From the moment you enter the gates of Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua rich tropical forest becomes the backdrop of everything you see. The property stretches over 1,800 hectares of land including the reforestation project, organic gardens, a dairy farm and a beautiful private bay which stretches 1.2 kilometres along Nicaragua‘s Pacific Coast. There is a childlike nature that the property seems to invoke with guests of all ages whether they’re walking around wide-eyed trying to spot howler monkeys, getting their hands dirty in the gardens, or taking a walk in the trees to cross a suspension bridge, which leads to and from the bungalows.
The central pool and ocean views at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua. Image © Mary Tilson
Ocean Bungalow at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua
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The accommodation at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua has an eco-chic, natural design, allowing you to connect deeply with nature without compromising on the comfort of a luxury resort. I stayed in an Oceanview Bungalow which had an outdoor and indoor shower, hanging daybed overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and small desk which became my dream travel office with a view.
The level of mindfulness that has gone into the construction allows you to settle in a little bit deeper as the team has gone to great lengths to ensure minimal impact has been made on the environment. Slabs of rock from the beach create tiles to the outdoor shower floor, volcanic rock shaped into bricks form the walls and you may even find trees growing through the roof as an added measure to prevent chopping them down.
Lush gardens and extensive grounds at Morgan’s Rock Ecolodge. Image © Mary Tilson
Lovely, big open air rooms at Morgan’s Rock Hotel. Image © Mary Tilson
The perfect afternoon spot for relaxing and reading at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua. Image © Mary Tilson
Lush forests at Morgan’s Rock Eco-Resort Nicaragua. Image © Mary Tilson
Activities at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua
As tempting as it was to stay in my cozy bungalow all day, Morgan’s Rock offers a long list of activities that promote a heightened awareness of the ecology and culture of Nicaragua. Bismark, one of the friendly guides on site was a pleasure to spend time with, offering an impressive level of knowledge about the property and its development.
Some of the onsite activities include trekking; ranging from a self-guided walk through the jungle to the more rigorous La Pluma hike at the highest point, the farm tour, horse back riding, kayaking, surfing, and boat trips. Guests are encouraged to get involved with the various sustainability projects such as laying down the seed for one of the millions (yes, millions!) of trees that have been planted since Morgan’s Rock got its start.
Mary hard at work at Morgan’s Rock Hacienda. Image © Mary Tilson
Gorgeous green herb garden at Morgan’s Rock. Image © Mary Tilson
Farm to Fork Fare at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua
After being raised in the suburbs of Chicago, having breakfast on the farm was a truly memorable experience with a lot of firsts. Our day started off early with milking the cows, collecting freshly laid eggs, and then making our way to the lovely El Aquacate farmhouse where we learned to make corn tortillas and freshly brewed Nicaraguan coffee to enjoy with our meal.
Of course, even if you choose not to get the full hands on farm to table experience, 90 percent of food served at the restaurant is locally grown or caught from the ocean. I was also pleased to find a full vegetarian menu with enough options to try something new at every meal.
Mary practicing in the early hours at Morgan’s Rock. Image © Mary Tilson
Retreat at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua
After hearing about all of the activities both on and offsite, the first thing I wanted to do was figure out how to jam pack my three-day visit to experience all of it! Fortunately, the team at Morgan’s Rock had other plans. I was encouraged to spend my first day settling in and enjoying the space. For the number of times I have offered this advice to others, it still amazes me what a challenge it can be at times to just relax.
I made my way down to the Yoga Platform, where Maya, a yoga teacher from the US teaches daily group and private classes by request. The platform is surrounded by ancient looking trees with roots practically growing into the room on one end, and an open view to the beach on the other.
I found a good balance during my stay of taking time to simply enjoy the calming nature of undisturbed ocean views and forests rich in greenery during the rainy season, while still making time for a little adventure. For the socially and environmentally conscious travellers looking for an authentic experience of Nicaragua, I say “retreat yourself!”
The yoga space at Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua. Image © Mary Tilson
Getting There
Morgan’s Rock is located 8km outside of the popular tourist destination town of San Juan Del Sur. There is an international airport in the capital city of Managua which is located 3 hours by car, or a short 35-minute flight, arriving on the property’s private landing strip.
Morgan’s Rock Nicaragua
Playa Ocotal, San Juan del Sur, Rivas, Nicaragua
The Fit Traveller was a guest at Morgan’s Rock for this stay. As always, the opinions, words and images are authentically our own.
