A Road Less Traveled, Nicaragua
When you think of travel would you think Nicaragua? I’m here to give you some insight on a country less traveled but full of culture and beauty that will be with you for a lifetime. A few years ago, Amanda and I left the kids at home and headed to Central America. We had done our research, made our reservations and packed our bags. On an early March morning we boarded a United Airlines flight and off we went. From Minneapolis International we had a short layover in Houston, TX and a few hours later we landed in Managua, Nicaragua.
To be honest, we really did not know what to expect. We had chosen this destination for it is a road less traveled. Nicaragua was and still remains a developing country where the influences of the Western World have not yet totally reached. The entry into the country was simple and quick. We chose to head to the coast for the first part of our journey. We had decided not to go it on our own and took the hotel owner up on him providing transportation while staying in his care. One of his employees met us at the airport and we started the two hour journey to our place.
Our first destination was the coastal town of San Juan Del Sur. SJDS is set on the Pacific ocean in the Southeastern part of Nicaragua. It was originally discovered by the Spanish while looking for a passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It later became a trading stop and a transition port for people traveling between New York and San Francisco. Now, it is a local and international tourist destination due to its beaches and excellent surfing conditions. Just a few miles out of town, down a dirt road, you will find a little boutique hotel named Orquidea Del Sur. This hotel sits high above the Pacific Ocean on Playa El Yankee. While we visited, the hotel owners lived in the great house and rented out four casitas built into their lush landscaped grounds. Guests had the use of a large infinity pool, hot tub, multiple seating areas and the great house walk-out level. All of the locally sourced meals were homemade and served with pride by the owners and their staff. If you wish to book now, this destination has evolved for a more personal experience where your group can rent the entire property. Below is our studio casita and patio.
Orquidea Del Sur has one of the most lush landscaped and amazing pool and deck areas I have seen.
I do have to mention the incredible views for miles….
Every day was a beach day for us. With the Orquidea puppies as our guide, we made the ten minute walk down the trail that opened up to a mile long beach. Everyday was anew as the tide washed away the activities of our day before. What fun! Waves crashing on the beach, the sun shining, bodyboarding amongst the surf and an entire mile of beach to ourselves……Ok, maybe we saw one other person during our week. Just the thing we needed to melt our stresses away.
One of our favorite excursions on this leg of our journey was horseback riding across the rugged country and on to one of the local beaches. The experts at Rancho Chilamante, a local guest ranch, treated us to a fun photo shoot, a meet and greet with the horses and a fun guided ride to take in the beautiful scenery. This ride is great for all skill levels as you can take it slow or let it go!
One afternoon, we went to town with one of the hotel employees for a little tour. It was a beautiful experience into the culture of Nicaragua given to us by someone who loved his country and wanted to share it with us. We stopped at roadside stands, spoke with the local people about their lives, checked out the local school and was shown around the town of San Juan Del Sur. The afternoon ended with a stop at the Christ of Mercy statue, overlooking the town of SJDS.
What do you write when the gift of travel gives you a gift in return? Learning about the differences and similarities of other cultures that are thousands of miles away but reachable in just a few hours. A story told to us by a teenage boy who worked at the hotel may give some insight.
He worked to help support his family and to save for additional education. Every day he crossed a small river on his motorbike on the only path to and from work. While at work, there was a rain storm and when he got to the river it was too dangerous to cross. When I asked him what he did, the boy said he sat on a rock and waited…………I think back on that story and think, sometimes, it is good to just wait…………
Check out our post on the second part of adventure in Nicaragua.
