A Paradise in Central America

Music and Dance

Music in Nicaragua is largely an expression of our History. We have several local mariachis in our community who enjoy performing on the beach during our weekly bonfire and at open mic nights on Saturdays in our neighboring community of Escamequita and Wednesdays in San Juan del Sur, both events are available for our guests to enjoy.

Dance also plays an important role in the lives of local Nicaraguans. Salsa is one of the most popular styles of music and dance. We often host Salsa Classes, so don’t forget your dancing shoes if you’re interested in learning some new moves.

Culinary

Most Nicaraguan culinary dishes descend from our indigenous roots, resulting in a mixture of interesting dishes with unusual ingredients.

When Europeans first arrived in Nicaragua, they found that the people living here had made good use of the ingredients native to the area. Some of the commonly abundant local ingredients include Avocado, Mango, Corn, Pipian, Chayote, and Plantain Like our arts and crafts, our cuisine varies by region. Nagarote is famous for its delicious cheese tortilla dish called Quesillos, Granada for vigoron, a combination of pork rinds, yuka, and salad, while in Rivas we are known for our BBQ and Seafood plates.

Country Life

Most of our community is from small country villages where subsistence farming has long been the way of life. Nicaraguan country life is about slowing down and being happy with what nature provides us.

Life in the country is a mix of enjoying a mid-day siesta in a hammock and hard labor in the fields. Most people living in the country live in small villages where multigenerational family unity is the most common strength.

Party Time

In Nicaragua, we are always looking for an excuse to celebrate. Though our celebrations at Costa Dulce are definitely on the chill side, the nightlife in San Juan del Sur is always bumping.

If you have an itch to put on your dancing shoes, we are happy to arrange for a chaperon who will take good care of you.

Today’s vibrant and colorful culture that makes Nicaragua such a fantastically unique destination is thanks to our intriguing history.

The area now known as Nicaragua was inhabited by a variety of native tribes with different languages and customs prior to the arrival and subsequent colonization of the Spanish conquistadors in the early 16th century. Though most of the culture was lost and many died thanks to the arrival of new disease, the blood of the first people still runs thick, as has some language, arts and cuisine persevered through into present-day Nicaraguan life.

In more recent history, the Somoza multigenerational dictatorship began in 1937 following 20 years of US occupation in the early 1900s. The Somoza rule finally fell to a popular revolution in 1979.

The US government’s relationship with the leftist Sandinista party led by Daniel Ortega (revolutionary victors), has been rocky from the start. During the 1980s, Congress voted to provide support to the exiled national guard to mobilize a civil war against the Sandinista Government. After years of civil war and economic sanctions, Daniel Ortega’s government lost an election in 1992 to Violeta Chamorro the center-right candidate.

Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas took office again in 2008 after 16 years of right-wing rule. Governing in peace has resulted in vast improvements in our public infrastructure along with solid economic growth.

On 18 April 2018, demonstrators in several cities of Nicaragua began protests against the social security reforms decreed by President Daniel Ortega that increased taxes and decreased benefits. The situation has since stabilized with the country’s opposition starting to unite and get prepare for the presidential election upcoming in November 2021.