as more recent works of the painters and woodcarvers
who call these islands home.
Overshadowed by years of civil strife that ended
in the early 1990s, Nicaragua’s war-torn image kept
many travelers and investors at bay for more than a
decade, but that is finally starting to change. Bargain
hunting adventure travelers who stay ahead of the
mainstream tourist crowd have spurred renewed
interest in Nicaragua’s natural and cultural offerings,
and the travel industry has responded in kind.
Travel accommodations in Nicaragua have taken a
significant leap forward in the last couple of years with
the opening of two new luxury resorts, including the
nation’s first fully accredited, five-star resort, Mukul
Beach, Golf & Spa. Located along a four-mile stretch
of pristine Pacific beachfront near Rivas on Nicaragua’s
lush Emerald Coast, Mukul is an exclusive oasis
featuring 37 luxurious bohios and villas, beautifully
decorated, and furnished by local artisans and
craftsmen. Beachfront villas come with private
swimming pools and the bohios on the hillside
have plunge pools on their front decks.
Mukul also offers gourmet cuisine, an 18-hole
championship golf course and a stunning world-class
luxury spa with six private casitas. The resort is
available through Journese via your local Affluent
Traveler Collection specialist.
Known as the “land of lakes and volcanoes,” Nicaragua
is among the most striking places on Earth, yet it
remains one of the least visited countries in Central
America. Sandwiched between Honduras to the north
and Costa Rica to the south, 80 percent of the country
is still undeveloped and its dramatic landscape offers a
number of unique eco-systems to explore. Nicaragua’s
east and west boundaries embrace the Caribbean Sea
and the Pacific Ocean,
providing hundreds
of miles of magnificent
deserted beaches, rugged-
cliff shore lines and
untouched barrier reefs.
They create the perfect
oasis for beach enthusiasts,
divers and surfers.
Inland, there is plenty of opportunity to explore
Nicaragua’s lush tropical rainforests and jungles,
zip-line through its forest canopy, kayak along its
countless rivers and lakes, hike up active volcanoes
and swim in the crater lagoons of those gone dormant.
Nicaragua also offers an endless supply of adventure
and enlightenment for less energetic visitors. Its
charming fishing villages are a joy to visit and Spanish
colonial cities like Granada and Leon, two of the
America’s earliest settlements, should not be missed.
The remote Solentiname Islands on Lake
Nicaragua (the second largest lake in Latin America)
are home to a wide array of wildlife. They offer
excellent bird watching with over 75 colorful bird
species, including parrots and toucans. Visitors to the
islands will also appreciate the hidden petroglyphs
and ancient relics of its indigenous ancestors, as well
112
THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER
|
Destination Spotlight
NICARAGUA
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
DS
...Nicaragua is among the most striking places
on Earth, yet it remains one of the least visited
countries in Central America.
BELOW
Little Corn Island,
Nicaragua is one
of the hottest
Caribbean diving
destinations
you’ve never
heard of.
