Recommend August 2012 - (Page 22)

Hotel Mukul in Nicaragua HONDURAS Honduras is blessed with a trio of essential superlatives not to miss. For a place in the sun on tropical beaches, plus ﬁshing and Technicolor scuba diving, book into the Bay Islands, a pristine archipelago that spreads over 92 sq. miles. The major islands—Roatan, Utila and Guanaja—ﬂoat along the world’s second largest barrier reef. Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands, draws beach-lovers and with some 40 dive sites, is the Holy Grail for divers, while Utila’s biggest draw is diving with whale sharks. On the mainland, head for the La Ceiba area on the north coast and enjoy Pico Bonito National Park, the second largest park in the country. Its many habitats—rainforest, cloud forest and dry forest—shelter a grand variety of birds and wildlife. A 20-mile network of trails follows the Zacate River, and the churning Rio Cangrejal offers some of Central America’s most exciting white-water rafting. And Honduras has the Mayan World wonder, the ruins of Copan, a 3-hour drive away from San Pedro Sula. The archaeological site of Copan is one of the most spectacular in the Americas, and the visitor bonus here is a stay in the charming and lively village of Copan Ruinas. (www.letsgohonduras.com) NICARAGUA Nicaragua is the same size as England and Wales combined. In fact, it is Central America’s largest country, one full of such prime visitor attractions as sunny beaches, colonial towns, spectacular lakes, tropical rainforests and volcanoes. You go north from the capital city of Managua to the S4 august 2012 must-visit university town of Leon, whose cathedral was just named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Its colonial twin is graceful and historic Granada (founded in 1524), a colonial gem on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. Gorgeous adobe mansions remain, today repainted in bright tropical colors and ﬁlled with ﬁne restaurants, lively bars and fun shops. From town, explore “las isletas” by motorboat or kayak, go birdwatching and canopy zip-lining in the cloud forest of Mombacho Volcano. San Juan del Sur is a hot town for young travelers and surfers from around the globe with plenty of bars and restaurants offering spectacular sunset views. Just south of town is the La Flor Wildlife Reserve and a stretch of beach attracting more than 200,000 Olive Ridley turtles. Closer to the Managua is Masaya Volcano National Park, where you can drive right up to or climb up to the edge of a lava-glowing crater, then later visit the Mercado de Artesanias in Masaya. (visit-nicaragua.com) Two new regional airports, San Juan del Norte (formerly Greytown) and La Palma on Ometepe Island have upped the access to these rainforest and island destinations. La Costeña Airlines, already up and running with a 12-passenger Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, is ﬂying Thursdays and Sundays, leaving Managua (MGA) at noon and returning from San Juan de Nicaragua (SJN) at 1:30 p.m. The La Palma airport will be open by the end of the year. With new air service, easier access to the San Juan River and the eco-rich Rio-Maiz Biological Reserve—more than 600 bird species and 200 species of mammals—in southeastern Nicaragua will be welcome news to adventurers, birders and anglers. The excellent 27-room, lagoon-side Rio Indio Adventure Lodge, for example, once reached almost exclusively overland from San Jose, Costa Rica to Barra del Colorado, then a boat ride to lodge, now has more direct access. (rioindiolodge.com) Opening in January 2013 is Hotel Mukul, a luxury boutique hotel and spa, part of the 1,670-acre Guacalito de la Isla low-density private beach community on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast. The property will feature 39 spacious villas, each with an ocean view, pool and private staff. Other amenities include Spa Mukul, a beach club with dining and lounge areas, a pool, the 18-hole Guacalito Golf Course, four miles of beach and eight miles of nature trails for hiking and biking. (guacalitodelaisla.com) What’s New in Nicaragua On Roatan, the 7,064-yard Black Pearl Golf Course, located just outside the town of French Harbour and designed by Pete Dye and his son Perry, made its ofﬁcial debut this year as host to the Central American Golf Championship. The course is part of the Pristine Bay resort complex, which also includes Las Verandas Hotel & Villas, opening this month with 36 luxury rooms and suites, plus 11 free-standing villas (most with private inﬁnity-edged pools or pools with waterfalls). Amenities range from a private 1,000-ft. beach to two restaurants and bars. In the future: total complex development calls for 60 luxury rooms and suites and 30 villas. (pristine-bay.com) Also on Roatan, Inﬁnity Bay Resort, located on beautiful West Bay beach, has added dive shop operations. Additionally, just opened is a new administrative building that includes a full-service spa; a new restaurant will be coming soon. The owners are expanding their domain along the beach to a 14-acre plot whose centerpiece property is the 281-unit Grand Roatan Resort. The units will be similar to the 1- to 3-bedroom suites at Inﬁnity Bay. (inﬁnitybay.com) recommend.com What’s New in Honduras http://www.rioindiolodge.com http://www.guacalitodelaisla.com http://www.visit-nicaragua.com http://www.letsgohonduras.com http://www.pristine-bay.com http://www.infinitybay.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: DogSpa Resort & Wellness Center
Tour Talk: MLT Vacations
The Danube With AmaWaterways
Striking Gold With Vegas' Golden Gate
Central & South America Guide
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Cape Cod
New Zealand's South Island is Sheer Eye Candy
Seven Stars Resort, Turks & Caicos
Iberostar Cancun
Three Days in Cape Town & the Winelands, South Africa

Recommend August 2012