Aqua press kit by Studio Enova

PRESS CLIPS

What the press says about Aqua: “Aqua has all the makings of paradise.” Travel Age West (August 17, 2015) “Slumber in a treehouse and rise to salute the sun at Aqua.” Brides (August 2012) “If you were picking new destinations that are becoming iconic, Nicaragua would have to be one.” The Wall Street Journal (May 19, 2015) “At Aqua, trees sway languidly in the breeze, intermittent barks of howler monkeys rasp through the canopy and clouds of lilac butterflies puff around us as we walk.” Elle Magazine (October 2014)

What guests say about Aqua on Trip Advisor: “Aqua is gorgeous, intimate, unique, comfortable...did I say gorgeous times 1000?” “Amazingly beautiful setting, with the perfect combination of jungle and ocean — straight out of a movie!” “Fantastic luxury Tree Houses right on the ocean — a special place!” “The entire staff of Aqua was wonderful! Don’t miss this this resort if you travel to Nicaragua — it’s a gem!”

HOT SPOT

Scenic, safe and sustainable, Nicaragua redefines its image BY MADELINE HOLLERN

iding in an open-air bus to the top of Mombacho Volcano near Granada, I’m convinced we are driving vertically. As our bus inches along the ultrasteep pathway, I try to suppress the growing concern in my head: Is this safe? The only thing scarier than going up a volcano, dormant or otherwise, is the thought of falling off of it. Thankfully, my fears evaporate as we reach the cloud forest layer, and my tour guide, Enrique, and I begin hiking the verdant crater trail, looking for Mombacho salamanders and vapor-emitting fumaroles. Not only is it safe here, it’s also breathtakingly beautiful—a good metaphor for Nicaragua itself. Although the Central American country has weathered its fair share of government corruption, poverty and turmoil, its burgeoning tourism industry is not only revitalizing the national economy but also transforming its image to that of a prime vacation destination. To explore the native flora and fauna at a lower altitude, we board a lancha boat to tour the Islets of Granada, more than 350 small islands formed thousands of years ago on

Lake Nicaragua after a Mombacho eruption. Each islet has its own personality—some are developed with real estate, some filled with trees covered with teardrop-shaped birds’ nests, others inhabited by playful spider monkeys. As we float past lily pads and survey the archipelago, a bird-watchers’ paradise, I spot blue and orange king fisher, feather-headed urraca, turquoise-browed motmot and other colorful fowl at every turn. The next morning, my guide and I whiz past fields of plantain and sugar cane en route to San Juan del Sur, a sleepy Pacific Ocean town known for having ideal waves for surfing. For a stunning view of the city, we trek up steep, narrow steps to visit the nearly 80-foot-tall Christ of the Mercy statue, reminiscent of Brazil’s towering Christ the Redeemer. Admiring the town below, I turn my head toward the ocean just in time to see a humpback whale leap into the air. If not a sign from the heavens, the sighting feels, at the very least, like an auspicious omen of surprises to come. Not intent on becoming too crowded or commercialized, many resorts here are demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Like a posh summer camp for adults, Aqua Wellness Resort on the Emerald Coast has wooden bridges that lead through the forest to treehouse-style lodgings made with indigenous materials. Staying here on my last night, I fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and rise the next morning to have breakfast on the beach, hearing howler monkeys emote in the background. Later that morning, I join a yoga class on an outdoor platform overlooking Redonda Bay. As we end the session lying flat on our mats, feeling the ocean breeze blow across our faces, I feel a restorative sense of calm. Just as Enrique had assured me upon my arrival in Nicaragua, two words sum up the philosophy and way of life here: “No stress.” AM

Insider Tips ▼

To get there, fly via Houston to Managua, the capital city. Or, starting June 6, American Airlines will offer a direct flight from Dallas to Managua once a week. ▼

Local staples include gallo pinto (a mix of rice and beans), fried plantain chips, ceviche, tres leches cake and libations made with Flor de Caña rum. ▼

FROM TOP:

A treehouse-style suite with a private plunge pool overlooking Redonda Bay at Aqua Wellness Resort; a spider monkey hanging from a tree on one of the Islets of Granada

152 AU ST I N MON THLY.COM / MAY 201 5

Follow the likes of Morgan Freeman and other celebrities by staying at Mukul, an opulent resort in Guacalito de la Isla. Luxuriate with chakra balancing, hammam or other pampering treatments in one of its six private spa houses.

SUITE PHOTO COURTESY AQUA WELLNESS RESORT. MONKEY PHOTO FROM SHUTTERSTOCK.

T RAVE L C E N T RA L AME RI C A

Out On a Limb ESCHEW THE TYPICAL HONEYMOON HOTEL FOR A TREETOP PAD. AQUATIC ADVENTURERS Aqua Wellness Resort is cradled in a quiet cove along Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, which means ample surfing and snorkeling opportunities. The hillside teak villas each come with a wraparound deck and a plunge pool, as well as beach, ocean or jungle vistas. From $170.

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NICARAGUA EN 3 ACTES

Texte & Photos : E. Lameignère

Partir surfer tout seul, en couple ou en famille n'implique pas forcément de se précipiter sur les spots dès qu'on a quitté l'aéroport. C'est en fait rarement une bonne idée sauf si l'on veut se jeter la tête la première sur le reef dès la session inaugurale. De plus, tous les aéroports internationaux ne sont pas au bord des océans. Au Nicaragua, on peut tenter l'aventure en trois temps, trois tercios du bien-être : l'avant-surf, le surf et l'after-surf.

L O S PAT I O S (G R A N A D A ) Les deux écueils absolus lorsque l'on débarque tard dans la nuit à l'aéroport de Managua est : 1- de vouloir enchaîner trois heures de route pour rejoindre Popoyo ou Pochomil ; le finale sur des routes caillouteuses et défoncées pourrait vous achever après 18 heures minimum de voyage 2- dormir à Managua, capitale administrative sans charme. À 50 minutes à peine de là, se loge au bord du gigantesque lac Nicaragua (qui assure 300 jours de off shore par an à la côte pacifique) la charmante ville au style colonial de Granada (la Nouvelle Grenade) vous réconfortera de ses couleurs murales chatoyantes. L'hôtel Los Patios entièrement redessiné par ses propriétaires danois est une réussite totale entre design scandinave et matériaux locaux, enchaînant comme son nom l'indique, cinq patios autour desquels s'organisent les salons, chambres, piscine et salle à manger (photo page précédente et ci-contre). lospatiosgranada.com

P L AYA S A N TA N A Si Popoyo est l'un des spots les plus connus du Nicaragua, on parle moins souvent de Playa Santana (photo ci-contre) situé à quelques kilomètres à peine, juste avant le très enclavé et privatisé Rancho Santana. Beach break dont le meilleur pic s'enroule au sud de la baie, la plage abrite un bar de plage tenu par des Nicaraguayens accueillants qui louent quelques chambres à l'étage. Le meilleur compromis dans un standing un peu plus élevé se trouve à 500 mètres de la vague, plus au nord, avec le petit resort Buenas Ondas construit par un Suisse amoureux du coin. Toutes sortes de chambres sont disponibles de la plus simple à la villa luxueuse et autonome, autour d'une piscine calme et agréable. Inmanquable : un half pipe a été érigé dans un jardin discret pour skater face à l'océan. Plus au nord, l'excellent restaurant Magnific Rock est aussi un hôtel en mode auberge de jeunesse, et la vue y est impressionnante. buenaondaresort.com

AQUA WELLNESS Lorsque l'on est fourbus d'avoir surfé tous les jours et que le vent offshore tourne les têtes, on peut se réfugier dans les derniers jours du séjour au splendide ecolodge Aqua Wellness dissimulé dans une forêt, au bord d'une baie naturellement protégée. Maisons dans les arbres, plateforme de yoga face à l'immensité de l'océan, feu de nuit sur la plage et lâchers de tortues élevées et protégées par un programme dédié du lieu. Même les singes hurleurs semblent avoir adopté les hôtes détendus de ce majestueux hâvre de paix. aquanicaragua.com

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TREETOP TRANQUILITY The Aqua Wellness Resort Written By Nicole Gambino

Move over Tarzan, there is a new breed of tree dwelling travelers in the jungle. Located on Nicaragua’s “Emerald Coast”, 12 km north of San Juan Del Sur, the Aqua Wellness Resort is a tropical oasis nestled in a dramatic setting cradled by a private cove and sheltered white sandy beach. The cove is part of a tropical dry forest climate that alternates between hot sunny days for the majority of the year, to a greener season characteristic of the tropical rain forest from June to October.

Boasting unique Treetop Villas developed to relocate the guest experience into the tree canopy and allow clientele to commune with nature, the distinctive concept villa properties include, wraparound decks; infinity plunge pools; and open floor plans that encourage a communion with the active life of the forest canopy. All the resorts villas were sited to minimize impact on the primary forest and every room has a tranquil beach, ocean, or forest views where families of monkeys gambol through the forest alongside rare birds, butterflies, flowers, tree frogs and other tropical life. Pure air, ocean waves, and abundant plant and wildlife create the platform for the resort’s wellness programs. The yoga deck, atop the forest canopy overlooking the ocean, is an ideal location for daily practice, meditation, dance, reflection or stargazing. “Pure Wellness in Nature” spa treatments offer massages, facial and body treatments, specialty services, and spa packages. preferredmagazine.ca

For those guests who crave more physical vigor, the natural landscape provides trails for hiking, walking or jogging, and the ocean serves as a natural playground for kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding, snorkeling and swimming. As a friend of the environment, Aqua promotes and exemplifies sustainable building, maintenance, and operational practices that also deliver an excellent experience. To book a Reservation call 917.338.2116 and use promo code “Preferred Guest” for a special rate.

REAL ESTATE

A Ch a n g ingNicarag u a At t r a c t s Re s o r t I n v e s t o r ‘I loved what I saw,’ Miami developer says of the developing country

By CRAIG KARMIN April 14, 2015 12:00 p.m. ET After real-estate developer Ophir Sternberg converted a shuttered Miami Beach hospital into a Ritz Carlton residential building, he donated beds and medical equipment to hospitals in Nicaragua. The head of an American-Nicaraguan foundation invited him to tour the country. Like many from the U.S., Mr. Sternberg’s perception of the Central American nation was shaped by Nicaragua’s recent history of political unrest and guerrilla warfare. But when he arrived, Mr. Sternberg said he encountered a peaceful nation with pleasant beaches, a temperate climate and Spanish colonial architecture. That backdrop, along with the government’s tax incentives for foreign investors, convinced Mr. Sternberg last year to buy the Aqua Wellness Resort on the country’s Pacific coast. “I didn’t go there with the intention of investing any money or spending any time in the country,” Mr. Sternberg said. “But I loved what I saw.”

Now, his property development firm, Lionheart Capital LLC, is increasing its bet on Nicaragua. Mr. Sternberg said he is close to reaching a deal this month with an Asiabased luxury resort operator to manage his Nicaragua hotel. Mr. Sternberg said he also is in advanced negotiations to acquire two additional Nicaragua sites—a historic mansion in the city of Granada and a site on an island formed by two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua—where he plans to build two other resorts to be managed by the same Asian hotel operator who is managing the Aqua Wellness property. The Miami investor is hoping Nicaragua can follow in the footsteps of other developing countries that were marred by long periods of violence but are now burgeoning tourist destinations. In South America, Colombia for years has been plagued by drug trafficking and kidnapping. But as the government has taken more effective steps to squash organized crime, and enticed foreign investment with tax breaks, it has attracted global hotel operators. Hyatt Hotels Corp. has plans to open three hotels in three different cities by 2017, and the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts expects to open two luxury hotels near the end of this year. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, for decades was ruled by a military junta. But a new government initiated a series of reforms over the past four years, easing business restrictions and promoting tourism in the Southeast Asian country. The luxury Peninsula Hotels brand is now transforming a former railway headquarters in the former capital city Yangon into a high-end hotel. Nicaragua was a proxy battleground during the Cold War, when the Soviet-backed Sandinistas fought the U.S.-backed Contras. After President Daniel Ortega took office in 2007, the government has taken steps to stimulate more private-sector development and enacted a tax incentive law that allows for large exemptions on income and real estate tax. Being early to enter a country on the reform path offers a first-mover advantage, but it also comes with headaches. In Nicaragua, Mr. Sternberg said, financing from local banks isn’t plentiful, and he had to turn in part to loans from the previous owner of his hotel. Hotel staffers lack the training of those in more established emerging markets. The biggest risk is that a country reverts to its old ways. Trevor Barran, the head of Lionheart’s Nicaragua operations, recalls Guyana undergoing democratic reforms in the early 1990s, attracting investment from expats who had fled the Caribbean nation to escape violence that had erupted in the years after the end of British rule. But the reforms ended abruptly in the mid-1990s, when violence erupted again. The government nationalized companies and seized property, including some from Mr. Barran’s relatives, he said, who had returned to their native country. Still, Mr. Barran said he is confident Nicaragua is moving in the right direction. He notes that the recent filming of the reality show “Survivor” near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, has helped burnish its image with North American tourists, who comprise about two-thirds of the visitors.

Real-estate investor Lionheart also is starting work this month on upgrading its hotel in Nicaragua’s Redonda Bay by adding a swimming pool and a restaurant to be stocked by the harvest from the adjacent farmland. The hotel is nearly doubling the number of rooms and villas to 110 units. Mr. Sternberg said the total cost of acquiring and improving the property would be about $45 million. The hotel currently gets average daily rates of $330 but Mr. Sternberg said he expects that to approach $600 a night after Lionheart takes over. A local family also is building a new airport near the Aqua hotel with its own customs and immigration stations. For now, Mr. Sternberg said , his resort is a 2-hour drive from the capital city Managua, “or a 20-minute helicopter ride from there.” Write to Craig Karmin at craig.karmin@wsj.com

REAL ESTATE

S i x S en ses Reach es D eal for Fi rst P roperty i n Ce nt ral Ame r i c a Hospitality company to manage Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua By CRAIG KARMIN May 19, 2015 4:32 p.m. ET Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, a hospitality company known for its plush luxury resorts in Asia, has reached a deal with a Miami-based real-estate investor for its first property in Central America. The hotel operator has agreed to manage the Aqua Wellness Resort on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. The property is owned by investor Ophir Sternberg, whose firm Lionheart Capital LLC is nearly doubling the number of villas and rooms to 110 units. Lionheart Capital is in talks to acquire two more sites in Nicaragua and is in discussions with Six Senses to manage those properties, too. “If one were picking new destinations that are becoming iconic, Nicaragua would have to be one,” says Craig Cogut, a founding partner at Pegasus Capital, which is the controlling shareholder in Six Senses. Six Senses was founded in Bangkok in 1995 and operates boutique luxury hotels and spas. With resorts in China, Thailand and Vietnam, the company has been aiming to enter new markets in Europe and the Americas. Neil Jacobs, chief executive of Six Senses, previously worked at Starwood Capital Group, whereas president of global hotel operations he helped develop the firm’s two new hospitality brands, the high-end Baccarat Hotels and 1 Hotels, an environmentally-conscious brand. Write to Craig Karmin at craig.karmin@wsj.com

Decidido a explotar el potencial del país  Yohany López

  2 25/11/2015

Trevor Barran. LA PRENSA/ L. VILLAGRA

La similitud de Nicaragua con su natal Guyana Británica en características de desarrollo, población y de la naturaleza, más su intensidad para hacer negocios, son algunos de los aspectos que han llevado al inversionista Trevor Barran, director ejecutivo de Lionheart Nica, a seguir ampliando sus horizontes en el país y promover destinos que cumplan con los estándares de alta calidad a nivel mundial. Reconocido como empresario distinguido por la Cámara Nacional de Turismo (Canatur), durante el Día del Empresario Nicaragüense — en septiembre—, a Barran atribuyen la promoción de un turismo sostenible que lleva bene�cio a la comunidad local. �ngeniero de profesión, Barran junto con su esposa, �arin Eigner, creen �rmemente que hacer turismo de alta calidad con los recursos humanos y naturales que posee Nicaragua sí es posible, y de esa forma atraer cada día extranjeros con mayor poder adquisitivo que in�uyan en el desarrollo económico del país. Su primera inversión fue en Costa Esmeralda, con el proyecto Aqua �ellness Resort, proyecto que este a�o �rmó una alianza con Six Senses Resorts; en diciembre de 2016 estiman iniciar operaciones bajo esa marca, siempre con un concepto de hotel de cinco estrellas. Se hablaba de la posibilidad de ampliar inversiones en distintos puntos del país, ¿cómo avanzan esos planes? Es un circuito que incluye cinco destinos, entre ellos Aqua. Hay uno en los alrededores de San Juan del Sur (Rivas), donde se adquirió una propiedad y se desarrolla una construcción. El concepto de ese desarrollo es básicamente un producto turístico ecuestre que

ofrecerá una nueva opción. Es para atraer a personas con alto poder adquisitivo y que gustan de la crianza de caballos, algo que es un lujo en Estados Unidos y Europa. Habrá establos, ranchos, bar y restaurante, algo así al estilo de Texas o del viejo oeste, en Estados Unidos. Apuntando a un mercado nuevo y que de parte del país ofrecería algo diferente para una audiencia internacional. La venta de lotes iniciará en noviembre de 2015 y el resto de amenidades esperamos estén listas en agosto de 2017. Para este proyecto en particular somos socios con un residente local, que ya son dueños de un rancho de caballos y en cuanto a la inversión se estima en unos 15 millones de dólares y en empleo unas cincuenta personas. Y como nuestra red crece en todo el país eso le permitirá a los trabajadores rotar en cada uno de los proyectos. ¿Qué otros proyectos planean? El tercer proyecto es en Granada. Hay dos propiedades que están en contrato y que se estará haciendo un relanzamiento en un año mientras se mejoran los estándares requeridos y será en la ciudad. La otra (inversión) será en la isla de Ometepe, donde ya se adquirió una propiedad. La idea es un resort tipo safari, como en África, será un hotel, habrá toldos de lujo como los que hay en África y contemplamos también llegar a Corn Island, donde hay varias opciones que podríamos hacer, entre ellas se contempla un resort donde se pueda practicar buceo. Y también hemos visto en Matagalpa, realizar recorridos por las plantaciones de café y promover una hacienda donde los extranjeros puedan ir y conocer la experiencia. Todos estos son planes que van caminando y algunos montos de inversión están aún por de�nirse. ¿Cuál es el modelo laboral que impulsan? Como parte de nuestra �losofía, en primer lugar está la contratación de empleados locales, porque la comunidad está alrededor del hotel y eso es lo que nos va a permitir ofrecer un servicio con altos estándares de calidad, que tenga la autenticidad del país, porque la idea es ofrecer un producto turístico nicaragüense, no uno genérico. En segundo lugar, creamos un producto que haga que la gente venga al país. Y el hecho de tener algo con altos estándares como México, �epública �ominicana u otros países destacados en turismo, no es una razón su�ciente para que la gente quiera venir, de ahí que tengamos que promover el consumo de algo único y que a la gente le atraiga, por eso debe estar relacionado con la cultura e identidad de país.

Me siento suertero de haber vivido en diferentes partes del mundo y que ello me permitiera tener una mente abierta a las culturas del mundo y ahora entender cómo desarrollar turismo de alta calidad en este país” Trevor Barran, director ejecutivo de Lionheart Nica. ¿Cuál es la valoración que tienen de la mano de obra local? ¿Cumplen con los estándares de calidad requeridos? La fuerza de trabajo nicaragüense es gente muy motivada. Son personas que tienen ética profesional, principios y valores morales y familiares, lo que consideramos que es muy importante. A partir de eso, decidimos invertir en el factor humano en preparación y entrenamiento a �n de que se logren los estándares requeridos. Esa es la base, pero en el mismo lineamiento tenemos que aceptar que en Nicaragua la industria turística se encuentra en una etapa temprana de entendimiento de lo que es la oferta de altos niveles de servicios. Esa es la razón por la que se debe de ofrecer entrenamiento día a día. Nosotros traemos especialistas que tengan los conocimientos en el negocio, para que trabajen mano a mano con el equipo de Aqua y entren en ese proceso. Como un tercer punto, la industria turística es el corazón de una gama de servicios diferentes, como los spa, restaurantes y razón por la que estamos iniciando una escuela de cocina, en alianza con el restaurante Ola Verde, de tal forma que los chef egresados puedan prepararse en dos años y que puedan entrar a trabajar a nuestros hoteles.

¿Cómo funciona esa alianza? Está estructurada en conjunto con la propietaria del restaurante Ola Verde, ella es quien está al frente y el Tecnológico Nacional dará algunas becas. Nosotros nos convertiremos en los consumidores de ese talento humano cuando ya estén preparados. Una de las preocupaciones de las cámaras turísticas en Nicaragua, del Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo e incluso del asesor presidencial para asuntos económicos, Bayardo Arce, es el tema de la calidad en ese sector, ¿qué recomendaciones podrían darle? Mi primera recomendación se basa en los negocios. Estableciendo los precios de venta al nivel de servicio que quieren estar y no en el que están, porque si lo hacen de esa manera, no podrán obtener su�cientes ganancias para invertir en el punto que ellos quieren ir. Una premisa básica es ser honesto referente a lo que uno puede hacer y ofrecer. He podido observar en algunos negocios en Nicaragua que todos ponen el su�ciente esfuer�o necesario para llegar hasta cierto punto, pero hasta ahí. Sin embargo, cuando uno se da cuenta que hay cosas que no entiende, entonces debería de contratar consultores internacionales o gente de Costa Rica, al menos, que están más absorbidos en el tema, para mejorar y absorber ese conocimiento. ¿Qué aspectos cree deberían de tomar en cuenta los sistemas de educación universitaria para mejorar la calidad en los egresados de carreras de turismo? Lo número uno es la interacción cultural y el idioma. No es solo hablar inglés, es sentirse cómodo comunicándose en una lengua que habla la mayoría de los turistas. Hay una manera peculiar que deben de cuidar en los mejores niveles de servicio. Recomiendo los programas de intercambio académico, porque la mejor manera para que entiendas los niveles de servicios, es viviendo la experiencia. No necesariamente tienen que ser intercambios a Europa, bien pueden ser a otros lugares en Centroamérica o América del Sur, para que entiendas la dimensión. Si yo estuviera a cargo de una academia de hotelería y turismo, me gustaría presentar una clase con el juego de roles, de tal manera que los estudiantes pudieran actuar pretendiendo que uno es el cliente y el otro le sirva, y ese juego les sea de entrenamiento para identi�car las necesidades del mercado como tal. Por otra parte, deben entender los comportamientos, gestos y ademanes de los extranjeros que con solo una mirada o un movimiento expresan una necesidad y ese es uno de los aspectos que se debe aprender más aquí. La diferencia es que aquí en Nicaragua se valora mucho más la privacidad y esos pequeños detalles son los que marcan la diferencia. ¿Qué países de Centroamérica siente que cumple con los estándares de calidad que usted menciona? En Centroamérica: Costa Rica y Panamá. Más al sur, Chile, Argentina, Brasil. En cuanto a las tendencias de mercados, los extranjeros que vienen están buscando más un turismo sostenible y una menor proporción está acercándose a las playas. ¿Qué acciones podremos observar por parte de sus resorts para los siguientes años y que sigan incidiendo en la atracción de visitantes? Una de las cosas que puedo mencionar, es la apertura del aeropuerto Costa Esmeralda, que traerá trá�co internacional de Estados Unidos y Liberia en Costa Rica. Por ejemplo, eso va a permitir que haya muchas más conexiones con aerolíneas europeas que ya están llegando a Liberia, pero que no visitan la región del pací�co de Nicaragua por el trámite fronteri�o. Sin embargo, con la opción de ese aeropuerto abierto facilitará en menor tiempo trasladarse. AQUA WELLNESS RESORT

EMPRENDEDURISMO

LIONHEART NICA

NICARAGUA

TREVOR BARRAN

BUSINESS MONDAY

AUGUST 28, 2015

Developer Ophir Sternberg lured from New York by Miami’s potential

BY JANE WOOLDRIDGE jwooldridge@miamiherald.com

Developer Ophir Sternberg was born in Israel, but as the son of a sea merchant captain, he said, he spent much of his childhood at sea, with four years in Kobe, Japan. Perhaps that explains the ease with which he has pursued real estate deals around the globe: in New York, Macau, Nicaragua, Brazil and Miami, which he now calls home. Over its history, the company has acquired, developed and repositioned $4 billion of property. With its partner, New York-based Elliot Asssociates, Sternberg’s Lionheart Capital purchased the $120 million RitzCarlton Residences in Palm Beach in 2010. In 2012, the company paid $20 million for the building and land previously occupied by Miami Heart Institute. The nine-acre site edges the waterway and a “hidden” lagoon on Meridian Avenue, in the heart of a mid-Miami Beach residential neighborhood. The company brought in Italian designer Piero Lissoni to create 111 units under the Ritz -Carlton Residences brand in the former hospital shell — a strategy required by zoning codes — and 15 stand-alone villas priced from $2 million to $40 million. More than half the units are sold, according to the company. After a stint as a paratrooper in Israel’s special forces, Sternberg moved to New York and began working in real estate, buying up distressed properties and repositioning them. He moved to Miami in 2009. Ho w di d you get to the U. S. ? Ho w di d you get your st ar t in real est at e? I always knew I wanted to live in New York, the global epicenter of business. After completing my military service in Israel, I had the opportunity to relocate to New York. I was immediately drawn into real estate investments and took to the solidity of this industry. I especially appreciated the creativity of structuring deals. You specialize in repositioning assets. What exactly does that mean? An asset, or property, needs repositioning when it is not reaching its full potential — in terms of management, design, financial or partnership structure, or marketing. For whatever reason, this asset is not fulfilling its true promise, and our role is to intervene, adjusting the asset so that it maximizes its full potential in all areas.

Wh a t br ou g ht you to Mi ami ? With its strong potential as a leading global gateway city, Miami had enticed me for quite some time. I finally made the move from New York City in 2009. My timing was ideal in that I wasn’t overexposed to the market when it turned, and I was also in a robust position to purchase assets that were up for sale at the time. An d w h a t k e e p s yo u h e r e ? I love everything about Miami, from both a personal and professional standpoint. Miami is a vibrant, progressive, international city that has changed since I moved here six years ago and continues to transform today. I am equally excited and honored to play a direct role in this city’s economic evolution. Wh a t d o y o u s e e a s M i a m i ’ s g r e a t e s t a s s e t s f o r p o t e n t i a l r e a l e s t a t e b u y e r s ? Miami offers no shortage of desirable assets. What comes to mind are high-quality construction developments designed by international architectural superstars, the ease of commute — both within the city of Miami, as well as from other national and international destinations — and finally, the long-term appreciation of real property. Wh a t d o y o u s e e a s M i a m i ’ s g r e a t e s t c h a l l e n g e s f o r a r e a l e s t a t e d e v e l o p e r ? Currently, the greatest challenge, especially for luxury developers, is finding prime waterfront sites with a good basis for development. With that said, the demand for a good product is there, so once you’ve selected a location and are approved to develop, the project is set up for a significant return on investment. D o yo u s e e a n y n a t i o n a l i t i e s e m e rg i n g a s n e w f e e d e r m a rk e t s f o r M i a m i re a l e s t a t e ? The Middle Eastern and Asian markets are growing. We have sold multiple units in both of our Ritz-Carlton projects to Asian and Middle Eastern buyers. Previously Miami was known for drawing in South Americans and New Yorkers, with an occasional Southern European buyer rounding out the mix. However, with the overabundance of exemplary projects now being developed, all eyes are on Miami. This is one of the only cities across the globe that features developments by Herzog & de Meuron, Piero Lissoni, Zaha Hadid, Richard Meier and many others, all building simultaneously. Y o u w e re i n v o l v e d i n a p ro je c t o n S i n g e r I s l a n d . T e l l us a bo ut t h a t . The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Singer Island, Palm Beach, was the first project we undertook in South Florida, as well as the first of two Ritz-Carlton Residences in our portfolio. (The second is The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach. We acquired two completed oceanfront condominium towers in Singer Island, and after several upgrades to the facilities, we enlisted Ritz-Carlton to manage it as a stand-alone residence. The property has been a complete success for us, for the residents and for the Ritz-Carlton brand. We recently sold one of our last remaining units for $8.95 million. T h e M i a m i He a r t s i t e i s a p r e t t y p r i m e c a t c h a s r e a l e s t a t e g o e s . Ho w d i d y o u s n a g i t ? Similar to most real estate deals, it required a strategic combination of intelligence, timing, perseverance and luck. T e l l u s a b o u t t h e p r o j e c t y o u a r e d o i n g t h e r e . Wh o a r e y o u r p a r t n e r s ? Ho w b i g i s i t , h o w m a n y u n i t s w i l l i t h a v e , a n d w h a t d o t h e y cost ? Lionheart Capital has developed both Ritz-Carlton Residences in partnership with Elliott Management. Elliott is a $26 billion hedge fund operating since 1976, one of the oldest hedge funds in existence. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, is the first full-scale architectural endeavor in the United States by the renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni. The residential development consists of 111 condominium residences, averaging about 3,000 square feet, and a limited collection of 15 stand-alone Villa Residences, which are custom private homes with waterfront and garden-front views. Prices range from $2 million to $40 million. Ho w d i d P i e r o L i s s o n i b e c o m e i n v o l v e d w i t h y o u r p r o j e c t ? I have admired Piero Lissoni’s talent and style for a long time. Before enlisting him to design The Residences, I previously stayed at two of his hotels, the Conservatorium in Amsterdam and the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem. I appreciated the unique design of these iconic buildings, and I wanted to create something similar at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach. Piero has been actively involved in making The Residences a reality, and his work with scale and adaptive reuse makes him a perfect fit for this project.

You are building on the exact footprint of the hospital for zoning reasons. That has to create physical challenges when it come s to construction and design. Tell us about those. We are building with the entire original structure. The process has proved to be a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, configuring the necessities of a custom-designed home, the amenities of an ultra-luxury condominium and the requirements of a 21st century municipality all into an existing shell. We are currently in the end stages of what is arguably the trickiest part of the process — retrofitting foundations and structures for the building’s new use. What we’ve learned is that the benefits of using the original structure for this adaptive reuse project are endless. First, because of expenses, the fortress-like concrete construction can never be replicated in a new construction project. Additionally, the multilevel, mid-rise scale of the project allows for a wonderful connection to the natural environment, and the units that feature expansive terraces could never be efficiently replicated in a new construction project. Th e pr oj ec t is an un u s ua l loc a t i on , in the mi dd l e of a res i de nt i al ne i ghb or ho o d . Ho w di d you wo r k wi t h the ne i ghb or s? We believe firmly in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with our neighbors. As you may be aware, we had to undergo a rezoning process in order to transform the Miami Heart Institute from hospital to residential zoning. We accomplished this on our first rezoning reading thanks to our diligent neighborhood outreach program, where we actively addressed the needs and concerns of surrounding residents and worked proactively to develop mutually beneficial resolutions to all issues. With our neighbors’ support and the rezoning approval granted, we are able to offer a 10-story residential building in the heart of a predominantly single-family home neighborhood. A development of this size can no longer be replicated, and as such, The Residences will always retain their 360-degree protected views. Many luxury projects on the beach are selling primarily to out-of-towners. Who is buying at your project? Unlike other projects, our buyers are 50 percent local at this point in time. The local market truly understands the exceptional reputation and unique features of this project. They realize how unusual it is to find a residential development designed for living in Miami — the expansive floor plans and terraces, the protected natural views, the lifestyle-focused amenities, such as the on-site marina and captained VanDutch 40-foot day yacht, and the access to key transportation routes are just a few examples. For our local buyers, these attributes far outweigh anything that other luxury waterfront properties can offer. What kind of luxury amenities does your project offer residents? A point of pride for us at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach, is our selection of life-enriching amenities. These include an on-site, captained day yacht, 36 private boat dockages at our waterfront marina, a tropically landscaped, halfacre rooftop pool deck with an infinity pool and waterfall, a poolside restaurant, a cinema-style screening room, a zen meditation garden, a spa with steam room, sauna and treatment suite, a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor and outdoor yoga studios, a billiard room, a landscaped exercise path circumnavigating the property, pet-grooming amenities, a children’s lounge, a waterfront social room with a bar and catering kitchen, a bike sharing program and a curated library. We are also building the world’s first art studio within a residential development. It will feature a wall that imitates northfacing light with room for painting, sculpting, jewelry-making, beadwork and more. Ar e you wo r ki ng on ot he r pr oj ec t s in Mi ami ? Currently, we are working on a high-end retail project located in the Design District, as well as two oceanfront condominium towers in Pompano Beach.

You ha ve a pr oj ect in Ni car agua . Te l l us about that . Interestingly, my Nicaragua projects are connected to The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach. When I purchased the Miami Heart Hospital for the Ritz-Carlton Residences, I received ownership of a large quantity of hospital beds and equipment. I decided to donate these to a worthy cause, the American Nicaraguan Foundation, a Miami-based nonprofit run by Alfredo Pellas, whose family is one of the most prominent in Nicaragua. Mr. Pellas graciously invited me to visit his country, and I immediately fell in love with the landscape, the people and the culture. I quickly realized that Nicaragua is a rapidly growing destination for tourism and vacation-home real estate, and now is the time to invest. Our first initiative was to purchase Aqua Wellness Resort, a barefoot luxury resort in Nicaragua’s Pacific Emerald Coast. We are currently enhancing and enlarging the resort, so that in November 2016, Aqua will be rebranded as Six Senses Nicaragua — the Asian luxury brand’s first outpost in the Americas. We are also developing a "luxury circuit" of Six Senses properties for guests, including a spa hotel in the Spanish Colonial city of Granada, which is Nicaragua’s No. 1 tourist destination. We are also planning a boutique equestrian resort in partnership with Rancho Chilamate on over 300 acres. Wh a t ot he r pr oj ec t s ar e you wo r ki ng on ar ou n d the gl ob e ? We are now working on several large-scale opportunities in Brazil, specifically within Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

OPHIR STERNBERG Age: 45 Company: Lionheart Capital Business Title: CEO andFounding Partner Current projects: Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach; Six Senses Resort in Nicaragua; Brazil Hobby: Yachting

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Nicaragua: Get adventurous with a tour that offers biking, kayaking and more

A weeklong adventure tour in Nicaragua takes advantage of Delta Air Lines' new nonstop flight from LAX. (Aqua Wellness Resort)

By Rosemary McClure

MAY 26, 2015, 7:30 AM

limb a volcano, explore a colonial city, hike in a cloud forest on weeklong tours to Nicaragua that take advantage of Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop flight from LAX to the Central American nation. Included in the adventure tour are activities such as kayaking and stand-up paddling, plus three days on the beach at Aqua Wellness Resort. Tour participants can snorkel, ride a zip line through a cloud forest and mountain bike on Omtepe Island. Delta’s new flight departs Fridays, beginning June 5, with return flights on Saturdays. Dates: Seven-night tours are scheduled June 5 through Sept. 4. Price: From $1,998 per person, double occupancy. Includes transfers in private vehicles with guide and driver, accommodations, breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner, activities, hotel tax and admissions to parks and museums. International airfare not included. Info: Tours Nicaragua

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4 Wild Hotels in Nicaragua August 17, 2015 These unique accommodations will immerse clients in the natural beauty of Nicaragua By: Michelle Juergen Though tourism to Nicaragua has grown vastly in recent years, it still remains a somewhat unknown land to outsiders. The nation’s warm climate, biodiversity, tropical landscapes, expansive beaches and 19 volcanoes, many of which are still active, are a draw for travelers who want to get out of their comfort zones and experience nature in a truly up-close-and-personal way. Here are four accommodations throughout the country that drop clients (safely) into the wild. Aqua Wellness Resort Near Playa Gigante on Nicaragua’s western coast, Aqua Wellness Resort has all the makings of paradise: airconditioned treehouse bungalows set into a tropical hillside, an oceanside yoga platform, a spa villa, an ample white-sand beach in a secluded cove, spectacular views and fresh, organic food. At Aqua’s beachfront restaurant and bar, guests can enjoy light fare such as smoothies, as well as freshly baked bread from the property’s woodburning oven, chimichurri steak and local fish caught daily. They can follow up their mouthwatering meals with a variety of watersports and day trips. Perfect for couples or solo explorers, Aqua is also best for those who are active and in shape — it’s a hefty climb up the many gravel-lined stairs from the beach to most treehouse villas. The resort’s rooms and property will be getting an extensive makeover in 2016, when luxury hospitality company Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas takes over operations. Plans are to create more accessibility and double the number of villas to 110 units, as well as develop a travel circuit of multiple luxury resorts, spas and residence properties around the country. Rates range from $170 to $555 per night, depending on the season. www.aquanicaragua.com

AquaNicaragua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua. Nicaragua The Nicaragua of the 1970s and 1980s was a dodgy place associated with revolutionary Sandinistas and the IranContra affair, but the country has evolved into Central America’s “it” spot. Less visited than Costa Rica and Guatemala and less Americanized than Panama, it has lots to do: active volcanoes that can be climbed and surfed with a sand board, hot springs to soak in, and lush rainforests to explore. When the country’s new Emerald Coast Airport is up and running later this year, Nicaragua’s pristine beaches will be even more accessible. Soon to open on the southwest Pacific coast are The Inn at Rancho Santana (a boutique hotel run by the Rancho Santana beach villa resort) and AquaNicaragua Wellness Resort, pictured bottom right, introduces a larger spa, new restaurant and treehouse accommodations. If you’re heading inland to Granada, check out its colonial-chic boutique hotels Tribal and Bubu. visitnicaragua.us

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The Perfect Nicaragua Hotel For YOUR Style Jan 28, 2015 by Lara Grant Share (125)

Much like Costa Rica (its neighbor to the south), Nicaragua is filled with lush rainforests, roaming wildlife, and pretty white-sand beaches. And although the country is very poor, it's rich in history; travelers can visit historic churches and plazas, most of which can be found in Leon and Granada. So whether looking to visit a coffee plantation, view Lake Nicaragua from the top of Mombacho volcano, or relax on a hammock in a jungle setting, one of these six hotels is perfect for you -- and Nicaragua will provide the perfect spring break escape.

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For a Personal Retreat: Aqua Wellness Resort Aqua Wellness Resort is a rustic-luxe retreat set into a hillside overlooking Redondo Bay on Nicaragua's Pacific coast. The resort has eco-friendly design, lush vegetation, and rooms adorned with lots of natural wood; some units include plunge pools and stunning ocean views. The whitesand beach is secluded and beautiful, the restaurant serves simple but tasty local dishes, and group yoga classes on the ocean-view wooden platform are free. For a tranquil, unplugged getaway, this is one of Nicaragua's premier options.

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Deal Alert: Aqua Wellness in Nicaragua for $142/Night

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January 12, 2015 by Kristine Hansen

Aqua Wellness

Nicaragua ended up on our Top Budget Destinations of 2015 for a reason. This hot deal is just one example of the destination’s affordability — and at a time snow is frosting over most of North America, too. Aqua Wellness Resort, tucked into a forest along Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast, is offering fourth nights in their treetop villas or suites for just $15. This means that you can end up paying average rates of $142 per night for a treehouse featuring a queen bed and wraparound deck. (Regular rates, if you want to do the math yourself, start at $185.) We dug around and found these rates available for the weeks of January 20 and 27, February 3 and 10, and others throughout this winter and spring. Two dining options are onsite: The beachfront, all-day Oceanside Restaurant serves lowsugar, tropical fruit juices (like dragonfruit and passionfruit), locally grown produce from nearby Rivas, and hormone-free meats; a bar/lounge touts smoothies, lattes, and more juices alongside beers and cocktails. Elsewhere at the resort, guests can dive into yoga and kayaking, surfing and meditation, or stand-up paddle and cooking. Of course, there’s always a spa treatment for extra pampering, or the staff can also coordinate day trips to the nearby colonial town of Granada, surfing hot spot San Juan del Sur, or UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Ometepe Island.

The deal must be booked by February 15 and is valid for bookings of four nights through July 15. Again, bunk in either a treetop suite or a villa, affording stellar views of the resort’s private beach. To book, visit this area of the resort’s website and plug in your travel dates. This promo is automatically applied, so you don’t need a booking code.

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Pleasant Holidays Expands Presence in Nicaragua VACATION PACKAGES | DAVID COGSWELL | AUGUST 18, 2015

Ple asan t H o lidays co n tin u e s to e x pan d its C e n tral A m e rican pre se n ce w ith th e additio n o f five re so rts in N icaragu a. N icaragu a is still re lative ly n e w o n th e to u rism m arke t, bu t Ple asan t is sign alin g th at it w ill be e x pan din g th e re as part o f its pu sh so u th w ard in C e n tral A m e rica. “Th e large st co u n try in C e n tral A m e rica ye t a re lative ly u n kn o w n an d e x o tic vacatio n h ave n , N icaragu a o ffe rs ch arm in g co lo n ial citie s, tran qu il be ach e s, m aje stic vo lcan o e s, e x pan sive lake s, tro pical ju n gle s, e x o tic w ildlife an d fascin atin g e co -to u rism adve n tu re s,” said Jack E . Rich ards, pre side n t an d C E O o f Ple asan t H o lidays. Th e additio n s in clu de Barce ló M an agu a in M an agu a; H o te l D ario in th e co lo n ial city o f G ran ada; Jicaro Islan d E co lo dge in G ran ada Isle tas o n L ake N icaragu a; an d th re e re so rts o n th e E m e rald C o ast, in clu din g A qu a W e lln e ss Re so rt, M o rgan ’s Ro ck H acie n da an d E co lo dge an d M u ku l Be ach , G o lf an d S pa Re so rt.

Th e o ffe rin g co ve rs a ran ge o f style s o f h o te l, fro m lu x u ry re so rts to bo u tiqu e pro pe rtie s fo r h o n e ym o o n s to e co -lo dge s. Th e co m pan y is lau nch in g th e n e w se rie s o f re so rts in N icaragu a w ith a $100 savin gs pe r bo o kin g fo r all N icaragu a re so rts. Th e disco u n t is valid o n n e w bo o kin gs o f air-in clu sive package s o f th re e n igh ts o r m o re bo o ke d by S e pt. 13 fo r trave l th ro u gh Ju ly 16, 2016. Trave l age n ts can bo o k o n Ple asan t H o lidays e x clu sive trave l age n t site .

Empresas hoteleras forman alianza para desarrollar turismo de lujo en Nicaragua Por Xinhua /Lifestyle | 21 Mayo, 2015 - 10:31

The aim of this partnership is to develop and build high quality tourism infrastructure and environmentally friendly.

Lion Heart Nica consortium, owner of Aqua Wellness Resort, in southern Nicaragua, formed an alliance with the hotel brand Six Senses Spas, luxury tourism multinational company, the private secretary of the presidency, Paul Oquist reported.

The aim of this partnership is to develop and build high quality tourism infrastructure and environmentally friendly, detailed Oquist recalling that Nicaragua receives one million 100,000 tourists a year, on average, spending over$ 400 million during their stay. The private secretary of the presidency, with the president of the state agency for investment ProNicaragua, Javier Chamorro, owner and manager of Water Wellness Resort, Trevor Barran, announced at a press conference the alliance with Six Senses Spas for the construction of five hotels five stars in the Central American country.

The official considered that the figure of one million 100,000 tourists is strong, however, he said the amount of money spent is very low compared to other countries, because the spending per tourist in Nicaragua is not at the level of the average international tourist. "He has always said that the problem is the lack of tourist infrastructure of Nicaragua to attract high-end tourism in sufficient numbers to increase tourist spending in the country," said Oquist.

He added that this situation is changing, citing as an example the recreational complex Guacalito Island, with a purse of US $ 250 million, and the Pellas Group, which attracts high-end tourism.

Meanwhile, Barran said they will seek other investors to create a circuit luxury four parts of the country, which would be in Matagalpa (north), and Granada (Island) Ometepe (South).

The new alliance of high-end tourism seeks to develop tourism infrastructure and build high quality and environmentally friendly. According to released by the local press versions, the hotel brand Six Senses Spas, based in Bangkok and New York, manages 36 luxury properties developed sustainably in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. For his part, he announced that Lion Heart consortium established subsidiary in Nicaragua, in order to position Nicaragua as a world tourist destination.

A press conference was also attended by the executive director of the state ProNicaragua , Javiar Chamorro, and the president of the private National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), Silvia Levy.

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Aqua Wellness Resort: A Green Retreat in Nicaragua Annie Block | March 5, 2014

Managua is Nicaragua’s bustling capital city. Drive two hours southwest, however, and you'll find 12 verdant acres in the seaside town of Rivas, where Aqua Wellness Resort holds court as a Rain Forest Alliance–verified hospitality project founded and designed by Dan Rubano with help from Sorrenti Architects and Karin Eigner Architecture.

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Aqua Wellness Resort

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Rivas, Nicaragua

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Sorrenti Architects; Karin Eigner Architecture

Aqua was conceived like most in the wellness sector: It’s a place where visitors can unplug from the world, reconnect with themselves, eat organic, meditate, and do yoga and spa treatments. But there’s also a strong eye on sustainability. Aqua's 22 guest villas are actually tree houses, structures built of FSC-certified cedro macho, a tropical cedar, and locally sourced terra-cotta roof tiles, all supported by wooden stilts some 50-feet high. The stilts allow for minimum impact on the forest floor—no trees larger than 4 inches in diameter were felled —and for visitors to be literally immersed in the canopy of trees. Inside, furnishings, simple yet luxe, almost Japanese in aesthetic, were also crafted of FSC-certified woods by Simplemente Madera, a local company. Other resort structures—the yoga pavilion, the spa, the restaurant—sport roofs of thatched palm leaves, a traditional Nicaraguan architecture that was carried out at Aqua by local craftsmen. Working with Project Bona Fide, Aqua also prides itself on guarding its natural surroundings—and has even won two awards from MARENA for its habitat preservation. Among the protected animals are the resident howler monkeys and the green and leatherback turtles that roam the resort’s private sandy beach along Redondo Bay; in fact, special low-wavelength low-height LED lamps glow along beach pathways at night so as not to disturb them. Low-consumption drip-irrigation systems maintain the lush landscape, which includes organic gardens. Those gardens produce the citrus and lettuces, and eventually most ingredients, used in Aqua’s restaurant.

The Escape: The World's Most Luxurious Tree-Houses 05 April 2014

By Simon Brooke

Decked out with infinity plunge pools, spa facilities and air-source heat pumps – treetop living have seriously upped its game.

Call it the latest incarnation of the barefoot-luxury trend, but

suddenly the penthouse suite is not just about floor-to-ceiling

windows and supersonic private lifts. Instead, some of the most sought-after places to stay are up in the trees.

Chewton Glen, the five-star hotel near the New Forest, recently created six tree-house suites with views of the surrounding

woodland. Treetop gangways lead you to your room and each suite

is positioned to make the most of the sunsets. Eco-luxe is high on the agenda – the suites have been designed to have as little impact as possible on their idyllic surroundings.

Working with Blue Forest, a company that specialises in sustainable

buildings and tree houses, the hotel has rainwater harvesting, air-

source heat pumps, solar panels, low-energy lighting and roofs with

grass growing on them. If that all sounds a bit worthy, there’s also a spa bath on each deck and food hampers to order.

The villas at the Aqua Wellness Resort in Gigante, Nicaragua, part of the Preferred Hotel Group, have also been built at tree level to

minimise the effect on the delicate eco-system of the forest floor. The

aim, as with other treetop homes, is to allow visitors to make a better connection with their natural surroundings than they would in a

normal hotel suite – there are features such as outdoor showers amid the branches and treatments on the balconies that use organic products sourced from the surrounding forests.

Meanwhile, the treetop suites at the Post Ranch Inn on the cliffs of

Big Sur, California, are situated in forests 1,200ft above the Pacific,

and offer direct views of the ocean, the Santa Lucia Mountains and

the nearby forest. Sit in your tree-level hot tub to enjoy the view and

then, when you hit the sack, there’s a skylight above each bed so that you can watch the stars as you drift off.

“There’s definitely something about staying in a tree house that makes you feel a bit of a kid again, they’re inherently playful,” says James Lohan, CEO of travel company Mr & Mrs Smith. “Luxury travellers love something memorable they can talk about afterwards.” Does height matter? The eight tree-house villas of the Shangri-La

Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives are situated among only the lowest branches of the tropical vegetation but, hidden under a

canopy of thick branches, they offer views over Villingili Island and the lakes and coconut palms of Addu Atoll.

Perhaps more important than altitude is the sense of space and close

connection with nature that a luxury tree house offers, including an infinity plunge pool on the veranda that will allow you to feel as if you’re floating amid the trees – but without the risk of vertigo.

Taken from Esquire's Spring/Summer 2014 Big Black Book: The Style Manual For Successful Men.

Published: January 11, 2013

The 46 Places to Go in 2013 Whether you travel to eat or shop, surf or ski, new adventures await.

3 Nicaragua

It’s eco! And the food is good! Enough said.

Oswaldo Rivas for The New York Times

Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Eco-Lodge.

f the name Oliver North means anything to you, there’s a good chance that Nicaragua doesn’t jump to your mind when you think of a relaxing, highend, spa-filled vacation. For the past 30 years, the country has been fighting its image as a land of guerrilla warfare and covert arms deals. At first, only travel writers took note; over the past several years, various publications have declared the country the next great destination. However, if the booming eco-lodge business is any indication, Nicaragua’s moment might finally have arrived. In and around the coastal towns of San Juan del Sur and Maderas, new lodges like the Aqua Wellness Resort, the high-end (and soon-to-open) Mukul Resort and Jicaro Island EcoLodge are cropping up near old-time eco-lodges, like Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Eco-Lodge. The food scene is getting a high-end makeover as well, with top chefs opening restaurants. The most exciting ones — El Segundo, La Casserole, Ciudad Lounge and La Finca y El Mar — are proof that Nicaragua is becoming an impressive food destination in its own right. — Danielle Pergament

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The Top 100 Spas of 2012

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January 18, 2013 10:18 AM MST

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Nordik Spa-Nature, Old Chelsea, Quebec Nordik Spa-Nature, Old Chelsea, Quebec

The leading spa travel website Spas of America today announced their annual ranking of the Top 100 Spas of 2012, based on consumer behavior on their website. “Spas offering authentic and personalized rejuvenation and wellness in beautiful outdoor settings continue to prove popular with North American spa consumers,” says Spas of America president Craig Oliver. “Destination spa experiences continue to be popular for consumers looking to experience a week or more of wellness, while Country, Ocean, Beach and Wine spa experiences are attractive to spa connoisseurs with limited time to escape.” The Top 100 Spas of 2012 includes 64 spas in the United States, 34 spas in Canada, and one spa each from Mexico and Nicaragua. Spas of America’s Top 100 Spas of 2012

98 Aqua Wellness Resort, Tola, Nicaragua

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The Big Six: Nicaraguan beach retreats Pristine sands, golden shores, sea turtles, luxury wellness, fun surf and seafood shacks Laura Holt | Wednesday 13 February 2013 | 

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Aqua Wellness Resort: A resort featuring “tree house” accommodations, Aqua is an ideal destination for yoga, meditation and wellness retreats. The spa program incorporates local natural products and techniques and each villa is elevated off the ground to minimize impact on the forest. The beach is calm enough for snorkeling and there are paths for walking through the surrounding areas.

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20 UNEXPECTED ADVENTURES FOR FOODIES, SPA ADDICTS, CULTURE MAVENS, THRILL SEEKERS, AND NATURE LOVERS BY JEN MURPHY

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NICARAGUA EMERALD COAST

Dense jungles and white-sand beaches have turned a 30-mile stretch of Paciﬁc shoreline into a hot spot among in-the-know wellness seekers. Located north of the beach town San Juan del Sur, the Emerald Coast began attracting yogis with resorts such as Punta Teonoste (puntateonoste.com) and Aqua Wellness Resort (aquanicaragua.com). In February, Mukul resort opened, with 12 villas and 23 treehouselike bohios. Six spa casitas oﬀer rituals inspired by ancient healing traditions from around the globe (mukulresort.com). 74 AFAR�COM��JUNE�I�JULY ��

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The Sacred Valley

Lake District

Guests who lounge too long on the Viceroy Zihuatanejo’s La Ropa beach can ﬁnd instant relief at the resort’s sixroom spa, which features a sunburn-soothing treatment of freshly picked aloe vera, Baja lavender, and organic chamomile (viceroyhotelsand resorts.com). Nearby, the eco-conscious Playa Viva resort oﬀers poolside yoga, healthy cooking classes, and body scrubs made with locally harvested sea salt (playaviva.com).

The route to Machu Picchu has gotten smoother, thanks to two hotels outside Cuzco. Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel and Wellness resort (aranwahotels .com) is built on a 17thcentury hacienda and has one of Peru’s largest spas. Treatments feature coca leaves and camu camu, a fruit from the Amazon. To prepare for a trek, check into the Hotel Rio Sagrado and book an altitude acclimatizer massage at Spa Mayu Wilka (riosagrado.com).

Called Argentine Switzerland for its wooden chalets and alpine setting, this area is home to some of South America’s best spas. The Latin America travel specialists at Blue Parallel arrange yoga classes with views of lakes and the Andes (blueparallel.com). Guests can stay at the 1940s Llao Llao Hotel and Resort (www.llaollao.com .ar) or the Correntoso Lake and River Hotel, which uses native herbs in its treatments (correntoso.com).

COURTESY�OF�MUKUL�RESORT

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13 Stunning Health and Wellness Retreats (PHOTOS) Posted: 06/18/2013 3:37 pm EDT

Updated: 08/18/2013 5:12 am

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For many of us, long days at the ofce, stress, and errands can get in the way of a healthy lifestyle. So we often look at our vacations not as a chance for a calorie binge (well, not always), but as a chance to hit the reset button and get back to our exercise and ftness regimens. And those who do manage to stay ft year-round may not want to part with their healthy lifestyle choices when they go away for a week or two. After all, there's a lot to be said for the mind-body connection, so we found 13 stunning holistic retreats that can help you take your relaxation and well-being to new heights on your next getaway. -- Kelsey Blodget, Oyster.com

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September 11, 2013

World's Top Tree-House Hotels 10 of 13 AUTOPLAY

Aqua Wellness Resort, Playa La Redonda, Nicaragua Set in a verdant tropical jungle, the tree-house rooms at Aqua Wellness Resort share prime real estate with howler monkeys, birds and butterflies. The resort overlooks the Pacific and the sound of waves penetrates the shuttered wooden doors that separate the rooms from the wraparound decks (the largest rooms have private plunge pools). With wooden floors and furnishings, the tree houses have the feel of superlative beach cabanas perched high above the sea. If and when guests choose to come down from their treetop hideaways, they can walk down lava-stone pathways and over wooden bridges to the beach for surfing, kayaking or yoga sessions. Rates start at $125; Playa Le Redonda; 917-338-2116; aquanicaragua.com.

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Kayaking around the small islands will take you through lily pads and provide sightings of herons, egrets and cormorants - and perhaps even howler monkeys as they jump through the nearby trees. By: Carol Perehudoff Travel Reporter, Published on Thu Jan 26 2012

SAN JUAN DEL SUR, NICARAGUA—“Is it safe?” people asked when I said I was going to Nicaragua. “I hope so,” I replied. According to my guidebook it’s the safest country in Central America. Yet now that I’m standing here on a bumpy back road in a tropical forest, I admit my fear. Not of violence and civil strife — the country has been peaceful for years now — I’m worried a howler monkey is going to poop on my head. “It’s one of the weapons they use if they feel threatened,” says Julio, my guide. A barking howl fills the air, a branch rustles overhead, and that close-up monkey photo no longer seems so important. I dash back to the van and we’re on our way to Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge. Located on the southwest coast, 1 8 kilometres from the upbeat surfer town of San Juan del Sur, Morgan’s Rock was the first luxury eco lodge in the country. New resorts are moving in, however, as Nicaragua becomes a prime destination for green travellers. Still unspoiled, with coastline on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, the country is a nature hound’s dream – a land of sulphur-spitting volcanoes, tangled rainforests and a scattering of lodges-with-a-conscience that blend jetsetter chic with sustainability. It’s still not a well-oiled tourist machine and at some point you’ll likely find yourself on a jarring dirt road, but you’ll also find a warm optimistic vibe and a country teetering between discovery and grit. Award-winning Morgan’s Rock is made up of 1 5 deluxe bungalows constructed from exotic local woods. Throw in a quiet beach, a pool, a working farm and an 800-hectare nature reserve and it’s clear why it remains a favourite. I’m curious about the competition, however, and Aqua Wellness Resort is not far away. Located near the fishing village of Gigante, Aqua is the only property on crescentshaped Redonda Bay. Its 24 treetop villas are spread out over the hillside so be forewarned, you’ll do a lot of walking, but it’s all part of the get fit process. Aqua is known for its yoga retreats and has a holistic-minded spa. With plunge pools, paths lined with lava rock and villas surrounded by wild ginger and banana trees, it’s a jungle getaway worth the trek. Down at the beach, the setting sun colours the sand gold and spills honey-tinted light onto the boulders at the edge of the shore. After splashing around in the sheltered bay, I make my way to the beachside restaurant to meet Aqua’s Canadian co-owner, Trevor Barran. His enthusiasm about the country is infectious, and he sums it up when he says, “Nicaragua is going through a massive growth spurt for tourism and we’re lucky to be here in this moment.”

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Yoga Retreats: Aqua Wellness Resort, Nicaragua A two-hour drive from Granada, in the village of Gigante, 24 sustainably built treehouses with plunge pools and outdoor showers await guests. Classes are held on a huge beachfront platform. Every stay includes one wellness class (meditation, yoga, or a raw foods consultation). Throughout the year, visiting yoga gurus lead retreats. Seven-night yoga retreats from $1,850, including meals, activities, and workshops. (509) 456-7737, aquanicaragua.com. This story appeared in the January/February 2012 issue. Find other yoga retreats: Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Massachusetts Jicaro Island Ecolodge, Nicaragua Gaia Retreat and Spa, Australia Como Shambhala Estate, Bali Ananda, India Domaine de la Grausse, France

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The Lost Girls > Lost Girls > Featured > Lost in Nicaragua: A Renewal at Aqua Wellness Resort

Lost in Nicaragua: A Renewal at Aqua Wellness Resort FEATURED, IN-ROOM REVIEWS, NICARAGUA — BY LOST GIRLS ON MARCH 3, 2012 AT 1:58 PM

by Courtney Dubin Special to Lost Girls World Like a few things in my life, Taylor Swift deserves a bit of credit for my vacation to Nicaragua, or at the very least the idea for how I would write about my trip to the Aqua Wellness Resort in Redonda Bay. The way she shares her feelings through her lyrics exudes wisdom far beyond her 21 years. And to get the most from her songs, Taylor (I’m going to write like we know each other), dives heart first into any new experience, working out what it meant on the other side. In pitching this story to my fabulous friend, Lost Girl Amanda Pressner, I told her that I could use a wellness-focused vacation reset to focus a bit less on the small stuff, much like my unknowing mentor (who’s 13 years my junior).

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So I invited my most pushy friend Kathi, packed a very small bag, and headed to the Aqua Wellness Resort that sits on the Pacific side of the country, about three hours from the city of Managua. I booked the ticket knowing full well that change does not occur with just a few days of a yoga and said pushy friend telling you to put away your laptop and be in the moment, but I also figured the serene environment and holistic philosophy of Aqua would be the best possible place to ease up and make new priorities.

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The resort, after all, was founded on the basic concept that true beauty respects and shines a light on what’s already there, (rather than force-fitting a perception of what beautiful should be with a lot of pomp and circumstance). It practically cooed, “lower your blood pressure” from the pictures on the website and article I read in Food & Wine magazine.

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After what seemed like a quick two flights, we arrived at Managua International Airport, where a smiley little man was waiting to take us and one other passenger to the resort. Turns out, our companion Clifford owned a villa at Aqua, and had made his way back for the first time in two years to attend their yearly meeting. When we weren’t volcano-gazing on our drive (the mountainous landscape of Nicaragua has 50 of these active peaks) and speaking in broken Spanish, Clifford shared the roundabout story of his personal journey to Aqua. We had come to this nook of the world at a unique place in time, and our new friend urged us to seek and hang out with owners, who could give us an insider’s perspective on the evolution of the resort. Our favorite part of the ride jolted us back into the excitement of being in a foreign land, and in flip-flops. Four hours on the road (with stops), and well into the “are we there yet” mental loop, we hooked a right onto what can only be described as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Nicaragua, complete with living obstacles in the form of cows, horses and dogs. It was hard get the full lay of the land at night, so we did a quick change in what Clifford assured was a room with one serious view, and made our way down 167 steps and along the barely lit beach to the resort’s one, outdoor restaurant. Aqua’s bountiful organic menu, I’ll admit after a few days eating from it, does not seem quite as diverse, though they offer a handful of options for the meat and gluten intolerant. But given the newness of the place, and staff, it will likely get better and better as they learn from guests. Everything tasted fresh and earthy, and comely waiters and waitresses catered to even the pickiest of New Yorkers (which says a lot). The work in progress energy also contributed to an overall feeling that everyone was doing the very best they could for us. Just how I want to feel on vacation, and a nice reminder of the reason I took this trip in the first place.

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Lighter fare won’t lull you into a food coma, and it’s a good thing because if you do nothing else but eat and sun on your vacation, the stairs on the way back up, make you feel like you’ve earned your daily bread. Kathi and I commemorated each sojourn with a swift, gentle kick to the gong at the top of the steps (side note for the singers, sound travels at Aqua because it’s just so quiet, so don’t flex your pipes in the shower, or you may get gonged). And no disrespect to sound machines, but they have nothing on the sleep inducing effect of waves crashing into the shore, even from our heights so high. The morning brought with it the opportunity to take in the view we’d heard so much about, and check out the finer details of our villa, aptly named Yucca #1. The large deck that wrapped around to a separate kitchen had two optimally placed rocking chairs that we ended up spending much of our time in. In defense of our inaction, the combination of delicious, almost chocolate-y coffee, that you can make in your kitchen, rocking chairs in the sun, and that view, make it so hard not to at least attempt leaving behind a semi-permanent dent in the seat cushions. We stayed on the upper level of Yucca #1, but the lower level also had a dipping pool that our kind Chilean neighbors below welcomed us to use. These pools, in most of the villas at Aqua, face the ocean, and Kathi and I often thought about what a great destination the resort is for couples. With just the top level, we had more than enough room for two friends who wanted separate space. The upstairs bedroom and living room, set up with a futon, each had a bathroom and spa showers that rain down on you like a shampoo commercial, and the minimalist décor connects back to that same spirit of relaying the beauty of one’s surroundings. In fact, everything at Aqua was designed to harness the power of the land and its resources, from the water filtration to the wood used to build the villas. Aqua uses sustainable technologies to operate the resort, like preserving the seepage area under the property, and offering tours and experiences that involve and employ the local communities. On one of our daytime excursions, we took a 2.5 hour chartered motorboat ride and viewed some turtle eggs on a private beach not far from Aqua. Although we expected to see baby turtles, the intention of the resort is to give guests the opportunity to care for eggs, and hatched turtles if you’re lucky.

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Some other options for tours include a full-day trip, travelling by boat to the coastal town San Juan del Sur to meander, eat lunch and pick up a few souvenirs for friends and family. If it’s impending danger and hot magma you seek, you could trek the active Masaya Volcano through lava stream caves, and channeling your inner Joe Banks, stare down the great, smoking crater (Waponis and orange soda not included).

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To see the “country of lakes and volcanoes” by day, Aqua offers a day trip up the peak of the Mombacho volcano for a canopy tour with hiking (at different levels), and ziplining.

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Prices for half and full-day trips range from about $100-150 dollars per person, depending on the activity you chose, and Aqua works with you to set everything up and arrange for the necessary transportation.

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Aside from our boat tour, I enjoyed a ocean-facing massage at the newly opened spa, and one yoga class, also facing the ocean, on a platform close to the beach bar and restaurant. Our spritely Canadian teacher Grace guided us through poses and steady Hatha breathing that, while not an intense workout, still left me with the warm buzz I look for in a good yoga class.

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Grace teaches two daily classes at 10am and 5pm, along with intermittent weekly workshops like raw chocolate making.

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It took a lot to get moving on a relaxing vacation, but more than anything, food will do the trick. Kathi and I followed our stomachs and ventured off the resort grounds to see the surfer town, Playa Gigante to try what we heard were some stellar fish tacos (one of my favorite treats!) at Chele Palmados Barefoot Bar and Grill. To help us get to the town, and more importantly, the food, Aqua manager Natalia led us on a backwoods path that opened up to the ocean and the town of Playa Gigante after about a 20-minute walk. While dark, our small flashlights, and one iphone flashlight app were more than sufficient to light our way.

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 LEADERS IN LUXURY MENU

Mario Salinas Pasos Minister of Tourism Nicaragua An architect and real estate developer by trade, Mario Salinas Pasos is designing plans for Nicaragua to take its place among destinations that appeal to elite travelers. Recently Elite Traveler Editor-in-Chief caught up with the Minister of Tourism during his visit to the United States Tour Operator Association Annual Conference in Marco Island, Florida.

ET: What is Nicaragua’s appeal to affluent travelers? Minister Mario Salinas Pasos: We appeal from medium to very, very high-end tourism. We have unique culture and adventure travel products and we have world-class golf courses with more under development. We have both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. We have two Colonial Cities “Leon and Granada” and the second largest church in the Americas which is a UNESCO world heritage site. We have yacht marinas, and “sunboarding” down the sides of a volcano. We have amazing lakes and fishing. We are ranked in the top five surf destinations in the world and in November 2012 we will host surfing’s world championships. We have incredible nature with two of the world’s foremost turtle hatcheries where in one night you can watch over 3,000 turtles come ashore. ET: What about accommodations? Minister Mario Salinas Pasos: We already have top five-star resorts such as Aqua Wellness Resort and we have under development Guacalito de la Isla on what is our “Emerald Coast”. There are home sites with amazing ocean views and there are three and four bedroom ocean view villas. There is a David McLay Kidd golf course, as you know, he is the award win ning designer of Bandon Dunes and the Seventh Course at St. Andrew Links. It is all together a $250 million project. Nicaragua is also know for its five star boutique hotels, including in Leon we have a converted monastery which is now a beautiful boutique hotel. ET: How is tourism doing? Minister Mario Salinas Pasos: We are beginning to be discovered. We now have over one million tourists per year and we are a country of six million people. Nicaragua is safe and secure, and our people are known for being welcoming and friendly. Our number one market is the United States with 27 percent and we are easily accessible either by commercial airline service and certainly private jets.

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Adventures in Nicaragua

Your Own Private Tree House Overlooking a Secluded Beach Aqua Wellness Resort takes this eco concept to a luxury level. With stunning tree top villas that literally put you in the center of the action of a tropical rainforest (nothing like a resident Sloth to teach you how to kick back) each has an outdoor patio and plunge pool. With lava rock paths that lead down to a private white sand crescent shaped beach.

Must-See Openings Wellness Retreat Nicaragua’s newest eco-luxe resort. Aqua Wellness Resort is a new eco-luxe development perched on a forested hillside overlooking a crescent beach on Nicaragua’s unspoiled Pacific Riviera coast. The development offers eco-friendly treetop villas built from sustainable hardwoods that range in size from 1,150 to 1,500 square feet. Aqua villas feature fine contemporary furnishings, state-of-the-art appliances, and spacious terraces with ocean and/or forest views. Most villas have multiple bedrooms, plunge pools, and separate kitchen/dining bungalows. Alhough rooms are air conditioned, Aqua offers other cooling options—ceiling fans and ocean breezes—that are more earthfriendly. Owners have access to Aqua’s yoga pavilion and open-air full-service restaurant overlooking the beach. In addition to yoga and spa treatments, activities include kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, and hiking to the nearby village of Gigante, as well as adventure activities such as volcano climbing and zip-lining. Additionally, Aqua’s chef serves healthful cuisine that features fresh local seafood and produce. Aqua Wellness Resort villas range in price from $309,000 to $398,000. Owners can enjoy them for 109 days a year and rent them out the rest of the time through Aqua’s management program.

Dreamy Destination Inspirato has added two coastal destinations to its growing portfolio of luxury residences and hotel properties. The new locales, Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, California, and Los Veneros in Punta de Mita, Mexico, join Inspirato’s 22 other destinations where members can make reservations for their vacations. Bacara Resort & Spa offers a variety of leisure experiences, including golf, tennis, access to the 42,000-square-foot spa, and some of the most beautiful landscapes on the California coast. Inspirato’s penthouse residences at Los Veneros Resort and Beach Club feature idyllic white sandy beaches and a variety of family-friendly activities.

Maine Attraction Nestled between Rockland and Camden, Maine, Samoset Resort crowns a 230-acre waterfront complex at the edge of Penobscot Bay. The 178-room seasonal hotel features a state-of-the-art health club, indoor and outdoor heated pools, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The resort was renovated in mid 2011, adding a new Italian restaurant, a fullservice spa, and new cottages. The one- and two-bedroom cottages—Wind Drift, Spring Tide, and Sea Spray—offer views of Penobscot Bay and Breakwater Lighthouse, and amenities like kitchens, central air, washer/dryers, gas fireplaces, screened porches, flat-screen TVs, and hardwood floors. Also new for 2011 is a renovation to 28 rooms in the deluxe wing, which included new carpet, wall coverings, glass shower walls, bedding, window treatments, and furniture.

This article appears in the October-November 2011 issue of Ocean Home Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Ocean Home »

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Redonda Bay, Nicaragua The beach at the Aqua Wellness Resort at Redonda Bay in Nicaragua is a perfect crescent, with a shallow white sandy bottom, and an orientation that is protected from large swells by a cove, making bathing in the sandy waters warm, relaxing and comfortable. Leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles nest in the area, and sightings are frequent during nesting season.

Eco-Travel Guide: Nicaragua By Jen Murhpy

Affordable, safe (believe it) and undiscovered (though not for long), Nicaragua is the next great eco-travel destination. F&W's Jen Murphy checks out its wildlife and nightlife.

You Can Get to Yoga Heaven "Do you know why Nicaragua is like Justin Timberlake?" my driver asks as he changes the radio from JT’s "SexyBack" to baseball. I rack my brain (boy bands? Britney Spears? The Social Network?), then give up with a shrug. "We are a country that is able to reinvent itself over and over again," he says. Nicaragua has reinvented itself even more often than Timberlake has. The Somoza dictatorship that began in the 1930s led to almost five decades of revolutions and counterrevolutions, interrupted by a devastating earthquake in 1972. The ’80s brought violent conflict between the leftist Sandinista government and American-backed Contra rebels. All of which explains why my friends were baffled when I told them I would be going, by myself, to Nicaragua for a vacation. Wasn’t it dangerous?Where would I stay? And more importantly, what would I eat? Why not just visit Costa Rica? What my friends didn’t know is that Nicaragua has reinvented itself as the next great eco-destination. Not only has it become the second-safest country in Central America, after Costa Rica (according to a recent Global Peace Index study), but it’s a bargain. As a friend put it, "You can live like a king for less than $100 a day." If Nicaragua had Justin Timberlake’s PR team, it would be touting these reasons to visit.

There Are Wonderful New Eco-Hotels Many of the new hotels in Nicaragua are promoting themselves as yoga and wellness spots, hosting retreats led by world-renowned gurus and offering all kinds of classes. One such property, Aqua Wellness Resort, is on the Pacific Coast, an hour-and-a-half’s drive or so west of Granada at the end of a long and gnarly dirt road—the type of road that always seems to lead me to an exceptionally rewarding destination.

Aqua is built into the hillside and consists of a series of 18 fabulous, sustainable wooden treehouse villas that are connected to each other by suspended bridges, with 150 steps that lead down to sheltered Redonda Bay. I am able to do yoga overlooking the water, on an enormous beachfront platform, or have a private session on the deck of my treehouse. The resort also gives wellness classes on topics like dealing with food allergies and healthful cooking.

My visit to Aqua happens to coincide with a month-long teacher-training workshop by an esteemed yoga institute. One morning I immediately attract the intense interest of the 50-odd yogis-in-training when they spot me holding my cup of coffee. "Is that real coffee?" one asks me wistfully. I nod and try not to smile as I take a long sip. These yogis are vegans who abstain from caffeine and alcohol. Luckily for me, Aqua shares my philosophy of moderation in all things.