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Driving from Managua Airport to Guacalito, Hacienda Iguana and Rancho Santana
Two independent units 50yrds from the beach/ 3 minutes walk from Colorados surf break. Big pool, fully FULLY loaded!! Total flexibility for groups of two to six.
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The three resorts appear in the order they show in the title, and are on the same road. The best way to present the instructions is a bulleted list, so here goes...
- Read this if your are planning on visiting in late September or October!
- Pick up your rental car at the airport. Three point of note here
- Make sure your credit card has between $600 and $1000 available credit. They actually charge your card the amount, and then refund it when you return the car!
- Some agencies have 25 yrs as the minimum driver age, but most work with 21yrs - check and be sure when you make the reservation.
- You'll need your drivers license, obviously.
- The car will be brought round to the front of the terminal for you. Load up, get going.
- On leaving the airport TURN RIGHT!
- Keep going straight on until the road widen out to four lanes. You may notice a bird cage shop on the left hand side as you drive along. Shortly after that, go RIGHT. This right turn is about 10 minutes from the airport, and you'll go straight over a few roundabouts.
- You now go straight on for about 25 minutes. you'll go over a number of intersections, you'll pass big clothes factories, you'll pass a battery hen farm, you'll pass a beer factory. Eventually you'll come to a junction which requires a left or right - GO LEFT!
- You are now in Masaya, which can get a bit crowded.
- Go straight over the first roundabout - there's a Texaco here if you need gas.
- At the second roundabout, go right. Just BEFORE this roundabout is a small Pali supermarket. This is the most convenient place to stock up on groceries.
- You should see a Purina factory on the left hand side of the road. Then the road winds left and climbs.
- You'll see lots of flower shops. Keep going. Eventually you'll get to a roundabout, go straight over - second exit.
- You'll pass Caterina. Keep going. You'll soon see the Mombacho volcano. This is where you are headed for now.
- You'll go downhill, with the volcano ahead. Keep going straight until the road arrives at a triangle. Here you take the fork to the right.
- About ten minutes later you'll get to another triangle. Take the fork to the LEFT.
- You are now on the Interamericana and in Nandaime. There are some gas stations here - this is the cheapest place to fuel up in Nicaragua.
- About 15 minutes after getting on the Interamericana you'll be at the Ochomogo bridge. There's a little cafe just before the bridge which is cheap and serves excellent steak sandwiches. This is a good spot for a bite to eat as you are a little over half way. You should have been driving about an hour and twenty minutes. You have about an hour and ten minutes to go. Smile at the police, they'll smile back. If you get stopped, have an ice cold coke ready to give the officer.
- You'll now continue straight-on for about half an hour. Your next turn will be to the right - there are signs for Tola, Rancho Santana and Hacienda Iguana on the Interamericana. If you miss the turn, you'll get to a roundabout. Do an about turn.
- After the turn off you go along about 500 meters, then go right again. Following the signs.
- You'll pass the hospital on your left. You are now on the road for Tola. Keep going straight on. You'll soon be in Tola.
- Directly after the park, turn left. There's a big sign there.
- Go straight about 150 meters, then go RIGHT. There's a sign there, too.
- You are now on the dirt road. Keep going straight, all the resorts are sign posted and all have obvious entrances. The first on you get to is Guacalito, then Hacienda Iguana, then Rancho Santana.
- If you keep go past all the resorts you eventually get to Las Salinas, where you turn off for Popoyo.
- If you go past the Popoyo turn off, you'll end up at El Astillero.
If you are coming to
Arbolito Viejo - get to the second gate in Hacienda Iguana (near the office) and go RIGHT. 100 meters after the second gate, the track veers round to the left. Go right here. You should see us right in front.
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