San Juan del Sur Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids San Juan Del Sur
Municipality
The beach at San Juan del Sur taken from the Christ of the Mercy.
San Juan Del Sur Location in Nicaragua
Country	Nicaragua
Department	Rivas Department
Founded	1851
Area
• Municipality	411 km² (159 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population (2005)
• Municipality	15,553
• Urban	7,220
Time zone	UTC-6 (Nicaragua Standard Time)

San Juan del Sur Lighthouse
Location	San Juan del Sur Rivas Department
Coordinates	11°14′35.0″N 85°52′51.2″W / 11.243056°N 85.880889°W / 11.243056; -85.880889
Year first constructed	1900 (first)
Construction	masonry tower
Tower shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and light on a mast
Markings / pattern	white tower
Height	4.5 metres (15 ft)
Focal height	30 metres (98 ft)
Range	16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 6s.

San Juan del Sur is a lively coastal town in southwest Nicaragua. It is a municipality located on the Pacific Ocean in the Rivas Department. The town is about 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Managua, the capital city.

San Juan del Sur is a very popular spot for surfers. It is also a favorite vacation place for many Nicaraguan families and visitors from other countries. The town has about 15,553 people. Most of them work in fishing, tourism, or the food industry. Many people from the United States, Canada, and Europe also live there.

For many years, the town's main jobs were fishing and shipping. But over the last 20 years, tourism has become much more important. In 2002, San Juan del Sur was officially named the "Port of San Juan del Sur" and a "Tourism City of Nicaragua." This happened to celebrate its 150th birthday.

San Juan del Sur is located in a beautiful crescent-shaped bay. In the 1850s, it was a common resting place for people traveling to California to find gold. It was also a key hub for Cornelius Vanderbilt's shipping lines.

A large statue called the Christ of the Mercy stands on a hill above the town. This statue is on the northern side of the bay. The Mirador del Cristo de la Misericordia is one of the highest points in the bay. It is also one of the tallest statues of Jesus in the world.

The town is famous for being a filming location for the TV show Survivor. Several seasons were filmed near San Juan del Sur, including Survivor: Nicaragua (2010), Survivor: Redemption Island (2011), Survivor: San Juan del Sur (2014), and Survivor: Worlds Apart (2015). Because of its great waves, San Juan del Sur has also become a popular place for international surfing contests.

What is the Nicaragua Canal?
What Happened During the 1992 Tsunami?
What is the Climate Like in San Juan del Sur?
Does San Juan del Sur Have Sister Cities?
Images for kids
See also

What is the Nicaragua Canal?

San Juan del Sur is important because of its location. It is on the Pacific side of a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Rivas. This strip of land is between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua. Because of this, San Juan del Sur has been a focus for many plans to build a Nicaragua Canal. This canal would connect the two large bodies of water.

What Happened During the 1992 Tsunami?

On September 2, 1992, a strong earthquake happened off the coast of Nicaragua. This earthquake caused a huge tsunami (a giant ocean wave). The tsunami hit many towns along the Pacific Coast. In some places, the waves reached up to 10 meters (33 feet high). In San Juan del Sur, the waves were about 5 meters (16 feet) high.

The tsunami caused a lot of damage in San Juan del Sur. About 60% of the homes in the town were destroyed. Around 800 people had to leave their homes. Businesses and houses along the waterfront also suffered a lot of damage.

What is the Climate Like in San Juan del Sur?

San Juan del Sur has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has warm temperatures all year round. There is a dry season from December to May. The rest of the year, there is a heavy rainy season. The town gets about 1,710 millimeters (67 inches) of rain each year.

Climate data for San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	26 (79)	28 (82)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	26 (79)	27 (81)	28 (82)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)	27 (81)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (75)	22 (72)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	15 (0.6)	2.5 (0.1)	0 (0)	10 (0.4)	130 (5.1)	270 (10.5)	180 (7.2)	200 (7.8)	300 (12)	460 (18)	110 (4.4)	28 (1.1)	1,705.5 (67.2)
Source: Weatherbase

Does San Juan del Sur Have Sister Cities?

Yes, San Juan del Sur has several sister cities around the world. Sister cities are towns or cities that form a special bond to promote cultural and educational ties.