Rivas is a city in southwestern Nicaragua on the Isthmus of the same name. The village of San Juan del Sur, on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus has become a popular tourist destination in the last decade, and already receives cruise ships. San Juan del Sur is the center of surf exploration in coastal Rivas. The Department of Rivas also includes Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua.
The coastal areas of Rivas have been seeing increasing development and tourism revenue due to the surge of surfing and eco-tourism in the area. The many surf camps and smaller resorts attract a variety of travelers world-wide.