http://www.iguanasurfretreats.com/
http://www.iguanagolfcondos.com/

DEAR FRIENDS,

SUNSHINE @ IGUANA

The sun shines in Iguana
After a very rainy October (the rainiest wet season in 25 years) the sun shines again, and we are happy to send out a new blog. It has not been long since the last blog, but we do have a bunch of things to write. So let’s get started.

Your developer Søren getting some of very little sunshine in October. Yes, there were rain and onshore, but we also had the waves to ourselves.

New web site (domain name)

The new domain name: www.iguanasurfretreats.com is now functioning and the web page has new pictures and updated info. The new domain name, signals a stronger commitment to the surfer segment. The page is still not 100% done and will be continuously improved and updated, but please check it out.
A surfers dream
In each blog we feature one of our friends, surfer and condo owners.
This time I will write about Robert Towner, who is about the nicest and most mellow guy you could ever imagine. Robert Towner has been an artist for over 30 years, and his clients include Disney, Universal Studios and Surfer Magazine. Surf art is closets to his heart, and listen to what he has to say about Iguana.
“Artistically, my goal is not to just do a painting of the place, but to capture it's spirit.
Nicaragua's beaches are, in my opinion, some of the earth's rarest jewels.”

Yes, we understand what you mean when you say capture the spirit. This painting is of course from Witches Rock, which is rewarded with almost as consistent off shore winds as Iguana. Did you know that you can drive to Witches Rock from Iguana in about 4 hours.
After Bob spent some time in Iguana surfing he invested in a condo with two of his friends, and made this painting of the condos.

Thanks Bob, and we are happy to see phase two completed. We are very happy to have Bob as a client and friend. Also we are thrilled that Bob has agreed to make a couple of art pieces which will be for sale in Iguana, as prints and t-shirts

Mr. Towner capturing the spirit back home in California. We are looking forward to having your art pieces for sale in Iguana.

Nicaragua keeps getting publicity – 5th best place to live and surf
Surfer Magazine December volume features an article on the 10 best places to live and surf. It should come as no surprise that Sydney, Bali and Hossegor is on the list, but the fact that San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua is number 5 must have been a surprise to many people.

Transworld Surf December volume rates San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua as #5 surf mecca to live and surf.

It also came as a surprise to us, because who wants to live in a town where there are no waves? The Magazine is of coursed referring to the Rivas area as a whole, and San Juan Del Sur is the biggest beach town in the area. Again Nicaragua gets publicity and receives credit for what an amazing place it is to live, surf and invest.

However the fact is, I would not live in San Juan Del Sur, the one hour drive to Iguana each day would be tiresome…...

Iguana is number 1 on our list for places to live and surf, and it could be yours too.


Surf & Investment seminar – March 8th and 9th, 2008
March 8th and 9th, 2008 Vamos Group and Iguana Condo Development will host a Surf & Investment seminar at Iguana Beach. This will be the one event to participate in if you consider investing in property in Nicaragua and you surf.

We are happy to confirm the key speaker of the event will be Raul Calvet, President of Calvet & Asociados. His consultancy firm is specialized in tourism and real estate and have help investments of hundreds of millions of Dollars in Nicaragua over the last years. Mr. Calvet is widely recognized as the country’s leading expert in tourism and real estate. Just recently he gave a speech to the UN in Washington, and he will be the key resource on investment for the seminar.

Colwell banker Nicaragua – a leading real estate broker in Nicaragua will be at the seminar. Ashley from Coldwell banker Nicaragua is a US attorney, real estate agent and surfer, who can save you a lot of trouble.

Also participating is NSR – Nicaragua Surf Report - the very well known surf reporters in Nicaragua, who seem to live the life everybody else wants to. Nobody knows the surf in Nicaragua like these guys, and they have seen what moves in real estate.

Pro Surf Photographer Tony Roberts is also attending and he will be shooting pictures at all surf sessions.

The weekend package also includes
Airport transport
Three nights in a private room with private bath.
All meals from Friday night to Monday morning (not drinks)
Iguana property tour

And the price of seminar is only 850 USD.
Furthermore you can look forward to special offers and discount only available to attendees.

You are welcome to prolong your stay either before or after the seminar. 20% discount on condo rentals for attendees. We can help with car rental and other practical questions.

Email us for the full program at info@vamosgroup.com

Iguana Golf Pro-Am tournament

The countdown is started to the PRO-AM tournament, which takes place the 1st of December. Your developer Vamos Group will attend with a team, and we will report in the next blog how this first ever golf tournament in on the pacific coast of Nicaragua went.

If you want to participate or just visit please sign up ASAP via info@vamosgroup.com
There are still some slots open.

If you enjoy golf, you should come and see this place. Golfing with monkeys and green parrots around, and the sound of the waves is something special. It is not often one have the chance to play the first course in a country, and be a true first mover.

The real estate market in Nicaragua is full of pre-construction products, marketing promises and dreams of big cities and development projects. We hope very much for more golf courses in Nicaragua, but until then, come visit Iguana, stay in the only golf condos in the country, play golf and see the place and conditions before you invest.

Your developer Soeren looks in excellent shape a week before the tournament.

Beach club construction

The new beach club has broken ground, and the platform of compacted select material is done. Now we await the foundation. We keep you posted on progress.

The club house will sit right in front of the beach and the Colorado surf break. What a view!!!. We can’t wait for an after session cold Tona.

Tona is the local beer marketing to the local cowboys as opposed to Victoria with is the local beer for the young, beautiful and rich – I guess I should come back on the next blog explaining the rich culture of beer and rum in this country – stay tuned for the next blog).

Colorado surf break, the view from the club house - Photo Tony Roberts.

Surf photography in Iguana
Vamos Group has made an agreement with Tony Robert on surf photography in Iguana.

That means all our clients and guests have access to one of the most experienced and influential surf photographers around. He was a senior staff photographer for Surfing magazine in the 90's, was principle photographer on the Quiksilver Crossing for three years and is presently based here at Playa Iguana… It is impressive that Iguana is where he wants to live and surf considering how many surf destinations Tony has experienced. Take advantage of this opportunity and reserve your dates in advance.
Check out: www.tonyrobertsphoto.com

We all know how it works. You and your buddies get to the surf, its epic, and nobody wants to stay in and shoot pictures. And even if someone wants to, they usually don’t have 800 mm zoom lens, digital camera, a tri pod or skills. So even if you rip, you turn out to be an unrecognizable dot in the ocean. Make your surf trip last longer, and get that killer shot on your desktop.

If you would like to book Tony to shoot your surf sessions, let us know when making your reservation.

Photographer Tony Roberts makes it look like your developer Olli goes even faster

Photographer Tony Roberts catches your developer Soeren from a cool angle.

The only thing better than living at the beach is living at the beach with a pro surf photographer shooting digital pictures.

Nature in Iguana

The last couple of weeks I have walked around Iguana each afternoon with my wife and 16 month old daughter. I wish I had done that before.

Until now I have been focusing on the beach, which is one of most beautiful beaches in Nicaragua. Here I enjoy the pelicans, and three days ago while running along the beach at low tide, I a saw a group of dolphins passing - amazing. Also giant sea turtles visit our beach. If you have never seen a sea turtle, come down for sea turtle watching; let me get back to you next blog when the best time is. So the beach is where I have been walking, surfing and spending most of my time.

Walking inside the property I have now seen a new side of the amazing nature in Iguana. Each afternoon we see hundreds of green parrots in the trees. The howler monkeys are also very active in the afternoons, and my daughter’s second spoken word turned out to be “abe” which means monkey in Danish. It made me proud, happy, and slightly envious that she is to grow up in Iguana. Finally the green landscape, trees, and afternoon lighting make afternoon walks on the property an addictive activity.

A bull grazing in the eucalyptus forest.

Rental
Remember there is no better way than come down and see for yourself. Rentals are open, and they start at 140 USD/night one bedroom, 160 USD/night for two bedrooms, and 180 USD/night for three bedrooms.

Capturing the spirit of Iguana Beach.

See you soon in Iguana
Olli, Soeren, Erik and Ferdie