Rancho Santana

We had an incredible stay and cannot recommend this property enough, especially for families traveling with young children.

The casita was beautiful, spacious, and perfectly suited for our family of three. We traveled with our one-year-old son, and there was more than enough room for another small family as well. The house was thoughtfully stocked with everything we needed. We stopped at the grocery store on our way from the airport, but it was also so convenient having the nearby tienda for anything we needed during our stay.

The entire property is absolutely stunning, and everything is easy to access, making it simple to get from one place to another. We couldn't have asked for a better destination for our son's first international trip.

A huge part of what made our stay so special was Rafaela. From the moment we arrived, she welcomed our family with such warmth and kindness. Communication was seamless throughout our stay, and she was always quick to respond via WhatsApp, making everything effortless. She helped arrange all of our transportation and shuttles, but what truly made our trip unforgettable was connecting us with Ana to care for our son while we surfed and explored during his nap times.

Ana was absolutely wonderful. She is bilingual, incredibly kind, and took such loving care of our son each day. Knowing he was in such capable hands gave us complete peace of mind. He spent his days playing, napping, eating well, and even participating in activities with the older kids at the Kids Club. It was clear that he was happy, engaged, and genuinely cared for.

Traveling internationally with a toddler can feel overwhelming, but the entire team made it so easy that we were able to truly relax and enjoy our vacation. The hospitality was exceptional, and we left with wonderful memories. We can't wait to come back!

Santana really nails the resort experience. We particularly enjoyed the architecture and ambiance of the whole place.

Rancho Santana is an amazing place to stay.

We had the most amazing time. So many things to do if you want activity and beautiful scenery for rest. Top moments were dinners with our server Anielka and Thai chi and yoga with Age

We had the most wonderful week at Rancho Santana. The property is beautiful, the staff is incredibly supportive and resourceful, and the experiences were fantastic. We loved the beaches, spa, kids club, horse back riding, and surf. We look forward to returning!

This was an experience we will never forget. The guides were beyond amazing and wonderful with our kids. Especially Januar who was so knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The ride at sunset over the beach was the perfect ending to the evening. This was a 10 out of 10 and we would highly recommend to anybody who is in the area. We even saw a family of howler monkeys.

Luxurious ranch estate with great amenities, beautiful beaches, friendly and attentive staff and activities that were a nice mix of relaxing and physically active. Family friendly for young kids and teens.

We travel a lot (3+ times per year, mostly Central America and Europe). This was our first time in Nicaragua. We loved that the resort was not crowded. It made it extremely peaceful. We also loved the bar and restaurant staff, who were all absolutely wonderful. The communication prior to our arrival was fantastic and informative. The food was great, and the chef in La Boquita cut an Aloe leaf for us because my son was sunburned. The surf lessons were top-notch. We have taken surf lessons in several locations, and these were by far the best. Finally, people who took us to and from the resort to the airport were also wonderful. I loved having someone knowledgeable about Nicaragua in the shuttle from the border. The Costa Rica driver moved mountains to get us to the airport in time for our flight. I hope all of these people are well compensated and valued.

I am struggling with certain safety aspects of the resort, which I think need to be addressed immediately. I am NOT talking about safety issues associated with the location. Nicaragua is not a common vacation destination in the U.S., and we worried about political stability, crime, etc., none of which were a concern. First, be very, very careful at the beaches. The current and riptides are extremely strong, and there are no lifeguards. Guests are not consistently warned about the swimming conditions (we learned about them from another guest). It's easy to go into "relaxation mode" on vacation - do not let your kids run into the water without you. My kids are pretty good swimmers, and I was not comfortable with them in the water without an adult, period. I am not a risk-averse person. Second, I question whether the vehicles are equipped for the mountainous terrain. Again, I am not risk-averse and normally do not worry too much about shuttles, etc. The vehicles seemed to struggle going up the hills, which are largely dirt roads. This is not my usual approach (but should be) - I would not ride in any vehicle without a safety belt, and I would avoid any vehicle that lacks safety belts or standard safety gear. If you run into a serious medical issue, you will have a major, major problem. Travel insurance cannot make medical facilities closer to the resort.

We loved the resort's seclusion and stayed a couple of extra days to avoid returning to our extremely busy lives. But some guests may be surprised to find there are no beach chairs/umbrellas/towels, and that you need to wade through still water to reach the main beaches. The lack of umbrellas means there is also no shade, and the weather is extremely hot around spring break. The huge upside is that there will be times when you are literally the only people on the beach, which is rare elsewhere. The resort never felt crowded, and walking the beach without wading through people is a huge, huge plus.

In my opinion, you are paying five-star prices for a four-star hotel - lots of upcharges for things that would be included or far less at other resorts (e.g., laundry, villa amenities like lotion/staple items, shuttle service off-site, etc). Overall, I think it's worth it because of the location's peacefulness and the top-notch service at the restaurants and pool. However, if you are expecting a resort similar to those in Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, etc., at a comparable price point, you may be disappointed. The hotel would likely be better suited to charge a higher nightly rate (if necessary) and include more amenities. That would take away the feeling of constantly being upcharged.

Wow. Just go. As a family of teens and adults , we felt incredibly safe the entire time. We also often felt we had the place to ourselves - very spread out. We did an ATV tour and lunch in Granada, as well as surf lessons. Highly recommend both! The sun is extra hot. Bring a sun shirt and lots of screen. Also bring a sleep mask and lotion (none in rooms). The rooms were extremely clean every day. The staff was beyond kind. There are beautiful, giant waves everywhere (it’s not white sandy calm, and swimming is intense, but oh so fun). Plan ahead with shuttles, and don’t rely on exact times. Make plans to watch every sunset. Try all the foods. This resort has a perfect natural, low light, unwind vibe for all age groups. Highly recommend.

I rode with Januar and he was awesome along with all the other staff throughout the trip. Absolutely beautiful!

Amazing experience. Didn't want to leave. Rooms were amazing. The Grenada trip was amazing and so was the fishing. We will be bak

El lugar el si el edificio es extraordinario pero las habitaciones necesitan mejor limpieza

La comida espectacular. El restaurante del hotel es excelente. También, el personal es muy amable y atento a las necesidades del huésped.

Está muy lindo, siempre limpio.
La comida es riquísima 😋

Rancho Santana is great place with great people in a wonderful country. Tons of things to do. Food is next level. Staff is awesome!

If you’re surfing at Rancho Santana and not booking time with Jared Rosa, you’re missing out. Period.

I’ve been surfing for over 20 years in destinations all over the world, and I can honestly say I’ve never worked with a surf guide as knowledgeable, dialed-in, and genuinely helpful as Jared. His intimate understanding of the breaks, tides, wind patterns, and timing in this region is on another level. What could have easily been a stressful “where do we go / is this the right call?” kind of trip turned into a seamless, relaxed, and ridiculously fun experience because of him.

He doesn’t just take you to waves — he puts you in the right spot at the right time and explains why. That kind of local mastery is rare.

Beyond the surf, Jared gives you the inside scoop on local Nicaraguan culture, food, and vibe. He’s the real deal — authentic, thoughtful, and just an all-around great guy to spend time with in and out of the water.

We’ll absolutely be back, and when we do, we’re surfing with Jared again. No question.