Pacific Coast
When you ask most anyone in Nicaragua about the Pacific Coast they will think you are referring to San Juan del Sur since it is almost the only sizable town on the long and mostly empty Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. The vast majority of developments are north and south of San Juan del Sur and even those can be a challenge to get to especially during the rainy season (May-October). It is slowly getting better.
The Nicaragua Pacific Coast has every type of beach you could want from forested hills overlooking the ocean to rocky crags with pounding surf to smooth, wide, sandy (black or golden) flat beaches. There are a few fishing villages dotting the coast but in many locations you can walk for kilometers without seeing a person or a structure. It is hard to believe that such beautiful beaches can still be undeveloped. I am still amazed a group of people from the states or Europe have not bought a section of beach and just built houses for theirselves.
Many believe that Nicaragua is entering the second phase of development with the first being the smaller developments with lots sold more for speculative investment than for the possibility of utilizing for a primary home or vacation home. The majority of lots were sold in those developments over the Internet sight unseen or by tourists smitten by the gorgeous views but with little intention of moving to Nicaragua. The result was many developments with many lots and very few homes even many years later.
As Dylan wrote, ”these times, they are a changing”. Some of the developments have grown through the first phase and new major developers have begun appearing. These new developments have serious plans including town centers, golf courses and amenities for people that will live there. These new or maturing developments are taking advantage of the rest of the Pacific Coast and the proximity to Managua and/or León via excellent highways. Be careful, the majority of developments have failed to develop or produce enough homes to make a community.
South of San Juan del Sur
As mentioned before, the coastal road has been promised since 1928 and some serious discussion is happening but we’ll see if and when it happens. There is a road that goes all the way south to Ostional which is a bit more than 30 kilometers but after a few kilometers from San Juan del Sur it can be rough and during the rainy season, very rough including some waterways you will have to pass through.
Still, the beaches are beautiful. Just south of San Juan del Sur is Remanso Beach then further south is Playa Tamarindo followed by Playa Hermosa. At 18 kilometers from SJDS you have just passed Yankee Beach and arrived at Playa El Coco. Here you can eat at a popular restaurant called Puesta del Sol or even stay for a few days at one of their units or houses. There are developments in various stages around almost all of these beaches. Few homes but many developments.
Here also is the La Flor wildlife refuge famous for the nesting of the Olive Ridley (Paslama) sea turtle. As many as 20,000 females will lay eggs on a single beach and each turtle may average about 100 eggs. The peak season is August to October and assuming you use common sense, you can actually watch the turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs or later, see the hatching turtles make their way back to the sea.
Eventually you will reach Ostional which is just north of the Costa Rica border but it may take you two hours to go the 30 kilometers from SJDS. All of the beaches are beautiful but now the views are stupendous with the Costa Rican mountains in the background. The forest-covered mountains and hills reach right to the shoreline. Ostional is a small fishing village and there are no tourist facilities but as everywhere in Nicaragua, the people are friendly. They will be more than happy to sell you fresh fish, take you for a boat ride or even have you eat dinner with them. There are some developments here but the few survivors are struggling.
North of San Juan del Sur
Just north of SJDS there are several condo and home developments that seem to be selling and have beautiful views of the SJDS bay.
Take Chocolata road north for a couple kilometers and you will be adjacent to Playa Nacascolo (Navy Beach) and El Torre beach though there is no direct access and you will need to walk through some fields. Do you get the idea yet that a boat makes access to many of these beaches easier?
Another seven kilometers north and you arrive at Playa Marsella and Playa Madera which are stunning and another five rough kilometers is Bahía Majagual. These are popular surf beaches but there is the Bahia Majagual Eco-Lodge which has everything backpackers could need to stay a while. Also has day activities for everyone from horseback riding to rental of snorkel or surf gear. There are several developments here also though few homes. The views are stunning.
A little further north is Playa Ocotál where the high-end Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco Ledge is located. This resort is part of a 1,800 acre private nature reserve and you stay in a luxurious tree house you will not believe, accessed by a suspension bridge. It’s not cheap but it is memorable.
That’s about the end of the road. You’ll need to return to San Juan del Sur then drive inland to Rivas to reach the next road to the beaches. From Rivas, take the road to Tola and follow the signs back to the beach.
This road is also a little rough but has improved greatly since several of the developers teamed together to keep the road somewhat improved. The first beach you encounter is Playa Gigante which is a beautiful crescent beach which has a few basic amenities to serve the surfers that flock here and also to the next beach called Guasacate. The famed Popoyo break is here which some surfers claim is the best surfing area in Nicaragua.
Further North
Still heading north, you encounter some developments that are actually building homes and condos. Iguana Beach and Golf Resort even has a 9-hole golf course along with condos and home lots. Guacalito de la Isla development probably will have a good future since it is owned by the Pellas family, one of the richest families in Central America. Next is one of the oldest developments in Nicaragua, Rancho Santana. It has taken almost 14 years but Rancho Santana has matured and grown enough to have a small grocery store, a clubhouse, amenities and quite a few homes. Both Iguana and Rancho Santana are very nice but still do not have enough permanent residents to have community life but it is improving. Like many developments they need to fix the roads and it is a long way to a decent grocery store or any other supplies. Another one to consider is Aqua right next to Guacalito. Aqua is high-end but it is for the wellness crowd with a beautiful beach.
There are innumerable beautiful beaches continuing north but very difficult to get to or just not that popular yet. Many of these remain unnamed and it just goes to show you, how much beach there is. You can easily buy beach property without being in a development but within a development you will probably already have electricity, water and a clear title. It is not always easy getting permits in Nicaragua.
Returning to Rivas then heading up the Pan American highway to Diriamba you will encounter the next road that heads west to the ocean. As you drive along this nice, recently completed road you will pass by a lot of beautiful horse farms. They even have a bike path along sections of the road. At the end of the road are the beaches of La Boquita and Cesares. There is not a lot to see there but it is a nice day trip to have a few beers and some good seafood. Some people go there just to ride horseback along the empty beaches. Several good restaurants can be found. La Boquita was selling beach homes very inexpensively because they had no access to water but they now have water and we expect prices to rise.
Close to Managua
The next section of beaches are even further north but again, there is no coastal road so you must return to the Pan American highway, head to El Crucero to find the next road to the coast. Or easier yet, just start your trip from Managua. In less than an hour on a perfectly good road you are at the beach again at Masachapa and Pochomil. This is where several large developments are taking shape.
You are probably asking yourself right now why this was not the most popular beach area to develop from the beginning. It has always had better roads than going to San Juan del Sur and it is a much shorter trip. The U.S.-supported dictator Somoza realized it and built his palatial summer home there which later became the Barceló Montelimar beach resort, easily the finest beach resort in Nicaragua.
A little further north is Gran Pacifica which does already have a condo building completed and many homes. The first nine holes of the golf course opened in December, 2009. The master plan calls for a self-sustaining community. Just a little further north and you arrive at Montecristo, another large planned community with every possible amenity. Roads are in and houses are being built at both of these fine developments.
We are hoping that both of these developments are successful. Both are large enough to generate a considerable number of jobs both in construction as well as permanent positions to support the developments. Both are already or planning substantial assistance to nearby villages. And most important of all, both are being developed by people living in Nicaragua and committed to Nicaragua.
Nicaragua was just starting to take off as a tourist destination and possible retirement haven when the global financial crisis hit in 2008. While the credit crisis did not directly affect Nicaragua, since it is mostly a cash society, it did affect the developers and buyers that lived in the states and Europe. As a result, many of them stopped investing money and the tourist trade dropped a great deal. At the time of this writing, things are picking up and it is only a matter of time when Nicaragua will be truly discovered.
The Nicaragua Pacific Coast has every type of beach you could want from forested hills overlooking the ocean to rocky crags with pounding surf to smooth, wide, sandy (black or golden) flat beaches. There are a few fishing villages dotting the coast but in many locations you can walk for kilometers without seeing a person or a structure. It is hard to believe that such beautiful beaches can still be undeveloped. I am still amazed a group of people from the states or Europe have not bought a section of beach and just built houses for theirselves.
Many believe that Nicaragua is entering the second phase of development with the first being the smaller developments with lots sold more for speculative investment than for the possibility of utilizing for a primary home or vacation home. The majority of lots were sold in those developments over the Internet sight unseen or by tourists smitten by the gorgeous views but with little intention of moving to Nicaragua. The result was many developments with many lots and very few homes even many years later.
As Dylan wrote, ”these times, they are a changing”. Some of the developments have grown through the first phase and new major developers have begun appearing. These new developments have serious plans including town centers, golf courses and amenities for people that will live there. These new or maturing developments are taking advantage of the rest of the Pacific Coast and the proximity to Managua and/or León via excellent highways. Be careful, the majority of developments have failed to develop or produce enough homes to make a community.
South of San Juan del Sur
As mentioned before, the coastal road has been promised since 1928 and some serious discussion is happening but we’ll see if and when it happens. There is a road that goes all the way south to Ostional which is a bit more than 30 kilometers but after a few kilometers from San Juan del Sur it can be rough and during the rainy season, very rough including some waterways you will have to pass through.
Still, the beaches are beautiful. Just south of San Juan del Sur is Remanso Beach then further south is Playa Tamarindo followed by Playa Hermosa. At 18 kilometers from SJDS you have just passed Yankee Beach and arrived at Playa El Coco. Here you can eat at a popular restaurant called Puesta del Sol or even stay for a few days at one of their units or houses. There are developments in various stages around almost all of these beaches. Few homes but many developments.
Here also is the La Flor wildlife refuge famous for the nesting of the Olive Ridley (Paslama) sea turtle. As many as 20,000 females will lay eggs on a single beach and each turtle may average about 100 eggs. The peak season is August to October and assuming you use common sense, you can actually watch the turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs or later, see the hatching turtles make their way back to the sea.
Eventually you will reach Ostional which is just north of the Costa Rica border but it may take you two hours to go the 30 kilometers from SJDS. All of the beaches are beautiful but now the views are stupendous with the Costa Rican mountains in the background. The forest-covered mountains and hills reach right to the shoreline. Ostional is a small fishing village and there are no tourist facilities but as everywhere in Nicaragua, the people are friendly. They will be more than happy to sell you fresh fish, take you for a boat ride or even have you eat dinner with them. There are some developments here but the few survivors are struggling.
North of San Juan del Sur
Just north of SJDS there are several condo and home developments that seem to be selling and have beautiful views of the SJDS bay.
Take Chocolata road north for a couple kilometers and you will be adjacent to Playa Nacascolo (Navy Beach) and El Torre beach though there is no direct access and you will need to walk through some fields. Do you get the idea yet that a boat makes access to many of these beaches easier?
Another seven kilometers north and you arrive at Playa Marsella and Playa Madera which are stunning and another five rough kilometers is Bahía Majagual. These are popular surf beaches but there is the Bahia Majagual Eco-Lodge which has everything backpackers could need to stay a while. Also has day activities for everyone from horseback riding to rental of snorkel or surf gear. There are several developments here also though few homes. The views are stunning.
A little further north is Playa Ocotál where the high-end Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco Ledge is located. This resort is part of a 1,800 acre private nature reserve and you stay in a luxurious tree house you will not believe, accessed by a suspension bridge. It’s not cheap but it is memorable.
That’s about the end of the road. You’ll need to return to San Juan del Sur then drive inland to Rivas to reach the next road to the beaches. From Rivas, take the road to Tola and follow the signs back to the beach.
This road is also a little rough but has improved greatly since several of the developers teamed together to keep the road somewhat improved. The first beach you encounter is Playa Gigante which is a beautiful crescent beach which has a few basic amenities to serve the surfers that flock here and also to the next beach called Guasacate. The famed Popoyo break is here which some surfers claim is the best surfing area in Nicaragua.
Further North
Still heading north, you encounter some developments that are actually building homes and condos. Iguana Beach and Golf Resort even has a 9-hole golf course along with condos and home lots. Guacalito de la Isla development probably will have a good future since it is owned by the Pellas family, one of the richest families in Central America. Next is one of the oldest developments in Nicaragua, Rancho Santana. It has taken almost 14 years but Rancho Santana has matured and grown enough to have a small grocery store, a clubhouse, amenities and quite a few homes. Both Iguana and Rancho Santana are very nice but still do not have enough permanent residents to have community life but it is improving. Like many developments they need to fix the roads and it is a long way to a decent grocery store or any other supplies. Another one to consider is Aqua right next to Guacalito. Aqua is high-end but it is for the wellness crowd with a beautiful beach.
There are innumerable beautiful beaches continuing north but very difficult to get to or just not that popular yet. Many of these remain unnamed and it just goes to show you, how much beach there is. You can easily buy beach property without being in a development but within a development you will probably already have electricity, water and a clear title. It is not always easy getting permits in Nicaragua.
Returning to Rivas then heading up the Pan American highway to Diriamba you will encounter the next road that heads west to the ocean. As you drive along this nice, recently completed road you will pass by a lot of beautiful horse farms. They even have a bike path along sections of the road. At the end of the road are the beaches of La Boquita and Cesares. There is not a lot to see there but it is a nice day trip to have a few beers and some good seafood. Some people go there just to ride horseback along the empty beaches. Several good restaurants can be found. La Boquita was selling beach homes very inexpensively because they had no access to water but they now have water and we expect prices to rise.
Close to Managua
The next section of beaches are even further north but again, there is no coastal road so you must return to the Pan American highway, head to El Crucero to find the next road to the coast. Or easier yet, just start your trip from Managua. In less than an hour on a perfectly good road you are at the beach again at Masachapa and Pochomil. This is where several large developments are taking shape.
You are probably asking yourself right now why this was not the most popular beach area to develop from the beginning. It has always had better roads than going to San Juan del Sur and it is a much shorter trip. The U.S.-supported dictator Somoza realized it and built his palatial summer home there which later became the Barceló Montelimar beach resort, easily the finest beach resort in Nicaragua.
A little further north is Gran Pacifica which does already have a condo building completed and many homes. The first nine holes of the golf course opened in December, 2009. The master plan calls for a self-sustaining community. Just a little further north and you arrive at Montecristo, another large planned community with every possible amenity. Roads are in and houses are being built at both of these fine developments.
We are hoping that both of these developments are successful. Both are large enough to generate a considerable number of jobs both in construction as well as permanent positions to support the developments. Both are already or planning substantial assistance to nearby villages. And most important of all, both are being developed by people living in Nicaragua and committed to Nicaragua.
Nicaragua was just starting to take off as a tourist destination and possible retirement haven when the global financial crisis hit in 2008. While the credit crisis did not directly affect Nicaragua, since it is mostly a cash society, it did affect the developers and buyers that lived in the states and Europe. As a result, many of them stopped investing money and the tourist trade dropped a great deal. At the time of this writing, things are picking up and it is only a matter of time when Nicaragua will be truly discovered.
