Hotel Victoriano

Paseo de la Mar, Costado Norte Edificio Claro, San Juan del Sur

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1 Room / 2 Adults

1 rooms,
2 adults
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Editor's Rating

Overview

Built in 1902 as a family residence, Hotel Victoriano was restored in 2006 and opened its doors to hotel guests. Ideally located in the heart of San Juan del Sur, this hotel features the convenience of being able to walk across the street to the beach or to the many restaurants and shops in the area.

The onsite pool is a great place for families to swim and relax, and the onsite restaurant features excellent fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The guestrooms are simple and pretty and surround a center courtyard that is bright and welcoming. Families who wish to be within walking distance of downtown San Juan del Sur, and only steps away from the beach, should consider the charming Hotel Victoriano.

Our Editor Loves

  • Steps from the beach
  • Outdoor pool
  • Central location

Family Interests

  • Beach
  • Hiking
  • Museum/Cultural
  • Water Sports

Family Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Free Breakfast
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Onsite Dining
  • Pool

Room Information

Find the Best Price for Your Stay

There are 25 guestrooms at this hotel, which surround a bright, center garden courtyard. All of the rooms feature free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen television, air conditioning, complimentary bottled water and a mini-bar for additional costs. The guestrooms are small, but bright and comfortable with high ceilings. The difference between the rooms is a king, queen or two twin beds. Cribs are available upon request.

Reviews

Short stay with family

by swifferandQueenbee

We originally booked with another hotel and when we showed up we weren’t able to access the grounds because it was all locked up.
We found ourselves having a drink to solve the problem of where we were going to stay.
We found the Victoriano Hotel near by and it turned out to be great!! It was right downtown so it was easy to walk to the restaurants and shops and it is right across from the beach
We wished we could of stayed another night.
We will be back

Great location, vintage room

by coloradoclimber

Hotel Victoriano in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua is a safe and quaint little resort town place, tucked alongside a beach cove in the southwestern corner of this beautiful, yet troubled country. It’s really more like a bed & breakfast than a “hotel” with a small breakfast served…and nothing fancy. The locals all wear flip-flop sandals and shorts; only the older ones wear pants. In years past I have read that this place was a mecca for American surfers, but now it’s largely vacant as the result of last year’s troubles between the student protesters—mostly at the large universities—and their socialist government. While many tourists from the United States appear to be staying away in droves, this place feels safe and secure and there are no signs of the old ’79 revolution nor tee-shirts with Che, Hugo Chavez or Sandino printed on them as in Managua.

My room was very comfortable, reminding me of the old colonial Nyali beach hotel in Mombasa, Kenya where I stayed in my Navy days long time ago. It had ceramic tile floors, a little bit gritty, a king-size bed and little French doors that opened to a small ocean-view balcony. The toilet and sink room was too small to move from one fixture to the other one unless the door is closed and the stand-up shower—no tub—was nice but lacked any kind of fixture for the soap and shampoos. There was a flat screen TV with BBC, but no CNN or Fox and a little room safe, operated with a key given to me after an admonition not to lose it or pay extra! The BEST room feature besides the bed was the new room air conditioning unit; it worked really great!

The little pool is only 20 feet long and maybe 12 feet wide…a dipping pool…but I lost all interest in swimming there after watching two large locals doing something unmentionable against the pool wall—ugh! It was difficult to avoid seeing them in the pool as the restaurant porch looks directly down on the small pool area. Speaking of the restaurant, the food was great, a little bit more expensive for a fish than the other places down the street, but tasty and served well. The breakfast was Spartan by comparison with no buffet and no bread or rolls served…had to request the juice and the bread.

The staff are polite, but not too friendly [perhaps lurking beneath the surface there is some resentment towards gringo guests?] and my room was not ready; they had given me no bottled water and no toilet paper! I also don’t like having to beg for more water from the hotel in a place known for water not considered safe for foreign guests. They told me that their policy is to grant guests two bottles of water [1 liter total] on the first day then no mas.

It’s not easy to read these people in Nicaragua right now as most of them look so unhappy but happier in this surfside community. From my many conversations with locals I suspect that most people are split between blaming their socialist government for their poor, struggling economy and/or blaming the imperialist [their view] colossus to the north. Having visited Nicaragua ten times in the last 12 years I have a basic understanding of their grievances—a Spanish colonial history with a small upper class and a very large under-class in addition to the meddling of the USA going all the way back to 1909 with US Marines on the ground in the 1920s, ostensibly to protect US corporations, especially fruit growers, but nonetheless opposing a very popular revolutionary movement led by Sandino.

Finally, because this little town cove is filled with fishing and tourist-related boats at anchor or tied to mooring buoys, I wouldn’t recommend swimming here; there are better beaches to the north, but the local taxies will charge you $40 cash only to go there! And I was not feeling good about renting a car here! There are four or five new San Juan port buildings, but all of them are closed. Considering all the above factors this small boutique hotel rates a 3+ but does not rise to the level of a four star resort. If you just want to eat, sleep, charter a fishing boat, take your chances swimming or do short walks this charming little place is probably perfect for you, otherwise the good clean waves are someplace else.

Family Activities

Outdoor Pool

The outdoor pool is small and situated just below the restaurant on a lower terrace. Several lounge chairs and umbrellas surround the pool and there is a sun deck with tables and chairs and a pergola overhead for shade. Pool towels are provided and restrooms can be found nearby.

Beach

The wide San Juan del Sur public beach is situated directly across the street from the hotel. Families will find plenty of space to spend the day in the sand or swim in the calm waters. Restaurants line the beach as well and offer great spots to enjoy lunch or a lounge chair in the sand.

Tours

The hotel is happy to set up tours (sightseeing or adventure), as well as surf lessons at the beach for families.

Family Dining

Vintage Restaurant

This onsite restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating on the terrace that looks out on to the beach. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner items like seafood, beef, chicken, sandwiches, salads and pasta. Breakfast is included in your rate.

Planning & Tips

All About the Extras

Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Parking
Street parking is situated directly in front of the hotel.

The Best Time to Visit

Peak season for tourists on the Pacific coast is also dry season, which runs from about November through April. Low and rainy season runs from May through October on the Pacific coast.

Getting There

The international airport, Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport, is located in the capital city of Managua and is located about two and half hours from this hotel.

Getting Around

Families will love the convenience of being able to walk to the beach and the many nearby restaurants when staying at this centrally located hotel.

For Mom and Dad

Bar
Adults can grab a drink at the onsite bar near the restaurant and enjoy their cocktails outside, overlooking the beach. There are also several bars and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.