AquaWellness: 10 Reasons to Visit this Emerald Coast Nicaragua Yoga Retreat

Are you looking for a Nicaragua yoga retreat or just want a relaxing beach vacation in paradise? Need to unwind, unplug, and get in touch with nature? We have found the perfect place at this Emerald Coast Nicaragua resort. This barefoot luxury wellness resort is exactly what the doctor ordered for anyone who’s stressed, and who isn’t these days? On top of that, it offers affordable luxury which is what we’re all about!

We had never heard of Aqua Wellness Resort in Tola Nicaragua, but came across it when searching for the best luxury hotels Nicaragua has to offer. In fact, it was a last minute decision to visit as a side trip from our stay at Andaz Papagayo resort in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. We are so glad we did because we loved this beautiful Central American country and this hidden gem on Redonda Bay Nicaragua. Check out the highlights of Nicaragua from our short visit and some Instagram-worthy photo spots in the colonial city of Granada. 

Now that we’ve convinced you to add Nicaragua to your bucket list, it’s time to show you why to visit AquaWellness resort. This luxury treehouse Nicaragua resort has Playa Redonda, one of the best beaches in Nicaragua, all to itself. Just wait, there’s so many more reasons to visit Aqua Nicaragua Wellness Resort. It’s one of the Nicaragua beach hotels with the best views ever! I mean we’re talking epic! Check out our breathtaking photos and 10 reasons to visit this gorgeous Emerald Coast Nicaragua yoga retreat.

View this post on Instagram

Can't get enough of the stunning views and sunsets we were treated to on the Emerald Coast in Nicaragua. This country should be high up on your travel list. Here's a short #timelapse to give you an idea about what to expect. @visitanicaragua Shot with @djiglobal at @aquawellnessresort

A post shared by Family Luxury Travel Hackers (@worldtraveladventurers) on Sep 6, 2017 at 5:53am PDT

#1. Stay on one of the best beaches in Nicaragua- Playa Redonda

Nicaragua boasts some beautiful beaches, and one of the best is Playa Redonda. Guests of Aqua Nicaragua can enjoy this private beach cove all to themselves. Well, they actually have to share it with sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. How incredible is that? The resort uses special red lights along the beach so they don’t confuse the hatchlings and deter them from their route to the sea. We were really hoping to see some baby turtles crawling through the sand, but unfortunately none hatched while we were there. Maybe you’ll have better luck!

#2. Check  “treehouse Nicaragua” off your bucket list

Who else has always wanted to sleep in a treehouse in the tropical forest? I know we aren’t the only ones. It must be those childhood memories of reading the tales of the Swiss Family Robinson. Come on, I know you want to too! Well you can at Aqua Wellness Nicaragua, and it’s way more affordable than you’d think. We booked our room online just a few days before our arrival (since it was a last-minute decision to visit Nicaragua), and paid only $169/night which included breakfast for two people. Nicaragua is a great option for affordable luxury with rates like that! We met another couple at the resort who paid even less but their booking did not include breakfast. I remember seeing a $99/night promotion online at one point, which is fantastic! Remember, it’s always cheaper to travel during their low season, which is what we try to do to get the most bang for our buck.

This Nicaragua treehouse resort offers basic treehouses and more luxurious treehouse suites. We stayed our first night in a basic treehouse, which had a private deck overlooking the gorgeous Redonda Bay Nicaragua. We sat out on that deck and just basked in the peace and serenity of the setting. What’s more perfect than a treehouse with a beach view?

On our decks we were serenaded by the sound of the birds chirping and the waves lapping against the beach. We can’t imagine anything more relaxing than that. Oh wait, yes we can! Enjoying those sounds and that killer view from your private deck with your own plunge pool! Just keep reading…

#3. Go big or go home with the luxury treehouse suite

After our first night in a basic treehouse, we got upgraded into one of the luxury treehouse suites. Talk about an upgrade! If you are planning a stay at Aqua, we highly recommend you reserve one of the luxury treehouse suites. They have so much more space and are waaaaay more luxurious. Plus, you could end up saving money since they have a kitchen and you could cook some of your own meals.

Our suite had a separate building with a full kitchen, which we never used since this was an anniversary celebration. I wasn’t cooking on that vacation, hahaha. We didn’t realize ahead of time that we’d have a kitchen so we didn’t pick up any food or drinks on the way there. Next time, we would at the very least bring some snacks, drinks, wine, and the fixings for cocktails. If we had been traveling with the kids, the kitchen would have been a lifesaver. Traveling with young kids is so much easier when you have your own kitchen with snacks and drinks. Otherwise, it can get expensive buying all your meals and drinks from the restaurant.

#4. Spend the day in your private plunge pool overlooking the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua

Our suite had jaw-dropping views of the beach from the private deck with our own plunge pool. I mentioned that we were there celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary. So yes, think romantic, orgasmicly romantic! 😉 We had way too much fun taking selfies with our tripod in our private plunge pool. Hey, hold on a second those of you with dirty minds…we didn’t do anything naughty in the pool. Although the thought certainly did cross our minds, hehehe!

Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – AQUA WELLNESS RESORT NICARAGUA

#5. Take free yoga classes daily at this Nicaragua yoga retreat

We are not yogis, although I (Alexis) have taken yoga before and do love a good yoga class. Yoga is what draws tons of visitors to Aqua Wellness resort from all over the world. This Nicaragua yoga retreat offers 2 free classes every day to the guests of the resort- one is the morning and one at sunset. They also offer additional paid and private classes.

I am embarrassed to admit that I did not get my lazy vacation butt out of bed early enough to take the morning class and was too busy lounging on the beach to take the afternoon class. This really just gives us more reason to return to Aqua Nicaragua. We have to try the yoga! We did at least venture up to the yoga platform and snapped a photo of the afternoon yoga class as the sun began to set.

We then enjoyed the yoga platform all to ourselves as we watched the sun sink into the ocean for one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever witnessed. We had an insider tip from the manager that the yoga platform is a great spot for watching the sunset. Honestly, there’s not a bad spot to watch the sunset at Aqua Wellness Resort. Which brings us to #6.

#6.  Capture epic sunsets with the Giant’s foot

We already mentioned having fun taking selfies with our tripod in our plunge pool. We also set it up on the beach at sunset and danced around (literally) as the sun set behind us. We captured some epic sunset photos with the Giant’s foot (that strip of land that looks like a giant foot with its heel facing up toward the sky) in the background.

Every sunset from Aqua beach resort is phenomenal! Here are some of our favorite shots as we giggled our way across the beach, leaping and dancing like no one was watching! I also tried my best at some yoga poses, like the classic tree pose. However, Bertaut was making fun of me and I couldn’t hold it because I was laughing too hard. For all you yogis out there, think of the fabulous silhoutte photos you could get with that sunset behind you!

#7. Stay sexy with healthy food at the open-air beachside restaurant

This Nicaragua wellness retreat serves up many healthy dining options. We tend to eat healthy when we’re home but often go buck wild on vacation and end up putting on a few pounds every time we travel. It was nice to visit a resort that focused on wellness and healthy food options. We enjoyed delicious egg dishes for breakfast, our favorite being the steak and egg burrito serviced with fresh salsa. We loved the fresh squeezed juice every morning, especially the bright purple dragonfruit juice. We also tried a delicious surf and turf lunch and a local curry soup served out of a pineapple. Yum!

#8. Stay fit by taking the guided hike to the Giant’s Foot (Gigante)

We took the guided hike with Gary to the top of the Giant’s foot after breakfast and highly recommend this activity at AquaNicaragua. We went with another young couple and the 5 of us had a great time chatting, snapping photos of each other, and coming up with awesome Instagram poses. Seriously, we joked that the younger couple should be our Instagram consultants since they had all the best poses down. They gave us some inspiration and we stole some of their poses since we are not nearly as creative with posing for photos. Hahaha! Here are some of our favorite photos from the guided hike to the Giant’s foot.

#9. See howler monkeys playing in the trees

Another amazing thing about staying in a treehouse resort is that you get to see monkeys up close. We are in their turf, so it’s incredibly exciting to see and hear them throughout the property. Howler monkeys can get loud. They howl. There’s nothing quite like hanging out in your treehouse and hearing howling monkeys or seeing them swing through the trees. You feel like you’re in an episode on National Geographic. It’s so freaking cool!

#10. Have a clean conscience about staying in a Nicaragua eco resort

Aqua Wellness is an eco-friendly resort that was designed in harmony with nature and emphasizes respect for the environment. The resort won the MARENA Environmental Protection Award for excellence in policies and practices that preserve and promote its natural environment. It feels good to stay somewhere knowing that they are doing their part to preserve this little slice of paradise.

As such, know that you will not be whisked away in a golf cart to your room or throughout the resort. You will have to huff it up and down long sets of stairs to the beach and meander across wooden footbridges on your way to your treehouse. That’s part of the magic of this wellness-oriented resort. You are truly enveloped in nature and will burn off some of those calories from that afternoon pina colada on the beach. With that being said, this resort is not recommended for anyone who has mobility issues and is not stroller-friendly. If you’re traveling with young kids, bring your baby carrier and wear them. You’ll even burn some extra calories.

#10. (Tie) Get a massage in a treehouse spa at Aqua Wellness Day Spa

When you’re vacationing in paradise, make sure to enjoy an Aqua spa treatment. We enjoyed a couples massage at Aqua Wellness Spa and it was heavenly. The view from the treehouse spa is not too shabby either. We chilled in the rocking chairs after our massage to take in the view for just a bit longer before slipping back into our private plunge pool. Ohhhh decisions decisions at Aqua on how to spend your time relaxing. On the beach, in your private plunge pool, from the yoga platform, in the spa…there’s so many great places to unwind at Aqua Wellness Nicaragua.

Last words on Aqua Wellness Nicaragua

We have traveled to some of the most beautiful places around the world, and this is high on our list for its unparalleled natural beauty and tranquility. It truly is paradise on Earth! At Aqua Wellness Nicaragua, affordable luxury is within reach with rates as low as $169/night for a treehouse with epic views of Redonda Bay. Whether you come for the yoga, treehouse, monkeys, healthy food, beach, or just a chance to unplug and be surrounded by nature, you will fully unwind. This is the kind of vacation you take to get in touch with yourself and nature. Forget zoning out in front of flat screen TVs (you won’t find any TVs here) and instead meditate on the splendid scenery. We all need some more zen in our lives! Tap into your inner peace here. We know we did!

Grab yourself a guidebook to help you plan the rest of your Nicaragua vacation or check out this itinerary. Here are a few guidebooks that you may find helpful- the Lonely Planet Nicaragua Travel Guide and this Nicaragua Culture Guide.

If you liked this post, please share it on social media and pin it for later. Sign up for our email newsletter for more travel tips and inspiration to explore the world.

Pin this post: