I’ve never stayed at a Four Seasons but I feel that at Jicaro Island Lodge I got the closest I’ll probably ever get to that level of exceptional attention, comforts and food. My husband and I give my heartfelt thanks to Julio, Maria, Arge, Diamanda, Mario, Lester, Segundo, Javier, Claudia and everyone else on the Jicaro staff along with the founder, Karen Emanuel’s vision for giving us a lifelong memory of relaxation, connection and learning about the country of Nicaragua. We celebrated our anniversary and my husband’s birthday during our visit and the staff made both very special. We loved Julio, Segundo, Arge and Lester singing happy birthday with maracas. And, our floating dock anniversary dinner was a beautiful and most wonderful experience. Completely magical and unforgettable. One of best things about Jicaro, along with the staff, is that it’s on a small island and to get there of course you have to get on a boat. I’m estimating it takes approximately 15 minutes on the boat to get there. For anyone who’s nervous on a boat, it’s a wide-bottomed boat with about eight seats and a shade cover. Super comfortable and the sights are so calming. It was very warm most days but being on the water kayaking or hanging out by the beautiful pool kept us cool. The cars used for the mainland excursions had air conditioning. Fans in the room worked well and I brought a rechargeable hand-held fan that helped me out occasionally. I bailed on make up and hair dos most of the time. We brought lots of bug juice and only got a couple of bites. The bed netting worked well and is lovely to wake up to. The number of bird species on Lake Nicaragua is amazing. We highly recommend the bird watching tour on the boat. It would have been way too hard to kayak and look through binoculars. Julio was so good at spotting birds and communicating where they were in a sea of green leaves. We saw so many different kinds of birds, some turtles and even sighted some howler monkeys. Love Nicaragua’s national bird – Guardabarronco. What a beautiful bird! We also enjoyed watching cutter ants on the island. Those guys slay me every time with the size of objects they can carry. Great Jicaro entertainment! We love the idea that much of the small island has been left as was found. The rocks that were left create hidden walkways. Continuing the eco mindset and sustainability - Bamboo straws, real dishes and glassware (reusable plastic by the pool) local crafts on display – all part of sustainable environment and community. Sustainability is serious and we did not take the efforts at Jicaro for granted. We appreciated all that was shared with us. The sights on the excursions are unique and special – swimming in Lagoon de Appayo which is a crater lake – peering down into Masaya Volcano at sunset – Alex and Gustavo as guides and Maximillan as our driver. They are so knowledgeable and grounded. We did the tour of the White Towns with Alex – one is known for its plant nurseries with thousands of flowering and green foliage plants, another town has an incredible view of a crater lake and is a place that people gather to look at the view and connect with one another. It overlooks Lagoon de Appoyo which we later swam in and hung out on a floating dock. The water is a deep, clean and a refreshing blue. We also visited a family-owned and operated pottery studio where they use kick wheels (manual) and use colored pigments rather than glazes for their colorful wares. We enjoyed a demo, discussion and tour. We visited Masaya where we walked through El Mercado with a large center stage for entertainment and many vendors selling local wares. We then stopped at a local restaurant and sampled some sweet treats that are a traditional Nicaraguan dish. Another day we went out with Gustavo for a tour of the nearby historic Colonial town of Granada. He is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. A very good tour guide who asks a lot of questions as well as has the ability to explain the intricate history of Granada. We toured the cemetery which is very ornate, climbed to the top of a church bell tower for spectacular views overlooking Granada and learned about the history of the railroad. During our stay we felt very safe and saw no reason to be afraid as the government/military has receded, allowing the people, environment, culture and architecture to be enjoyed by visitors without fear or intimidation. The food! We so enjoyed all of the food that chefs, Mario and Segundo prepared. We really loved the Creole salad which I think we had every day for lunch during our 8-day stay. The fresh fruit (banana, papaya, mango, pineapple, and two other native fruits that I don’t remember the names) and freshly made bread at breakfast was fantastic. The fabulous, strong Nicaraguan coffee, the banana vinegar and the Diablito are amazing! We also appreciated some of the unexpected delicious snacks that appeared occasionally while we sat by the pool. It’s so hard to imagine how good the food could be out on this tiny island, but Chefs Mario and Segundo have got it down! How I miss their food! A big thank you to Diamanda for sending me some of the recipes we enjoyed at Jicaro. The kayaking is fantastic. You could go as far or as close from Jicaro as you’re comfortable with. It’s such a peaceful activity and around Jicaro are water lilies, beautiful trees, fantastic and interesting birds, wonderful smalls islands with private family homes, and there’s even a cemetery across the way from Jicaro. Some of the native trees are huge and hang over the water. One of my favorite pictures is of Nicaragua’s national tree which was flowering during our stay, and Mombacho Volcano towering in the distance. (I’ve added the pic below under "Bird Watching".) We also had several spa treatments that were good and the spa facility is a lovely indoor/outdoor environment. There were a few other people staying there while we were there and they mostly kept to themselves. One couple shared some excursion tips which we appreciated and we did the same. I was under the assumption that during our excursions other guests would be joining us, but that wasn’t the case which was great with us. We also appreciated that no one played loud radios or made a lot of noise. It’s a very peaceful and serene place. Around sunset time and cocktail hour we sat at the table just outside the bar drinking and snacking, watching the most beautiful sunsets. Our last night at Jicaro was made special with a beautiful table setting on a lower deck area with a fantastic sunset view. A terrific way to end a very special trip. Thank you Julio and Arge. I look forward to visiting Nicaragua again and sitting and reconnecting with the people we met at Jicaro.…