From Austin – After 10 years of touring Costa and fighting crowds and westernization in recent years, we looked to Nicaragua for the all access surf trip with the third world feel and true island style getta-way atmosphere. Buzz with Nica Xtreme Adventures coined it perfectly before we got off the plane, “Just get here, I will put you more waves then you can handle and feed you until you burst.” From Airport pickup to any and all surf needs from forecasting to wax Buzz had any and everything we could have possibly needed.
After a long 3 session day we walked back from Playa Colorado to the accommodations (Apprx 3 min walk) to 3 HUGE meals a day provided by our private chef. All food was locally grown and cooked by a local chick. Our favorite meals were the mound of fresh fruits to start the day and lobster, filet or chicken burritos before happy hour beers. If your concern is food this place hooks it up with no worries, so surf until your starving.
From a surf standpoint the lefts were firing each day with everything from the A frame barrel right off Playa Colorado to the Boat Trips Buzz includes and sets up for you to Manzanillo, Lances, Playgrounds, Popoyo etc… Waves ranged from chest to triple overhead sets coming through on the last day. Buzz catered to each our surf abilities and we all had more then enough waves in perfect conditions.
Lastly as far as safety, I have been all over Central America out to Fiji and Indonesia and this place was by far one of the safest. The community this camp is in is 24/7 gated and guarded with security at all times. I walked out in the morning with my DSLR Nikon around my neck without a worry. All of our computers and phones were left in the condo without a second thought. The peace of mind offered by this place truly lets you come to do two things Surf and Relax.
Extras included in the package i didn’t mention but made our trip top notch were the transport to and from the airport, individual motorcycles to travel to the surrounding villages, stellar condo with ocean view and A.C, free wifi and a few rounds of Tona’s on the bigman Buzz himself…
Long story short for a no hassle, shoulder burning epic surf trip with nothing to worry about other then how many sessions you want to get in between sun up to sun down Nica Xtreme Adventures is your ticket. Through 16 yrs of weeding through shitty surf camps to trying to find the locals secret spots, stoked to say this place fills the void. We will be back!
Austin
Elly Jaresko JarvisHey to Nica X-Treme! Just wanted to say what a fantastic set of adventures we had with you!
So here’s a quick review for anyone who is looking into using this service or is going to return and wants to shape up their coming trip… GO FOR IT ALL!!!
Buzz created a custom package for the four us: two couples in our 30’s coming from Santa Monica, CA including Lori Jo Withrow Brian Jarvis. The package included lodging, private cook for meals 3x’s a day, two motorcylces, transportation to-and-from Managua airport, 1-full day tour with Macua Tours chalked full of cultural and historical info all throughout the day that that included a walking tour in the oldest city of the Americas Granada, zip lining through coffee plantation (SOO FUN!), hiking at the top of a volcano in a cloud forest (AMAZING PLANTS!), fresh water boat tour on Lake Nicaragua (ISLANDS AND BIRDS AND MONKEYS) and lunch! The majority of us surfed, so our package included 2-boat trips to surf breaks and one session with a professional surf photographer. Made us look like real pro’s!
The property is gated, safe, top notch accommodations and Buzz is a man of his word!
Upon arriving at the airport, our driver greeted us, and no more than 5 minutes in the van, Buzz called on the cell to personally say welcome and give us the run down that the drive is about 2.5 hours and we would be stopping by a local super-store on the way for us to pick up any snacks we wanted. This was just one example of how Buzz was consistently keeping us in the loop for what the plan would be. We got to choose when we wanted to take our day-tour, he kept us abreast with swell predictions and gave us suggestions for when would be best to stay local to surf and when might be a good day to take a boat trip.
Because of surf conditions we were only able to take one surf-boat trip, but were given MULTIPLE options for how to use the value of our other boat trip: fishing boat trip, massages, dinner out at nice restaurant… My husband and I chose massages! Do it! Have the trip of a lifetime! You won’t regret it! We are still glowing
Johnny Zvetina – I can personally tell all of you in the Nica X-treme Adventures group. The reason Buzz has a lot of killer posts is not just because of the waves being so insane at Playa Colorado’s and the other 10 nearby breaks, it is because Buzz has set up a paradise! This includes full, hospitality, surf packages that would rival any World class surf paradise and package out there . Buzz is a natural host, you are 100% safe, you are blown away by the accommodations. The SURF, !! Tubes galore, insane fishing and food ( Wow, the food!, unmatched) made a reality by the most genuine and generous person I know. Not to mention he is on the top of his game 24/7 Mark”Buzzy” DephilippisI personally know this and hands down, you Buzz are the real deal my friend! Get down there if you have not already!! Thanks Buzz, Johnny Zvetina
Sun, 28 Apr 2013 from Peter Lochtefeld (Facebook post) – Much thanks to Mark Buzz Dephilippis for the wonderful vacation my wife and I had in Nicaragua. We stayed in his five-story condo complex and splurged on the full meal package. Great food – absolutely the best lobster I’ve ever had – and all prepared by the staff there. Buzz’s place is right on the beach at Playa Colorado, no doubt one of the best beach breaks I have ever surfed. In addition, there are many other great and uncrowded waves accessible by boat on day trips. Besides great surfing, Nicaragua is an incredibly beautiful country well worth sight-seeing. Buzz went out of his way to make sure that everything was exceptional, and it was! I would highly recommend this trip to all my friends. Here is a photo that Buzz was kind enough not to post, but I am posting it anyway. As my wife told me, photos don’t lie. More crunches and less dessert!
Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:15:34 +0000: Hey Facebook friends, I would like to let you know if you have not had the opportunity to visit Mark “Buzzy” Dephilippis in Nicaragua, You MUST get down there. I can help you get a cheap flight. From the absolute beauty of the Country, to the insane I mean INSANE waves, the 5 Star accommodations, Marks hospitality and true care that you are having the trip he promises is unbeatable. Seriously, Buzz made sure everything was 100% your trip, he made sure there were zero screw ups, this guy is the single hardest working guy I know. The food was gourmet, 3 meals a day , Lobster, Filets, authentic Nicaraguan dishes, all the food, drinks, boat trips, golf, motorcycles, fishing, SURF, guides who are knowledgeable and super cool, literally, Mark does not leave out one thing. And the most important thing, he makes sure every day you are having a blast!!! Buzzy, thank you and all your staff!!
You got it going on.
Best , most relaxing time ever!
Johnny and da boyz!!!
See you in August
My wife Cynthia and I were a little worried about Nicaragua…
I have traveled to Costa Rica many times and once with my Wife. From the time we arrived at the airport Nica X-treme/Mark had arranged for us a very pleasant and joyful stay. Upon our Arrival at the Ranch Mark helped us with our things and made us feel very welcome.
It was as if our own family had met us and was there to make our stay wonderful. The entire time we were there Mark took care of our every need. I have stayed at many five star resorts around the world and I must rate our trip to Nicaragua, five out of five star’s with one more star for price. So a five star stay without the price of a five star resort. We will be going back as many times as we can and our worries about Nicaragua are way behind us, in fact I felt safer in Nicaragua then I ever have in Costa Rica. Thank you Mark and staff for your attention to detail and making our stay so speciaL Regards, Brett & Cynthia Rutherford
We surfed lances left this am and what a nice long wave lots of cut backs nice drop and long rides …
ON top of that caught 8 fish great fishing here and the surf is mighty good many thanks go out to my host Nica X-treme and the proprietor Mark Buzz Dephilippis for hooking us up with the kind accommodations and hospitality.
Long trip home after the BEST surf trip to Nicaragua! I highly recommend this destination to everyone who loves SUPER fun waves, long beautiful beaches, good food, nice people all at a affordable price! We really had the most amazing time thanks to Nica X-Treme Adventures. -Thank you Mark “Buzz” Dephilippis.
On our way back from Nica. After surfing head high + waves for 7 days straight, my arms are about to fall off. We had the BEST time. I can’t wait to go back. Thanks to Nica X-Treme Adventures, and Mark Dephilippi for making this dream a reality! – H. Wayne Whitley
Met my handsome husband on his second week at Playa Colorado on 6/25/12. We shared good food and good times with friends from Hawaii, Orange County (CA) and elsewhere.
It was fabulous even though very much “off the grid”!!! Colorado’s is secluded, private and extremely safe. If not utilizing the “meal package” stock up at the Maxi-Pali in Rivas as you come down from Managua. There are no “convenience” stores for forgotten incidentals. The property (Hacienda Iguana) is well-maintained, clean, comfortable, 24 hour security, two security gates from the main road, nestled among a canopy of full and quite lovely. There is lush foliage and housekeeping.
There is a cantina adjacent to a nice swimming pool with wood rocking chairs and tables shaded in the cantina and trees around the pool area. If you don’t want to risk the experience of “bagging” your surfboards Nica X-Treme has rentals. Nica X-Treme (Buzz) can assist you with all accommodations and any extra activities such as massages, motorcycle rentals, drivers, guides, local restaurants, zip-lining, etc….This is a really beautiful, serene place that hasn’t been spoiled by over-development.. While contemporary construction is expanding, it seems that preserving the natural environment is paramount.
I thoroughly enjoyed my short vacation at Playa Colorado and the wonderful excursions we experienced and felt sad when I had to leave such a beautiful place. I hope to revisit it again before too long – Casey Mcgregor
My wife and I decided to go on a much needed vacation, or as she called it,”babymoon”. I’ve been going to Costa Rica since 1989, however I wanted to take her some place I had never been.
I had always wanted to go surfing in Nicaragua, and after talking to “Buzz” via the internet, we decided to go for it. We are so glad we did!
Buzz and his crew took care of every need we had, and then some. From the moment we landed at the airport in Managua, to the last day we were dropped off at the airport. We have never felt so safe in a foreign country, as we did in Nicaragua, all thanks to Buzz and his entire staff. Our unit at the Rio Dulce condo was as comfortable as our own home, and just steps to some of the best beach break I have ever surfed in my 30+ years of surfing and traveling. The boat trip, the horseback riding, and everything else was totally affordable.
We give Nica-Xtreme Adventures four thumbs up! We are already planning our next trip back. One word that was commonly used, not only by us, but by other tourist, surfers, and locals….”magical”. That is something that is hard to describe in words, and I suggest you experience it first hand. By far the BEST surf trip I have ever been on in Central America! All I had to worry about was making it out of perfect throwing barrels……..can’t wait to be at Playa Colorados again!
“Chilly” Willey Gilreath
ESA/NCFL District Director
Chilly Surf Industries-President
Aloha Plumbing Inc.-President
I arrived June 26th with Ed Brinkman and Jeff Cyr. Within then next several days more of our group arrived, resulting in 13 people staying here at Hacienda Iguanas. It is now down to my wife Casey and I.
I can not say enough about how much Mark as done to make our trip so memorable. He has made sure we have had fresh fish and lobster, surfboards, transportation to many of the wonderful places Nicaragua has to offer.
Everyday he makes sure we are taken care of. Today is our last day and then it is back home to San Diego. Thank you Mark for making this one of my most memorable trips – Russell McGregor
Long trip home after the BEST surf trip to Nicaragua!
I highly recommend this destination to everyone who loves SUPER fun waves, long beautiful beaches, good food, nice people all at a affordable price! We really had the most amazing time thanks to Nica X-Treme Adventures.
Hit me up if your planning a surf trip and I’ll hook you up with these guys. I promise you will get some of the best waves of your LIFE!! Feeling grateful for all the genuine, good intentioned, amazing people Imi & I cross roads with in this life. Thank you so much Buzz, you rock! – Bianca Brennan
I have been extensively traveling the world for many years always searching for new adventures. Now that my travels include my entire family the logistics have become much more intense.
On our last trip we decided on visiting Nicaragua.
Some close friends said they enjoyed the country and it’s people but had a hard time navigating the country as a family. There were a few larger companies that seemed to just get you from point A to B on tour buses!!! It was not the kind of vacation they were looking for, they wanted a trustworthy , knowledgeable adventure company that could create a custom itinerary. Well they found the company and it’s very accommodating staff at the end of their vacation.
Fortunately for me and my family we were introduced to Mark at Nica X-treme Adventures via his Web sight. Mark was very accommodating and helped us plan our Vacation. Many of the challenges one usually encounters when traveling to a foreign country with a family failed to appear as a result of the Nica X-Tremes staffs untiring attention to our itinerary. Myself and my family highly recommend Nica-Xtreme to anyone interested in an amazing adventure in a wonderful country – David and Jona Frapwell
