Vacation Rentals by Owner
Ocean Villa on Nicaragua's Pacific [#222831] | View Property
Bahia Gigante
Villa, 4 Bedrooms + Convertible Bed(s), 3.5 Baths (Sleeps 8-10)
$250/nt
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Traveler Reviews (14)
Beautiful villa
Guest: Finn S.
(Nesoddtangen, Akershus, Norway)
Date of Stay: 01/01/12
Review Submitted: 01/15/12
We had a very pleasant stay at the Casa Esulwini. The house was very well maintained, and more luxerious and spacious than what we expected from the photos. The location was unique and we enjoyed the sunsets, to watch the birdlife from the veranda, and listen to the sounds from the surrounding forest including howler monkeys. We strongly recommend this property, and hope to come back soon. Finn Salvesen, Norway.
Recommended for:
November 2011
Guest: Chanalyn A.
Date of Stay: 11/13/11
Review Submitted: 11/27/11
The house is beautiful and the views from the house are breathtaking. The private beach that is a wonderful hike from the house is as beautiful as the house and the views from the house. There is a new restaurant at the private beach that has wonderful food and first class service. Paradise. My only advice would be to not sleep in. Get up early everyday, sit outside on the deck enjoy your coffee, and the sites and sounds of the new day. Plan the night before what you are going to do the next day, get an early start at it. Learn some Spanish, it will definately help you if you need it and it will make you feel more confident when you're shopping in Granada or Masaya. It is a wonderful country and the people are just as wonderful. We took our young adult children there for a week as their Christmas present this year, and after the week I really feel like I was the one that got the present. I love my family and I loved sharing the week with them at such a wonderful house and place. Thank you Walter, we will definately be back. The Avila's in Colorado
Recommended for:
Unbelievable! A must stay...
Guest: DCT
(Denver, CO )
Date of Stay: 03/20/11
Review Submitted: 04/07/11
It pains me to have to write this review...primarily because I want to keep this a secret for a long time...it was incredibly special and we plan on going back next year. We stayed as Casa Ezulwini for 10 days and the pictures do not do this place justice...it is spectacular. We took our kids (10 and 8) down for Spring Break and had the time of our lives. The property is very clean, the pool is spectacular, and the views are unbelievable. The owners, Walter and Els, made sure that we had a great time. They helped us in terms of where to go / what to do, and introduced us to many of the locals via email...we had a built in community ready to see us when we arrived! Any questions we had, Walter answered, and the people who manage the property for him (Mike and Jesse) are fantastic. Walter worked hard to make sure we were comfortable and had a list of people and activities on our agenda. We ate at all of the local restaurants in Gigante, and had fabulous food. Many days we were on the beach completely by ourselves. We shopped in Tola, Rivas (at the market) and spent a day in San Juan del Sur. Cell coverage is spotty at best (with an international phone) but the internet at Walter's is fantastic. Overall, we had a GREAT time and are going back next year. Very safe for our family and great fun. This is a great vacation spot for someone who wants a bit of adventure and is tired of the lines at the buffet at the Marriott...we saw very few tourists while we were here, and got to work on our Spanish which is exactly what we were after.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Wish we stayed longer
Guest: Pam H
(AZ, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/28/10
Review Submitted: 08/07/10
My family, including 3 teenagers, stayed in this spectacular home during a whirlwind tour of Nicargua this summer. It was our favorite spot on the trip and we wished we could have stayed longer. You truly can't appreciate how beautiful this setting is until you are standing on the terrace. It reminded us of the beauty of the Northern CA coast line with the warm waters of the Carribean. You will be very comfortable in this rental, it has everything you'll need. Make sure you stock up on food before heading to the house. The road is bumpy and you won't want to make the drive too many times. The house does not have direct access to the beach but the short drive or walk to the private beach is well worth it; it will take your breath away.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
Wish we stayed longer
Guest: Pam H
(AZ, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/28/10
Review Submitted: 08/07/10
This home and the setting are truly wonderful. I agree with other reviews that the photos do not do the property justice. The views from the house are stunning. The home is well equipped with everything you'll need for a comfortable stay. You do not have beach access from the house itself but the small effort you have to make to get to the private beach is well worth it. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen and we did have it all to our selves. The local manager was extremely helpful and the owner, Walter, was quick to respond to all inquiries. We will definitely return! Make sure you stock up on food before you head to Gigante, the road can be bumpy and you won't want to drive it too many times. Food at the restaurants at the public beach is very good but again, you won't want to go there for every meal.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.
Beautiful and comfortable home
Guest: Tom
(Mount Dora FL USA)
Date of Stay: 07/12/10
Review Submitted: 10/05/10
My husband, myself and our son stayed here July 12th - 23rd 2010. We had a wonderful time. Electricity problems were encountered, but we made the best of the situation. Any request made to House Manager were quickly resolved. We arrived with beer in refrigerator. Just need to pick up ice on way in from Managua. We loved the downstair living arrangement where our son could have his privacy and we could have ours upstairs. The balcony overlooks a beautiful bay and the oceans waves splashing in the cove was beautiful. We would love to come back again. The infinity pool was relaxing. Thank you Walter for everything you did for us to make our stay one to remember and for bringing our family together for my husbands first holiday coming back from Iraq. We want to go back! Linda and Tom and Chase
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.
A week in Paradise!
Guest: ManalC
(Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 04/24/10
Review Submitted: 05/11/10
The pictures of Walter's villa don't begin to do it justice. The setting is spectacular, the views are breathtaking, and the house is extremely inviting. The staff was wonderful in helping us get to the villa from Managua and made sure all our needs were met. Walter was very responsive to our queries and made sure we were taken care of. The beach shown in the picture is very close by, wonderful to swim in, and we almost always had it completely to ourselves. The local village (Gigante) has great local food, inviting and friendly people, and a small ex-pat community. We had such a wonderful time and plan to be back again very soon. Everyone in our group said it was the best and most relaxing vacation they'd ever had. We highly recommend this area and this property!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Incredible!
Guest: JORGE DE CANADA
(Toronto, Canada)
Date of Stay: 02/13/10
Review Submitted: 03/10/10
Just wanted to post a quick note to say that we had an absolutely phenomenal time. We loved the destination, the house, the food, and the people, equally. Casa Ezulwini is even better than what is shown in the pictures, as impossible as that might seem. Fishing, surfing, swimming, eating, touring, hiking, and dinners on the patio under the stars... what more could one want? For anyone looking for an oasis off the beaten track, this is your place. Thanks Walter. Tyler
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway.
Get Away from it All!
Guest: sKs Colorado
(Centennial, CO USA)
Date of Stay: 12/21/09
Review Submitted: 01/11/10
Casa Ezulwini. Ezulwini translates from a Swazi word meaning Heavenly or Paradise, and this house is precisely that. Our family stayed there for almost 2 weeks and we cannot imagine a more magnificent retreat than this one. The house is impeccable. Bedrooms are furnished very well; beds are so cozy with top of the line linens. The Owners have decorated the entire house to a very high standard, so it is clear that this is a personal home. The views from the bedrooms and the balconies are simply breathtaking. The infinity swimming pool is complete bliss. You sit in there and your troubles will sink away in the waves below. The balcony above is a perfect place to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, or after dinner drinks, watching the sun and moon rise and set. The semi-private beach is only a 10 minute walk away, with waves that will impress anyone. The close by village, Gigante, has many offerings. The local restaurants serve only the freshest of fresh fish and local accoutrements to delight you any time of day. Fishing with Fidel and crew is always a superb activity while there! San Juan Del Sur is only 1.5 hour drive away, where you can catch up with people from all over the world. The owners have also placed a binder in the house which will direct you to the local attractions, which is very handy. Casa Ezulwini is simply superb and deserves to be number one in the rankings. My only problem with this is it's going to be harder to make a reservation in future as I can see it becoming very full. Thank you to the owners for opening up your palace to us!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Dubbel Dutch
Guest: len and els
(Denver, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/08/09
Review Submitted: 11/22/09
Casa Ezulwini is a wonderfull house in beatifull surroundings, with perfect amenities. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and made good use of the local fishermen and their boats, to go fishing (we caught 9 mahi-mahi) and make excursions to other exciting places along the coast. Amazing sunsets, surf crashing on the rocks below, while enjoying our drinks on the terrace, and swimming at a close-by secluded sandy beach, were dayly enjoyments. We highly recommend this house!!! .
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
Natural Beauty at its Best
Guest: MsJeannie
(Florida)
Date of Stay: 06/13/09
Review Submitted: 06/29/09
We love nature. Staying here at Casa Ezulwini is being in the midst of nature at its best. You've never seen such a beautiful view of the rocky mountainside with a gorgeous rockledge sitting at ocean level. Bring a rope and climb easily down to the rockledge. The house itself is absolutely beautiful and sitting in the endless pool, relaxing and soaking in the view is heaven. We love walking in the development and when we were there we saw all these cute little red crabs scurrying everywhere. Just love it all. Restaurants close by in Gigante right on the beach with very fresh fish. Also, the maid is so sweet and puts the place back in order for me.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.
My wife's birhtday
Guest: NIca Juan
(Managua, Nicaragua)
Date of Stay: 05/02/09
Review Submitted: 05/19/09
Hi there!, This past May 2nd, I stayed at Casa Ezulwini along with my wife, and 2 couples. It was a gift for my wife's birhtday. We all had a wonderful time at the house and the beach close by is beautiful. I highly recomend this house as one of the most comfortable homes in this area, just bring some food and drinks and let the good times begin!! Everything else is in the house... Thanks so much, Walter and Els! Juan
Recommended for:Families with teenagers
Nirvana
Guest: T-MAC
(Southern Colorado)
Date of Stay: 03/01/09
Review Submitted: 05/19/09
This beautiful, open, and spacious villa is perched high above a cove on the pacific coast. While cooling off in the Infinity pool you can watch the surf crash against the boulders far below. The walls of the house on the ocean side are constructed to open up and let the ocean breezes sweep through. Evenings on the patio watching the sun set with a drink and an excellent local cigar are unforgettable. The local beach is secluded and beautiful. The frosting on the cake is the disarming friendliness of the locals. The same can be said of the owner of this property. If you are looking for a spot to spend some time with people you really care about....look no further.
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.
Thank you so much!!
Guest: Nica Fan for Life!
(Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/14/08
Review Submitted: 08/12/09
My wife and I loved staying for two nights at this magnificent home. The house is perched on a dramatic rise above a giant rock formation overlooking the Pacific -- what an incredible view! Stunning sunsets every evening -- we got so many great photos! The coastline is truly amazing -- mornings at the small private beach were breathtaking! The scenery is stunning and you feel very private -- a wonderful place to go to get away from it all! The house is very well appointed - comfortable beds and living areas, full kitchen, beautiful pool, and everything was very clean and well maintained. The panoramic windows and glass walls in the living room overlook the balcony and ocean. The kitchen was nicely equipped with everything needed. We went fishing with a local fisherman our first day and cooked in, then dined at a nice little restaurant the following night which was located about 2 km away. The house has a very colonial feel with beautiful clay tile floors and nice decor. The floorplan is spacious and open. It seems the home would be very comfortable for 6 or 8 people. There was a home made guide booklet on the coffee table that we found very interesting helpful during our visit, leading us to great fishing and dining...and of course, the beach! We found an interesting rock and added it to the collection that seems to be a tradition on the front porch. The staff at the gate was very helpful on our arrival and very friendly during our stay. The gentlemen who showed us into and around the house was very nice, as was the Spanish speaking maid who came each day to make our beds and clean the kitchen. This is a beautiful, beautiful place -- we hope to return again soon! Highly recommended!!!! Thank you very much!
Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.