Looking for an exotic, unique, luxury destination for your 2024 travels? My travel-obsessed soul sister, Toby Fuhrer, just returned from an incredible adventure in Nicaragua and has highly recommended this destination to anyone who loves delicious food, adventurous activities, breathtaking landscapes, and five-star hotels.
Read on for Toby’s curated guide infused with suggestions on where to savor delectable cuisine, find luxurious accommodations, and embark on thrilling experiences.
The Inspiration
A couple of years ago, an issue of Architectural Digest landed at my front door featuring a unique, boutique hotel in Nicaragua that was designed by interior designers from France. It was stunning. So with that as my inspiration, I went about planning my next adventure trip with my son (21) and daughter (20) to Nicaragua during their college break in December (the dry season).
Why Nicaragua?
We love to find a destination that has outdoor adventurous activities, beautiful natural landscapes, small luxe hotels, delicious food, and a location off the beaten path. Nicaragua seemed like the perfect place. People did ask me about the danger of going to Nicaragua due to the government difficulties, however, we had no issues. We met the friendliest and most helpful people while learning about the beautiful country and its history.
Getting There
We first flew into Managua and met our driver (pro tip: ask the hotel to arrange the driver to pick up from the airport). We drove about two hours through the backcountry to what they call the ‘Emerald Coast’ to a world class resort called Rancho Santana.
Driving through the long manicured driveway we knew we were in for a five star experience. We stayed in the family suite, Pied a Terre, in the main building overlooking the ocean and could hear the waves all night long!
The food and dinners at the hotel were delicious and the service was outstanding.
Some of our activities included:
- Horse riding during sunset, which I would most definitely recommend trotting down the beach on beautiful trails
- Bike riding along the trails of the Emerald Coast
- Stand-up paddleboarding and surfing
My daughter and I had a spa day at the 6,000 square foot spa and wellness sanctuary that is built into a cliffside, tucked into the trees. So tranquil and relaxing.
The Beaches at Rancho Santana
There are five different beaches (Las Cinco Playas) at Rancho Santana all with their own unique personality, some of them secluded. Our favorite was walking down 150 rock stairs on the side of a cliff to Playa Duna, cloistered by cliffs and crashing waves and where we did some sandboarding and swimming.
The hotel can also arrange guides to take you for off-site guided adventure day trips. One of our favorite activities was a full day open air 4-wheel drive excursion. We adventured through dense jungles and small villages, finishing up along the coast in a small quaint town. Our guides were friendly, full of history and knowledge and very fun. We had some unique experiences.
Visting San Juan Del Sur
Our next destination was to the small town of San Juan Del Sur. We easily arranged for our driver to take us to our next destination just outside of San Juan Del Sur, a boutique small hotel Hush Maderas. We stayed in the Penthouse Suite overlooking acres of the Nicaraguan Jungle with 360 degree views. Very unique property for guests over the age of 15. It was like staying in a treehouse.
We ate at the terrace restaurant where the chef was grilling fresh fish and tacos. Live music played all evening. There is a beautiful infinity pool to watch the sunset. You can walk to the beaches along an unpaved road to the coastal enclave of Playa Maderas, one of Nicaragua’s best surfing beaches where we hung out all day swimming and eating delicious tacos from the stands. It’s not five star luxe but more of a relaxed, super cool hippy dippy vibe. I would say one or two nights is perfect.
The Tribal Hotel
Our next destination was a two hour drive to the charming, old colonial, Unesco-protected city of Granada. We arranged for the same driver to pick us up to take us to Granada. During the two hour drive, we stopped at various little villages, markets and fruit stands.
We finally arrived at the Tribal Hotel in Granada which was MAGICAL. At the time of booking, we were able to stay in one of the private villas, which was complete luxury with its own private pool.
We entered through wrought-iron gates and mahogany carved doors. The suite is decorated with indigenous Nicaraguan pottery, Central American art, and exquisite custom designed furniture. The staff escorted us throughout the villa which was impeccably decorated. Each morning, we were served a three-course breakfast of tropical fruits, eggs, pastries and locally grown coffee.
The hotel is within walking distance to all the restaurants and sites. From our windows, we could hear the horses and carts go by.
Our Favorite Things About Granada
The city is full of colorful houses and beautiful colonial buildings. We loved strolling through the colorful markets with many vendors selling carne asada, plantains, and cheese. We saw unparalleled views from the top of a 16th century bell tower in one of the oldest churches in town. The food was delicious! We dined in charming restaurants with open courtyards such as Pita Pita and The Garden Cafe. At night, the town is lively and fun. There are beautiful little shops that sell locally handmade clothes, bags, artwork, and pottery.
We spent three days in Granada and one of the days we did a day hiking trip to the Volcano Mombacho Natural Reserve in a cloud forest. We had a super guide who explained the science and fauna. I highly recommend doing this day trip! The Tribal Hotel arranged our driver and guide that picked us up from the hotel.
The next morning we went on a day trip to the Isletas de Granada set in the center of Lake Nicaragua. They are a natural wonder of volcanic origin with 365 little islands. We toured by a little boat with a guide, with monkeys jumping on from time to time. The Isletas of Granada hold a unique place with mystical energy. You can swim or kayak in mineral rich waters and watch the sunset.
The Best Trip!
Our journey came to an end after ten days and we learned so much about this wonderful country and people. We all agreed our trip was one of the best we had and was enchanting, epic and memorable.
