We’ll never turn down the chance to spend a night in an opulent 5* hotel bed, but occasionally a property comes along that offers so much more than just standard creature comforts.
AquaViva Collection in San Juan del Sur – a surfing town on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, some 2.5h south of Managua – is a small collection of refurbished individual shipping containers set high on a hill.
Like most good things in life, getting there comes with a little effort in the form of a long staircase followed by a very steep hill – only accessible on foot. But that’s a small price to pay for sharing your space with monkeys and overlooking forest all the way to the bay of San Juan.
The containers are cleverly spaced, front-facing, to offer guests the sensation of complete privacy despite having floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort is undoubtedly a very romantic spot, catering mainly to couples (we met friends staying there too) in search of seclusion and some of the best views in Nicaragua to wake up to.
However, that’s unfortunately where the romance stops as the containers also feature floor-to-ceiling glass dividing the bedroom from the bathroom. You might want to keep your eyes on that view.
Its website claims it’s 700 yards from the beach at San Juan del Sur; this feels generous and there aren’t dining facilities on site (a modest breakfast is delivered in a sort of lunchbox to your room every morning) but the restaurants of the town are just a short taxi journey away and you can buy beers from the hotel reception, which should only be enjoyed – as helpfully demonstrated above – in a swimming pool with a sunset.
Alternatively, each container also has a mini rooftop terrace and a balcony if you prefer your sundowners dry.
San Juan is a nice seaside town which is good for spending a few days and trying out some surfing on the beautiful Pacific coast. Its town can feel a little seedy but there are a couple of good options for dinner and drinks in the evening. Without doubt, our experience of San Juan would have been a different one had we not stayed at AquaViva and had the opportunity to experience it from a further, infinitely more serene distance.
The resort is a great option for travellers on a mid-range budget and offers great value for money in terms of its location. We’ll be back when we’re next in San Juan.
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