La Sombra

If you are looking for understated luxury, Rancho Santana is the perfect destination and Marta and Steve’s villa is the perfect place to stay within the property. Greeted by Ana Lucia, the sweet, amazing talented housekeeper, upon arrival you will instantly feel at home. She even prepared us a home cooked Nicaraguan meal one night. At first I felt bad asking for her to cook for us, but she really enjoys cooking for guests and gets fresh ingredients at local stores to prepare the whole meal. The villa itself is in the perfect place on property. Located just minutes from the action of the main area the resort, and a few steps to the private residents pool. Our kids made friends at both pools and pool hopped all day long. Don’t miss the horseback riding on property. The stables are first class and the horses are all extremely sweet and calm. The Villa is open and spacious and homey at the same time. We will be back!

Our stay at Rancho Santana was absolutely incredible! The location is breathtaking. The home itself was beautiful, spotless, and thoughtfully appointed with everything we needed for a wonderful stay. Marta and Steve were extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming. We also highly recommend having Ana cook for you during your stay. She prepared absolutely delicious meals, was helpful with anything you need during your stay, communicative, and truly added a special touch to our experience. We couldn't have asked for a better vacation and highly recommend this home to anyone visiting Rancho Santana. We can't wait to return!

Our family of five (3 children - 10, 7, 4) had a wonderful time at Rancho Santana staying in Marta and Steve's lovely condo unit. The location of the unit is perfect, a short walk to both pools and the Inn/Cafe and Restaurant. We could sit on the porch and check the waves at Santana Beach. Unfortunately for my husband, the waves weren't awesome, but he did have a couple fun sessions :-) The waves were great for our 10 year old! Our 7 and 4 year old enjoyed the pools every day and the beach. The condo was very comfortable and included everything you'd need for your stay - plenty of pool towels, smart TVs to watch Netflix or Disney Plus for the kids, lots of space and great AC units in each room. We'd love to stay there again! Rancho Santana is a very special place. We enjoyed exploring the 5 beaches, trying all the restaurants, mountain biking, monkey scouting, the spa, nature walks, checking out the beautiful horses in the stable and just enjoying nature at the beautiful ranch.

We had a great time in Marta and Steve’s place. The location within Rancho Santana was excellent, the daily housekeeping a huge plus, and the unit itself lovely and comfortable - with all the amenities. We would gladly stay again.

I really can’t even quite cover just how amazing this place was. The whole Rancho Santana community itself was just something so truly incredible and special. The hosts went truly above and beyond with communication. We had some hiccups with our travels plans getting in. They were absolutely amazing to deal with - coordinated our airport pickup, even after having to reschedule due to a missed flight. The accommodation was so much more spacious than I anticipated. The landscaping surrounding the residences made you feel enveloped in this gorgeous tranquil jungle, with the ocean literally just steps away. My husband could sit on the patio and watch the waves to know when to go out to surf. The kids and I enjoyed two different pools, each within close walking distance. The amenities were worth every penny. The free shuttles to take you to the other beaches allowed us to explore a little. Really, truly, this place is magical. 5 star place, 5 star hosts! Don’t hesitate, book it!

We absolutely loved the time we spent at La Sombra. The view from the front porch was beautiful and the pool and amenities were just a short walk away. Marta and Steve were very helpful with recommendations of things to do and places to eat. Ana was wonderful and was there for any questions that we had. We will definitely be back!

This was my first trip to Nicaragua and won’t be the last. The location is central to so many good surf spots in Nicaragua. Marta was so helpful and responsive the whole time. Ana, their house keeper, was so kind and cooked amazing meals for us. The house was very nice, fast internet, great sized fridge and plenty of Tupperware to keep leftovers. The resort grounds are so nice as well. Super safe and ample parking if you rent a vehicle. We will be back!

We loved their place! Great ocean view and plenty of space to stay for our family. Highly recommend!!

This was our fourth trip to the ranch and our second stay in this condo. We had a fantastic stay! The hosts were incredibly communicative, welcoming, and responsive to all our needs. A huge shoutout to Ana, the housekeeper, who kept the place absolutely immaculate throughout our stay—her attention to detail is unmatched. The location was perfect, and the home felt very comfortable and welcoming. We truly appreciated the thoughtful touches and hospitality provided by the entire team. We would highly recommend this listing to anyone looking for a clean, friendly, and top-tier experience. We can’t wait to come back!

We thoroughly enjoyed our week long stay at La Sombra in Rancho Santana (RS). We were pleasantly surprised that RS is truly a 5-star boutique resort. The unit was beautifully appointed inside and out as if this was one's home with everything one needs. RS has vast beautiful grounds with hiking trails and 4 private beaches that are easily accessible by the RS shuttle system. Most of the beaches were virtually empty during our Jan 3-10 stay. The snorkeling was great at Playa Escondida. Surfing was amazing at Playas Los Perros and Santana. But the best part about staying at La Sombra was the Ana, our dedicated concierge, housecleaner, personal shopper and gourmet cook. Ana warmly welcomed us upon our arrival, oriented us, grocery shopped, and prepared, upon request, delicious local fare including Mahi Mahi, Carne Asada, Ceviche, etc. Ana was as lovely and kind as she was helpful and attentive. Ana's cooking & shopping cost extra but worth it as she outshines the RS restaurants!!!