Pelican Eyes... Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort Hotel Photo
  San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua   Telephone: (505) 568-2110   Fax: (505) 568-2511   Email: reservations@piedrasyolas.com
Exploring Nicaragua

Increasingly popular as a vacation and adventure destination for travelers of all types (yet still undiscovered enough to make your visit truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience), Nicaragua possesses a wealth of unexplored terrain, history and unique culture.

"The land of lakes and volcanoes," Nicaragua's vast landscape offers stunning vistas and unending ecological diversity. After a visit to one of Nicaragua's many active volcanoes, mountainside coffee plantations, tiny tropical islands, historic rivers, pristine coastal beaches, and one of the world's largest lakes (dotted with more than 365 tiny islands and home to the world's only species of freshwater shark), the country's natural beauty will leave you breathless - and sure to return again and again.

And with its sunny skies and cooling coastal and mountain breezes, Nicaragua's climate is comfortable and welcoming throughout the year. Come join us!

Choose Your Adventure!

Set on the shores of a tranquil horseshoe-shaped bay, the historic fishing village of San Juan del Sur blends laid-back local hospitality with thrill-seeking adventure, land with sea, and old with new, providing a timeless charm and welcoming spirit.

Whether you choose to while away the days discovering the charming shops and beachfront restaurants of San Juan del Sur, relaxing on the beach or next to one of our three ocean-view swimming pools, hiking our private nature reserve, or exploring any of dozens of nearby historical sites, we can guarantee you will never be bored at Hotel Pelican Eyes... Piedras y Olas! The resort's proximity to Nicaragua's major cities, lakes, rivers, and artisan communities make it an ideal "home base" for your stay in Nicaragua.

To get you started, here are a few great things to do while you are in San Juan del Sur:

  1. Experience Pelican Eyes Sailing Adventures. Spend a day on the water with us! The experienced captain and attentive crew aboard the 42-foot Pelican Eyes sailing sloop are looking forward to showing you stunning views of the Pacific Coastline and treating you to the true warmth of Nicaraguan hospitality.

    Prices start at US $70 per person ($65 for hotel guests at Piedras y Olas) and include a gourmet barbecue lunch on a white sandy beach; swimming; open bar featuring juices, beer, soft drinks, mixed drinks, and rum punch; and a variety of snacks and desserts served throughout the day. Leave at 9 a.m. and return to San Juan del Sur at sunset. Half-day sails are also available at US $40 per person ($35 for hotel guests). Group rates are available; please contact us for more information or reservations.
  2. Go Scuba Diving! The Scuba Shack comes to San Juan del Sur and Piedras y Olas in August 2006. Scuba Shack will offer a variety of scuba lessons and outings, ranging from beginner to advanced, including PADI Open Water, Advanced, Specialty, Rescue and Dive Master courses.

    Piedras y Olas guests can learn scuba with the Scuba Shack right here at the hotel! Our scenic upper swimming pools will be home to poolside lectures, underwater training classes and other fun stuff for scuba divers in the making! The onsite classes will range from 2 hours to a half day pool + ocean training course. Starting in August, Scuba Shack dive instructors will be onsite at Piedras y Olas every day of the week, except Wednesday.

    For general inquiries or information on diving in Nicaragua, please contact glenn@scubashack-nicaragua.com. For class reservations at Piedras y Olas, please email reservations@piedrasyolas.com.
  3. Catch the big one! The expert crew aboard Miss Nancy's will take you to secret fishing spots and help you reel in the big one. Half- and full-day packages are available, and picnic lunches, snacks, and fishing gear can be provided for your convenience.

    Or, try your hand at catching rooster fish, sierra mackerel, bonito, snapper, grouper, snook, striped marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado and much more! The experts at Super Fly Sport Fishing specialize in fly fishing and light tackle fishing off of Nicaragua's beautiful Pacific Coast. Contact Super Fly Sport Fishing by email or check out their website
  4. Surf's up! The area surrounding San Juan del Sur is home to some of Central America's best (and largely undiscovered) surfing. Many of these beaches are so remote they cannot be reached by car, making for a unique and incomparable surfing experience! Take a water taxi and spend the day catching waves at dozens of exceptional coastal beaches.

    Want to learn how to surf or need to rent equipment? The local experts at Surf Nicaragua and Quiksilver can help!
  5. Visit the oldest and most charming city in Central America. The Spanish colonial town of Granada is located less than two hours north of San Juan del Sur by car. Soak in the colonial architecture; ride in a horse-drawn carriage; visit majestic, centuries-old cathedrals; shop for distinctive local arts and crafts; and enjoy an authentic Nicaraguan meal on the shores of dramatic Lake Nicaragua.
  6. Climb a volcano! The island of Ometepe, located in the middle of nearby Lake Nicaragua, offers more beautiful beaches and the opportunity to climb two of Central America's most majestic volcanoes: Concepción (1,610 meters/4,895 feet) and Maderas (1,394 meters/4,190 feet).

    Not ready to go it on your own? Tours Nicaragua would be happy to take you to the top of several of Nicaragua's other stunning peaks!
  7. Visit Masaya, the center of Nicaragua's artisan community. Just a two-hour drive from San Juan del Sur, a visit to the town of Masaya will take you deep into the heart of Nicaraguan culture. Masaya's Mercado Nacionál de Artesanías [Old Market] is a vibrant gathering place for some of the country's most talented and creative painters, sculptors, ceramics artists, and more. Find that one-in-a-million souvenir and meet the creators of some of the world's most unique handcrafts.
  8. Explore the jungles of Nicaragua from a birds-eye perspective! Zip through the trees suspended high above the ground on a Jungle Canopy Tour in the Volcano Mombacho Natural Reserve. Enjoy stunning views of Lake Nicaragua, coffee plantations, volcanoes, and dozens of varieties of birds and butterflies while listening to the roar of howler monkeys just a few trees away. Or, stay close to home and enjoy the canopy tour at "Da Flying Frog"!
  9. Learn Spanish! Enhance your vacation and make it a true cultural exchange - take a Spanish course designed for travelers and explorers! Local Spanish language schools offer expert instruction, cultural activities, lodging and home stays (as desired) and much more. For more information, check out Playas del Sur Spanish School, La Casa Escuela Rosa Silva and San Juan del Sur Spanish School.

We'd be happy to arrange any of these adventures or activities. Just let us know how we can help! Customized guided and self-guided sightseeing or adventure tours are also available. Please check with us prior to or upon arrival for more information.

Tips To Travelers and Guests:

  1. Don’t bring Traveler’s Cheques. They simply are not the time honored currency exchange system for travelers that they once were. Nobody accepts them in Nicaragua!
  2. Best to bring only Credit Cards and Cash Cards that can be used in Cash Machines (remember to have authorized Pin Codes as you won’t be able to obtain them here).
  3. Also, report to your Credit Card companies that you will be traveling in Nicaragua (and wherever else you will be going) to prevent having to have your identify checked after your first three purchases or credit card uses.
  4. US dollars are accepted throughout Nicaragua. Bring a mixture of large bills as well as 20s (many small businesses will NOT change nor except $100 bills because of the ease of counterfeiting them.)

 

Vulcan Concepción on Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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