Destinations

Nicaragua

Unjaded local life, slower pace, and raw natural beauty

While tourists flock to better-known Central American hotspots, Nicaragua remains largely off the trodden path. Quieter and laidback, the country’s charm lies in its unjaded local life, slower pace, and raw natural beauty brimming with dense tropical forests, endless white sand beaches, and sleepy surf shacks. And beyond beaches and volcanoes, there are plenty of charming historic colonial towns, vibrant arts, rich culture, and locally immersive experiences to fulfill even the savviest of Offbeat Goats. So it’s no surprise to see a growing number of visionary hoteliers renovating haciendas, sprucing up beachside casitas, constructing design-worthy resorts, and paving the way for eco-conscious travelers.

Although the Corn Islands and Pearl Keys off the Mosquito coasts are beautiful destinations in their own right, we focus more on the Pacific side of Nicaragua, offering the perfect combination of sun, fun, culture, and immersion. The Offbeat Goat showcases a collection of boutique hotels and lodges in our favorite regions of Nicaragua: Grenada (and its surroundings) and San Juan del Sur.

Regions.

Exploring Nicaragua through our curated lens

Featured

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur feels like any other other sleepy hippy surf town, but scratch the surface and its true zing and color emerge. Think: brightly painted clapboard houses, hole-in-the-wall art galleries, quirky book store cafes, live music, surfer-dude taco bars, and wacky street art.

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Granada and surroundings

Beguiling church facades, winding cobblestoned streets, brightly painted houses, and bustling open markets set against a backdrop of imposing volcanoes, Granada, known as “the cultural jewel” of Nicaragua, is a glorious throwback to its Spanish colonial roots.

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Sustainability spotlight.

Nicaragua is a nature lover’s dream and an emerging sustainable-travel paradise. Given its rich biodiversity, vast protected lands, and nature reserves, it's no surprise to see an uptick of sustainable eco-lodges, conservation-driven resorts, and sustainable organic farm stays cropping up around the country. Costa Rica has long been hailed as the mecca of sustainable travel, but Nicaragua is stealing the limelight with its growing collection of green hospitality pioneers. Increasingly, hotels are focusing on protecting and enriching the natural surroundings that ultimately enhance the guest experience. And ever mindful of impact, more emphasis is being placed on eco-friendly design and local sourcing where possible.

Coffee farm stays are now almost all organic, rainforest-certified, and fully committed to uplifting local communities. Restaurants include more farm-to-table options, prioritizing seasonal ingredients sourced locally. Better yet, hotels and tour operators are increasingly making sustainability and conservation part of their value proposition.