San Juan del Sur’s main show is the brightly colored day’s end over the languid harbor waves; San Juan sunsets can go on for hours; make sure you’re on the beach or a sunset cruise as the setting sun drapes the fishing boats in shadow and the rock face of El Indio dims behind the evening. But there’s a lot to do before day’s end—take a hike, go sailing or diving, or find the area’s best surf breaks.

Recreation Closer to Town

Next to the Casa de Cultura on the main beach drag are volleyball and soccer facilities; league games on weeknights. During the rest of the day, the Sports Park is open for (often competitive) pickup games. Otherwise, expect soccer games to be played on the hard sand beach at low tide on either end of the bay.

Da Flyin Frog (tel. 505/8611-6214, daflyingfrog [at] yahoo [dot] com, $30 pp, closed Sun.) is a 17-platform, two-kilometer canopy tour through the trees with great views of the ocean. It’s located just outside town on the Chocolata road; arrange free transportation directly from the company.

Buena Vida Fitness Center (half block from El Gato Negro, www.buenavidafitness.com, closed lunchtime and Sunday) offers $5 yoga (mellow flow on Tues. and Thurs.), fitness and dance classes, and an assortment of free weights and machines. Find shiatsu massage ($20/hr), acupuncture, or chiropractic work at Elixir (next to the Casa de Cultura on the beach, tel. 505/8971-9393, closed Sunday).

Nica Yoga (www.nicayoga.com) offers daily yoga classes, individual guest accommodations, all-inclusive yoga retreats, and custom packages that include yoga and surfing and more (starts at $700). Packages include fine food, San Juan’s largest outdoor wooden yoga floor, and a saline lap pool open to guests. The Casa Tranquila Day Spa, in the Pelican Eyes resort (tel. 505/2563-7000, reservations [at] piedrasyolas [dot] com,), offers skin care, nail care, and salon services; an hour-long massage is $45. Call for appointments.