Relax at any one of the 5 beaches located near the hotel. Playa Santana, Playa Rosada, Playa Escondida, Playa Duna, and Playa los Perros are all different but amazing. Read through the website to find out what beach you would like to explore first. Rancho Santana offers a complimentary beach shuttle that leaves from The Inn and stops at the beaches across the property on a dedicated schedule.
Nicaragua’s southern Pacific coast offers some of the region’s best surf conditions, and at Rancho Santana you’ll find a variety of waves that are perfect for beginners and seasoned surfers. The Beach & Surf Club at Playa Los Perros offers surf lessons and surf guiding along with a variety of surfboard rentals. Bodyboards, snorkel sets, and sand toys are also available. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) is quickly becoming a “must-do” activity at the Ranch. We offer guided tours and adventures at Playa Escondida for all skill levels.
There is no better way to experience the unmatched beauty of Nicaragua than on horseback. From sunset rides with ocean breezes, to cultural tours of nearby villages, we offer a variety of horseback adventures for all levels of riders. Rancho Santana’s horses are well trained and guests are matched to horses according to riding experience. For equestrians, Rancho Santana offers advanced rides and Stallion Dancing, an activity unique to Nicaragua’s horses who dance in local parades called Hipicas.
Over twelve miles of marked hiking and biking trails thread their way through Rancho Santana’s hills and valleys. Join a guided nature hike to explore the flora and fauna that call the Ranch home. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can lead hikes and guided tours to help guests uncover the natural hidden gems throughout the ranch. Surfing isn’t the only board sport available at the Ranch! Grab your sneakers and let one of our Sandboarding instructors take you on a hike down the face of one of the Ranch’s famous cliffs to our most unique beach, Playa Duna. Climb the giant sand dune and sandboard down the hill until your toes touch the Pacific Ocean!
Playa Escondida’s remote sands are a preferred nesting spot for critically endangered Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles. Since 2013, our partnership with Paso Pacífico, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting ecosystem conservation, has been critical to protecting these nests. If you’re lucky, you may even see a hatching during your stay! We share our property with a diverse wildlife population who also call the Ranch home. Come along with a member of the Guest Experience team to spot howler and spider monkeys as they sway and sleep among the trees.
Sea a different side of Rancho Santana! Explore the Pacific by fishing boat, luxury yacht or sunset cruise. Enjoy the beautiful water and coastline while expert guides assist in setting rods and bait or anchor in nearby Redonda Bay for swimming and snorkeling. Back at The Ranch, La Finca y el Mar can prepare a lunch or dinner of sushi or tacos with your fresh catch! Boat trips set sail from nearby Gigante – a small fishing village and beach town.
The Spa in El Bosque is a 6,000 square foot spa and wellness sanctuary, built into Rancho Santana’s rugged hillside, offering visitors a calm, cool respite from the Nicaraguan sun and surf. The Spa in El Bosque invites guests into the dense, shaded “Bosque” or forest, where they can relax in a multi-faceted retreat and partake in a myriad of unique treatments by our skilled therapists.