You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. And so it came to be that our little fam made our way to a hidden corner of the world, in search of endless hidden coves, emerald waters and secret beaches. We came to Nicaragua to revel in the paraíso playground that is Rancho Santana.
Weary and bleary from an in-direct red eye and exhausted from this busy season of life, we were all ready to disconnect and enjoy our Spring Break riding waves, taking naps and reading under the shade of a palm.
Rancho Santana is a world-class resort and residential community located on Nicaragua’s pristine Emerald Coast. “The Ranch” boasts 2,700 acres of rolling hills, five unique beaches, a variety of dining options, and a myriad of activities from adventure sports to spa treatments.
SERVICE
Lucky for us we had come to the right place for all the above holiday diversions. The team at Rancho Santana is used to welcoming a clientele that expects a high level of attention and pampering. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility for guests, be it arrival by private airstrip, a monkey viewing tour or an early morning sand boarding session. All service and services are just an ask away. They say the devil is in the details - from the moment we arrived and with every interaction we had with the service team, this was evident. The guides were all knowledgeable, personable and friendly, as were the restaurant staff and groundskeepers who would tip their hats at us each morning on our way to breakfast.
VIBE
Exclusive surf community meets equestrian ranch. Organic gardens feed guests and residents, tech-founders escaping the shackles of silicone valley campuses to work remotely while practicing yoga. Young families frolic in the sand and swap surf stories over green smoothies and black coffee in the late morning. It's a vibe to be sure - living the dream in paradise. The thought did cross my mind several times during our stay to sell everything and move to Nicaragua in a seaside residence on the shores of Rancho Santana's lush acreage. Still not ruling stout completely.
ACTIVITIES
Early morning surf sessions are de rigueur, our family also enjoyed sand boarding, hermit crab racing, an intimate bonfire and star gazing, a monkey spotting excursion, piñata making for the kiddos. Swimming in the multiple pools and sparkling salty sea, morning yoga and spa treatments were just some of the amazing things we got up to. For adventurers and intrepids, there are also miles of hiking trails and mountain bike excursions on property, or plan some sight seeing in the nearby colourful colonial town of Granada, Omeotepe and Lake Nicaragua. Guests will work with an Itinerary manager in advance who can help curate a perfectly paced trip.
ROOM
With various options to choose from (rooms or suites to large residences and private casas) there is truly something for any type of visitor. We opted for the 3 bedroom residence which had more than enough room for our family of 4. In fact next time we'll plan to invite grandma or grandpa to join as there were beds to spare! The main Inn and Residences are all designed in a classic colonial style with comfortable seating nooks, heavenly beds, a living room fit for a movie night, shady patios with palm fans for reading or snoozing, a full-service kitchen for cooking (although I highly recommend outsourcing this to one of the Rancho chef's who can take over the command centre and serve up a five star feast in the comfort of your temporary home).
GETTING HERE
There are two ways to get to Nicaragua these days, both end up being about the same time door-to-door. The first involves flying directly to Liberia International Airport in Costa Rica and traveling overland with a private transfer (this can be easily arranged by the Rancho team. The second option is to fly into Managua, Nicaragua's bustling capital, with a quick and painless stop-over in San Salvador via Avianca. From here a transfer to Rancho Santana is about 3 hours door to door.
WELLNESS
Rancho Santa's Spa features world-class relaxation and rejuvenation in El Bosque, a 6,000 square foot wellness retreat. Situated on a rugged hillside, El Bosque – “forest” in Spanish – lives up to its name as a cool and shady sanctuary for those looking for a change of pace from all that surf and sun. Climbing a winding stone staircase as if ascending into the clouds, you’ll arrive at the zen-like suite with stunning views, welcoming you to a host of therapeutic treatments and services. The yoga pavilion is also located adjacent to the spa with 180 ocean views and warm off shore breezes.
DINING
We opted for the full board which included a tasty and very hearty morning breakfast spread as well as a candlelit communal dinner. The aromas wafting out of the kitchen in the late afternoon would draw us up to the open air living room in time for a pre dinner aperitif as we anticipated the continually impressive nightly menu. Even the boys would be salivating and excited about what would be served. They gobbled up every dish every day (and always saved room for the delightful housemade desserts). Lunch is served at the basic (but cool) beachside restaurant - tostones, ceviche, grilled fish and fresh tacos were our go-to's with a fresh jugo de maracuya.
