Nicaragua's Beaches: Something for everyone story in the July 2010 Issue of Explore TACA

Nicaragua's Beaches: Something for everyone

By Janine S. Pouliot

Miles and miles of golden sand stretching endlessly into the distance; immense blue sky and a sapphire ocean meeting in the far away horizon; and not much else, with the exception of giant sea turtles that come to nest and lay their eggs. Much of Nicaragua's Pacific coast remains undeveloped, making it a haven for beach lovers yearning for a piece of private paradise. Fortunately, a good deal of this shoreline is a comfortable drive from the capital Managua, so it's fairly easy for business travelers or visitors to stay in the metropolis and take a jaunt out to the beach to soak up the sun in a stunning setting.

Even better, there are several stellar resorts along the seashore perfect for longer stays. When it's time for a no-kidding vacation, grab your bag, friends or family and head out for a variety of different types of experiences, all of which provide total immersion in the glory of a tropical beach escape.

Easy escape

Roughly an hour outside of Managua lies the all-inclusive Barcelo Montelimar Beach resort (barcelomontelimarbeach.com). This hotel is bustling with excitement, situated on a wide swath of beach fringed by lush tropical landscaping. Accommodations are either in a high rise with a spectacular view over the park-like grounds and the shimmering ocean in the distance or in bungalow-type structures nestled among the tall palms and greenery.

But what takes visitors by surprise is another body of water smack in the middle of all this beauty: a swimming pool so large that it could almost be confused with a small lake. We're talking really big here, as in it's hard to recognize someone standing at the other end. Circular in shape, the center of this pool is home to a restaurant and bar, making it easy to transition from floating in warm water to floating with a frosty cocktail.

What makes the Barcelo particularly interesting is its "past." Prior to 1979, Nicaragua was in the grip of the Somozas, who firmly ruled the country as a dictatorship. One of the spots they claimed was this prime piece of real estate. When the dictatorship was overthrown, the newly established Sandinista government took control of this paradise and sold it to the Spanish hotel chain Barcelo, giving rise to the resort.

While most of the meals are served buffet style in the main dining room, an à la carte dinner is served several evenings in the one-time private mansion of the absolute ruler. His elegant home offers some of the most commanding vistas of the coastline found anywhere in the country.

The ambience is hardly stuffy here, but rather low key and casual. Despite its distinction, this resort is eminently affordable, with deeply discounted rates available over the Internet. Everything is included: room, meals, alcoholic beverages, casino and nightly entertainment.

Connecting with nature

For a totally opposite form of interaction with the coastline, there's the newly opened Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge (morgansrock.com), located two and a half hours outside of Managua. Construction of the lodge's main hacienda and 15 bungalows took nearly one year and involved 90 local workers. Only indigenous materials were used for the architecturally appealing compound, including eucalyptus for structural posts, walnut for building frames, almond trees for flooring, laurel for door and window frames and teak for furniture.

And it was all done with a conscience. This is eco-tourism at its best. The owners have replanted 100,000 native hardwood trees to reforest the area and operate a dairy and butterfly farm. Ninety percent of the food served at the lodge's gourmet restaurant is grown right at Morgan's Rock or caught in the adjacent ocean.

As soon as guests arrive, they're greeted with chilled tropical fruit juice before heading up to their private bungalows. The path leads to a 100-meter suspension bridge, an awesome sight hovering above that splendid forest. Midway across, the full sweeping view of the bay becomes visible—the kind of panorama usually only visible from a helicopter. A flawless, nearly oval body of water is ringed with a lovely sandy beach and lush, green mountains beckoning just beyond.

Every cottage has a private deck and a short stone path leading past an outdoor shower protected by high walls (there's also an indoor one) to a double-size daybed suspended from ropes. A small table and chairs sit at the wooden railing, providing an unimpeded vantage point over the sea and forest.

To enter the bedroom, guests slide back a huge screen door and discover that most of the walls are actually screens. The line between inside and outside blurs. Sitting on the king bed atop a platform, the sights, smells and sounds of nature are all around. As the sun begins to set, the sky becomes streaked with soft pink and orange hues, and any sense of a barrier between guests and the environment disappears.

Climbing back down the path leads to the beach and a small colony of individual casitas, each outfitted with a variety of chairs, a hammock and plenty of privacy. At various times during the day, the waves alternate from crashing surf to gentle lapping. At night, the surf is audible from the bungalows, creating a soothing backdrop for drifting off to sleep.

There are plenty of activities at the lodge including sunrise estuary kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, sunset walks and a tour of the reforestation project, sustainable farm and butterfly farm.

Rooms with a view

Since you've come for the beach, then don't settle for anything less than a room overlooking the Pacific at the Vistamar Hotel in Pochomil (vistamarhotel.com), one of the country's most beautiful and exclusive beaches. Featuring 17 two-room bungalows built facing the ocean and seven rooms in the main house, Vistamar is large enough to offer plenty of amenities (three swimming pools, a jacuzzi and an onsite bar and restaurant) but small enough to still allow for intimacy in quiet surroundings. The hotel offers either all-inclusive rates (including meals, beverages, snacks, entertainment and more) or room-only rates for those who prefer to prepare their own meals (full kitchens are also available next to the bungalows for an additional charge). Activities include aerobics and dance classes, beach volleyball and football games, folkloric shows, and horseback riding and ATVs for an additional charge. Vistamar also boasts conference facilities for up to 135 people, as well as special packages for honeymooners.

Kick it up a notch

Switching gears once again, a completely different way to enjoy the beach is at a spot that could easily be nicknamed Party Central America. San Juan del Sur is well known in surfer circles the world over. A funky beach town, it's crammed with visitors on weekends and during the summer. Guests flock to dine, dance and transform the street into one big moving festival. Serious surfers also arrive to catch a perfect wave before joining in the fun.

Lining the beach is a slew of thatched roof restaurants serving fresh fish. Guests meander down the street listening to the bands, admiring the view, selecting a restaurant and planning what to do next. Sport fishing is also good here, and charter boat vendors can be found along the street offering incredibly inexpensive excursions that include equipment for a day out at sea in search of dorado, tuna and snapper.

For the first time, foreign investment is beginning to take root in San Juan del Sur. Large homes claiming the best sites overlooking the harbor are being constructed by Americans who get a huge bang for their buck. As prices in Mexico begin to rival those of other tropical resorts, Americans are searching for alternative inexpensive places to winter, and a few are finding just that here.

Unique and unusual

Nicaragua has one other beach destination that is, once again, like nothing else in the country. The Caribbean side of the country is yet to be developed for tourists in any big way, and the adventurous traveler can find little inexpensive inns located directly on pure white sand adjacent to azure water. Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island are throwbacks to a time when Caribbean life had its own unique rhythms. Reaching this side of Nicaragua requires a short flight from Managua. For more information: visit-nicaragua.com, 1-888-SEE-NICA

Fly With Us To Managua

TACA flies directly to Managua from San Salvador, San Jose, Los Angeles and Miami.

For more information, we invite you to visit our website at taca.com, your local TACA Center or call a TACA Call Center (numbers are listed on the inside of your ticket jacket).

For more information about Nicaragua and other parts of Central America, please visit:

DiscoverCentralAmerica.com.

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