Nicaragua Eco Lodges

Top three luxury resorts that are setting the standard for service, amenities and sustainability

 

The country of Nicaragua is a relative newcomer to tourism. It wasn’t until the late 1990s when a stable government was established, creating a secure atmosphere for travelers. Today, it is considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, and U.S. dollars are happily accepted. In the past decades, a number of resorts have sprung up along the Pacific Coast, while the interior has seen the rise of adventure lodges and historic hotels in towns such as Granada. The latest trend to hit Nicaragua is the advent of luxury eco lodges. We’ve found three of the best, one on the coast one in the mountains, and one on a private island in Lake Nicaragua.

The Beach

Known as the Emerald Coast, Nicaragua’s southwest Pacific shore is Central America’s newest beach resort district. As of yet, there are a limited number of properties spaced along the coast, and the most notable is a member of the Auberge Resorts Collection, which blends luxury and ecological responsibility. Mukul is set on 1,600-acres of low-density grounds at a private beach community that is just 10 minutes away from the Costa Esmeralda International Airport. The hotel was built with regional materials, timber from sustainable forests, non-toxic paints and energy efficient windows. Environmental initiatives include the development of rainwater catchment systems, gray water reclamation, and the planting of more than 1,500 trees. There are just 38 guest accommodations, designed in a style that combines modern elegance with traditional Nicaraguan roots, with interior furnishings and decors crafted by Nicaraguan artisans. Guests can select one or two bedroom beach villas, traditional thatch roofed Bohio suites or luxurious three to five-bedroom homes, all of which enjoy all the expected amenities and services of a luxury resort.

Mukul is the Mayan word for secret, and guests will certainly enjoy a combination of privacy and undisturbed ocean views. But private does not mean isolated. In addition to concierge level room services, the resort includes Spa Mukul, which has been named one of the world’s top spas. Each of the spa’s six sanctuaries offers a unique themed ambiance and signature spa ritual, designed to harness a different ancient healing tradition. Other resort amenities include a palapa lounge featuring dining and lounge areas, a swimming pool, and access to Tres Ceibas Beach Club. Nearby is the 18-hole Guacalito Golf Course, and guests have access to four miles of white sand beach and 12 kilometers of nature trails. The Mukul staff can also arrange a variety of adventures and cultural tours in the mountains, lake districts and historic cities of western Nicaragua. Unique experiences include helicopter flights over Nicaragua’s spectacular coastline, day trips to a private deep sea fishing lodge, and a visit to the sugar mill and sugar cane plantation, where the prized Flor de Caña rum is produced.

The Mountains

Nekupe means heaven in the indigenous Chorotega language, and a stay at the Nekupe Sporting Resort can certainly be a heavenly experience. This unique property is located within a 1,800-acre nature preserve in the mountains, an hour and a half south of the capital city of Managua. Tucked into the pristine cloud forest is an intimate resort compound that includes just four suites and four villas. Each guest accommodation is provided with its own local guide and all-terrain vehicle for navigating the jungle. The architecture follows the principles of Feng Shui, as each villa is aligned to specific cardinal orientations to receive positive and enhanced energies. Water sculptures and features are integrated into the design to replenish healthy energy, and a color palate of warm neutral tones mirrors the colors of the land. Guest rooms are fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows to usher in views.

Adventure and wellness are the dual themes at Nekupe. Guests can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, sporting clay and target shooting, bird and wildlife watching and ATV rides. More relaxing activities include daily outdoor and indoor yoga, cooking and cocktail making classes, gardening and farming lessons, spa treatments, dancing or painting classes and excursions to neighboring towns or one of the many volcanoes. The resort follows socially responsible operating principles. The resort owners have reforested the surrounding area by planting more than 14,000 trees to attract butterflies and birds. The resort is solar powered, and includes green houses, plantain and wheat fields, a henhouse and a 13,000-square-foot organic garden that provides most of the resort’s produce.

The Lake

Jicaro Island Ecolodge sits on a private island in Lake Nicaragua, just a short boat ride away from the historic Colonial-era town of Granada. This intimate off-grid retreat is the creation of Karen Emanuel, a London-based businesswoman who fell in love with Nicaragua, and purchased the island in 2007. Three years later, the resort opened with nine two-level bungalows set on the shores of the lake. Each of these spacious, stand-alone structures has kitchens, social areas and large master bedrooms that open onto sweeping views of Mombacho Volcano and Lake Nicaragua. All structures and furnishings are fashioned from salvaged wood downed by a 2007 hurricane, and during construction, no large trees or boulders were removed from the site, and instead the lodge was designed and built around them.

Health and well being is a key focus at Jicaro, which has a dedicated lakefront yoga deck, and a wellness center that offers a range of massage therapies and healing programs that take place in a pair of open-air treatment rooms overlooking Lake Nicaragua. Jicaro follows both Nicaraguan and internationally accepted standards for green operations. There is an on-site wastewater treatment center, water is heated by solar panels, and the resort uses only organic and biodegradable soaps, detergents and spa products. In addition to relaxation and wellness activities, guest can kayak to nearby islands, explore Masaya Volcano National Park, engage in cultural activities in surrounding villages and visit the historic city of Granada.