Nicaragua deserves a break, like rum deserves an ice cube. Which is to say, a lot. I like rum. I have always liked rum, and I like it even more now that it has brought us Mukul Resort.

Mukul is the new, super luxe development on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, built by the Flor de Caña rum family and their patriarch, Don Carlos Pellas. Don Carlos has a big plan for putting Nicaragua back on the map, and Mukul is one heck of a power move. This is no barebones ecolodge, but rather a truly elite retreat that is quickly making it onto the wishlists of celebrities and hotel collectors everywhere. There is nothing else like it in Central America—the only property that comes close is the Four Seasons Papagayo in Costa Rica, and having stayed at both I think I’ll give Mukul the nod.

The hotel sprawls across an extraordinary private beach: long, wide, and book-ended by dramatic cliffs. Perfect waves roll in all day long, making this a serious destination for beginner and intermediate surfers who want the breaks all to themselves. I’m a surfer myself (albeit a terrible one) and I couldn’t believe my luck. Were I a golfer, I might well have peed my plaid pants, for Mukul has an 18-hole David McLay Kid designed golf course which winds through lush indigenous forest before winding up on the beach. It’s a showstopper, and is making headlines around the world.

Mukul boasts massive villas with double volume ceilings and full-sized pools opening up right onto the beach, as well as cliff-top Bohios—suites perched up high on the cliffs like eagle nests, with astounding views down over the beach, the resort, and the golf course. I myself like the Bohios for their isolation and views, but if you like the idea of walking right out of your villa onto a private beach, there are few places that do it better.

Add to this a world-class spa, turtle hatchlings, and plenty of excursions both active and cultural, and it’s hard to imagine staying less than a week. Mukul is just a few hours drive from Managua (Nicaragua’s capital) or Liberia Airport in Costa Rica. For those adverse to unpaved roads, you can also arrive by helicopter straight onto the hotel’s helipad.

Nicaragua deserves a break, and here’s hoping Mukul can help deliver.

Greg finally got his long awaited (and well-deserved) break from the polar vortex with a trip down to Nicaragua. If you’re feeling luxurious, why not give us a shout to get your own trip started.