Playa Gigante

Gigante is a horseshoe bay with a sand beach, fishing boats pulled up at one end and a line of small hotels, hostels and restaurants along the shore, and it has kept more of the character of a working village than most of this coast: pangas go out at dawn, the catch is landed on the sand, and the village school and church are a street back. It is a base for surf spots along the coast, with boats running to Colorado, Panga Drops and Manzanillo, and the bay itself has a gentle beach break suited to learning. Swimming is safe at the northern end. Development pressure on the Tola coast is heavy and the character of the place is changing quickly.

What you actually see

• The fishing bay - pangas landing the catch on the sand.
• A working village - school, church and houses behind the beach.
• Boat access to surf spots - departures to breaks along the coast.
• The gentle beach break - a learning wave in the bay itself.

When to go

December to April for dry weather; the surf is bigger from March to October. The bay is calmest in the mornings. Development means the village changes noticeably year to year.

Honest expectations

The access road is rough dirt. Facilities are limited and power and water can be intermittent. Prices have risen sharply with development. The contrast between new foreign-owned building and the village is stark and worth being aware of.

Nearby

Popoyo lies north; San Juan del Sur is south.