La Santa Maria is an innovative and exclusive residential and tourist concept being built on the expansive 20,000-square-meter site of the former, posh Barlovento Hotel. This is the first major luxury tourism real estate development project to be undertaken in San Juan del Sur since the 1970s, said the Nicaraguan developers.

Perched on a plateau overlooking the coast, La Santa María‘s design is inspired by a Mediterranean luxury town, equipped with pedestrian streets, curved roof tiles, and open, integrated designs, focusing on the spaciousness of the properties, balconies, large terraces and striking views.

The project will offer a relaxing, luxurious lifestyle in a private, exclusive, and safe family friendly environment, say the project developers, who will be investing an estimated US$40 million into the construction which started this week.

La Santa María’s residential complex will feature a gourmet plaza, villas, signature villas, apartments, penthouses, a condo-hotel, a club house, a gymnasium, a sports area, children’s pool and games area, and underground parking – all within a stunning tropical beach environment, according to the project website.

The fishing village of San Juan del Sur is the most frequented tourist destination on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. Located in the southwestern department of Rivas, it is approximately an hour and a half from Managua’s International Airport and 20 kilometers from the Costa Rican border.

San Juan del Sur’s horseshoe-shaped bay is sought out for its calm, blue waters surrounded by forested mountains, making it a remarkable and unique location. The village, established more than 150 years ago, has a unique mixture of tourism and local identify with local festivals and traditions together with a wide variety of restaurants, bars, shops, and cafés, in addition to a daily local farmer’s market.

“The need for luxury homes and apartments is growing exponentially with the influx of tourists with high purchasing power. This has created demand for a comprehensively planned, safe, exclusive, tranquil luxury experience,” say developers.

Arguello explained that the project as a whole consists of the construction of 27 units, of which eight will be villas, 16 will be apartments and three will be house lots, plus a plaza for the installation of restaurants and cafes.

The project is expected to be completed in 2020.