Just loved this place and Nicaragua as a whole. We're huge fans of C. Rica (and always will be) but this little piece of Nica paradise was perfect for us. Owner Mark and manager Buzz were the best - everything EXACTLY as promised. My teens' reaction upon seeing the beautiful condo, killer view, big screen TV and WiFi service better than our home? "Mom - you gotta find us more places like this for vacations!"
It only got better with Pili's excellent food at the cafe and Esteban's killer pina coladas/smoothies. Ricki and Jarvin rounded out the excellent service at our small but oh so perfect cafe/bar/pool a stone's throw from the condo's back porch. Hubby couldn't decide whether to golf first and then surf or vice versa. Did plenty of both - the 9 hole course is beautifully maintained and you MUST tee off the blues on hole 7 - the view is the best of most golf courses short of the big famous ones.
Didn't take advantage of so much that we could have - fishing, fresh seafood delivered to our door (well, who was I to compete with Pili's cooking?), pangas to other surf spots.... but we had to save something for next trip!
Carolina cleaned the condo for 3 - 4 hours every other day and washed, dried and folded our clothes. Maxi Pali grocery store in Rivas has all supplies necessary for self-sufficiency. Road is paved almost to Playa Gigante turnoff - 1/4 mile of progress every week! Massage by Miriam - in the condo - heaven. Buzz will arrange.
The breeze was consistent and wonderful - way fewer bugs than at our family farm in Kansas. Sadly, the ongoing drought in Nica made for great weather for our stay, but everything is still very, very lush compared to our home in SoCal.
Loved the howler monkeys we heard every night and every morning in the hills to the south of the river - and one little guy who visited one day in the tree next to the condo. Incredibly brilliant blue and orange crabs in hundreds of holes under the trees. Bird sounds that we miss very much. And the beach - our very own. My teens spent hours body surfing, collecting shells, exploring tide pools at south end of the beach. Never, ever saw more than 5 people there at one time. Even in front of the break, a huge crowd was maybe 12 people on the beach.
Based on our observations of the level of activity EVERYwhere in Nica, this kind of private paradise will fast disappear. We will be back soon!