Central America specialist Venetia Martin visited Nicaragua’s first exclusive eco-resort, Nekupe. Here’s a taste of what to expect:
Location: Located on a large nature reserve, Nekupe offers sporting pursuits, wellbeing activities and guided explorations of the forest. Two hours from the International Airport at Managua, 30 minutes from the colonial city of Granada and an hour from the Pacific Coast, Nekupe is the perfect place for adding an outback adventure to your Nicaragua holiday.
The Nekupe Vision: Founders Don Alfredo Jr. and Doña Theresa Pellas, Nicaragua’s biggest philanthropists, share their social vision with guests. Dedicated to restoring the environment and social development, they have introduced local employment, sustainable farming and regeneration of flora and fauna. Through the Pellas’ organization, American Nicaraguan Foundation (ANF), they are alleviating poverty and building sustainable livelihoods. There are many ways for you to get involved during your stay.
Suite Serenity: Expect beautifully appointed modern suites with Cerro Macho wooden floors, Aireloom king beds and Ralph Lauren linens. La Residencia Doña Theresita’s four suites can be taken exclusively to offer privacy, dedicated service and spectacular forest views. The house comes with a personal head chef, two pools, two private dining areas, a state of the art media room and poker table. Other private villas are sited above the forest canopy, giving you literally a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside.
Top Tip: All the rooms at Nekupe have great views. We particularly recommend the Cortez Suite for its view of the Ermita San Francisco (hermitage), located on the highest point of the property. Or, for the early risers, Cedro Suite is perfectly positioned to watch the sunrise.
Let’s Get Personal: With a ratio of five staff to every guest, experiencing personal service and warm Nicaraguan hospitality is a Nekupe guarantee. Your personal ‘Ranger’ will take care of your every need from guiding and chauffeuring, to coordinating all of your private excursions.
Eat Natural: With most ingredients sourced from Nekupe’s own organic garden, delicious and healthy menus have been designed with local and seasonal produce in mind. The chef’s modern take on Nicaraguan cuisine will satisfy even the most sophisticated palate, and for the curious foodie, the chef will teach you how to cook local recipes so that you can recreate Nicaraguan dishes back at home. We recommend a private candlelit dinner in the treetops – the setting is stunning.
Casa Club: At Casa Club’s restaurant and pool guests can enjoy panoramic views in a relaxed atmosphere. In the evenings, sit out by the warm fire pit enjoying the peaceful sounds of the forest.
ATV Safari: On your personal ATV you can explore the entire property. The off-road trail is great fun, taking you past a teak plantation and through the forest to the beautiful Ochomogo River.
At One with Nature: You’ll have 1,300-acres of nature reserve to explore, where we can arrange for local wildlife experts to show you the rare tropical birds and plants, and you can visit the Nekupe animal sanctuary. If you like, you can even get involved in environmental projects with a team of local ecologists.
Activities: Out in the grounds you can enjoy tennis, biking and hiking numerous trails to hidden creeks and lagoons. Or for something a little different, why not take a painting class with local artists to learn how to capture the magnificent scenery on canvas.
Up in the Treetops: Only for the adventurous! A thrilling challenge awaits you up in the treetops at Nekupe’s Ropes Course – we bet you won’t want to come back down!
Take a Shot: Nekupe is one of Central America’s top sporting resorts, where you can try your hand at target shooting on the Pistol Range, or take up sporting clay on a world competitive level course, featuring 8 stations with 42 machines for you to try a variety of styles including skeet and trap.
Riding: Horse riding is a wonderful way to explore Nekupe, taking you into the depths of the forest. Roam miles of beautiful trails, gallop through teak plantations and enjoy a delicious picnic before returning home.
Relax: As well as outdoor adventures, there’s plenty of relaxation to look forward to in the Nekupe Spa. Why not Indulge in a restorative treatment or a relaxing couples’ massage overlooking sprawling mountain views? Mountaintop yoga classes take place up at the tranquil Mirador lookout deck, and we’d recommend Nekupe’s annual yoga retreat for one-on-one yoga sessions in an extraordinary setting.
Nekupe Niños: If you’re looking to introduce your children to nature, activities are tailored to different ages so that children can interact with animals in their natural habitats and learn about the mysteries of the forest. For younger children there is horse and bunny feeding, reptile petting, farming, board games and swimming. On-site childcare is also available upon request.
Cocktail O’clock: After an action-packed day, what better a way to relax and unwind than heading to Casa Club’s Rum Room for a sundowner. You could even take a sunset dip in the Casa Club pool…
