Ventana al Mar

There are many activities and facilities to enjoy during your stay at Ventana al Mar located in the Rancho Santana Development and Community. Some of these activities include: Surfing, Horse Back Riding, Health/Beauty Spa, Fishing, Tennis, Biking, Hiking, Fitness Center/Gym, Clubhouse Pool and Play Area.

Other activities nearby to enjoy include: local restaurants, Volcano Hiking & sight-seeing, Canopy Zipline Tour, Snorkeling/Diving, The Colonial Architecture of Granada, (1.5 hours' drive), and much more.

Clubhouse and Amenities:

As a guest at Ventana al Mar, you are allowed access to all amenity areas of the project. There is an internal road to Los Perros, Rancho Santana’s sister project adjacent to the south. There you will find a great swimming beach, but no amenities. 

Rancho Santana has four beaches: 

Playa Dorada - located in front of and adjacent to the Clubhouse. Access is in front of the Clubhouse- pass through the restaurant and pool, and head for the water. You have access to the pool and playground here- feel free to use them!

Playa Rosada - located in the middle of the waterfront border of Santana. Go to the street in front of the house, turn left, and go to the bottom of the hill.  Take the first left-hand turn, and go down to the T-Junction. At the T, you will see a building in front of you with a large parking lot. Head for that parking lot, around the pool, and down to the beach. You have access to the pool and outdoor showers here- feel free to use them!

Playa Escondida - located to the south of where you are now, at the south end of Rancho Santana. Driving instructions are available from the hotel front desk. You can walk from here by going to the street and turning right, going through the gate and continuing until you reach an improved road. Turn right, and the beach is ahead of you. WARNING:  It is a long and difficult walk if you are not in good shape. 

Iguana Beach - located at Los Perros. Driving directions can be obtained from the hotel front desk.

Hungry or Thirsty?

There are two facilities within Rancho Santana, if you would prefer not to eat at home. The Clubhouse Restaurant is at the second guard gate after you enter Santana. 

You can walk from here. (Going down is not bad but coming back up can be challenging if you are not in shape.) Simply go to the street and turn left. Continue on the ridge road until you reach the THIRD left turn. Take it, and at the first intersection (where you will notice the road in front of you rises steeply), turn right. Continue on the road until you get to the guard gate, and immediately thereafter, turn left into the parking lot. The main entrance is on your left- in front of the traffic circle.

The restaurant serves food and drinks in a slightly more formal atmosphere- indoors and out. But if you just want to sip a cocktail, eat a snack, or relax in the Beachfront Bar, simply walk through the restaurant.  Around the left side of the pool you’ll find the bar. 

Choices are limited in the area, however there are a couple of local places in Limon (Las Tortugas – turn left at the main RS gate and go a few km's. Las Tortugas is on the left  - for Yolanda’s continue on the road and it’s on the right hand side. Some guests have reported very favorably about the food at Punta Teonoste, just outside El Astillero, about 10 km's past the village of Limon, on the left hand side.)

Keith & Maria Griffith run the Pie de Gigante Restaurant in Gigante; about 12 km's south of RS…turn right at the main gate go about 8 km's and turn right towards Arenas Bay. Turn right again in 2 km's again towards Arenas Bay. Continue on this road for another 2 km's When you reach the village of Gigante, turn left and the restaurant is 150 yards on the left. There is more than one restaurant in the village, so be sure to ask for the Gringo Restaurant, or Keith and Maria. Food is safe to eat, water is safe to drink, and the blended drinks are great!

There is a new restaurant at Popoyo (about 8 km's north on the left).

San Juan del Sur is about one hour to the south. There are many bars and restaurants of differing quality from cheap and cheerful to expensive (the restaurant at Pelican Eyes is top quality and Tercer Ojo at Villas de Palermo on the edge of town is also very good.)

Shopping:

For your convenience, a small retail store is located on the main entrance road, on the opposite side of the road from the Clubhouse, next to the Casitas.  The store offers a limited selection of convenience foods and grocery items- in case you forgot something.  Also on offer is a variety of artisan items and handicrafts representative of Nicaragua. 

There is a pulperia (small basic store) in the village of Limon, outside the front gate. Selection is very limited, but they will have items such as rice and beans and other Nicaraguan staples. They may also have soda and beer.

The nearest full-size grocery store and fresh fruit market is in Rivas, about 45 minutes from Rancho Santana. 

We suggest you bring groceries with you from Managua, if you are coming for a longer stay.

Fresh Fish:

Fresh fish can sometimes be bought on the rocks or on Playa Dorada near the clubhouse. Otherwise, try Gigante Village to the south (again, ask Keith or Maria in the restaurant if you need help) or El Astillero to the north.

Horseback riding is available at the Stables (located on the main entrance road) daily. However, it is by appointment only, and there is an hourly charge.  Make reservations at the Clubhouse reception desk. 

There is a Tennis Court located along the main entrance road, between the Clubhouse and the Stables. Reservations are not required, but it is first come-first served. 

Transportation:

There are various options. The front desk can arrange for a taxi to pick you up and take you to Managua or elsewhere. An airport transfer by taxi will cost at least $120.

Car Rentals:

The nearest car rentals are in San Juan del Sur, just over an hour away to the south, or in Granada, about  two hours to the north. If you are reading this at time of booking, you will find it easiest to reserve a car ahead of time and pick it up at the Managua airport.

Driver:

It may be possible to arrange a driver for you if you have rented a vehicle. This is strictly by appointment at least 5 days in advance and subject to availability.

The cost for this service will be $50 / day payable directly to the driver. Please contact the person who confirmed your reservation, to discuss availability.

Excursions:

We recommend a Tour Operator called Viajes Munditur www.viajesmunditur.com in Managua run by Adam Gaitan and family. Munditur is a well established tour operator for the following services:

Fishing Trips:

• Sport/Game Fishing
• Freshwater fishing

Day trips and tours:

• Granada
• Masaya Artisans Market
• Catarina
• Masaya Volcano
• Mombacho Cloud Forest & Canopy Tour
• Hunting Trips for game and birds

Surfing:

Some of the world’s best surfing spots are within 30 minutes of Rancho Santana. There are world class surf breaks within Rancho Santana which are completely private and hidden.

Boats:

San Juan del Sur is the main port along this part of the coast located about 60 minutes to the south. Boat charters for sailing, fishing and surfing are available.

Gigante Village is about 10 km's to the south of Rancho Santana and a ‘panga’ can be hired by the hour or half day. Ask Keith Griffith at the restaurant in Gigante or his wife Maria may be able to help you find one of the fishermen in the village.

Walking:

One of the joys of this area is that you are surrounded by natural beauty. There are many places to walk around Rancho Santana to enjoy the scenery and perhaps spot some wildlife along the way. The tidepools at Playa Rosada often yield interesting treasures. Interior roads abound with birds and the occasional iguana.

Rancho Santana has hundreds of acres of Reserve Area, which means you may encounter animals of the jungle variety on your walks in the area. Howler monkeys are the loudest and therefore, sometimes, the scariest. They are not aggressive and you should not be afraid of them. 

Snakes do exist here; however, you will almost never encounter one. If you do, remember these thoughts:  Most are non-poisonous. None are aggressive. Leave them alone, and they will leave you. If you happen to encounter a snake in your path, stop and wait for it to leave. It is probably on its way somewhere else, and could not be less concerned about you.

Birds, Beasts & Creeping Things:

The house is fumigated regularly, but you might occasionally still see crawling beasts such as ants, stick insects, praying mantises, scarab beatles, spiders, cockroaches, and scorpions. Do not panic.  They like you less than you like them!  If Catalina or Rudy are here and you encounter a strange insect, call them to remove it.

The geckos on the ceiling and walls are helpful to your environment- they eat the insects. They are the animals which make the ‘chirping’ noise you hear.

Occasionally you will see a giant toad in or around the pool. He is completely harmless.  Simply remove him or ask Rudy to do so for you.