When Nicaragua found its way onto my travel schedule, I was excited but the kind of excitement that grew as the trip got closer. I had always thought Costa Rica would be my first glimpse into Central America – I have friends that speak so vividly about their visits there. Not many had ventured to Nicaragua at the time. But I was still really excited to see what it had to offer.
The plan was to meet up with friends in Managua and embark on a 3 hour road trip to the north shore in Aposentillo, a remote town in the region of Chinandega, Nicaragua. My friend Amanda and I decided to leave a couple of days early to check out other parts of the country first and based on some research (and a ton of buzz around one hotel in particular), we dropped a pin on the colorful colonial city of Granada.
Nicaragua Hotels: Tribal Hotel
Photos of Tribal Hotel will pull you in from the moment you lay eyes on it. It’s hard to ignore this boutique wonder when it constantly pulls in mentions from Forbes to Vogue to Conde Nast Traveller. Even the crappiest guest pictures on TripAdvisor had us wanting to experience this oasis of style for ourselves. In other words, Tribal Hotel is the reason we found ourselves an hour southeast of the capital of Managua.
The hotel bills itself as “relaxed luxury in Nicaragua…setting the standard for style and service as Granada.” To start, the decor is spectacular. It’s the perfect balance of laid-back bohemia, local culture, and edgy minimalism that New Yorkers in particular adore. White walls and pillows provide a blank canvas for more commanding batik patterns, jeweled-tone accents, animal skulls, and petrified wood. Truly intentional design, every detail contributed to a larger design story. To our surprise, breakfast was served on our balcony and even that was almost too pretty to eat.
But perhaps what makes the hotel really shine are the people that keep it running. Yvan (the co-owner), Flora (who worked at the hotel), and the rest of the Tribal Hotel staff really wanted us to fall in love with Granada and its people just as they have.
A few know-before-you-go photo opportunities:
The Pool
If the Tribal Hotel pool looks familiar, you’re probably right. Photos of the outdoor oasis pop up on Instagram all the time. But no matter how many times you think you’ve seen it, nothing compares to lounging there in real life and capturing your own shots.
The Lobby
There’s a gorgeous mural/art piece on display in the front hall by reception. Plus the tiny shop in the reception area features products from local Granada makers and brands.
The En-Suite Balcony
There are five suites at the hotel (and two junior suites). Every room and its terrace were designed to have its own personality with one-of-a-kind Nicaraguan artisanal pieces.
To book your own stay at Tribal Hotel, click here.
