DESTINATIONS TIN AMERICA | NICARAGUA
stay WHERE TO
MORGAN’S ROCK If clients are looking for
eco-chic, this is the place to send them. The sprawling
resort is set in the heart of the jungle, surrounded by 4,000 acres of mahogany and spring cedar trees and edged by a mile-long beach that feels like something out of Robinson
Crusoe. Yet the setting is only half the story – with no fourth wall, villas and bungalows
combine a back-to-nature vibe with sophisticated style.
Book it: Rooms from $463 per night including tax.
morgansrock.com
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Private beach at Morgan’s Rock; Granada; Recolección Church, León PICTURES: Shutterstock; Jereme Thuxton
URBAN CALL JICARO ISLAND LODGE
As a member of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection, you’d
expect Jicaro to have something special about it, but this private island resort – just a short boat ride from Granada – surpasses even the highest expectations. With just nine ‘casitas’ and superbly attentive staff, it’s a truly exclusive experience, with top-notch dining and tours.
Book it: Rates start at £287 per night including all meals, non-alcoholic drinks, boat transfers and daily yoga.
jicarolodge.com
With so many untouched landscapes to explore – and that’s before you even get to the peaceful surroundings of Ometepe, an island in Lake Nicaragua, or the wildlife-filled jungles of Rio San Juan – you might wonder whether the cities are worth visiting, but they most certainly are. While capital Managua is somewhat underwhelming – its most interesting features were destroyed by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972 – the rival colonial cities of Granada and León merit more attention. Granada, founded in 1524, has all the fading
grandeur of a once-thriving capital city, with its rainbow-coloured houses, wrought iron balconies, grand architecture and lavish cathedral telling of its past as a wealthy port and a centre of Spanish trade. Nowadays, it attracts expats and young
Nicaraguans, drawn here for its youthful vibe and trendy restaurant scene, though you’ll still see headscarf-wearing women sitting on their front steps chatting to neighbours and men gathering in the main square to set the world to rights. León offers an altogether less-polished feel, with peeling paintwork and posters declaring ‘Welcome to León, the capital of the revolution’ just the first signs of its edgier, more liberal leanings. Look out for the biggest cathedral in Central America, which took 103
years to build and still has its original altar – saved from a pirate raid, no less – then climb to the top of its tower for a view over the city. But those are just the warm-up acts for this university city’s nightlife, where the strains of salsa music flow from one bar to the next and local rum Flor de Caña is ordered by the bottle, not the glass. There’s no doubt Nicaragua has seen its share of
troubles over recent years, but with its compelling mix of culture, history, wild landscapes and edge-of-the-seat adventures, it’s most definitely a country on the up.
TW BOOK IT
Journey Latin America’s 18-day Cotinga: Off the Beaten Track Nicaragua group tour visits Granada, Ometepe, Rio San Juan, the Corn Islands and León, and costs from £3,576 for a tour starting December 4, including flights.
journeylatinamerica.co.uk
Exsus Travel offers an 11-night trip to Nicaragua, visiting León, Granada, Lake Nicaragua and San Juan del Sur, from £4,400 for travel between June and September, including flights, B&B and private transfers.
exsus.com
84 5 SEPTEMBER 2019
travelweekly.co.uk
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