Rancho Santana

We stayed in an AirBNB that is immediately adjacent to the Rancho Santana property - inside the main gate of the ranch, but not inside the security gate. For a very reasonable daily fee, we had full use of the Rancho Santana concierge and facilities, including grocery delivery. Simply put, the staff and facilities at Rancho Santana are outstanding. The staff were always "can do," accommodating at every turn. The location is gorgeous, with postcard-worthy sunsets every night. The beaches are lovely - deep, wide, and not crowded. The ranch has lots of hiking and biking trails. We did an afternoon of in-shore fishing and a couples massage - both great experiences. It's hard to name a single highlight, but, if forced, I'd say it was probably "scouting" for monkeys - there are a pretty good number of howler monkeys on the ranch, and once you know where to look and what to listen for, they seem to be everywhere. So cool. The list of what we didn't do is probably longer than what we did do. They have horseback riding, surfing, excursions to Granada, a volcano hike, and probably some other things I am forgetting. The restaurants were similarly excellent. We enjoyed everything we ordered, from apps to tacos to wood-fired pizza to empanadas to steak-and-lobster. The options hit pretty much whatever you could want. The breakfasts at El Cafe were so good - highly recommend the Nica Bowl, Sandwich de Desayuno, and Burrito de Desayuno. The food at the Pool Bar and Cabanas comes from the La Finca y El Mar kitchen, and while it is "bar food," it is also amazing quality. The taqueria turns out top quality "street food." La Boquita is a nice middle-of-the-road option, with the wood-fired pizzas and small plate items. La Finca y El Mar is fine dining, but with a beach atmosphere. For a sandwich on the go or cooking in your own space, La Tienda's quality is on par with the restaurants. It's a small shop, but they have all of the basics - fresh produce, eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, dairy, chips, desserts, and a good selection of beer, wine, spirits, and cigars. They also have sunscreen, toiletries, etc. This brings me to a key point about Rancho Santana, which was a positive for us, but something to consider - it is somewhat remote. We rented a small SUV at the Managua airport, and with an AT&T mobile plan that covers all of North, Central, and South America, used Google Maps to make our way to the ranch. We had no trouble at all. But it is at least 90 minutes away, if you have no traffic issues. We love being off the beaten path, and, honestly, this is another area where Rancho Santana shines. They are prepared for just about anything. They have a gas station on-property. We didn't need it, but they have a medical clinic. They have wood and metal shops where they build and repair on-site. They have their own motor pool and repair shop. They grow their own food.

Beautiful, friendly, welcoming, safe and relaxing where all our needs were met with ease and casual class. The wellness offerings and fitness opportunities are exceptional. The food is farm and sea-fresh and delicious. This was my fourth visit and I hope to return again soon. Rancho Santana is a real gem.

Rancho Santana is a unique estate. Expansive across five beautiful beaches, well preserved nature, and amazing views. My family and I had a great time during our stay at Casa Los Perros. The food and drinks were delicious, and the service was very friendly and impeccable. Rooms were spacious, comfortable and clean. Aside from walking down to the beach, or lounging by the oceanfront pools, there were so many activities to do. We took full advantage of what Rancho had to offer. We went surfing everyday and the surf instructors were very friendly and helpful. We felt safe and well looked after. In the morning we went birdwatching and saw all kinds of colorful birds, we also encountered howler monkeys, who seemed to be unbothered by our presence. We also went on a night hike, which was really cool. Our guide was very knowledgeable and taught us about all the flora and fauna that comes alive at night. We learned about medicinal properties of various plants and trees in the forest, giant termite mounds, and ultraviolet scorpions. Again, we felt completely safe in his care. The hike finished at the chapel where the night sky was breathtaking. And I can't forget to mention the catamaran boat ride. More like a luxury yacht. The crew were excellent and took us to a beautiful cove with turquoise water. We went snorkeling and paddle boarding. Everyone had a great time, including the kids- definitely a highlight or our trip. We couldn't have done it without our butler Johnny Lopez who helped coordinate all of our activities and reservations seamlessly. Truly first class service. I only wish we could have stayed longer. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you to all of the Rancho Santana staff for making this an unforgettable experience! Special shout out to Mario and Gabriel from Concierge, our guide Gustavo, Jared our surf instructor, and Manuel Martinez our driver who transported us safely to/from the airport.

Stayed in a villa at Rancho Santana with a group of friends to celebrate a milestone birthday. Everything was awesome; the food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, the surroundings were beautiful. This is definitely a hidden gem.

The horseback riding was perfect! Our guides were very professional. The horses are beautiful! The stable is spotless. The guide spoke great English. Very helpful for us because we do not speak Spanish. Will be going again!