There are places in the world that go far beyond being just a sunny escape from winter. Places that create connections, build friendships, and bring together people who might otherwise have never crossed paths.
Café Con Leche, in the heart of Playa Popoyo (Nicaragua), is one of them. Nestled on the Pacific coast in the rural community of Las Salinas (Rivas), the hotel is surrounded by five (5) iconic surf breaks, making it a true paradise for surfers. It’s a place where local culture and surf culture come together in the most beautiful way.
The story connecting TAIGA BOARD and Café Con Leche has been unfolding for nearly ten (10) years — and it’s far from over.
The journey begins in 2015, when Marc Bonds opens the doors of Café Con Leche in Popoyo. He settles there year-round, slowly building a place that reflects who he is: warm, welcoming, and deeply rooted in the local community.
His brother Manuel soon joins him — first a few months at a time, then for good. Since 2022, Manu has been living in Popoyo full-time, after making the journey from Trois-Rivières → Nicaragua by van.
The vibe at Café Con Leche perfectly reflects the brothers’ vision: a space grounded in respect for local culture and community inclusion, with a subtle Québec spirit —now a true safe space for surfers.
Through their social involvement in Las Salinas, the Bonds brothers have become well-known figures in the local scene. Together, they’ve transformed Café Con Leche into much more than a hotel — a genuine meeting point for travelers, locals, and surf enthusiasts.
Photos: Saule Mainguy
Passionate and accomplished surfers themselves, they live and breathe this lifestyle — Manu has even taken part in several TAIGA shoots over the years.
To understand the connection between TAIGA BOARD and Café Con Leche, we have to go back.
It all starts in 2008, when Marc Bonds and Nicolas Jolicoeur (founder & owner of TAIGA BOARD) first meet while working at Creaform Engineering — another life, another chapter.
In April 2016, Nick visits Marc in Nicaragua, just months after Café Con Leche first opened in fall 2015. The magic is immediate. This Pacific coast paradise leaves a lasting impression.
Coco, a former Coco, a former TAIGA team member who gave her heart and soul to the company, becomes a key part of the story. Introduced to Marc by Nick, she joins the Café Con Leche team in winter 2018. Back in Québec in the spring, she integrates into the TAIGA team—while continuing to build strong friendships with Marc and Manu.
She returns to Nicaragua several times, strengthening this now-natural connection between the two worlds, bringing TAIGA boards with her on each trip. Café Con Leche becomes her safe space—her second home.
Today, TAIGA BOARD and Café Con Leche share far more than a business relationship: a common vision of surf, community, and lifestyle.
Today, Café Con Leche offers TAIGA boards for rent to its guests. Currently, two (2) models are available on-site: the Malibu 7’2” and 7’10” — versatile boards perfect for exploring the surrounding breaks.
Waves are consistent year-round. Smaller, more beginner-friendly conditions are typically found from December to April, while larger swells for more experienced surfers roll in from May to June and September to November.
Over the years, several TAIGA team members and ambassadors have stopped by Café Con Leche, further strengthening the bond between the two (2) communities.
Photos: Saule Mainguy
Photos: Arnaud Robert
Café Con Leche is more than just a hotel near great waves. It’s a space where connections are made —with the local community of Las Salinas, with travelers passing through, and with surfers who return year after year.
Marc and Manu have built something rare: a living, authentic place that grows with the people who experience it.
Photos : Arnaud Robert
