http://SarongGoddess.com/Travel/SAN-JUAN-DEL-SUR-Nicaragua-Nov/10473985_LdGiB  - Vicki's Trip #5 - Nov. 27-30, '09

I’ve been doing these visa runs for years now & I only last year discovered SJDS (I was mainly doing Bocas del Toro, Panama before & had bought into the negative press I’d hear about Nicaragua) & I LOVE IT!!  This small bay is about 5 blocks by 5 blocks & I’ve always felt VERY SAFE there – even walking around late at night solo.  Food wise there’s everything from eating at the Central Mercado to some high-end tasty trendy restaurants with some special treats (MY FAV restaurant that I ALWAYS go to on my last night is O Sole Mio which has the TASTIEST Veal Piccata that I’ve had this south for only around $8!!!). 

OPTIONS TO GET THERE:

This time there are 2 options to get there:

My normal way – Deldu Bus to the border ($9 each way in a non-air-conditioned bus [or you can take TransNica or TicaBus for $24 each way which have a/c[), walk across ($11 total) & taxi to SJDS ($25-$30/each way), plus your taxi to get you to the bus stop in Downtown SJ.

OR

If we can get at least 5 more people together, my friend Abner who is a Tourism van driver & wants to go with me on this trip can get his bosses van & we can ride in comfort & at our timing+++ plus get to see/explore more things!!

If we do the van, what would be INCLUDED:

Van (it includes all the registration, fees, taxes, insurance it costs to take the van across the border)) - a NICE large air-conditioned (if majority wants it/it’s needed – otherwise we’ll open the windows & enjoy the fresh air – it’s OUR choice!!) tourism van with more legroom/space to stretch out

Driver - Abner

Gas there/back

Pickup/Drop-off if you’re along the way (leaving from Escazu.  If you live further away, I will offer a really cheap rate at my Escazu guest house if you need a place to stay the night before – or you can park at my place though you’ll be doing it at your risk since we won’t be there to be responsible). 

Ice Chest/Cooler so you can bring your own drinks/snacks (save $$)

Timing - Leave & Return when the majority desires & stops where WE desire (including for bathroom breaks [the Deldu does not have a bathroom or air-conditioning]).  MY immediate thought is to leave around 8am or so but again, that’s open to majority rules.

FASTER ride (no pickups along the way like a bus has)

The driver & use of the van for one optional day trip* (those going split the gas & Abner’s food/drinks plus a tip)

Someone that knows the ropes of SJDS (this will be trip #7 for me [I gladly receive thanx in the form of drinks &/or meals!!!]) & MORE!!!  

 BONUS #1: For those needing it - Abner will go downtown for us the day before & buy our Leaving CR in 90 days TransNica bus ticket (+$24) to prevent potential challenges at the border getting back into CR (this seems to be a problem more & more these days!! I’VE NEVER been asked but from what I’m hearing – about 40% of the people ARE being asked & if you don’t have something proving you’re leaving within 90 days, people are sometimes refused re-entry or only given a 30-day stamp so this time I WILL get it. I’m not positive but I hear it’s actually good for 1 year & all you have to do is go change the date on it BEFORE it comes up.  You’ll need to somehow get the money to us before he goes (I have Citibank & Banco Nacional & Abner banks at HHBC.  A tip is greatly appreciated for him for this.

 *BONUS #2: Abner will take whomever wants to go on at least 1 optional day trip like to Granada or somewhere else. There is NO additional fee for it – you just split the gas (it’s a diesel van so it gets good mileage] & pay for any of his meals (& tip would be nice).

 NOT included:  Your Border Crossing Fees (last I was there 3 months ago it was $7-entering Nicaragua, $4-exiting Nicaragua, $1/$1 paid at the Fronterra crossing), Accommodations (you can stay where we’re staying - http://TheSecretCoveNicaragua.com & what they have left is one room at $20 & 2 rooms at $28 or $34 [$34 has air-conditioning.  The others have ceiling fans.  Breakfast is included.  All have shared bathrooms] – or go to http://SanJuanDelSurNI.com  for some other options [I make NOTHING from ANY of these accommodations!!]), meals.  If you go on optional side trips around Nicaragua, the only cost is gas [shared by the people going as well as all food & tips for the driver]).

 PRICE (Investment in your FUN/EASE!!): If we can get at least 5 additional people - $100/pp.  $85/pp if it’s 6 people, $75/pp if it’s 7 & less if we have more).  Tips or drinks (not when he’s driving of course) for Abner are welcome!

WHAT MIGHT WE DO:

IF we get enough people together to take the van, ya’ll can do a day-trip to GRANADA stopping in MASSAYA for some AMAZING SHOPPING DEALS (this trip is BEST on Wednesday.  You'd also have Abner there to help negotiate for you if you don't speak Spanish!!) or wherever ya’ll decide to go (you just pay the gas & Abner’s food [& tip would be nice]).

 If we can get at least 6 people together, we may go out on a Sailing Adventure aboard the 34' Sloop/Sailboat the DonaLyn with Capt. Ray from around 10/10:30ish and return around 2/2:30ish for a trip south to the Bay of Salinas to view 13 miles of beautiful coastline and the mountains of Costa Rica if ya want to join us! I did this last trip & had a REALLY GOOD TIME (even though I FOOLISHLY stayed on deck in the sun much of the time & got WAYYYY more burnt than I should have [but hey - 3 months later I'm still tan!!  I know - SICK PUPPY!!!]).  It includes a TASTY lunch (wraps & fresh fruit) and I water, sodas & beer for just $40 (reservations required - RJEsq@aol.com / 8-672-3013).

 I LOVE to hang out part of the day at the Bambu Beach Club (http://TheBambuBeachClub.com) which offers tasty food and an actual POOL - ON the beach (no fee last time I was there - as long as you're eatin'/drinkin'!!).

 You can take a water taxi over to some NICE beaches daily (if they have enough people for it) for $10 round-trip (sometimes I just go with them for the boat ride both ways).

 Night time can be quite lively – especially during some parts of the year!!  I DO like to go to the open mike at The Pier sometimes.  Sit around the bonfire on the beach & sing along!!!

 This is gonna be a TIGHT BUDGET trip for me & I’m not looking to be anyone’s mamma but I’m happy to share info/help ya out & if we want to get together for a meal or 2 – GREAT (I’m not a big night time partier!!!).  If you’re just wanting to come along for the transportation – that’s cool also!!

 Don’t want to go with us yet will be there then & want to hook up??  Let’s do it!!

FUN NOTE: The town seems pretty packed with the crew from the latest SURVIVOR 21 tv show!!  http://ProNicaragua.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320%3A-nicaragua-to-host-two-seasons-of-hit-tv-series-survivor-&catid=9%3Anews&Itemid=151&lang=es

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INTERESTED IN STAYING IN GRANADA ONLY OR BOTH?

This could be do-able.  There are 2 ways - #1 - The cheapest/easiest - if you overnight the first night in San Juan del Sur & then go with them the next morning (Wednesday) to Massaya & Granada.  Since they're ultimately going to Granada, this would be the cheapest way as you'd only be chipping into gas for it & Abner's meals & you'd get to go to Massaya for shopping.  Then you'd only be paying for the return pickup which depending on the group consensus would most likely be EARLY Fri. a.m. #2 - If you REALLY don't want to do SJDS, he could drop us off in SJDS & then take you to Granada & then again - pick you up Granada EARLY Fri. a.m.  This way you either wouldn't get to do Massaya or they could do Granada before Massaya & then take you to Massaya but you'd have to get yourself back to Granada or pay an extra fee since it's a bit out of the way.   We're checking on pricing.

(NOTE: I or NO ONE is making ANY MONEY from this.  The price is to cover costs for the EXTREMELY reduced price for the van [one way transfer ONLY is normally around $450+ EACH WAY JUST for transportation – take you from Point A to Point B], all expenses it costs for the van to leave the country (that’s like $140 or so alone), gas, $20/n accommodations for driver & his meals)

IF we don’t have 5 additional people & someone’s willing to pay the difference to have comfort/ease – feel free to step up!!

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CONTACT ME TODAY:

SanJuanDelSurNI@gmail.com  /  (506) 8-378-6679 (within CR) /  1-941-312-7569 (our U.S. #), SKYPE:  VallartaVicki