Archive for February, 2007
Surfing in Nicaragua: Gaining International Recognition as the First National Circuit of Surfing Takes Place in Nicaragua
Sunday, February 18th, 2007Nicaragua has been hosting surf contests for several years. Begun by Tom Eberley of Eberley surfboards, continued by local surfer Javier Baldovines, and now organized by Ricardo Morales, of Sands Surf Shop, the surf contests in Nicaragua are being taken to a whole new level. In 2006, I had the pleasure of representing Nicaragua womens surfing in an international event held in Esterillos, Costa Rica. Following the event, Ricardo Morales began organizing the first National Circuit for surf contests in Nicaragua, with the goal to compete internationally after this year’s first circuit. This years International Central American event is schedule to be help in Guatemala and will follow the same format as last year’s tournament in Costa Rica.
In each event there have been numerous advertisers/sponsors who help out with the event to make each contest possible. News of this last event in La Boquita was on the front page of La Prensa, El Nuevo Diaro sports page, and on the local and national radio stations as well. The event brochures and posters are distributed throughout Managua, San Juan del Sur, Rivas and all along the Coast. Surfing is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country… Click here to view the article
The first event of the National Circuit was held at Playa Maderas, quite possibly Nicaragua’s most popular surfing beach. The second event was held in La Boquita. The next event is scheduled for March 10 and 11th and is located in Las Penitas, just outside of Leon. After that we take the games to Playa Santana, and the final event is scheduled to occur in Popoyo. We are very excited to see this sport gain national recognition in Nicaragua. For property opportunites near a surf break, follow this link for surf real estate available in Nicaragua and, if you want to come on a surf vacation, check out our Surf Nicaragua vacation packages. We’ll tailore the activities just for you.
Surfing in the New York Times: Surf’s Up, and Upscale, as Sport Reverses Its Beach Bum Image
Sunday, February 18th, 2007Matt Higgins, reporter with the New York Times, recently wrote on the new image of surfing: how it’s changing from its previous beach bumb image to being seen as high-end upscale sport. As more professionals take up the sport, surfing provides more than just physical and mental benefit: now you can surf and discover networking opportunities at the same time.
For $10,000 a day, you can have the ultimate surfing sojourn in Indonesia aboard the 110-foot Indies Trader IV, a sort of floating hotel with 15 cabins, a helipad and three-course meals with wine. A motorized tender takes you to the waves. Or for a daily rate, in addition to the cost of his airfare, Brad Gerlach will give private instruction to select clients anywhere in the world. Mr. Gerlach, who was ranked No. 1 on surfing’s world professional tour during the 1986 and 1991 seasons, termed the cost not cheap at all.
Surfing, once the sport of Hawaiian kings, has come full circle. After becoming a counterculture activity for beach bums and bohemians, it has emerged as a status sport, like skiing and golf.
“It’s sort of lost that dirtbag appeal” said Isabelle Tihanyi, who with her twin, Caroline, started Surf Diva, a school based in La Jolla, Calif., that caters mostly to women, a growing segment of surfers. “Now you see more yuppies in the water with a brand-new board and a brand-new S.U.V. and all the latest technical gear. click here to read full article.
Come and experience the surf in Nicaragua with us. We’ll customize a Surf Nicaragua vacation package just for you.
Nicaragua rising: War-torn image gets a tourist makeover
Thursday, February 15th, 2007Laura Bly, reporter with USA TODAY, recently visited key real estate and tourism areas in Nicaragua including Granada and San Juan del Sur. Her article was published today.
“Long branded the black sheep of Central America, Nicaragua is working hard to erase its 1980s reputation as a war-torn outpost where gringos were more likely to encounter Kalashnikov-toting campesinos than a comfortable hotel. And campaign central is this scruffy fishing village turned surfing haven and intrepid travelers’ Next Great Place.”
A midwinter sun slinks toward the Pacific horizon, casting a flattering glow over the crescent bay where thousands of fortune seekers set sail for California during the Gold Rush. Today, it’s lined with palm-thatched restaurants where Jimmy Buffetts-in-training kick back with $1 beers and concoctions fueled by smooth, Nicaraguan-made Flor de Cana rum.
Two blocks away at La Posada Azul, a just-opened bed-and-breakfast inn owned by expatriates from Santa Fe, guests loll by the pool and contemplate dinner at a new fusion restaurant in the surrounding hills that an earlier American visitor, Mark Twain, praised as “welcome, enchanting, (and) altogether lovely.”
Matagalpa and Jinotega are Nicaragua’s answer to Panama’s Boquete and Volcan
Monday, February 12th, 2007Savvy investors are always on the look out for emerging destinations – especially those with a twist on a familiar theme. The Inland Mountains region of Matagalpa and Jinotega could be just that. The area shares many of the characteristics of Boquete -probably the hottest spot for real estate in Panama after Panama City – such as enchanted “hidden” valleys, mists that shroud the mountaintops, a perfect spring like climate, rushing rivers, flowers and high quality coffee.
This is where you come to commune with nature, hike, fish, cycle, kayak and recharge your senses in a setting of peace and tranquility. Prices in the area are still 1/4 of what you will find in Panama and around 1/3 of property on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. Read more on the mountainous, coffee growing areas of Apanas Lake, Matagalpa and Jinotega.
Poets flock to Granada to celebrate Nicaragua’s most popular art
Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Poetry is perhaps Nicaragua’s greatest passion and every year an International Poetry Festival is held in Granada. This year’s celebration, currently taking place and running to February 11th, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jose Colonel Utecho a famous national poet.
Over 40 poets from Latin America, US and Europe have arrived in Granada to perform poetry readings, lectures and musical performances from the steps of the San Francisco church (left). The festival will not pass without numerous fond references to Ruben Dario (1867-1916), one of the most famous poets with writings in Spanish, widely considered the nation’s greatest son.
Featured property on Laguna de Apoyo: Club Vistalagos
Sunday, February 4th, 2007Your own private paradise – in the heart of everything
The crater lake of Laguna de Apoyo is one of the magical places on this earth: lush, serene, panoramic and simply fabulous. Imagine a position on this crater lake only 3 km from the oldest city of the Americas and a development master-plan that combines great vision with painstaking attention to detail. Welcome to Club Vistalagos.
Picture a clear blue crater lake stretching out in front of you and the spires of Granada cathedral behind you. Envision a club house located on possibly the most spectacular spot of this most remarkable lake, a terracing infinity pool, a masterfully-appointed restaurant and bar and a look-out, all perfectly orientated to catch the sunset.
We anticipate higher levels of capital appreciation on this side of Laguna de Apoyo – given its connection to Granada – than other, more distant, areas on the crater lake. Rental possibilities for completed homes in this area will also be in great demand, drawing off Granada’s buoyant rental market.
The lure of Granada
Sunday, February 4th, 2007Granada is growing into the most popular tourism destination in Nicaragua. Many are lured by its rich history dating back to the Spanish conquistadors, beautiful colonial architecture and coherent historical center. Being the oldest city on the continent brings with it a certain cache and its location in Nicaragua’s tourism heartland makes it a logical choice as a stopping off point for visitors. Restaurants and bars are plentiful with ever increasing numbers of specialty shops but with none of the hustle and bustle of the capital.
Tourism meets real estate in Granada
Real estate and tourism are inexorably linked and the growing tourism numbers to the colonial town bodes well for Granada’s property market. You know how it goes: You go on holiday, you find a charming town and spend two glorious weeks relaxing and doing fun stuff. On the last day you look at realtors window and then buy a property – or at least start looking. Read the full article.
