By the Spa Executive Magazine
Set where Nicaragua’s lush tropical hills and forests meet breathtaking shorelines, Rancho Santana is an adventurer’s paradise and a wellness sanctuary.
Rancho Santana is an expansive, sustainable private resort and residential community located on 2,700 acres of Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast.
Affectionately referred to as “The Ranch,” the property features a range of accommodations, including spacious rooms and suites at The Inn and a collection of condo-style residences and ocean-view homes.
Set where lush tropical hills and forests meet breathtaking shorelines, this coastal property is an adventurer’s paradise and a wellness sanctuary. With five distinctive beaches, three pools, a sea turtle sanctuary, 6,000-square-foot treetop spa, ocean view yoga pavilion, and kids club, The Ranch is a retreat like no other. Dining options include four concepts featuring ingredients sourced from the property’s 50-acre farm, seven-acre garden and from local suppliers; sustainability is central to everything at Rancho Santana, including culinary experiences. The Ranch’s restaurant menus are inspired by the land, seasonal changes, and the creativity of expert chefs using farm-to-table produce. Guests can enjoy a blend of international cuisine, traditional Nicaraguan fare, and innovative culinary creations. Further sustainability efforts include solar energy generation, planting trees on fallow land, and providing clean water to communities in need.
On the grounds, visitors can dive into activities like surfing Central America’s top waves, horseback riding along the beach, sandboarding down coastal dunes, hiking, birdwatching, and exploring nature tours, among other experiences.
Sea turtle sanctuary and conservation
Rancho Santana is home to about 6,000 green sea turtles that lay their eggs in the sand at one of the five beaches, Playa Escondida, each year. Once hatched, the baby turtles collectively make the epic journey to the ocean only meters away. To accommodate this natural phenomenon, Playa Escondida has been transformed into a turtle sanctuary, providing shelter for the eggs and hatchlings to give them the best chance of survival. The expertly-designed sanctuary is monitored by on-site ecologists who also guide visitors through this experience.
Wellness: The Spa in El Bosque
The 6,000-square-foot spa and wellness sanctuary, Spa in El Bosque (Spanish for “spa in the forest”) , is built into Rancho Santana’s rugged hillside at the top of a winding stone staircase. Offering unique sweeping vistas of the region’s rolling hills, Spa in El Bosque is a true oasis, with healing suites tucked into the trees and a rotating treatment menu of immersive treatments and seasonal, holistic experiences.
The Spa in El Bosque offers massages, body scrubs, and facials, using locally sourced ingredients, as well as regular salon beauty services. In addition, the team also includes an expert in Eastern Medicine and Holistic practices like Reiki, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Cupping, and Shiatsu. Treatments can be personalized according to guest needs to help with pain relief, immunity, circulation, insomnia, relaxation, and more. Stand out treatment items include:
Santana Signature Salt Scrub
“This relaxing and aromatic Santana Cedro salt scrub nourishes skin with nutrients and trace minerals to help detoxify and reduce fluid retention.”
Hibiscus Sugar Scrub
“This soothing antioxidant-rich body scrub will leave you with a smoother feeling and younger-looking complexion.”
Coffee and Cacao Scrub
“Nourish your skin with organic coconut oil, Nicaraguan coffee, and cacao for an antioxidant-packed ultra-aromatic experience.”
The Santana Signature Experience
“Experience our Santana Cedro Signature blend of cedarwood and lavender. Includes a 50-minute Wellness Massage, Santana Cedro Salt Scrub, Signature Facial, and Signature Mani-Pedi.”