Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 239

sourced from the estate - fish fresh from the
estuary as well as rice, corn, wheat and fruits
such as mango and papaya. Even the potent
coffee comes from the Poncons' plantation, based
in the north of the country. The enterprising
team have also set up NicaFrance Foundation, a
community scheme that has helped establish a
bakery, supported a traditional folk-dance group
and funded regular visits by doctors to schools in
Matagalpa.
Nicaragua is fast attracting surfers and
Morgan's Rock is conveniently placed close to
some fantastic surf spots, such as Popoyo - you
can organize a boat to take you there either from
the lodge or from the nearby village of San Juan
del Sur (50min). For landlubbers, there's plenty
of hiking, mountain biking and horse-riding to
get stuck into along the empty trails.

321 eco-chic at Morgan's
rocK, nicaragua

Located in the department of Rivas, about 2hr
30min from Managua on Nicaragua's southwest
coast, luxury ecolodge Morgan's Rock sits
enveloped by a private nature reserve. Built as
part of an extensive farming and reforestation
project, the estate is home to howler monkeys,
sloths, white-tipped deer and many bird species,
while the protected beach is a nesting ground for
sea turtles. The lodge itself is owned and run by
a French family - the Poncons - who originally
managed it with help from the owners of the
ecolodge Lapa Rios, in Costa Rica (see p.234).
The resort comprises fifteen bungalows
connected to the main lodge by a 110m
suspension bridge across
a forested canyon. Each
luxurious bungalow has a
king-sized bed, a comfortable
sofa bed and a private deck
overlooking the forest and
ocean. Back at the central
lodge there's an infinity pool
and a fantastic restaurant
serving wholesome meals.
Many of the ingredients are

Eco-chic at Morgan's Rock;
View from the lodge of
Nicaragua's craggy coastline

Need to know Morgan's Rock is a 3hr drive south
of Managua. For prices and bookings see W www.
morgansrock.com; T [phone]. Morgan's
Rock does not rent surfboards, but there are surf
rentals in San Juan del Sur. The lodge works with
Oceans Green - a joint UK and Nicaraguan surfing
initiative, which makes surfboards from sustainable
raw materials, handcrafted in Nicaragua. Order one
of their “ecofoil” boards in the UK ( T +44 (0) 870
0421 712), and then collect it at Morgan's Rock
for a 15 percent discount off the cost of your stay.
For more information see W www.oceangreen.org.

322 watch the clouds at
rancho de caldera, panaMa

At Rancho de Caldera - a boutique resort in
the mountains of Chiriqui on Panama's western
coast - you can expect all the creature comforts
of an upmarket hotel (including a swimming
pool, walk-in showers and even air-conditioned
rooms) yet the ranch is completely off-grid. It
generates its own electricity using a combination
of hydroelectric generators, solar panels and
a wind turbine. It also purifies its own well
water, grows vegetables in a bamboo-framed
greenhouse, has its own fruit orchard (oranges,