Rancho Santana

The rooms were large and open, beautiful, and comfortable. The entire property was beautiful, had great amenities, and fun adventures! Staff were friendly, kind, and welcoming. Our family had a wonderful time!

Incredible week in the most beautiful place. From the moment we arrived in Nicaragua, the entire experience was perfect. The staff at every restaurant and excursion were so friendly, Knowledgeable, and helpful. The views, the weather, the culture, the food, everything was amazing. Special s/o to Jeremy, Guillermo, Christopher, and Hernan for the attention to detail and making our trip the best it could be. They always made sure we were taken care of, well fed, and a clean home. 10/10

We stayed in an AirBNB that is immediately adjacent to the Rancho Santana property - inside the main gate of the ranch, but not inside the security gate. For a very reasonable daily fee, we had full use of the Rancho Santana concierge and facilities, including grocery delivery. Simply put, the staff and facilities at Rancho Santana are outstanding. The staff were always "can do," accommodating at every turn. The location is gorgeous, with postcard-worthy sunsets every night. The beaches are lovely - deep, wide, and not crowded. The ranch has lots of hiking and biking trails. We did an afternoon of in-shore fishing and a couples massage - both great experiences. It's hard to name a single highlight, but, if forced, I'd say it was probably "scouting" for monkeys - there are a pretty good number of howler monkeys on the ranch, and once you know where to look and what to listen for, they seem to be everywhere. So cool. The list of what we didn't do is probably longer than what we did do. They have horseback riding, surfing, excursions to Granada, a volcano hike, and probably some other things I am forgetting. The restaurants were similarly excellent. We enjoyed everything we ordered, from apps to tacos to wood-fired pizza to empanadas to steak-and-lobster. The options hit pretty much whatever you could want. The breakfasts at El Cafe were so good - highly recommend the Nica Bowl, Sandwich de Desayuno, and Burrito de Desayuno. The food at the Pool Bar and Cabanas comes from the La Finca y El Mar kitchen, and while it is "bar food," it is also amazing quality. The taqueria turns out top quality "street food." La Boquita is a nice middle-of-the-road option, with the wood-fired pizzas and small plate items. La Finca y El Mar is fine dining, but with a beach atmosphere. For a sandwich on the go or cooking in your own space, La Tienda's quality is on par with the restaurants. It's a small shop, but they have all of the basics - fresh produce, eggs, bacon, sausage, bread, dairy, chips, desserts, and a good selection of beer, wine, spirits, and cigars. They also have sunscreen, toiletries, etc. This brings me to a key point about Rancho Santana, which was a positive for us, but something to consider - it is somewhat remote. We rented a small SUV at the Managua airport, and with an AT&T mobile plan that covers all of North, Central, and South America, used Google Maps to make our way to the ranch. We had no trouble at all. But it is at least 90 minutes away, if you have no traffic issues. We love being off the beaten path, and, honestly, this is another area where Rancho Santana shines. They are prepared for just about anything. They have a gas station on-property. We didn't need it, but they have a medical clinic. They have wood and metal shops where they build and repair on-site. They have their own motor pool and repair shop. They grow their own food.

Beautiful, friendly, welcoming, safe and relaxing where all our needs were met with ease and casual class. The wellness offerings and fitness opportunities are exceptional. The food is farm and sea-fresh and delicious. This was my fourth visit and I hope to return again soon. Rancho Santana is a real gem.

Rancho Santana is a unique estate. Expansive across five beautiful beaches, well preserved nature, and amazing views. My family and I had a great time during our stay at Casa Los Perros. The food and drinks were delicious, and the service was very friendly and impeccable. Rooms were spacious, comfortable and clean. Aside from walking down to the beach, or lounging by the oceanfront pools, there were so many activities to do. We took full advantage of what Rancho had to offer. We went surfing everyday and the surf instructors were very friendly and helpful. We felt safe and well looked after. In the morning we went birdwatching and saw all kinds of colorful birds, we also encountered howler monkeys, who seemed to be unbothered by our presence. We also went on a night hike, which was really cool. Our guide was very knowledgeable and taught us about all the flora and fauna that comes alive at night. We learned about medicinal properties of various plants and trees in the forest, giant termite mounds, and ultraviolet scorpions. Again, we felt completely safe in his care. The hike finished at the chapel where the night sky was breathtaking. And I can't forget to mention the catamaran boat ride. More like a luxury yacht. The crew were excellent and took us to a beautiful cove with turquoise water. We went snorkeling and paddle boarding. Everyone had a great time, including the kids- definitely a highlight or our trip. We couldn't have done it without our butler Johnny Lopez who helped coordinate all of our activities and reservations seamlessly. Truly first class service. I only wish we could have stayed longer. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you to all of the Rancho Santana staff for making this an unforgettable experience! Special shout out to Mario and Gabriel from Concierge, our guide Gustavo, Jared our surf instructor, and Manuel Martinez our driver who transported us safely to/from the airport.

Stayed in a villa at Rancho Santana with a group of friends to celebrate a milestone birthday. Everything was awesome; the food was delicious, the staff was friendly and helpful, the surroundings were beautiful. This is definitely a hidden gem.

The horseback riding was perfect! Our guides were very professional. The horses are beautiful! The stable is spotless. The guide spoke great English. Very helpful for us because we do not speak Spanish. Will be going again!

We spent five unforgettable nights at Rancho Santana, and it truly is paradise. We stayed at the Inn in a beachfront room, and waking up each morning to the sound of the waves and sweeping ocean views felt almost unreal. Everything about this place is special from the breathtaking, untouched setting to the thoughtfully curated experiences. We loved the wide range of activities, especially the yoga and spa offerings, which were both restorative and beautifully integrated into the natural surroundings. The sunset horseback ride along the coast was one of the most magical experiences we’ve ever had. The farm-to-table food was outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care. Every meal felt nourishing and intentional. Most of all, the staff truly set Rancho Santana apart. Every single person we encountered was genuinely kind, warm, and attentive, making us feel not just welcomed, but deeply cared for. Rancho Santana is the rare place that feels both luxurious and soulful. We left feeling relaxed, inspired, and already dreaming of our return.

Some places feel so special you want to tell everyone… and also no one (because you don’t want the magic messed with). Villa Ohana at Rancho Santana is exactly that kind of place. Rancho Santana sits in Tola, Nicaragua just up the coast from Tamarindo, Costa Rica but somehow flies under the radar, which feels criminal once you’ve been here. Same wild beauty, same surf and sunshine—just quieter, calmer, and refreshingly unbothered. Villa Ohana is perched right above the ocean with an infinity pool that makes you forget what day it is. You can walk straight from the property down to the rocky shoreline and watch the tide roll in and out. Every night we caught the sunset from a different spot—pool, lawn, beach, bench, bar—and it was always glorious! We watched friends surf from the property, rang in the New Year with fireworks basically exploding directly overhead, and wondered how this was real life. The villa itself is ideal for a big family or group of friends—beautiful, comfortable, and perfect for long days that melt into longer nights. A huge shoutout to Gloria, the house manager/cook, who made delicious authentic meals. And David, who keeps the grounds looking lush, maintained, and wild in the best way. Rancho Santana as a whole is the kind of place that gently resets your nervous system (at least it did mine). The staff is genuinely kind and attentive without being overbearing. We ate well, drank well, watched college football playoffs at the bar (our only TV for 9 days, which felt like the correct amount), played bocce ball, went horseback riding along the beach, visited all 5 beaches, and ended most nights playing games back at Villa Ohana. Throw in monkeys casually crossing the road, tacos and tie-dye at Playa Los Perros, sunset dinners at La Boquita, seashell hunting, sea turtle hatching, and that rare feeling of fully unplugging from the world… and you start to get why people come here. On a personal note: I’d been a little scared of the ocean for years, but something about these beaches—the warmth, the clarity, the steady rhythm of the tide—gave me my sea legs back. I swam everywhere and felt more relaxed than I have in a long time. 10/10 would absolutely return. Next trip though… I’m going streaking. I mean, surfing!!

We had an incredible stay at Rancho Santana and cannot wait to return! From the atmosphere to the incredible food, we were happy with every part of our stay. Wish the airport was a little closer, but the drivers made the trip to and from the airport easy.