Nicaragua is like that still somewhat-undiscovered location your intrepid friends whisper about. Verdant jungle and tropical forests border sparkly emerald coasts, hidden beaches and secret coves. Jaguars roam free and monkeys holler from the treetops. Dusty dirt roads lead to empty shores of pink sand covered in intricate pastel seashells. This five-day visit was not my first to Nicaragua with my husband and our two boys and it surely will not be our last!
A warm Rancho Santana Welcome
With nearly 330 warm weather days each year, Nicaragua is a country full of contrasts, all at once rich in culture and vibrancy while humble and uncomplicated. From the airport, our friendly driver met us with a sign and an air-conditioned van. We shared the road with brilliantly colored tuk-tuks packed with people and horse-drawn buggies expertly weaving in and out of lanes, as we slowly crawled through Managua’s hot morning rush hour. We sampled roadside snacks of sweet mango sprinkled with sea salt and roasted nuts all excitedly passed through the van window by street vendors peddling their wares on bikes. We drove through small villages and ambled onto a bumpy dirt road to arrive at Rancho Santana. The stables stretched before us, signaling the equestrian roots of the community. Further down the road the Colonial-style inn and clubhouse came into view. We entered the main reception where an arched breezeway stretched all the way to the Costa Esmeralda.
After receiving cooling towels and all relevant information, we were shown to a handsome three-bedroom oceanfront residence, perfect for a family even larger than ours! Complete with two stylish primary suites, a lovely twin bedroom and ensuite bathrooms for all. The fully stocked kitchen would be fun for preparing meals to enjoy on the private terrace, but we were much more interested in trying the property’s multiple restaurants. There was an option to have a private chef for a night or two—if we had come with extended family that would definitely be the way to go.
A reception of the chattiest birds greeted us emphatically as we threw open the rear French doors which lead directly to a beach path and an infinity edged pool that looked as though it disappeared into the ocean beyond. The boys squealed with delight as they simultaneously shed their too-hot traveling clothes and prepared to jump in.
We unpacked and made ourselves comfortable in our spacious home away from home. After a casual lunch and another refreshing swim—this time in the Sand Dollar pool with views of Playa Santana and the crashing waves—we all retired for some of those deep, disorienting jet lag naps that can only truly be appreciated while on vacation.
The Rancho Santana community is spread out over almost 3,000 acres encompassing five beaches, three pools, two clubhouses, five restaurants, a breezy yoga pavilion overlooking the sea, surf shack and stunning spa. Along with miles of nature paths and fat-tire mountain biking trails, there is also an organic garden that services the entire property and, of course, the stables.
