Recap: Nicaragua Surf Retreat

You know those trips that are so magical, going home feels physically painful? So good, you’re casually scrolling flights to see if you swing staying another week or two? And saying goodbye gets you weirdly teary-eyed? The real kicker though - very seriously considering getting matching tattoos with people you met four days ago?

That’s when you know: this is what it’s all about.

Dee and I were beyond lucky to feel this way leaving our recent retreat shoot in Popoyo, Nicaragua, with the incredible crew from Central Florida Women’s Surf Club. We’ve been on a few adventures with Ami and the crew over the years, but this was our first time in Nicaragua and we already can’t wait to go back.

Our group began as 14 strangers meeting in the Miami airport, and by the end we all had acquired new sisters for life. The days that followed were a glorious whirlwind of mud, salt, sun(burn), and laughing till our stomachs hurt. Oh! And “work”. We did that, too!

The first day at our home for the week, Malibu Popoyo Boutique Resort.

A little backstory for those curious, whether you’ve been here a while or are new friends:

You might have seen some of our content from past surf trip photoshoots, but here's how we got swept up into this dream gig: Ami is a surf coach based in Cocoa Beach and founder of Central Florida Women’s Surf Club (CFLWS). She plans getaways (think Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Hawaii…) where surfers can connect, relax, and get consistent time in the water to level up their surfing.

Cassie attended a CFLWS meetup in 2022, and was immediately hooked. Fast forward, Ami asked Cassie to document the club’s first retreat in El Salvador in 2023, and voilà—the rest is history. Since then, NAIA Creative was born, Dee joined the adventure, and Ami, bless her, keeps inviting us back.

These trips are the absolute highlight of our year.

In the days leading up to departing for Nicaragua, we weren’t entirely sure everyone was going to move forward with the trip, or if anyone should go at all. Tropical Storm Sarah was threatening one last hurrah for the hurricane season from actual hell, and the forecast was feeling very “meh” for the rest of the week. After a few messages back and forth with the resort, the decision was finalized: we were going for it with ponchos and decks of cards in hand!

The first couple of days looked a little something like this:

As you can imagine, the rainy weather made for a slow start to photo and video production. The silver lining though was having time to ease into the trip after a long travel day, and connect with the group and staff during down time while we all waited for the rain to subside. We did yoga, got massages, walked on the beach, ate incredible meals, swam in the pool, and ventured to a local beach bar for sunset. Yeah, really suffering.

By day two, the rain had eased up, the forecast started to look a little friendlier, and it was finally time to hit the waves. But, of course, Mother Nature wasn’t done keeping us on our toes. A long, unusually wet rainy season combined with the tropical storm just before our arrival meant localized flooding, runoff, and debris making its way onto the beaches and into the water. The water quality conditions and muddy beach access trails added an extra layer of adventure to the experience, but didn’t slow us down one bit.

The rest of the week was an actual dream. We edited pool-side with smoothies in hand, watched a few skateboarding sessions, shot beautiful portraits in the pool and on the beach, had a few outdoor adventures (including my favorite - a hike to the most stunning tide pools!), explored local surf shops, and watched sunsets on the beach. Everyone was living their best life, and we loved capturing it all.

Another favorite memory was a boat trip out to a break called Lance’s Left. I had never taken a boat to a break before, and was admittedly VERY nervous for it. Some of my fears were being in a tiny rocking boat navigating the large rolling swells, treading water for lord knows how long, and being accompanied by whatever was lurking beneath the surface. Oh yeah, and getting the shot! Where are my priorities?! The day before the trip, I jokingly (?) asked one of our surf guides, Angel, if I was going to die. He laughed and answered, “No. Not tomorrow”. Great. Wonderful. Very convincing. Fast forward through really enjoying the boat ride, swimming out to the break, and peacefully ducking under a few walls of water as we all got our bearings, and I had an “aha” moment that I’ll never forget. There I was, actively conquering my fears, bobbing along in the Pacific at the base of magnificent cliff, cackling till my stomach hurt between sets of waves with new friends for life, and brushing away little fishy friends gently nibbling on my legs. It was equal parts totally peaceful and completely exhilarating. Not only did we all survive, we had the absolute best time, everyone caught amazing waves, and added bonus: no one got sea sick. AND we got some epic shots!! The absolute cherry on top was climbing back into the boat, everyone shaking from exhaustion, and Angel saying “Who wants fresh-baked banana bread?”. Are you freaking kidding me right now? I think that is as good as it gets, my friends.

Our goal on these trips is to capture three main components: the authentic behind the scenes and in-between moments, portraits for those that wish to partake, and surf content (lifestyle and technical for coaching purposes). It’s a LOT, and basically all waking hours are fair game. The best part is that not one second of it feels like work. This is exactly the type of lifestyle Dee and I envisioned of when we formed NAIA Creative, so the chance to do it is such a freaking dream. We cannot wait to go back to this magical place!!

The last night of the trip, the staff set up a beautiful sunset BBQ and bonfire on the beach. It was the perfect send off after such an unbelievable week. After dinner, everyone went around and shared their favorite part of the trip. Unsurprisingly, the clear winner was how quickly we all connected and how much fun we all had together. Tears were shed by many (including some of the staff!) and it was a beautiful way to end the trip.

With that, be sure to check out the highlight reel and full gallery in our portfolio, HERE!

We are so incredibly thankful to Malibu Popoyo for making us feel so immediately at home, the ladies for making it feel like adult summer camp all week long, and to Ami for bringing together the most amazing women that love surf, travel and adventure. We can’t wait for the next one!!

Xx Cassie and Dee