By Francoise Snobel.
Sustainable tourism is paramount to Paraiso Beach Hotel owners, Ton Bos and Mike Brower, two management consultants that left their company in Holland for a very different life on Big Corn Island. Their journey into hotelier status started out as a faraway dream that quickly become a reality after backpacking through Brazil. “We either had to stop talking about it or do it,” said Ton. And they chose the latter when their travels took them to Corn Island. The original owners of Paraiso Beach Hotel were returning to Canada and the property had just gone up for sale. “It was a real synchronization,” said Ton. “We passed the gate and just knew it would be a big turning point in our lives.” Three weeks later a deal was made. In January of 2005, Ton and Mike re-opened Paraiso Beach Hotel, a collection of Caribbean style cabanas that feel authentically “Corn Island”.

But their story does not end there, as running the hotel was just a small part of their relocation plans. Through their previous business contacts, Ton and Mike were able to gain the support of non-profit organization MITIALTO, where they raised enough funds to renovate one Big Corn Island school and build two more. In addition to this, Ton and Mike have improved the island’s education through teacher training initiatives and purchasing school materials. The next eagerly anticipated challenge for Ton and Mike is a Big Corn water project that is in the works, with the goals of clean drinking water, halting erosion and reducing garbage.
“These projects have nothing to do with reputation,” said Mike. “It’s just something you do.”
Paraiso Beach Hotel – Big Corn Island, Nicaragua
Tel: +(505) 575 5111
Website: www.paraisoclub.com
Accommodation:
15 cosy cabanas are dotted throughout the property, which is only 80 meters away from the beach. With palm tree thatched roofs and a well-maintained tropical landscaped garden, Paraiso Beach Hotel’s accommodation is a little piece of Nicaraguan paradise. Rooms are simple, but impeccably clean and very comfortable. Crisp white sheets, mosquito nets and Nicaraguan style furnishings adorn the wooden walled rooms and colourful hammocks hang outside private verandas. Cabanas are air-conditioned and have clean private bathrooms with showers.
Atmosphere:
Laid-back and friendly, the staff and guests make the Paraiso Beach Hotel experience a memorable one. The charm of the island is not lost at Paraiso, which is a big issue many developments face when introducing tourism. This has a lot to do with the owners, as they have become part of the community and want their accommodation to be authentic and non-intrusive. There is a real Caribbean feel here.
Food and Drink:
Paraiso has just recently renovated their bar, restaurant and kitchen. The restaurant, called The Buccaneer, is amidst the gardens in the open air and under a thatched roof. The menu is quite expansive and reasonably priced. Those looking for some fresh seafood can indulge in lobster, shrimp and whole fish, served Caribbean style, with garlic or with lime salt and pepper – all of which are mouth-wateringly tasty. Pizza, pasta, salads and soups are also available. A continental breakfast is complimentary for Paraiso Beach Hotel guests. The bar is stocked with plenty of drink options, from pina coladas to nica libres, guests can be choosy with their tipple.
Activities:
The Little Corn Island snorkelling trip is a must. Here guests have a scenic boat ride with plenty of snorkelling opportunities. Amazing marine life can be seen, including rays, nurse sharks, and brightly coloured tropical fish and coral. During this trip, the boat stops off at Little Corn Island, first to explore and then back again on a secluded part of the beach for some fresh coconut water (and rum, if you choose!). Those who want to kneeboard are offered a bit of watersport excitement and those who prefer a mellower afternoon can soak up the sun on the white sandy beach
The Last Word:
An authentically Caribbean retreat that prides itself on sustainable tourism – Paraiso Beach Hotel on Big Corn Island truly is a little piece of paradise.

While some residential communities have suffered as a result of the real estate recession in the USA, Rancho Santana continues to thrive with new houses going up every month.
In addition to the healthy rate of single-family construction that is going on, there are five more neighborhoods currently underway: the Seagate condominiums, 24 oceanfront luxury condominiums with unobstructed views and beach access, well located just a few steps from the clubhouse and spa. The Seagate beach village, 90 oversized single-family home lots, starting at $46,000 that comes with a choice of three building plans for a beach cottage.
These sites are set in a village environment along the picturesque Limon River and within walking distance to the beach and all the Ranch Santana amenities.
Visto Del mar, a condo-hotel development consisting of110 income producing hillside cottages with sea and mountain views starting as low as $139,000.
The Estates, a privately gated, upscale community of 50one+ acre lots with spectacular ocean valley and mountain views, and finally a new 200 acre eco-friendly mountainside reserve which will feature 100 eco-friendly cabins in a natural tranquil forest environment with stunning panoramic views.
Rancho Santana was once my dream and the dream of my American and Nicaraguan partners. But now it’s a reality for more than 350 property owners and residents who have come here to take advantage of Nicaragua’s Riviera coast. Around us other, smaller developments have popped up in recent years. Together they have created thousands of jobs for local residents and pumped tens of millions of dollars into the Tola community and into Rivas and Managua, the two cities that most directly benefit from this new and exciting surge of development.
Ranch Santana retains all its immense natural beauty in developing our community; we took plans to ensure that the natural integrity of the land was never altered. The groomed dirt roads were groomed along the cow paths. The ravines and gullies that bring the rainwater to the sea are undisturbed. The hillsides have not been leveled to accommodate track housing, as has now been done elsewhere around here.
The monkeys and parrots are thriving. The turtles come to nest on our beaches. And the waves are still amazing.
The hiking, biking and horseback riding at Ranch Santana are spectacular. But the crown jewel of our bedizened community is out five beaches. Two of these beaches are beautiful hidden coves that can only be reached on foot from within the community. The other three beaches are wide with pinks sands and a beautiful shoreline.
Because of nearby Lake Nicaragua, these beaches enjoy offshore winds about 3330 days a year. This creates two constantly great surf breaks nearly all year long; one in Playa Santana and one in Playa Rosada.
From the south end of Ranch Santana surfers have access to two more great breaks, Panga drops and Colorado are just a short walk down the beach.
All around Ranch Santana you can see signs of what the future will bring. Many of the small, wooded framed shacks that once housed the local farming families, have being renovated or replaced entirely with brick and stucco homes, that are painted in bright colors and fronted by little gardens and and colorful native flowers. In the towns of La Salinas and Limon you will find dozens of new local restaurants, serving local residents along with visitors from Nicaragua and abroad.
The children at the local schools have new bags and uniforms (thanks to donations given by Rancho Santana’s development office and many of it’s residents)
Many of the employees at Ranch Santana receive free English training. And the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic established in 2002 by the developers of Rancho Santana, services more than 1000 patients a year, on 24/7 basis.
Rancho Santana is a proven community with a 10-year history of continual expansion and improvements and a record of servicing it’s ever- growing population of US Nicaraguan and international property owners.

Piedras y Olas is a unique socially conscious hotel and real estate development project that pairs a thriving for-profit hotel business with their nonprofit partner, Foundation A. Jean Brugger. At Piedras Y Olas they continue to be an active, vibrant, welcoming and responsible member of the community in San Juan del Sur. Through their partnership with the Foundation they provide educational funds, school uniforms, a scholarship fund, on-site vocational training and long term employment for hundreds of San Juaneños and surrounding communities.
Piedras y Olas is comprised of hundreds of curving brick stairways flowing through the property, connecting statuesque Villas to rejuvenating pools, gourmet restaurants to contemplative vistas and cozy cabinas…all intertwined to offer their guests time to enjoy a sense of connection to nature and make the most out of the varied and extraordinary views glimpsed from their hillside properties.
With an attentive and friendly staff your every possible need or special request is always fulfilled. The service is superb offering the most elegant gourmet dining in town. Piedras y Olas puts quality and attention to every detail first. With breathtaking ocean views, locally hand crafted furniture, tropically landscaped gardens and high ceilinged rooms you will notice the by playing a proactive and vital role in the development and sustainability of the community, particularly in its children. Their partnership with Foundation A. Jean Brugger provides many educational opportunities for many young people in and around the community.
Their community projects include a school uniform project, a scholarship fund, school supplies and books, as well as environmental projects concerning reforestation and trash collection to name a few. They also are involved in vocational training and offer a special outing and luncheon for ancianos in San Juan del Sur. One of their recent projects concerns an art gallery, La Galeria del Sur, which acts to promote local Nicaraguan art and artists.
Another component of Foundation A. Jean Brugger and partner to Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort is the veterinary clinic. Stones and Waves Veterinary clinic is not only dedicated to providing quality healthcare for domestic animals but is also a developing wild life center. They are striving to provide the same level of care for captive wild animals in and around San Juan del Sur with the goal to rehabilitate and re-release them back into their natural environments.
Piedras Y olas has two top class restaurants, La Cascada and Bistro La Canoa both offering unique international cuisine with breathtaking views of the bay. With happy hour from 4-8 pm Wednesday and Friday, there is no better place to sip on a strawberry margarita while watching the breathtaking sunset.
The resort has 3 infinity pools including a half size Olympic lap pool. Activities include surfing lessons and surf trips, yoga classes, fishing trips, horseback riding, ATV tours, and much more!
Piedras Y Olas is a unique tourism and development project of the highest quality, one that should not be missed on anyone’s trip to Nicaragua’s beautiful Pacific coast