Off the beaten path were attractive, yet small towns with actual consumer-driven businesses, like restaurants, bars, and gift shops. I saw a small sea town some twelve blocks off the main road with pleasant gathering places; in the distance there were magnificent volcanoes, some still active, which provided the base for nutrient-rich soil for growing plentiful crops, and when we got out to snag pictures overlooking the country’s biggest river, I momentarily interacted with a few locals, including a little kid trying to pawn off handmade jewelry I might find for a buck at the local flea market in NY.  It didn’t matter, I bought it anyway… cost me ten bucks for two… and directions to the rest room. 

Our trip toward Tola was eventful in that the agent knew all of the most scenic routes to take the further we moved from Managua and the outstretched fingers for towns that extended southward.  Long stretches of country accompanied our journey through the jungle toward the shore.  On either side the proximity of poverty was replaced by endless tropical landscape that an hour before was imperceptible.  It was a breeding ground for natural resource with an endless landmass lent to a wealth of agriculture.  Save for the occasional industrial uprising, it was absolute beauty in its purest form, from symmetrical volcanic mounds to lush foliage.  It was not difficult to see the potential for growth in this country – both agriculturally, and economically.  Once the governmental infrastructure and Central American unionizing takes full effect, a thriving exportation and the realization of a tourism industry could insure not only the “discovery” of Nicaragua, but for its many inhabitants, the necessary jobs and potential for much needed improvements in their immediate surroundings. 

Rancho Santana was a relatively new development that occupied 1700 acres in and around the Pacific shoreline of Tola, Nicaragua, near the town of Rivas – a spec of dirt-sized marking on the map.  We had to put the four wheel drive to the test to get there from the main road as we turned and entered some twelve miles of dirt paths and slippery puddles caused from the current rainy season that Bo and Luke Duke themselves would’ve thought twice about driving had their on-camera exploits not demanded it.  We went up, down, left, and right, dodging farm animals and fellow four-wheelers, before turning in a majestic-looking entryway that led a mile stretch of flat road directly toward a low lying beach front that was otherwise impenetrable five minutes and a mountainous region earlier.  It was like going from night to day in a matter of seconds – Hazzard County to Hilton Head, and a potential home buying opportunity only minutes by foot from the beach. We had finally arrived to the still semi-private, owners and renters-only beachfront community piercing through rolling hills with cliffside views.  Rancho Santana was an oasis in the middle of nowhere that demanded discovery… and luckily for me, I was still among the earliest surveyors.

Upon arriving at the guest clubhouse, making my greetings, and later unpacking my bags, I was ready to be sold on the benefits of becoming a homeowner there. Of course the culture shock was still fresh in my mind from the drive out, but another surprise was in store upon entering my guest room. Still smarting from the appalling living conditions I witnessed since leaving Managua, I was none too quick to process the fact that we had moved into a tropical jungle-like setting and all of the life forms that go with it. Such involves the appearance of pinky-sized four-legged gremlins that chirp and hide behind wall-mounted air conditioning units when weary travelers arrive to unpack their bags and downshift their thought-process for a moment. I was in no mood for sharing space with creepy critters and flying pests, but I will admit, though it took awhile, these lizard-like creatures known, as Geckos, were somewhat bearable… even cute. Though neither of the two I spotted on my wall had any real intention of establishing dialogue or selling insurance, I satisfied myself to try to catch one for an up close examination.  No chance.  They’re too fast and flexible and have little interest in human interaction.  Somewhat insulted, I let them to their own device and peppered the rest of the room with Off to keep the sand flies and mosquitoes at bay.

The clubhouse stood in a central location at RS where I would meet the property manager with whom I had corresponded a number of times previously, and an all-Nicaraguan house staff greeted me and made me feel welcome. The layout of the clubhouse was spacious and well decorated with beautiful art and furnishings of the tropics. This was certainly no Marriott, but it more than served the purpose for the private community it was meant to center.  It was a beautifully crafted building with an outdoor patio, pool, and strategically planted palms preceding the rocky beach. The weather was rainy, hot, and humid, which I later learned was consistent with their “winter” season following May, and thus the scarcity of other tourists for that week. 

We privately toured the upcoming new beach homes known as “casitas” as well as the surrounding areas where other people had already purchased plots of land or built palatial houses overlooking the Pacific. I had my doubts about the location at first, and the fact that most of the area was still relatively deserted, but they would soon subside along with the culture shock I felt as I pondered the future for this slowly developing beachfront paradise. I needed a little time to soak it all in, learn more about local culture, and gain firsthand knowledge from those who’ve been there, done that, still live there, and have invested hundreds of thousands more than I was even hinting at. 

This was definitely not Cancun, but was never projected to be. The future plans, as outlined by management, and provided by the developers, showed a number of other lots being plotted and sold, and a number of new amenities planned for the future, including a golf course, bar, and medical center.  The hurdle for me was to step away from the – there and then – impulse, and reaffirm my initial intentions of buying for the long term investment potential. Rancho Santana was not somewhere I wanted to live today, but my projected goals remained unchanged – an appreciable annual return on investment, potential for rental income, and at the least, a charming villa-like two-bedroom home for holiday trips and off-peak getaways in a serene location where people were friendly, family oriented and pleasant. 

I came away with a good feeling from my short, but informative trip to Nicaragua. Yes, I was sold on the potential of Rancho Santana, but felt nearly ashamed that I could feel pity for the many poor people on the one hand, while on the other, worry about my own self-gain as an actual foreigner in their country. I understand the necessity for foreign investment for the betterment of Nicaraguan economy, and this helps me rationalize what I would be getting involved with. To what extent this holds true is something I aim to explore further on my next trip down there.

Though my interaction with the locals was limited, I learned from the RS staff members and expatriates that Nicaraguans are proud and family oriented. Do people mind being poor?  Do they even realize what they’re missing comparative to first world capitalist dominance?  Probably not. They seemed to be at peace with their simple lives, and put more emphasis on familial, if old fashioned, values than any American-born like myself could conceive of. 

I was pleased with my Nicaraguan experience and satisfied with my decision to buy.  I will plan to return in another year to close on my new casita. Afterwards, I will spend some time exploring the many cities and make like an actual tourist during one of the country’s more festive seasons. There is plenty more to explore throughout the entire country; for this trip, I barely scratched the surface. So why Nicaragua?  Because the people are welcoming of Americans and seem to remain as unspoiled as the landscape they inhabit. That’s a refreshing change from hustle and bustle of the big city’s daily grind. It’s a nice place to invest, whether such includes free time or extra funds, and even nicer to visit.  It will be very interesting to watch the developments unfold in this yet to be discovered country.