Rancho Santana

Rancho Santana is absolutely our favorite family vacation. We have been going for over 10 years now and love it so much. The Rancho Santana team is amazing… so kind, accommodating, helpful and just a pleasure to work with and be around. They ensure your trip is easy and perfect so that you can simply relax and enjoy the good life. The surf is epic, the beaches are stunning, the pools are awesome, and there’s something to do and explore for everyone. And it is super kid friendly! Our daughter asked to do kids club every day (thank you Jessica and Karina - you’re the best). Fernando and the team at the stables are also incredible and our family loves the horseback riding. The holding trails, mountain bike riding, wildlife scouting, and everything the ranch offers is simply amazing. The food is also a highlight. From breakfast, coffee, and warm morning smiles from the team at the Cafe, to dinners at La Fina y El Mar and sunset sushi + wood fired pizza at La Boquita! And lunches poolside too. It’s all great! Special thanks to Ronnie, David and Luis A for their amazing service at La Fina and La Boquita. We had a 1.5 year old and 5.5 year old with us for every meal and they always made us feel welcome and were so good with our kids. The concierge team is amazing as well. They will ensure your trip is perfect! Thanks Rancho Santana! We love it! See you next year!

We had an incredible time at Rancho Santana! We hosted our wedding there and welcomed friends & family from all over the world. Everyone was impressed and wanted to stay longer. From the friendly staff that makes you feel like it's your home, to the incredible fam-to-table food, the beautiful beaches to the exciting adventures, Rancho Santana is everything you could ever imagine it to be and more. It's a place that is now so special to my husband and I, and we cannot wait to go back again and again.

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. ⸻