Top eco resorts in Nicaragua

It’s one of the hottest destinations in Central America. With beaches, rainforest, sulphur-spitting volcanos, luxury eco resorts and plenty of wildlife, Nicaragua is now firmly on the tourist map. Thinking of going? Here are some top eco resorts in Nicaragua to check out.

Visiting Nicaragua

“Is it safe?” people asked when I said I was going to Nicaragua.

“I guess I’ll find out,” I said. According to what I’ve read Nicaragua is now the safest country in Central America. But here I am on a dirt road in the jungle and I’m frightened. Not of violence and civil strife – I’m worried a howler monkey is going to drop poop bombs on my head.

Diverse wildlife

Howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, jaguars and armadillos … these are just some of the exotic animals that make Nicaragua their home, which is one of the reasons this country has become such a top eco destination. Biologically diverse, it has nearly 8 million acres of primal forest (though it’s losing about 1% every year due to deforestation). With some 1400 animal species and more than 12,000 types of plants, it’s easy to see why it holds a powerful allure for nature seekers.

 

But right now I have more pressing things hanging over my head. “Would they really do it?” I asked Juan, the guide for our small group.

“They might  if they feel threatened,” he said.

It’s a defensive attack that makes sense. It’s certainly made me ready to run.

A weird harsh howl burst out of the tress, leaves shook and that howler monkey shot I was so desperate to get no longer seems vital. I raced back to our van and we were quickly heading to Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, a top eco lodge in Nicaragua, a country that takes its sustainability seriously and proves that luxury accommodation and caring about the environment aren’t mutually exclusive.

Top luxury eco-lodges in Nicaragua

Sitting pretty on Nicaragua’s southwest coast, Morgan’s Rock Eco Lodge is only 18 kilometres from the lively surfing centre, San Juan del Sur, This well-established resort was the first luxury eco lodge in Nicaragua. New upscale hotels and resorts are moving in, however, as the country has become a prime destination for green travellers.

Nicaragua – a green destination

Still with plenty of unspoiled regions, with coastline on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, Nicaragua has a wide range of landscape. It’s a land of simmering volcanoes, tangled rainforests and a scattering of lodges-with-a-conscience that blend jet-setter chic with sustainability.

It’s still not a well-oiled tourist machine and at some point you’ll likely find yourself on a jarring dirt road, but you’ll also find a warm optimistic vibe and a country teetering between discovery and grit.

 

Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco Lodge

Award-winning Morgan’s Rock Eco Lodge is set on a 4,000-acre private protected reserve. There is a secluded beach, nesting sea turtles, jungle and only 15 deluxe bungalows constructed from exotic local woods. Throw in an outdoor pool, a working farm (your chance to milk a cow!) and it’s clear why it remains a perennial favourite with eco travellers seeking escape.

Aqua Wellness Resort – popular with outdoor lovers

Another top luxury eco resort in Nicaragua is Aqua Wellness Resort. Located not too far from Morgan’s Rock, near the fishing village of Gigante, Aqua is only property on crescent-shaped Redonda Bay.

The resort’s 24 treetop villas are spread out over the hillside so be forewarned, you’ll do a lot of walking, but it’s all part of the get fit process. Aqua Wellness Resort is known for its yoga retreats and has a holistic-minded spa. With plunge pools, paths lined with lava rock and villas surrounded by wild ginger and banana trees, it’s a jungle getaway worth the trek.

Down at Rodonda Beach, the setting sun spilled honey-tinted light onto the boulders at the edge of the shore. After splashing around in the sheltered bay, I made my way to the beachside restaurant to meet Aqua’s Canadian co-owner, Trevor Barran.

His enthusiasm about the country was infectious, and he summed it up when he said, “Nicaragua is going through a massive growth spurt for tourism and we’re lucky to be here in this moment.”

Jicaro Island Ecolodge

I would have liked to stay at Rendonda Bay and soak up the vibe, but there were other eco resorts in Nicaragua to check out. Jicaro Island Ecolodge lies further north near Granada, a colonial town on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Centuries ago, when Mombacho Volcano erupted, enough rock flew through the air to create Las Isletas, a group of 365 islands sprinkled over Central America’s largest lake.

Some of these tiny islands hold nothing more than a tree and a few cormorants. Others house the mansions of the elite. And one is owned by Karen Emanuel, a British woman who opened Jicaro Island Ecolodge in 2010.

Picture a porcupine but instead of quills, imagine ferns, ceiba trees and birds of paradise bursting out of the ground. Add in nine casitas (villas constructed from reclaimed wood), a yoga deck, a lookout tower, an open-air restaurant, an infinity pool and a lakeside spa pavilion and you have Jicaro Island Ecolodge.

There is no beach at Jicaro Lodge, but you can swim in Lake Nicaragua. In the early morning I kayaked through lily pads while egrets and herons flapped overhead. It felt remote and tranquil — and hard to believe I was just a 20-minute boat ride from lively Granada with its candy-coloured shops, spacious plazas and neoclassical cathedral.

 

Adventure in the dark

Darkness hits swiftly on Jicaro island. After a twilight massage and a dinner of fresh grilled fish at Jicaro’s restaurant, I padded down the path to my casita. Inside, something was wrong. Either this wasn’t my room or someone snuck in and neatly unpacked my suitcase. Embarrassed, I backtracked and found the right casita. I was in my nightgown when the door slid open and an American woman walked in.

“Oh, sorry!” she exclaimed. “I was looking for number 4.”

“No problem.” I laughed. “I was just in there.”

She waved goodbye and I thought back to when I’d arrived, wondering if the country was safe. Here I was such a short time later, so comfortable I’d forgotten to lock my door. As long as a howler monkey leap walk in, I should be good to go.