best beach town on pacific side

TOP 10 BEACHES IN NICARAGUA

I'd combine THE CORN ISLANDS with GRANADA from where you can easily visit VOLCAN MASAYA

we can't do both. my question was asking for opinions on whether we should pony up the money to go to Corn Islands, or seek to find the same thing on the pacific side (same thing = relative isolation, great beaches, etc.)

Can anyone offer anything? please, no spamming hotel offers...

I would say Jiquillo, Masachapa and the Chinandega beaches (north of León) comes closest to what you're looking for. Try searching the TT pages and you will find some info on those places. There is plenty to do there to fill your week: mangroves, the Cosigüina volcano, fishing trips, etc.
Bear in mind though that it's the Pacific side you're on, which means surf, and rather strong undercurrents.

It's not the same. There are more people, the water is WAY colder and rougher and I found I was bothered by the local children more at the beaches next to Leon. If you go higher up the coast above Leon, it's HOT. SJDS is really not what you are describing as what you want. Bahia Majagual used to be good, but that's all condos in the works now. I used to go to Playa Coco south of SJDS which had nice accomidations in a variety of prices and was never full, or even close to full. The last time I was there, there were several people that shadowed us up and down the beach which is secluded and it was VERY uncomfortable. They were also starting to destroy the hillside and build condos and houses.
Bottom line, spend the money and go to Corn Island..

I'm with dollyd

Best depends on what you want.

I was umpressed and found SJDS to be everything I dont like in a beach town, and compared to anything in Costa Rica, a dump, a hot untropical town that you cant even swim off the main beach.

Nicaragua is not about the beaches, unless you go to Corn Islands, or surf north or south of SJDS IMHO.

Nicaragua is about culture, I would rather hit the beach on Omtepe for a authentic time than anywhere near SJDS, and maybe near Leon for simple rustic stays, but overall, Costa Rica has the beaches, Nicaragua has the culture, besides Corn Islands...

thank you guys for the replies.

now I'm confused. I'd found some people talking about Corn Islands as incredible (as far as the people and the remoteness), but not really much as far as beaches. The beaches are described as narrow, etc.

I'm not at all interested in SJDS. That's the opposite of what we want. But the Pacific side is huge, and has tons of beaches. Are almost all of them being overdeveloped nowadays?

No, there arent't really that many overdeveloped beaches in NI, of those that I know. SJDN has its fair share of development but quite a few beaches to the N and S of SJDN are have a few places to eat and/or stay and that's that.
Pacific beaches are broader but the water is of course much less inviting than in the Caribbean, unless you surf. Environmental protection or indeed awareness is a huge problem like almost everywhere else in Latin America, so quite a few beaches (particularly those near Managua like parts of Pochomil) are a rather squalid and torrid affair. The further north you get on the Pacific side, the less development there is and the less tourists you'll see.

Corn Island (only been to Big Corn, going to Little Corn in Jan) beaches are mostly okay, but you're right: they tend to be narrow or all but washed away courtesy of 1988's Joan, with the exception of Picnic Center beach in SW bay. BUT: the sea is Caribbean beautiful, and really, who needs endless beaches as long as you can find some space to sling your hammock and stick your feet in the water?

thanks a lot, your posts have been helpful. should I or shouldn't I go to corn... ugh. it's still a tough decision after the airfare I already paid to get to Nic... then another 500usd on top of that for us to get to corn islands and back. is it worth it? probably nobody can say for sure. Would I regret not going?