Hacienda Iguana

As promised (better late than never, I always say) from 6 posts ago - I really should read about good blogging etiquette - am now finally writing about our favorite beach resort Hacienda Iguana, given that we've been there at least 6 times now in the almost 2 years in Nicaragua (and still cannot get a preferred customer discount).

Located in Tola, Rivas and the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua......from here on, I'll let HI speak for itself (read: from their website):

Starting at the Intercontinental Managua Hotel in Managua:

1. Take Carretera Masaya South, you'll go through Masaya
2. In Masaya take a right towards Catarina, this part of the road is a bit of a climb. You'll end up in Catarina, where you keep going straight.
3. When you get to Volcan Mombacho (you'll see it) take a right on the fork in the road, that will take you to Nandaime.
4. When you get to Nandaime take a left in the fork, that takes you to Rivas.
5. Just before you get to Rivas (it is around kilometer 112) there is a sign for Tola, take a right there, you will be heading West.
6. From Tola continue west on the gravel road to the gate of Hacienda Iguana (15 kilometers or about 50 minutes). There's a huge Mango tree just before the entrance. Here you'll see the first Rancho Santana sign. All you have to do is follow the Santana signs and that will take you to Iguana. Iguana is about 6 km. before Santana, (and about 15 km from the start of the dirt road). You will see two yellow security cabins and a wooden gate.
   
   Give yourself about 2.5 - 3 hours driving time. The total distance is 135 km.

For us being only about 15 mins away from the Intercon Managua, it takes no more than 2.5 hours to get there and at that time under the condition Catarina Rd was in, I say we made good time.

The last time we were there, I was amazed at how the Catarina Road has been repaired, totally paved. So, in less than 2 hours we arrived in Hacienda Iguana. I would advise people to always use a 4W drive vehicle due to the last 8 km stretch before driving up to the gate of the Hacienda. A muddy and flooded dirt road where one will have to cross a river and god forbid it just rained (there was a time we almost got stuck there after a heavy downpour - we had to wait for news that the water has subsided before we can drive back to Managua - although I can think of worse places to be stuck).

No AAAs here in Nicaragua to the rescue plus with only one mobile carrier working in the area (Claro), you will be at the mercy of the passers-by who hopefully will have a stronger car to pull you out of the ditch (we usually travel 2-3 families at a time).

Hacienda Iguana is always worth the trip...once you get there. We used to rent beach front condos (check updated pricing here) but last time we tried renting a 4BR house, (also beach front for $375 a night) split between 2 families, on the same beach. I like the condos better. The houses are more private but I thought it was cozy being on the shared pool meeting other people who were on holiday, sharing drinks and talking....sometimes, nonsense. But then that's just me, I'm always curious as to the whos, whys and whats.

As both condos and houses have well equipped kitchens (while the condos are uniform, some houses are bigger or nicer than others), we normally bring food to cook and drinks to share even if there's a restaurant on the premises (where you can buy ice, btw, yippee) - it's just more cozy. You might get lucky and meet fishermen selling fresh fish or lobsters on one of your beach walks - like a dozen of these freshly caught lobsters from these guys (!!!), all for $20, for example (courtesy of bff A's dad visiting from the US - totally blew him away).

I will now let the photos speak for themselves (click to enlarge):

Beachfront condo area:

Inside the condo:

The beach house area:

The beach house:

Pets are allowed in the houses but not in the condos.

Good place + good friends = great time!

PS. Hacienda Iguana has a golf course (1 of 2 in Nicaragua, so far - Jack Nicklaus is purportedly currently designing 1 somewhere, I forget where), for golf enthusiasts.