The Insider Guide To San Juan del Sur
Brooke Rundle and Claudia Gonella
San Juan Live ( www.sanjuandelsur.org )
Edition 01, August 2014, San Juan del Sur
Credits
Cover image by Lauren Stocker
Cover and Interview page designs by Kas Wilkojc
Photo Credits
Justin Courter, Lauren Stocker, David Kalani, Justin Lyon, Heather van Doorninck and Out of the Blue Photography, DanCesar.com, Steve Brandy, Wendy Alexander Jacobson, Fred Goldfarb, Carlos Mora and Elisha MacKay
Disclaimer
Although the authors and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at the time of publication, the authors and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
Copyright
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Copyright 2014 by San Juan Live
Edition: 01, Published: August 2014
Coupons Valid Until: August 2015
Publisher: San Juan Live ( www.sanjuandelsur.org )
Giving Back
For every book sold o n www.sanjuandelsur.org the publishers will make a $1 donation t o Comunidad Connect , a non-profit striving to protect the environment, educate youth and generate future employment for local peopl e in San Juan del Sur .
Table of contents
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How to have a remarkable travel experience in San Juan del Sur
Anyone can get on a plane and travel to a foreign country. But what we all want to know is how to do it well .
We want a remarkable travel experience one that is worthy of being remarked on . We want the kind of travel that renews our awe for the world. We want to wade into new dimensions and be surprised by unexpected delights. We want stories, adventure and joy along the way.
We can't tell you how to travel well for every destination, but we can for San Juan del Sur. For over 10 years weve been living and working here and over that time weve learned the intricacies of the place up close and in person. Plus weve come to understand the experiences that only San Juan del Sur can deliver.
So we created a guide thats laser focused on the San Juan del Sur region of Nicaragua. Our aim is simple: to prepare you for a remarkable travel experience.
Two keys for remarkable travel
Running though the guide are two themes that keep coming up whenever we try to define what constitutes remarkable travel in San Juan del Sur:
The first theme is Insider Knowledge
Being an insider, or having access to information from in-the-know insiders, is powerful stuff when it comes to travel. And its especially important in places like San Juan del Sur that are still relatively undeveloped for tourism. Here traditional guidebooks only focus on the most popular tourist spots, skim the surface of the kind of experiences that are available and have little insight on the best angle from which to interact with the place.
In the pages that follow, we delve deep into the neighborhoods and beaches of the San Juan del Sur region. We cover the smaller towns and off-the-beaten-track places that provide unfiltered access to what life is like here. We showcase a San Juan del Sur for every personality whether its adventure, deep cultural immersion, or simple relaxation that you seek.
The second theme is Connection to People
A people-to-people connection is the hallmark of great travel. Often its the connections we make and the stories we hear that become our most precious travel experiences ones that well likely remember long after the trip is over.
Throughout the guidebook youll find interviews with resident business owners. Theyve told us the stories behind their businesses, what they love about San Juan del Sur and shared their aspirations for the future.
We hope this insight into their lives will encourage you to use their services. We say that not only because spending locally helps strengthen the local economy and community, but because it will also get you a more intimate experience.
Our interviewees have different insights, perspectives and experiences, but they all share one thing in common: they love San Juan del Sur. Who better to deliver a quality service or product and what better way to break down the distance between the way you see a place and the lives of its local residents?
Insider Knowledge and Connection - these are the cornerstones of how to travel well in San Juan del Sur, using everything weve learned over the years.
Ready?
How to use this guide
The guide combines:
- planning sections to help you have a smooth trip,
- suggestions on different ways to experience San Juan del Sur to help you build the perfect itinerary,
- insider tips to plug you deeper into the region and the
- lives of its people, and
- detailed guides and maps to neighborhoods not covered in your typical guidebook to help you discover off the beaten track experiences.
At the end of the guide weve included a comprehensive of hotels, restaurants and other businesses. Unless specified, all telephone numbers are Nicaraguan. If calling from overseas begin with +505. In Nicaragua landline numbers typically start with a 2 and cellphones with an 8. We have noted in the Directory the hotels and restaurants that are wheelchair accessible.
In the body of the guide whenever we mention one of the businesses listed in the Directory we have made it bold. You can refer to the Directory for contact details and directions.
For accommodations, plan to spend approximately $150 - $250 for the top end, $75 - $125 for mid range and $10 - $50 for budget. Please take this as general guidance as prices are seasonal and do change. Also some hotels offer rooms at different prices to accommodate varied budgets.
In each neighborhood we have suggested places to stay and eat. Weve chosen them because they best connect you with the character of each neighborhood. Some will have a special atmosphere, some a great view and others an exceptional service. Please send your own nominations to .
At the generously offered by local businesses. These are valid for 1 year after the publication date of this guide. Just pull up the coupon on your phone or tablet and show it to the business to receive your discount.
Feedback, Suggestions, Quibbles?
We will be publishing this guidebook periodically therefore we want to hear your tips, stories, suggestions and disagreements so that we can improve our content.
Have we missed a great restaurant? Is there a hotel you think people should know about? Has one of the businesses we cover closed down or lowered its standards? Have we got any of our facts wrong? Do you have any insights or experiences that others would benefit from? Please contact us . Were ready to hear what you have to say.
Get Connected
Whether you are thinking about relocating or just passing through, we make it simple to get the latest information on the best San Juan del Sur has to offer.
- Follow us on Social Media - Access up to date information on local events, fundraisers, travel deals and more by following us on Facebook and Twitter . And be sure to ask us your travel questions and share photos from your trip.
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