Finding zen at Casa Lucia in Nicaragua
Surfing and yoga were all Eloisa Mayers had in mind when she went to Nicaragua four years ago.
And then she came across her dream home in Granada, a city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
It’s been two years since she opened Casa Lucia, the boutique hotel she bought with her sister Arantxa.
“I’m adventurous and Nicaragua suits me,” the 36-year-old said. “I love my home and my country — Bermuda — but I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than here.
“It’s interesting because here in Nicaragua I live a very different life. I can shop at the local market and buy a big bag of vegetables straight from the farm for about US$9, and they last me most of the week. My breakfast is all tropical fruits, they are so delicious. We go out in flip-flops — everything is very casual here — and no one carries designer handbags. Happy hour always has live music and often cultural celebrations in the background.”
She meets people from all over the world through her business — yoga enthusiasts to entrepreneurs, retirees and charity workers.
“Everyone has a different story,” she said. “I’m in my element. I can teach yoga, run my business, paddleboard on the weekends or go and hike a volcano in my free time.”
Most of her free time comes once the rainy season starts in May. It’s then she is able to enjoy surfing on the Pacific coast or paddleboarding on Laguna de Apoyo, a nature reserve that is a huge tourist attraction.
She loves that the country has a strong culture. Nicaraguans love to sing, dance and play music; cultural events and exhibitions are central to her life there.
“Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti,” Ms Mayers said. “Being exposed to such levels of poverty after growing up in a rich country like Bermuda has taught me to be so grateful every day for a good education and upbringing in a beautiful island.
“I’m very happy this country has made it possible for me to live my dream, and grateful for all the staff who have supported me and stayed with me since the beginning to make this possible.”
Ms Mayers was a journalist and also worked in marketing before she left Bermuda for Central America in 2012. She’s the hotel’s general manager; her sister lives and works in Bermuda.
“I love Casa Lucia not only because it is such a unique and beautiful property, but because it allows me to focus on what I love to do — teaching yoga and working with people,” she said.
“But you cannot rest in this industry. You need to constantly evaluate your services, amenities, processes, staff training/management, and financial results. Every day I step back and think, this is beautiful, and then I start planning for the future. This year we [are planning] to either expand or redevelop part of the hotel.”
Feedback from visitors has been extremely positive, she said.
“The biggest reward has been seeing the reviews of our guests who love the hotel and the experience we have created,” Ms Mayers said. “This isn’t just a hotel room. We don’t approach our business that way and we are not here to sell rooms. We provide an experience centred on yoga and wellbeing.
“Casa Lucia is a boutique wellness retreat where you can switch off and restore body, mind and spirit by practicing yoga, exploring Nicaragua’s cultural and natural treasures, and just finding time to relax in a private retreat.
“I always tell people to switch off the iPhone and relax. Combine that with our healthy detox smoothies and plenty of yoga classes and you will return home a new person.
“The biggest success I feel is the attention to details I have put into the business which has paid off. I love it when guests come to me and say, I love the soap in your rooms, where is that made? Or the coffee is so delicious, can I purchase some to take home?”
Rates run from $89 to $120 a night, and include breakfast and yoga classes.
• Find out more at www.casaluciagranada.com. Alternatively, watch for them on Twitter: @Casa Lucia Granada; Facebook: www.facebook.com/casaluciagranada or Instagram: @CasaLuciaGranada.
Eloisa Mayers’s list of the best things to see and do in Nicaragua:
• 1. Soak up the history in Granada. It’s Nicaragua’s sixth most populous city and the oldest in the country. It’s characterised by beautiful architecture, an extinct volcano and elongated coasts and will soon become a Unesco world heritage site.
• 2. Dabble in the arts. Granada has hosted the International Poetry Festival every February since 2005. It attracts writers and poets from 150 countries. In addition to the poetry readings, there are musical concerts, art exhibitions and theatrical shows on offer.
• 3. Visit the volcanoes. Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes. Two popular choices are Volcano Mombacho and Volcano Masaya, less than 30 minutes from Granada. Both have “cloud forests, lava fields, animal/bird life and spectacular views”. Other options? Laguna de Apoyo, a volcanic crater lake which is “a wonderful place to swim or paddle board and relax”, or Ometepe Island. The latter is a volcanic lake island, which is the home of two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepción.
• 4. Stay in an eco-lodge. Accommodations such as those at Maderas and Concepción ensure you’re making the least possible impact on the environment around you. In Grenada you can stay in an eco-lodge on the hills of the volcano and hike, swim in the waterfalls and explore the island. “Most of the visitors we have at the hotel visit this island, including Bermudian visitors,” Ms Mayers said. “Islanders are always curious about other islands.”
• 5. Soak up the rays and surf at the lively beach town of San Juan del Sur. The popular destination on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast offers an exciting mix of local culture, nightlife and restaurants. There’s also lots of surfing and fishing along with beautiful beaches.
• 6. Check out the sights at León. This city in the north is Granada’s cultural rival. Ms Mayers said: “It’s beautiful and less touristy than the beach area and you can hike the coffee route and enjoy the cloud forests.”
