large living room complete with satellite TV with surround sound, DVD player, outside stereo system, computer station with wireless internet, an outdoor patio that spills onto the beach, two hammocks hanging from the trees, pizza oven, BBQ grill, a large book selection, purified water, and a cooler filled with cold Toña beer. Maria will cook all your meals, and Darlin cleans everyday. Darlin will change your towels and sheets twice a week or more if you desire, and both girls are extremely helpful.

THE BOATS

We have three boats, The Michelle, The Masayita, and The Canoe. The Michelle is your surfing boat rigged with foam to cushion your boards, the Masayita can surf or fish, and the canoe is hand built with Dale's special touch for a Huck Fin type of experience. Given we didn't lose one at sea, they should all be at your disposal. Our captains know to come in the morning to check on your surf schedule. After meeting the captain, it will be easy to coordinate when you'd like to surf next... two- a- days are popular. You can take the boat to any break within our seven designated spots. Most are only accessible by boat, and some are private beaches. There is always something breaking, regardless of the time of year. If there is “no surf” by your standards, we've got plenty of activities in the village and don't kill us... We can't control mother nature. The greatest news is that the best surf in the country is only a 5 minute boat ride into the next bay. You can see how it is breaking from our front yard with binoculars. These boats are exclusive to the guests, and you will see a few select folk making the forty minute walk over the ridge who wish they could be on your boat.

THE TOWN

We are based in a tiny fishing village that rarely sees life from the outside world. People live in shanty's and shacks, and make a living off of fishing. They are kind, wonderful people and extremely friendly. There are two pulperias (little convenience stores) where you can find chips, beer, candy, Gatorade, Flor de Caña Rum, home-made sweet bread, and cookies. There is a surf shop/restaurant called the Swell where you can get mexican food, surf wax, leashes,sun block, board shorts and bikinis. Our favorite beach shack sister restaurant "Chele Palmados" serves the best margarita south of Mexico and savory meals looking over the great pacific. There are also two other local restaurants that serve the catch of the day... grilled or fried, with rice and beans, plantains, and vegetables. The nearest city with a grocery store and gas station is 40 minutes away down a dirt country road.

GIVING BACK

The crew here at Dale Dagger Surf tours is happy to contribute a percentage of your Nica surf trip to giving back to our community. Not only do we send you to the local restaurant for dinner during your stay, but we also employ as many local Nicas as we can. We frequently hold garbage pickup's with the children on the beach to keep the town looking beautiful, and are avidly involved in the Project Woo foundation which is funding the local school system. School supplies and uniforms are supplied for all the families of our Nica employees and we create opportunities to financially help the others in need of supplies and transportation. We also plan to help Project Woo in their creation of a scholarship and after-school program.

Dale Dagger Surf Tours is also a proud sponsor of the Gigante Women's Softball team who represent some of the brightest, most talented and motivated women in town. The girl's have a chance to win it all this year, proving their skills with a third place win last year. The girls are very proud, yet , as you can imagine, very ecomically challenged. They are asking for help with equipment, uniforms and softballs. If you want to help, there is a list of needed supplies below, and a link to the softball team fundraiser account through paypal.
(This list was updated 7-11-10)

22 Uniforms: $400

22 pairs of cletes: $200

1 case of softballs: $23

1 aluminum bat: $43

1 catcher's mitt and face mask: $45

Bases for the field: $48

TIN (as in: This Is Nicaragua)

Oh, such a beautiful place... filled with not-so-every- day- life kinds of things. Sometimes in this wonderful country, we lose power...as in, there might be no electricity for a few hours. Thankfully, we are also the only place in town with battery backup and a generator, so you won't even notice... (unless of course our backup fails:).

WHAT TO BRING

The necessities are:
- Sun block (at 11 degrees north of the equator, you'll be burnt fast)
- Surf wax (red tropical Sex Wax is best)
- Bug spray (with deet)
- Magazines (ok, the mags are for us too)
- Clothes you don't want any more (everyone in town is in need... including the gringos:)

Sometimes you will paddle out to the boat (it's not very far), so if you need all your surf stuff with you, bring a dry bag. Bring your laptop for internet, a good book, a beach towel, your IPOD and any candy you can't live without.

TIPPING

All the staff works very hard to make your stay pleasurable, and would be thrilled to have a little extra. We recommend taking 10% of your trip cost and dispersing it as you see fit. Don't forget to bring cash as there are no ATM's out here at the beach. as you see fit.

SURF BOARDS

We have several surf boards for rent.... $20/day for in-house clients and $30/day for outside clients. These boards are not the prettiest, but sufficient and durable. Ding repair cost extra. Here is a list of our rentals...

SURF BOARD INVENTORY

Short Boards

Elva Makaru 6’2” Squash Tail

Mid Range

Surfboard Island 6’4” Squash Tail

Warner 6’6” Gun

Fun shapes

Wooster 6’8” Single fin

Glassic 6’10” Swallow tail

BPC 6’10” Quad Fin

BPC 7’2” Single Fin

Terry Senate 6’9” Swallow Tail

Reflex 7’8” Swallow Tail

Long Boards

South Coast 8’0” Rounded Squash

Stewart 9’4” Rounded Squash

Soft Tops

Surface 7’2” Rounded Squash

• Unlimited Surf Sessions • Seven Surf Breaks
• Three Custom Boats • Beachfront Surf Lodge
• Gigante Fishing Village • Best Surf in Nicaragua
• Surf Playa Colorado • Surf Popoyo • Surf Playgrounds
• Surf Panga Drops • Surf Outer Reef • Surf Manzanillo