We always say that it’s our familia that makes Rise Up Surf what it is. And one of the most important members of our familia is Andrea, the manager of our Nicaragua Luxury Escape location.

Originally from Costa Rica, Andrea made the move to Nicaragua after meeting Phil and Corina, the founders of Rise Up Surf. She fell in love with the jungle, ocean and surfing lifestyle and knew this was where she wanted to be. Fortunately for us, we immediately bonded with Andrea too!

With her background in nutrition, yoga and tourism, Andrea is the perfect fit for Rise Up. We managed to catch her between retreats to ask her a few questions about herself, her passions and what keeps her motivated.

Enjoy!

Hey, Andrea! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hola! I’m Andrea from Costa Rica.

Born and raised in the Costa Rican city of San Jose, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for nature.

My passion for surfing began when I moved to the Osa Peninsula, sparking a lifelong love affair with the ocean. I’ve been proudly working with Rise Up for the past two seasons.

What is your role at Rise Up? What attracted you to working with us in the first place?

I’m the operations manager of the Luxury Escape retreat, so I do a lot of “behind the scenes” work before the retreat starts.

Once on the retreat, I make sure guests have everything they need to be comfortable and happy. I also coordinate tasks and work on logistics with the hotel staff, drivers and with the Rise Up team.

The first time I met Phil and Corina many years ago in Costa Rica and saw what they had created, I immediately felt a desire to be part of it.

The familiarity, the good vibes, the opportunity to live in a beautiful place and surf dreamy waves. On top of that, to be surrounded by amazing humans is what I love most about working at Rise Up!

Can you tell us a bit about the Nicaragua retreat you manage?

Luxury Escape is stunning!

From the moment you step out of the car you’re left speechless. The hotel is beautiful and right in front of the ocean with a pool and bar overlooking the waves.

The rooms are super amazing and comfortable. They all have A/C and hot showers.

Leaving the infrastructure aside, you also get to experience great waves. One of the breaks is only a 5 minute ride from the hotel with the option of walking as well! And the food… it’s the best you’ll ever have!

The staff is also super friendly and helpful.

And what about the guests? Any retreat guest stories that stand out?

This one is tricky because every single guest comes with their own story and I like to keep them private.

Many have had big life changes like: deciding to quit their jobs and find something that they’re really passionate about, relocating and living somewhere close to the ocean, getting pregnant, ending a relationship, starting studying, committing to a healthier lifestyle, among many, many more.

You have a background in nutrition and yoga. How does that influence your role as retreat manager?

It’s all about wellness.

Mind, body and spirit. If I don’t feel good I won’t give my best at work. So I take into consideration what I’ve learned throughout my years in these fields, practice it and share it.

Can you describe what your typical day looks like?

Every day is different when I’m working on a retreat so I never have a set schedule. It’s also a 24/7 job. In saying that, a typical day could be:

Waking up early (surf depending)
Having breakfast
Undertaking management/computer work for the upcoming retreats
Chatting with the guests and find out if they need anything
Taking time for myself (do a workout, go for a walk, read, meditate etc)
Check in with the Rise Up team and help things run smoothly if needed
Check in with kitchen staff, hotel staff and with Phil and Corina
Have lunch
Rest
Get ready for appetizer and dinner time and coordinate with the team the activities for the next day

Busy! What do you do when you’re not working?

When I’m not working I go visit my family and friends in Costa Rica.

I also love to travel to new places and study new things, particularly about holistic ways to have a happy and healthy life 🙂

We love how you interact with the guests. How do you ensure they maintain a balance between relaxation and adventure?

I listen to them and communicate with the team to make sure our guests are having the experience that they want.

Also, every activity is optional. We never force anyone to join and we make sure that’s clear to them from the beginning!

Andrea is our surf manager in Nicaragua and Costa Rica

What about when they first interact with the ocean?

Seeing them having fun in the water and not being afraid is one of the best things!

When they catch their first green wave or when they thought they could never stand up but they did on their first try.

Overall I feel like being in nature (and in the ocean in this case) makes you feel more connected with yourself.

That realization is a beautiful thing to witness.

Can you describe the role the Rise Up Familia play in the overall guest experience?

I’d say it’s one of the most important factors.

Each one of the members of the team is an essential part: from the first email our guests send to the reservation team, to the driver that drops them off at the airport to go back home.

Rise Up has an incredible group of humans working together and the best part is we get along and respect each other.

I believe that’s vital to create that family vibe while on retreat.