San Juan del Sur, hmmm …. Trying to decide if this might be the place for your next get away?
Trying to figure out if it’s a crazy thought or the best one you’ve ever had?
Do you like Hawaii but find yourself trying to find places that are further and further from the crowds and resorts? Do you love humanity but struggle with humans sometimes? Do want to explore but also be assured of full relaxation and peace? Are you searching for authentic, real, vast, and eye opening but also easy? Are you pro kale/savasana and anti news ticker/”busy”? … Then I present to you Casa Tranquila (see more links below):
http://www.casasdebalcones.com/casa-tranquila/
And to answer the next questions that pop into your mind, I present to you:
Booking Tranquila FAQs
- How do we get there?
Fly into Managua.
It is then a 2.5 hour-ish drive to San Juan del Sur. The drive is easy and picturesque!
There are many shuttles OR the rental car places are right beside the airport. If you’ve rented a car, go to the rental car desks IN the airport first. Laura, who you will book the property through, can give you a contact name for a rental car agent. We use Dollar. You absolutely need a 4×4 as the roads in San Juan del Sur near the property are not paved and can be steep and pot hole-y.
If you want to break up the drive, or arrive later than about noon-1pm into Managua, then stay a night or 2 in Granada. It is great! We’ve stayed at Hotel Dario there and loved it, the girls still talk about it and the fresh juice at breakfast in the morning is mind-blowing.
The property itself is then a 25min drive from San Juan del Sur up to the beach and jungle! Laura will arrange for you to meet your personal concierge from Re/Max to escort you up to the property. The ladies at Re/Max are awesome! They will meet you in San Juan del Sur and show you around, show you where to get groceries and help you buy them the first time, and then bring you up to the property and give you the scoop on it! They will answer all your questions and make sure you are comfy. And they will be available the rest of the trip to help out if you have any questions! They can give surf lessons, they can bring masseuses to you, they can bring chefs to you, you name it! - What is the weather like?
Short answer … it’s almost on the equator … so things don’t change much … it mostly alternates between paradise or paradise.
But this is an excellent summary from sanjuandelsur.org:
The San Juan del Sur climate is largely a function of elevation and does not vary greatly with the seasons. From sea level to 2,460 ft (750 meters) daytime temperatures average 86°F (30°C) to 91°F (33°C) and night temperatures fall to 69°F (20°C) to 75°F (24°C) for most of the year.
Given its latitude just a few degrees north of the equator, San Juan del Sur has equal hours of daylight and darkness throughout the year. The driest months are December to April when there is little or no rain, days are reliably sunny and warm and nights are clear. The dry season is known locally as verano (summer). Deciduous trees shed their leaves to later erupt with pink or yellow blossoms. Towards the end of the season the streams dry up and dust can reduce visibility.
Although wet and dry seasons are becoming more unpredictable, the rains typically start in May, quickly turning the landscape a bright green. The wet season is referred to as invierno (winter) or “green season” and lasts to November. The rains tend to be heaviest in September and October and lightest in July and August. But even during the wettest periods, the rains rarely last for more than a few hours, clearing quickly. January and February have the most wind, but again it typically doesn’t blow all day, even on windy days.
- Is it safe? Is it ok for kids?
Yes and Yes.
I run there every morning by myself in the jungle or on the back country roads. All I see are smiles and wildlife in the trees. I’ve never felt unsafe. Nicaraguans love kids!!
The property’s pool is great for kids (but do note it is not fenced), as are the beaches. Older kids will have a blast in the perfect waves and younger ones can dabble in tide pools or the long beach stretches at low tide. - What do you do there?
You can find tons of adventure with zip lines, horseback riding, catamarans, surfing, eating, yoga-ing etc. But we go there to chill. We have lazy mornings around the house, go for a run, make smoothies, play in the pool, watch the monkeys and parrots and butterflies, read and draw, enjoy some music in the wide open space. Then we usually head to the beach when we tire of that. We bring tons of snacks, cards, books, a few sand toys and just laze laze laze! By the end of the day we usually sidle up to the tiny beach bar hut and grab a cold drink and stare out across the pacific ocean as the sun sets. Then we either head into town to try a new restaurant or make a delicious meal poolside back home. Bedtime usually comes early as the fresh air tires you out and the sun typically sets by 6ish pm (and you’ll want to be up when it rises again at 6 am!).
Fave spots:
https://www.zenyoganicaragua.com –
if you happen to need a night in San Juan del Sur before the property is ready …
http://www.barriocafesanjuan.com
be sure to go to the top terrace for the hammocks!! Also, smoothies and the included breakfast are ridiculous!
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g528745-d3538280-Reviews-Republika_Bar-San_Juan_del_Sur_Rivas_Department.html
great veg and vegan choices, kids love it, cocktails and smoothies are amazing
https://buddhasgardensjds.weebly.com
amazing plant based food, amazing staff, love love love! In the same building as Zen Yoga.
http://www.eltimonsanjuandelsur.com
plantain and yucca chips … hello!! Pizza and tona at the end of a hot day … hello!!! … also known for their seafood, obv!
http://www.maderasvillage.com/
magic and yoga near the property
https://www.artesano-hotelcafe.com
ditto
- Where do you buy groceries?
3 main spots –
1. The Pali – Walmart-esque for basics … tortillas, rice, beans, juice, mixers, beer, cereal, condiments, some fruit and veg, bread, some meat and fish …
2. The market – tons of fruit and veg and spices and flax/chia and herbs and nica feta! You can fill two plastic bags to the brim for about 7$.
3. The Sanchez/Miscellanea/Corner stores in town – most of the comforts of home … nut butters, nuts, quinoa, salsa, snacks, cheese, yogurt, …
There is a pier where you can get fresh fish very day and a carvery if you fancy meat!
- What is the sleeping layout like?
There are 3 main places to sleep. The property has 4 little buildings mostly in a U-shape around the pool. You enter into the main one which has the living room and kitchen. On either side of this is the Master room and the Jack + Jill rooms. The Master building has a queen bed and a separate little office that could accommodate an air mattress or playpen if you have infants. The Jack + Jill building has two rooms, each with a queen bed and a Jack + Jill washroom in between them. I would say that if you want to sleep in the Master, then you will probably want your kids to be 5ish and older to sleep alone in the Jack + Jill. I would bring a monitor or walkie talkie to keep it fun! Of course the Jack + Jill beds are stunning and have awesome views too! So parents could certainly take one of those rooms with kids beside them and no ONE will be disappointed! The 4th building is a self contained little casita to the side of the other 3. It is like a artists/yogis haven! Again, great view, super quiet, has a little kitchenette … another couple or older kids or grandparents would LOOOOVE it! - Beaches – where are they and what are they like?
Amazing. Obviously.
The 2 nearest to the property are:
1. Playa Majagual – this is actually 2 beaches split in the middle by Matilda’s (super cool snack hut and hostel). On the far side of Matilda’s the beach is always swimmable. On the closest side the waves can get a bit big for young kids but they are super fun for older “kids” and this is the most beautiful spot I’ve ever been to. Often entirely secluded.
Just get to know the tides! They shift by about 30mins each day. If you go at low tide, the water is so far out that it creates a vast beach of puddles for young kids to explore in.
If you have kids or don’t want to walk home after you’ve spent the afternoon in the sun and topped it off with a Tona … then the beach is a quick 5-10min drive down from the property. If you are a runner, this beach is 15mins +/- from the property and a great place for a morning swim. Apart from the little hut that sells what seem to be the coldest most divine Tonas and some snacks … there are no services at these beaches, no bathrooms etc.
2. Playa Maderas – this sits directly about 1km under the property. Ask for directions 😉 But you can walk to Maderas from Majagual beach. Just be sure to watch the tides as doing the walk at highest tide might be dicey. The walk is about 10mins max. Maderas is home of the surfing “scene”, but there are great tide pools for little kids too. Great fish tacos and drinks, smoothies, yoga …
Of course there are many more beaches that are an enjoyable drive away …
I like this run down the best:
http://sanjuansurf.com/beaches/
And if you want a prelim SURF run down:
http://lushpalm.com/surfing-nicaragua/
- What money do I bring?
Just need to take American dollars with you. There are ATMs in San Juan del Sur. You will get Cordobas back in change most often. - Any vaccines needed?
Check out the CDC and see what you think, but I don’t think anything special is needed. - How do I see pictures and book?
3 choices:
https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/41865
https://www.vrbo.com/628924
http://www.casasdebalcones.com/casa-tranquila/
The different sites add their own fees to the nightly rates, so just ask for a quote to see what the rate will be for your stay.
Laura and Joel are the two wonderful people who rent the places for us (that’s why you don’t see our faces there!). They are fantastic and are happy to answer your questions too.
