Costa Dulce Retreat — Hotel in San Juan del Sur (Municipio)

I've been looking at booking Costa Dulce for a few years, so I was so happy when I finally made it work and was able to book a stay here. I came here in February, and it was HOT. I think this is probably one of the hottest countries I have ever been to, and the time I went, it was very hot. However, this is the standard for this area, around 11am - 3pm, it's really too hot to be outside. It took about 3 days to acclimate to the heat, not having AC during the day (night is fine) was a bit of a challenge, but partway through a week-long stay, you get used to everything and you wonder why you need AC anyways.||El Nido|I stayed in the most advertised room, El Nido. It's a cute little cabin, halfway between the amenities and the beach. I was here by myself, I think it would be a challenge with another person because the bathroom was separated only by saloon doors. The cabin was basic, there was a sink in the room, and there was a toilet/shower combo (so yes, you're showering right next to the toilet and the toilet gets wet), there was a shelf that doubled as a desk, with a chair and the nice surprise, a swing chair. When I first arrived, I didn't have water and my toilet was making funny noises, I brought it to the attention of front desk and they went on to resolve it ASAP. If anything is wrong with your room, please let them know ASAP. ||There was lots of shelf space, and the bed was SO comfortable. There's no glass windows in the cabin, it's only covered by a mesh screen. However, it's very safe and as an added bonus, you are serenaded by the waves, it's very nice when you're sleeping. I had housekeeping everyday, and there was always enough hot water for myself. I did notice if I showered a bit longer (and my showers are usually very short) that the hot water runs out, more of a challenge if you're sharing. But if you're here during the hot season, hot water is not really needed. ||As a note, on security, upon check in I was given a padlock, and I wasn't able to lock my door from the inside (only a small latch), and I either had the choice of locking the wooden safe or my room when I leave. I was also concerned because my room was near the beach. However, as time progressed, I felt much safer and locking my room was not a priority. Just something to be prepared for (or bring your own lock if you're concerned). ||Yoga|I choose the yogi's delight package for my stay. It included all the yoga classes, a massage and a couple of activities (cacao, town trip, etc.). I had about 3 yoga teachers during my stay, and they were all very good, they were very attentive to different levels and being inclusive. I did find during the week I was there the yoga was more gentle (not a complaint, just an observation). You don't have a yoga class every evening (but there's always a morning class), and sometimes the yoga classes are at different times (ie. 4:30 or 7:30). The sunset yoga is at a different yoga deck, and it's a bit of a walk from the main yoga shahla. I did the cacao ceremony and the Temazcal and they were both very healing experiences, I highly recommend them both.||Spa|The spa was wonderful. There's not much to it, a couple of small cabins and a bathroom. However, the massages were outstanding. They were also reasonably priced. I had two massages and a scrub, and all of my estheticians were great. Just a note, if you have a massage when there's a Temazcal scheduled, you will be able to hear them when they go in, something to consider if this bothers you.||Jungle Walk/Town Trip|Bring lots of water on the jungle walk. You will need to be covered head to toe with covered shoes. The town trips takes you to the Jesus statue and then some time in town. If you're on the fence about these two activities, and it's not important for you to go into town, they can be skipped.||FOOD|There's several meals a day, pre-breakfast 6:00am, breakfast 9:00am, lunch 1:00pm and dinner 6:00pm. This is where you do most of your socializing. I found the meal times little bit weird but you get used to it. Everything is served buffet style and sometimes there are desserts during lunch (self-service) or dinner (served by staff). The food was plentiful (but I heard that the week before, they were running out at breakfast and lunch (I did not experienced this), there was a lot of variety. There was always plenty of fruit and granola during pre-breakfast and breakfast. FYI for vegans, they served a lot of meat, including pork. They usually had a vegetarian option that you had to ask for (there would be a sign), I'm not sure how a vegan would fare. However, there was always lots of salads and vegetables. There's a lot of food so if you filled up on grains and vegetables, I suspect you will be okay. They usually had some fruit available 24/7. I eat everything so I never felt I was without anything, and I suspect most will be happy with the meals. ||Beach|The beach is awesome. it's very private (although you will see locals or people staying in the nearby hotels). There's usually plenty of seating and there's a separate restaurant if you want drinks or food. It gets pretty hot during the day, but you are able to find shade. The sand is very small, and it does get into everything.||Clientele|Most of the people the week I was there was from 20s-50s, but there were ccertainly a few people outside of these groups. Somehow, everyone gets along and it works out great. Its' very nice for the mixed clientele and there's a different kind of vibe depending on what you want.||Staff|The staff are one of the best part of Costa Dulce. They are very friendly, and they act more like your friend rather than a stuffy hotel person. This makes it much more relaxed but they also will help you with things you need so all of your needs were taken care of.||Accessibility|There are lots of steps and uneven ground. I accidentally slipped on gravel and scrapped my knee. I'm very mobile. Please contact the hotel if you have any concerns with accessibility. ||Overall|I really loved my stay at Costa Dulce. There were little minor issues here and there but anything they were able to fix, they did. Things are a little bit different in Nicaragua and you have to go with the flow. This is not a luxurious hotel, but there's not a lot of luxury anywhere in the country. This hotel provided a very relaxing and...

I spent a week at Costa Dulce and can’t recommend it enough. Strap in because I loved this place so much, I might go on a little bit about it.

First—I was solo traveling for the first time in a long time, I was feeling nervous but the support from the team there made me feel safe and the communal meals (which, as a New Yorker, I was sort of dreading) gave me ample opportunity to connect with other travelers. I flew into Liberia and they communicated with me from the time I was at the airport until I made it safely to their reception desk. They also arranged for me to get transportation to my next stop (the ferry to Ometepe).

Second—the staff were amazing, I don’t know even where to begin. Almost all are from Nicaragua and most are from the towns and villages that surround Costa Dulce. They are eager to please, consistently ask for feedback on their service, and go above and beyond. They create relationships with you so the experience feels less transactional. For example, often the staff will sit and enjoy one of the meals at the communal table. Those were some of my fondest moments, learning about the history of the place and how people came to work there or where they see themselves in a few years… it felt less like you are staying at a retreat center and more like you are being welcomed into a community and that you become a part of that for however long you are staying. No review about the staff would be complete without mentioning Marco—Costa Dulce’s most loved employee pup who will sit and watch the sunset with you every night.

Third—the surfing program is run by an incredible team. They are organized, professional, and fun! They know how to cater to your level (I had some surfing experience but it had been years, so my instructor Willy took that into consideration). I was shy to get the package in case I wasn’t up for it or didn’t like the instructors, but I ended up surfing every day. When the waves weren’t conducive to our learning level (1st week of October is notoriously strong waves and current), the team put together a surfing excursion for us to a cove. That reflected a thoughtfulness and commitment to their students. We all had a great time and got to see a different part of the area. I surfed with a couple of other people each day so I was able to see how the different instructors worked with everyone and I can say confidently each of them was amazing…but I am partial to the instructor I had—Willy. Willy is kind, patient, detail-oriented, and takes safety very seriously. He gives good feedback when you fail and celebrates with you when you succeed. He is also just an incredible nice person and it is really clear he has a strong drive to be the best at everything he does.

Fourth—accommodations were incredible and had lots of thoughtful attention to detail An example is the pillows… they have hard and soft on the bed—such a small thing, that it almost went unnoticed and that is exactly what they strive for: that you are so comfortable all the work they put into making you comfortable goes unnoticed! I stayed in the Jicaro room that had a gorgeous open air shower with a Jicaro tree growing in it! The wall facing the ocean is actually a screen so you wake up and fall asleep to a mix of sounds of the jungle and ocean…you are all at once sleeping comfortably inside and outside! It’s wild. (For those sensitive to noise, bring your ear plugs—you’ve, smartly, chosen a stay at an eco-lodge in the jungle…it is amazing but also those monkeys will start making all kinds of noise right before the sun comes up—I loved it, but can imagine it isn’t for everyone). I am a vegetarian and the food was incredible. They had a healthy mix of food each meal and you can eat until you are stuffed!

Finally—I am recommending this to everyone I know. I traveled for a couple of weeks around Central America after my first stop at Costa Dulce and it was by far my favorite part of the trip. I would feel truly lucky to get an opportunity to return. Book now—don’t wait, go! You will...

Costa Dulce was an incredible retreat in breathtaking nature on the southern coast of Nicaragua. The beach is steps away and you practically have it to yourself every time you visit. Sunsets are unreal. The views are also awe-inspiring. Staying here is the perfect way to be embraced by nature and live the calm, coastal life in Central America. It is the perfect mix of quiet retreat and engaging activity. There are yoga classes and other events like hiking throughout the week and you can surf at the beach or a nearby beach whenever you like. The activities manager Juner is super knowledgeable and is open to planning any activities or day trips that you want (for example, you could go to San Juan Del Sur, Masaya, Granada, Ometepe, etc.). The surf instructor Freddie is excellent. I had the best times on the water learning to surf with him and watching turtles and rainbows form behind the waves. There is also an amazingly refreshing pool with an incredible view to enjoy andh a bar next to it for enjoying a cocktail or coconut whenever you please. The meals are fresh, local, and nutritious. Meals are served at the same time everyday and you eat with the others staying at the hotel. This was a beautiful part of every day - coming together with the community and sharing meals. I met the most amazing people there. I really liked the pace of things - everything was calm and very informal in a way that you felt like you were at home. Everything was peaceful and you could spend time on your own wandering or doing whatever you needed to do and also opt into more social time if you wanted to, with other guests or through activities. We also did a lot of special events like a Full Moon Ceremony, sweat lodge, ice bath, bonfires and cacao scrubs hosted by the manager Tara and also salsa, boating, hiking, and party trips nearby. I can't forget to mention the incredible massages offered here - please do yourself a favour and get a 4-handed massage at the spa! The rooms are really separate bungalows and all have a different style and set-up. However, most if not all have an ocean view from the bed and from the shower. I stayed in the room called "Congo" and found it to be amazing. The staff comes and cleans your room everyday like a normal hotel, which was nice as I stayed for over one month. You can also get your laundry done, which was very convenient. It is about a 30-minute drive to town but most people only go once a week at most, as they prefer just staying in nature and relaxing and enjoying the amenities. It is best to go here for a retreat, to relax, or for a longer stay when you feel like being in nature and not having to worry about anything, but you could also get a ride and trek into town as much as you want if you wanted more city-type action, but it doesn't make as much sense to do that while staying here. Overall, Costa Dulce was definitely my happy place and home away from home in Central America. The beautiful community spirit made such an enjoyable experience. You end up becoming friends with everyone. It had all the elements of a good hotel, but down-to-earth, nature-focussed, informal, community-based and totally...