Rancho Santana

Our family recently returned from a vacation that was truly exceptional in every way. The level of service provided by the entire team was outstanding, making our stay effortless and memorable. From the moment we arrived, the concierge went above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met. Their support allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our time together.
The dining experience was a highlight of the trip, thanks to the incredibly talented and inventive chef. Each meal was an accomplishment, featuring fresh, local ingredients prepared with creativity and flair.
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What really set this trip apart was the friendliness and attention from the entire team. Every staff member we encountered was cheerful, helpful, and clearly dedicated to providing an amazing experience for their guests. We felt genuinely cared for and valued as a family. We cannot recommend this destination enough- the natural beauty of the land, sea and sky, the comfort and beauty of the villa… everything was truly amazing.

We had a large villa for 16 family members. Excellent staff made it all work well and our experience was excellent. Beautiful place

There are wonderful facilities. Lots of great activities. The staff are all well trained and friendly.
Jose Alcoser made our stay perfect. He was always available and worked hard to enable everyone in our party to enjoy a special time.
We enjoyed every aspect of Rancho and will highly recommend it to our friends

Riding at Rancho Santana was truly life-changing for me. After a serious accident five years ago where I broke three ribs, I carried a lot of fear with me. Januar and Lorenzo supported me with patience, skill, and genuine care, helping me rebuild my confidence step by step. I was lucky enough to have three incredible rides on Señorita, an absolutely amazing mare—calm, responsive, and full of heart.

This experience reminded me why I love riding so much. I hope to return soon and do it all over again. It was, simply put, unforgettable.

Arrived from Philly suburbs Dec. 29th with a warm welcome from the entire staff at the Villa: Alma Del Mar. We were the 1st rental ever for this exclusive beach property consisting of all high end / first class amenities. Our stay will end January 4th so we enjoy the New Year's festivities which is Hugh for Nicaraguan culture. This review is based on just two days experience. The food, the staff, which I will list below was/is 2nd to none. The staff which I cannot express my sincere gratitude is:
Johnny Terry GM/ Butler
Jader Morago, Chef extraordinare
Lesby Amador, Asst. Chef
Virginia Orlando, Housekeeping.
Last, but not least, Byron, our chauffeur
An amazing, well coordinated Team! Can't do enough for us. We were given their cell phone contact information so they were always available to provide their 1st class service.

Meals were incredible with the Chef and his staff prepared magnificent presentation of food made with love & cultural high class talent.

Update to follow
..stay tuned!

Smith & Hungerford family from the Philadelphia area@

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10 stars!)

An Unforgettable Horseback Adventure!

From start to finish, this horse experience was absolutely magical! The horses were stunning and incredibly well taken care of, reflecting the love and dedication of the staff. Our guide, Janero, was nothing short of fantastic—a true gem who made the ride even more enjoyable!

Riding along the beach and playing with these beautiful horses was the highlight of my year! As a cowgirl, I appreciated how they catered to my skills, ensuring an exhilarating ride.

If you're looking for a breathtaking adventure, don’t miss this opportunity! I can't recommend it enough—this experience should be on everyone's bucket list!

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Feel free to tweak any part of this to make it more personal or aligned with your voice! Enjoy sharing your experience! 10 stars!!!!!

My family has visited Rancho Santana twice now! We go for the waves and surf experience! Jared was our guide and Dom assisted in setting everything up! The surf team is like no other they personalize the surf experience to make it memorable and fun for all levels!
Jared always wears a smile and puts all of his energy in making your experience 5 star! Highly recommend Rancho Santana for SURFING!

We just finished a trip of a lifetime at Rancho Santana with our extended family for Christmas. We enjoyed so many wonderful excursions on the beautiful property grounds- surfing, mountain biking, sand boarding, horseback riding and boat trips. The Villa we stayed in was gorgeous and comfortable and easily accommodated our party of 16. Jose Alcoser was our butler for the week and he went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect. He was personable, kind and attentive. He handled all the logistics of planning excursions, meals and transportation for a group of 16 so that everything went very smoothly and we could truly relax and enjoy the week. We also enjoyed all the delicious meals prepared by Chef Jader for our group. Everything he served us was fantastic. And a shout out to Marcos for driving us around all week with a smile. Highly recommend Rancho Santana as a wonderful place for a family trip.

The house was amazing. It was extremely clean and well stocked. The staff kept it spotless every day. Our butler José Alcoser Was exceptional. He thought of every detail and kept us on schedule. Chef jayder was excellent and head waiter Jaylen also exceptional. Driver Marco was always ready and waiting for us.

Surfed every day although the waves are smallish in December. Beaches and water were perfect and the main attraction

I would avoid crossing the boarder from Costa Rica. Fly direct into Managua. Took six hours going north and less time coming back but very unpredictable.

Overall highly recommend. Hope to return someday.

Our second trip to the Ranch. Staying 2 weeks over the holidays.

Kids are 13, 10 and 8 with endless options to enjoy everyday. Surfing tops their list, but they are also enthusiastic about horseback riding, art classes, swimming, hiking and other activities.

Staff is great. Food is solid and chef is committed to top notch preparation.

Our waiter Christopher Velasquez takes good care of us each morning for our ritual breakfast outside with stunning views.

Service was very good. Our server was Ronny; he was courteous, efficient, and very personable. We were very satisfied.

Definitely worth taking the horse ride. The guys who run it are great. Beautiful stables, we had an amazing family ride along the beach. Thank you Januar!

Januar, Miguel, Jovagny were amazing. Super nice and knowledgeable. We loved our beach sunset ride. They were great with our kids.

We love this restaurant and Luis our waiter is always our favorite. He is so very kind and thoughtful. His smile is welcoming and wonderful. And even though we speak Spanish, Luis had very good English!! And that makes the experience even more comfortable. We request him when we can.

The food is so very good. The sushi is the best. Spicy tuna maki is always our favorite. And thank you for having rose wine and even better - sangria rosada!! We spend my birthday here every year and we love it. Thank you.

Very professional staff. Horses were well trained. Stalls and grounds clean. Guides were awesome very knowledgable and curious. I never felt rushed and answered all my questions about the ranch, horses, and wildlife.
All experience levels welcome with gentle horses.
Jovani and Fernando highly recommend.
We look forward seeing them next year.

I had a wonderful ride today on a beautiful horse along the beach, through the woods and into town. My guide, Januar, and the trainer, Miguel, were both fantastic!

We’re longtime fans of Rancho Santana, but this review is for a specific activity we recently enjoyed: a cruise on the catamaran Santana. After a 20-minute drive to Gigante, we were met on the beach and whisked out by a local panga to our beautiful boat for the next five hours. It’s new, impeccably maintained, and designed for comfort, with plenty of inviting spots lounge in the sun or shade.

We cruised to a sheltered cove with a stunning beach, where we swam and lounged on a raft while the kids went tubing behind the catamaran's dinghy. It was picture-perfect, but honestly, it was the crew who made the day unforgettable. They were warm, professional, and attentive in the best possible way—you’d barely finish your last sip before a fresh drink appeared. And the food was fantastic: fresh ceviche along with tacos, salads, and salsas, including salt-free versions for my husband who has a medical condition. They truly took care of our every need.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5-star review is that we didn’t raise the sails. I’m already looking forward to going again and hoping for some true sailing next time.

If you’re considering it go. Booking time on this boat is absolutely worth it. Seeing the beautiful Nicaraguan coastline from the water is exceptional and shouldn’t be missed.

Great ocean view from every room in the house. The house is located near many activities provided by the resort. Turtle hatching is a must see. The whole stay was worth every penny. The staff are professional and friendly.

Rancho Santana was unbelievable. The grounds and the accommodations and the staff were top-notch. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. The food was fantastic, we loved the Taqueria every day. We did so many fun activities. we surfed, we went deep sea fishing, we did the sand sledding, and the five beaches tour. The pools are beautiful. The resort was quite empty so it was very relaxing. I highly recommend this resort. We have stayed at the shore club in Turks and Caicos and we enjoyed this better. Nicaragua is a beautiful country and we will be back at Rancho Santana.