Outside of the charming but noisy little town yet still near enough to enjoy its benefits, there is a majestic valley in which lies a development called Las Fincas de Escamequita. 

Las Fincas is a refreshing change to the way most developers are approaching Nicaragua. Las Fincas offer large ocean view parcels averaging just less than 3 acres each (research indicates most lots in Nicaragua are only ¼ acre) with an average price at about $75k.

They recently released a new option called The Haciendas at Las Fincas which feature even larger parcels designed right into the reserve area.  There is a master development policy from First American Title Insurance Company of Miami, and the company pays for all the closing and registration costs so there are no hidden fees. Now this is a great deal if that is all that was offered.

Las Fincas is one of the first “eco-friendly” communities in Nicaragua and before you roll your eyes at that often over-used term, take a closer look.

The developers, a U.S. citizen now living in Nicaragua and a Nicaraguan recently returned home - have created Nica Dev www.nicadev.com. As partners, they decided to self-impose regulations aimed at the protection of the existing trees, as well as limit building size and structure (one story). They have taken it a step further by requiring all residents to be on renewable energy, in this case solar powered (a basic system is included in the purchase price!). This development is completely off grid- meaning no burden to the water, sewage, or power systems of the country. And  Nica Dev is doing even more.

Through intelligent, upfront planning, they created over 450 acres of private reserve. Far different from most locations where “green areas” are created planting strips woven through a development in an attempt to mask the destruction in the planning process, this is true primary forest with beautiful canopies and includes part of the river “Escamequita” from which the owners took the name.

“We saw a need for something more sensitive” says Donn Wilson, a southern California native who relocated about 3 years ago. “There are just too many people recreating down here what everyone is running away from in the states; small lots crammed together and community pools with swim-up nacho bars”, a concept Wilson claims he saw in Costa Rica a while back.

“Our philosophy is simple” says Nicaraguan partner Juan Manuel Caldera, “Give more land for your money, be eco-friendly and give back to the local community. By creating this bond with our neighbors we are engaging in a positive, sustainable way”.

Juan is speaking of the Nica Dev into which these two are donating part of each sale.  This fund contributors back into the neighboring community in the form of water filtration systems, ecologically sound stoves, even building churches,  schools and new roads!

“We were just hoping to offer something different and have been rewarded with so much more” says Wilson, speaking of the development. “What we’ve created is a real sense of community with like minded individuals sensitive to the environment and the people of this country.

We realize that we are not for everyone, but for those who want a sustainable option, we seem to be the only one”.