How San Juan Del Sur Has Changed Over the Last Ten Years
Hey everyone, thanks for checking out this article, which is all about what has changed in San Juan del Sur over the last decade.
Video:
Nicaragua was the first country I visited, and San Juan del Sur was my first stop, in my travels to Latin America. After spending years travelling around other parts of the globe, a friend from university told me it was his favourite place in the world. So I figured it was a good place to start, to see if it was as good as he said.
In 2014, I began what became a two-year journey through almost every country in the region. I was looking for my favourite place to move to, live and do business. From Mexico to Argentina, I visited every place I thought might be my spot. After all that I came back to the beginning.
I was looking for a funky surf town on the beach that wasn’t overdeveloped. Obviously I had my preferences, so for me it was the best choice. Since then, what I like most is that the town has managed to keep the character that made me love it, while improving many of the things that were challenging back then.
It's still not perfect, and that's part of its appeal. San Juan del Sur continues to attract adventurous people looking for an authentic beach town rather than a polished resort destination. Over the years, that character has remained, even as the town has become more popular with tourists and those that call it home all or part of the year.
San Juan del Sur still feels almost like the same place it was when I arrived. It has the steady rotation of tourists, locally operated businesses, and a community that welcomes foreigners. We aren’t overrun with multinational chain businesses, and we attract people who enjoy the road less travelled.
The difference is that everyday life is now easier. Public infrastructure has improved, high-speed internet is widely available, power and water are (more) reliable, and there are far more restaurants, cafés, gyms, and activities than there were a decade ago. Best of all, it has grown without losing its identity. Independent local businesses still define the town, and thankfully you won't find a McDonald's or Starbucks on the beachfront.
In this article, I'll look at some of the biggest changes I've seen over the past ten years and why I think San Juan del Sur will keep getting better, slowly and steadily.
The Road Network, Including the Coastal Highway
The biggest national project by far has been the new Coastal Highway, which I've covered in both an article and a video. The new Coastal Highway represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in Nicaragua's history, with more than US$400 million being invested to connect the country's Pacific coastline and dramatically improve access to beaches, tourism destinations, and coastal communities.
Ten years ago, getting to many areas and a lot of the beaches outside San Juan del Sur meant driving long stretches of rough dirt road. During the rainy season, those roads often turned into thick clay mud. Playa Remanso was the best example, where the road could become impassable after heavy rain. Today, it's connected by paved roads with reliable year-round access. The amount of development that has followed reflects just how much easier the area has become to access.
Improvements by the Municipality
The tourist terminal and port facility was completed in 2018. The marina expansion transformed it into a much larger and more modern waterfront destination. The project added new commercial spaces, restaurants, and an expanded passenger dock, making it better equipped to accommodate both tourism and growing marine traffic.
Downtown San Juan del Sur has also seen several public improvements over the past decade. The new malecón has created a more attractive waterfront for both locals and visitors, with wider walkways, better lighting, and more space to enjoy the bay. At the same time, the park beside the church has been renovated, giving the town center a cleaner, more welcoming feel and creating a better gathering place for community events and everyday life.
Health Services
Healthcare has also improved significantly over the past 10 years. In 2019, San Juan del Sur opened a modern public hospital that serves both local residents and the growing expat and tourist population. The facility includes 45 beds, an operating room, maternity services, emergency care, and modern medical equipment that simply wasn't available in town before. Combined with the nearby fire station, improved ambulance services, and better road access, emergency response and day-to-day healthcare are far better than they were a decade ago.
Utility Improvements
Internet has improved dramatically over the past decade. Today, high-speed fiber-optic internet is available throughout most of San Juan del Sur, with download speeds often exceeding 100 Mbps. Combined with reliable wireless and satellite options in more remote areas, it's now much easier for remote workers, businesses, and residents to stay connected than it was just a few years ago. Claro is the main provider of high-speed fiber-optic internet, with standalone packages starting at around $55 per month.
Power reliability has improved dramatically over the past decade. The addition of a new electrical substation and upgrades to the transmission network have significantly reduced both the frequency and duration of power outages. While occasional outages still happen, they're nowhere near as common as they once were. With fiber-optic internet now widely available, many homes and businesses can also keep their internet running during short outages by using a battery backup for their router, making it much easier to work remotely and stay connected.
Water service has improved slightly, although the town's water supply still has frequent interruptions. Homes connected to the town water system can experience regular periods where the flow is shut off for repairs and maintenance. Almost all the properties, though, have their own backup water storage tanks that automatically supply the house when municipal service is unavailable. The planned communities around San Juan del Sur go a step further, with their own wells and community storage tanks, providing a more reliable and consistent water supply for residents.
Easier Access to Shopping
Shopping has become dramatically easier over the past decade. When I first moved here, it was common to drive to Rivas or Managua for basic household items, electronics, or specialty products. Today, the big supermarket Ahorra Más, stores like Nica Naturals, the Saba Pharmacy chain, 24-hour convenience stores, and more mean you can get most of what you need right when you need it, here in San Juan del Sur.
For everything else, ordering online has become incredibly easy. I regularly use Destination Nica at the Port Facility to facilitate shipping my Amazon orders to town. I furnished an entire rental apartment almost entirely from Amazon. It's one of those small changes that has made living here way more convenient.
A Change in the People Living Here
Another change is the number of people now choosing to live in San Juan del Sur for more of the year. Ten years ago, the town was more seasonal, with many visitors only staying for a few weeks or a few months. Today, there is a much larger community of permanent residents, including young families, retirees, and remote workers.
A big part of that shift has been the rise of remote work. Although that trend has reversed somewhat, better internet, lower living costs, and the lifestyle that San Juan del Sur offers continue to attract people who can work online from around the world. Many people who originally came for a vacation have since bought homes and now spend most, if not all, of the year here.
The number of families living here has also grown significantly. The growth in education quality and options, along with the other families, have made it a more attractive place to raise children than it was ten years ago. As a result, San Juan del Sur feels far less seasonal today and much more like a thriving year-round community, with local businesses, schools, and events benefiting from a steadily growing permanent population.
Growth and Diversification of the Expat Community
The expat community has also grown steadily and seen its demographics shift. While Americans and Canadians still make up the largest share of the expat community, San Juan del Sur is increasingly attracting residents from Europe, Latin America, and many other parts of the world.
In addition, the age and economic resources of the expat community have also increased. This has contributed to new businesses, restaurants, community groups, and investment throughout the area.
What it Means
So, has San Juan del Sur changed over the last decade? Absolutely. The infrastructure is better, the internet is faster, there are more quality homes, restaurants, schools, and services than ever before. It's become easier to live here full-time, whether you're raising a family, working remotely, retiring, or investing.
But the best part is that it still feels like San Juan. It's still a laid-back beach town where you know your neighbours, watch the sunset from the bay, and can be surfing within minutes of leaving home. That's why I chose to move here ten years ago, and despite all the changes, I'd make exactly the same decision today.
Joel Stott-Jess
Joel Stott-Jess
LifeInNica.com
Cell / WhatsApp: +505 8176 8624
US Number 1 786 651 5481
Skype: joelstottjess
