Looking for Central America’s best surfing, and remote beaches for fishing, swimming, sailing, and boating? Or maybe a family member or honeymoon partner just wants to kick back, sunbathe, watch the crashing waves, collect shells, explore tide pools, and relax. Add to the mix tropical forests alive with howler monkeys, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and eco-tourism. It’s all yours with a San Juan del Sur vacation rental villa, house, condo, or apartment. Stay in town or fronting a remote beach with all the luxuries at bargain prices a fraction of what other coastal resorts charge.

Learn to surf the peeling right handers and left handers at Playa Maderas, a popular sandy bottom beach just minutes from San Juan del Sur. Nearby Majagual beach is also popular for fishing, swimming, and watching the sunset. Besides a sand dune and rock pools, crescent-shaped Marsella Beach has low, gently rolling surf tranquil enough for boogie boarding and body surfing. Your money-saving vacation rental gives you access to these and many other beaches north and south of San Juan del Sur. Non-surfers in the family can grab a taco and a drink from a stand, and watch the pros surf.

The 2,000-acre La Flor Wildlife Refuge, bordered by tropical forests and a short hike from the white sands of Playa El Coco, is where tens of thousands of endangered olive ridley sea turtles nest and lay eggs from July to February. Bring the whole family to witness peak egg laying from August to October. Lesser numbers of very endangered leatherback turtles can also be seen. Da Flying Frog zipline canopy tour uses cables and platforms to get you high into the canopy to observe jungle life like a rainforest researcher.

Weekends try the nachos at Big Wave Daves, and taste the fresh fish at a local restaurant. Swig some Nicaraguan-made Flor de Caña rums at the Iguana and other local bars. Trade tales of travel and shoot the breeze about big waves with fellow travelers from around the world. For a morning change of pace from saving money cooking in your vacation rental kitchen, grab a cup of local rainforest coffee and fresh-baked brownies and pastries at the chatty El Gato Negro. Compare the prices, San Juan del Sur vacation rentals beat the resort hotels and save you enough money for a lot of eating out and nightlife.