The giant white statue of Christ stands on the hill directly behind San Juan del Sur, arms outstretched toward the bay. From the feet of the statue the view is extraordinary: the crescent beach below, the town's colourful rooftops, the Pacific stretching south to Costa Rica, and on clear days the twin volcanoes of Ometepe island visible to the northeast.
The hike up takes about 20 minutes from the town centre and follows a dirt path that starts near the cemetery. There is no entrance fee. The walk is steep in places but manageable for most people. Bring water, especially in the dry season when the hillside is exposed and dusty. The sunset pilgrimage on Sunday evenings is a genuine local tradition rather than a tourist invention — the whole town seems to empty onto the path around 5 pm.