About Bahia Gigante

1.2b Gigante Residents

Literally translated, Pie de Gigante means “Giant’s Foot”. The locals relate several stories as to how Gigante got its name. One story goes that if one stands out on Point Gigante when the tide is low and the sea is very calm you can see the imprint of a giant’s foot on a large rock under the water in the bay. Another story is that the top of the point is shaped like a giant’s foot if one were able to view it from above. And yet another is that the bay itself is shaped like a giant’s foot. No matter what story you are inclined to believe, everyone who has visited the bay agrees that it is a beautiful place.

Gigante is a working fishing village where about 30 fishermen earn their living. The fishermen leave early in the morning to fish in the area’s rich waters using nets. They normally return by late morning with their catch of Pargo (cubera snapper), Dorado (Mahi Mahi), and other market fish by late morning. The fish are cleaned offshore and put on ice in preparation for their road trip to market in Rivas or Managua.

Gigante is also a developing tourist center with a number of businesses serving the growing number of visitors who come from around the world to enjoy Nicaraguan Culture, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife in the area. A number of restaurants, hotels, surf camps and charter fishing operations have all opened within the last 5 years. See the “Business & Services” section of this page. Many of the townspeople have found employment in these newly started businesses and the locals welcome visitors warmly since the opportunities provided by these businesses have improved many lives in the area.

Although the weekdays are mostly quiet, the weekends can get lively during the Nicaraguan holiday season (March thru May) when many Nicaraguans from the Tola area come to spend the day at the beach with their families. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the highpoint of the Nicaraguan beach season when many of the businesses open additional facilities to cater to the increase in visitors. Music and Fiestas dominate the local scene from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday. Increasingly, Gigante is becoming a vacation destination for travelers as well as a permanent home for some North Americans. You will see a steady stream of international surfers, sport fishermen and vacationers visiting Gigante throughout the year.

In the surrounding region and the rest of Nicaragua there are volcano tours, canopy tours, island boat trips, and lots of other activities available.

So, come see us. You’ll love it just as we do.