Surfing, Beaches and Sustainable Living in Bamboo Tree Houses above Rincon, Puerto Rico
Rincon was first made famous when it hosted the 1968 World Surfing Championships, and has been hosting the best surfers in the industry ever since. Rincon’s location, a point on the northwest corner of the island of Puerto Rico, ensures that from September through March, catches swell from many directions and from two oceans (the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean). Rincon has the flexibility, in number of spots and in aspects, that a short drive can ensure good waves any day there’s swell, no matter the wind direction. It’s because of this that pros like Kelly Slater regularly make the trip to Rincon to surf spots like Maria’s, Tres Palmas, and Domes Beach. With waves that can range from casual longboard cruisers to twenty-foot suicide bombs, this corner of Puerto Rico is the capital of Atlantic surfing universe.
SGT not only hooks you up with your own surf guide to ensure you find the best waves on any given day, but puts you up in one of the most remarkable lodging options in the world; three-story bamboo tree houses that poke through the jungle canopy, offering an unparalleled view of the breaks a mile away from your bedroom. These treehouses have their own kitchens, showers, and toilets with solar electricity and solar hot water, providing a sustainable living experience. SGT has created one of the most unique surfing experiences in a spot increasingly known for its uniformity. Come join SGT in Rincon for an unreal expedition only hours from your door.
Cabarete, Domincan Republic Surf & Beach Experience
Lying just under the radar of the larger Caribbean surf scene, the Dominican Republic shares the same swell as Puerto Rico, but without the crowds. Surf trips to DR include countless point and beach breaks hidden from the popular Encuentro beach crowds and a super-friendly local surf scene. DR is the place to escape from frozen East Coast sessions, and is one of the easiest and most reliable spots in the Caribbean. After an early-morning flight, you’ll be in the water by early afternoon, ensuring you get the maximum number of sessions during your stay. And with the help of SASS Global Travel partners Zapstix and your local surf guides, you’ll find uncrowded waves up and down the Amber Coast. From the seven breaks you can see from the cliff at La Preciosa to the river mouth of La Boca, SASS Global Travel makes hassle-free surf trips to DR a reality.
SGT and Zapstix DR provide surfers with accommodations ranging from 6-man bunkrooms for budget stays with the homies, to private poolside suites with a personal chef. Besides guided surfing with the Zapstix crew and locals like Ken “Chino” Fung and Pedro Fernandez, you can kiteboard, wakeboard, scuba dive, and even go canyoneering; whatever the day brings. If you bring your guitar, you can even make your Dominican debut with the Zapstix crew in one of their weekly local shows in town. Custom options exist for individuals and large groups, from long weekends to month-long surf missions. Join SASS Global Travel and get ready to conquer one of the Caribbean’s best-kept surfing secrets.
Call 800-851-4660 for more info and for booking.
Thanks to Lago Nicaragua, which sits on the Pacific side of the country and whose massive, flat surface area allows wind to constantly blow, Nicaragua has some of the most consistent offshore winds anywhere in the world. The Papagayo wind, as it is known, combines with the persistent southern Pacific groundswell to generate excellent waves not only year-round but all day; in Nica you can depend on a solid offshore breeze morning, noon, and night. With SGT you’re able to surf nearly every good break in southern Nicaragua, starting with epic barrels at Colorado and continuing on to the unreal cliff-lined backdrop at Playa Hermosa to the fast, barreling wedge at Playa Yankee and beyond. You’ll start off in a 
private beach mansion a few minutes walk from Colorado, and with private guide in tow, surf the best break the swell and wind is calling for via foot, truck, or panga (small motorboat). After four days crushing waves you’ll take a private sailboat charter down to the coast to the idyllic town of San Juan del Sur, surfing Manzanillo on the way. Finish the trip with three days in San Juan in another private mansion walking distance from downtown, giving you a chance to sample the local cuisine and nightlife in addition to local favorite breaks like Playa Maderas and Remanso. Outside of countless surf missions, you’ll be catching dinner off the back of the sailboat and exploring Nicaragua’s natural beauty via hikes to secret caves around the coast, cliff jumping, sea kayaking, or exploring the active Masaya volcano, with additional options such as golf and horseback riding easily booked for you. Come join SGT for an epic surf, slay, and sail mission to Southern Nicaragua, with an unsurpassed level of local knowledge and hospitality.
