Rancho Santana

Had a wonderful time staff was great, food was great. We had an excellent horseback ride with Miguel and Fernando, highly recommend it.

The experience in the ranch was the most grateful experience The place with the colonial architecture and open spaces is a stunning place for relaxation and A peaceful stay Great outdoor activities for couples and family

Our family of five — including two teenage boys and our nine-year-old daughter — traveled to Rancho Santana in mid-July and had what can only be described as a trip of a lifetime. From the moment we arrived in Nicaragua, we felt completely taken care of. Upon landing at the airport in Managua, the Rancho Santana team was waiting to greet us with warm smiles. Our driver made a stop at La Colonia, a grocery store off-site, so we could stock up on bottled water, snacks, and essentials for our stay. Be sure to mention this to the concierge before your arrival — they were more than happy to coordinate everything in advance. We stayed in Casa Balcones del Mar, which was absolutely beautiful and perfect for our family. The home is spacious and well-appointed, with a contemporary upstairs great room and panoramic views of the ocean that took our breath away every single day. Each of us had our own room, and the layout gave us both space to spread out and areas to gather together comfortably. Downstairs, the kids loved having their own game zone with a pool table, foosball, shuffleboard, and even a giant Jenga set — which quickly became a family favorite. The only small drawback was the low water pressure in the showers and the fact that the stunning tub would have taken hours to fill, but this was a minor detail for us and didn’t affect our enjoyment one bit. There was no shortage of activities during our stay — Rancho Santana truly offers something for everyone. We took part in the s’mores night, hiked through beautiful trails, and enjoyed plenty of downtime relaxing and taking in the scenery. One of our favorite experiences was sandboarding at Playa Duna. While it’s definitely a workout to climb back up the dunes (good shoes and water are a must!), our guide Eddie made the experience so enjoyable. He eased our kids’ nerves by demonstrating first and encouraging them every step of the way. We also went monkey scouting, which was a thrill for our daughter. Louis, our guide, taught her how to mimic monkey calls and was a wealth of knowledge about the area’s flora, fauna, and local culture. Another highlight was the sunset horseback ride — an unforgettable way to take in the beauty of the coastline. We also ventured out for a day trip to Granada, which included a visit to the chocolate museum. Once again, Louis was our guide and made the experience truly special with his insight and warmth. His ability to connect with our kids, especially our daughter, made all the difference. When it came to food, we were consistently impressed. La Boquita, right on the beach, quickly became our favorite restaurant. We enjoyed multiple dinners there, always requesting the terrace for its stunning sunset views. The sushi was a surprise hit with all of our kids. We also appreciated La Tienda, the small grocery on site, for grabbing quick essentials or snacks. While it’s limited in selection, the service was always fantastic, and their quesadillas were delicious. Despite it being the rainy season, we experienced very little rain — just a few overcast days here and there. We still had plenty of sunshine and beach time, especially at Playa Los Perros, which we found to be the best beach for swimming. The waves were gorgeous, but just note that there’s limited shade outside of the nearby Taqueria, where we had a fantastic lunch. Our only regret? Not applying enough sunscreen that day! We also saw an incredible amount of wildlife during our stay — from a boa constrictor (at a safe distance!) to iguanas, lizards, tree frogs, geckos, crabs, and a variety of vibrant birds. Our kids loved the nightly visit from a little frog who seemed to have claimed our front porch as his own. Leaving Rancho Santana was honestly hard. This place gave us the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and connection as a family. From the staff to the setting, everything exceeded our expectations. Whether you’re a couple seeking a romantic escape or a family looking for something special, we cannot recommend Rancho Santana enough. ⸻

Horse riding at Rancho Santana was amazing! My daughter went two times and my wife went once while we were here. Januar and the rest of the team were awesome! Everyone had so much fun! The stables are really beautiful and the scenery on the ride was incredible. They went down the beach at Playa Santana one time and to Playa Escondida the other time.

Great experience horse ridding with Fernando & Giovanni. The horses and stables are well taken care of. We enjoyed their knowledge and care when riding. As a family of 4 my kids were taken care of and easy to listen instructions definitely recommend .