Nicaragua Real Estate - Gran Pacifica

January 2008

Issue: 2008 - 01

Dear Readers,

As the new year begins, we can't help but reflect on the past year and what has happened here in the country, as well as here at the company.

A new president for the country�brought concerns about change, but the stability, positive investment environment, and good feelings here in Nicaragua have not changed. We bore witness to tragedy on the Atlantic coast, but followed with incredible resilience and kindness in the people of the country in the face of that adversity. We saw huge changes at Gran Pacifica, not only in construction progress and the opening of the first restaurant at the property, but in the office as well, with the addition of our new president, Martin Roberts. And through all these changes, we have continued to grow and thrive here in Nicaragua, a country that we love being able to call home.

In this edition of the Nica News, you will see a big selection of press articles; Nicaragua is slowly but surely becoming a star in publications about adventure travel, eco-tourism, even being called one of several "sexy" destinations by MSN. We certainly aren't complaining, nor is this news to us. But you will also see that Nicaragua really does rank at the top in terms of safety�and this assertion is backed by real numbers.

New energy sources are constantly being explored, which is of critical importance for this country. Economically, Nicaragua has pledged to buy back over a billion dollars of debt. Things are constantly looking better for our little corner of paradise, and we are so eager to share it all with you.

Which brings me to our recent Shareholder event earlier this month.�Over 100 folks�paid their own way down to be a part of this fun and�exciting�event. �Activities, in addition to business, included the meeting, a beach BBQ, horseback riding, hanging at the beach and by the pool, zip line canopy tours, and trips to other cities around the country. It was a great chance to remind all our shareholders why we love it so much here in Nicaragua.

All of us here at Gran Pacifica hope you celebrated the best of the best this holiday season, and we are excited to see what this year will bring!

Keep in touch, and have a wonderful 2008!

Mike Cobb
CEO
Gran Pacifica

Business News and Economy
Tourism and Country News
Press Articles

Business News and Economy

Maisto, Former Top White House Policy Adviser and Central America Ambassador, Joins Board of ECI Development, Ltd.

Will Help Guide Beachfront Resort and Retirement Developments on Both Coasts in Central America.

Managua, Nicaragua – 10 Dec. 2007 – Former United States Ambassador John F. Maisto, a past White House adviser for the Western Hemisphere, and who led U.S. diplomacy at the Organization of American States and the Summit of the Americas, has joined the board of directors of ECI Development, Ltd., a regional Central American resort and retirement community developer with properties in Belize, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Maisto served as ambassador to Nicaragua in the mid-1990s, and was in charge of $900 million in U.S. government aid programs, including obtaining $100 million in new economic development initiatives, benefiting hundreds of thousands of people. He gives ECI Development a seasoned diplomatic veteran with more than 20 years of Central American experience at a time when the company is targeting the North American baby boom generation that's soon to retire and seek a go-to destination. ECI Development recently completed acquisition of property in the heart of Ambergris Caye, Belize, and last year purchased 3km of oceanfront land in Costa Rica. As well, ECI's Gran Pacifica Resort, a 2,500 acre property in Nicaragua, is ready to launch a second wave of construction of Pacific beachfront residential, condominium and hotel units.

To read more about Central American insurance, click here

Nicaragua to buy back $1.3B in debt

MANAGUA, Nicaragua

Nicaragua has arranged to buy back more than $1.3 billion of its foreign debt from creditors, the finance ministry said Wednesday.

The operation was financed by a donation from the World Bank's Debt Reduction Facility, as well as contributions from various Northern European countries, Russia and Britain, the ministry said in a statement.

The agreement "will put an end to various legal actions filed against Nicaragua by its commercial creditors and will contribute to the normalization of its relationship with the international financial community," Finance and Public Credit Minister Alberto Guevara said.

The debt belongs to about 110 creditors, mostly from the United States.

Fitch Special Report: Positive Trends in Central America Insurance Sector

NEW YORK & SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to a Fitch Ratings special report released today, entitled 'Central America Insurance Sector,' the sector shows positive trends in premiums and operating expenses leading to rising profitability, healthy growth in premiums in Central America led by Costa Rica and Honduras, a stable loss ratio, and adequate liquidity and leverage ratios.

"Fitch believes that the Central American insurance sector will be undergoing significant changes over the next few years," said Director Eduardo Recinos of Fitch Central America. "The restructuring process carried out in Costa Rica, the significant increase expected in foreign investment, regulatory improvements and the development of new distribution channels and products all support Fitch's view," he adds.

To read more about Central American insurance, click here.

Tourism and Country News

Nicaragua, country with lowest crime rates

La Prensa, Managua

November 5, 2007.

The country will close 2007 with an average homicide rate of 14 per 100,000 people, a rate much lower than regional indicators that are reported by Interpol, stated the Chief of the National Police, Aminta Granera.

In declarations given yesterday on national televisión, the Chief of Police said that according to the regional indicators in Latin America, the average rate for the región is 30 homicides per 100,000 people.

She added that the homicide index in El Salvador is 58, Guatemala 48, Honduras 44, and Panama 14.

The Chief also said that while there have been 24 bank robberies in Guatemala, and 18 in Honduras, there has only been one assault on a banking institution in Nicaragua; with respect to auto theft, Nicaragua is the country where this type of crime happens the least.

According to the Nicaraguan pólice files, 200 vehicles were robbed here in 2006, while in Puerto Rico there were 8,593 vehicles stolen.

Drugs, the real headache.

Youth gangs are another area where Nicaragua presents good figures; the groups have been reduced to small delinquent clusters found in the major cities.

However, the principal concerns of the authorities are crimes related to drug trafficking, such as the movement of drugs and money. Over the course of this year, there have been several important “busts”, but in some cases the detainees have escaped, especially on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

Solving Nicaragua's Energy Crisis With Very Sweet Biomass

by Alternative Energy Retailer Staff

Wednesday 21 November 2007

The government of Nicaragua ceased its national policy of electricity rationing on Dec. 1, thanks to an unlikely biomass resource.

According to a report on the Spanish news service EFE, the Nicaraguan Energy and Mines Ministry announced the Monte Rosa and San Antonio sugar cane refineries in western part of the country will each begin to generate about 30 MW of energy from the residue of the local sugar cane harvests. The addition of 60 MW of sugar cane power will help to alleviate acute electrical shortages - the national electrical demand is 514 MW, but the daily energy deficit varies between 50 and 100 MW.

Nicoya owner offers a taste of Nicaragua

By Keri Kirby
The Herald-Zeitung

Published December 5, 2007

The smells and flavors of Nicaragua that remind Catalina Chavez of her home country are simmering in New Braunfels.

“I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long, long time,” said Chavez of her recently opened restaurant Nicoya at 1528 E. Common St.

Chavez, who moved to the U.S. from Nicaragua in the 1970s, said she’s fostered a desire to share her love of cooking and flavors of her native country with others and New Braunfels seemed like the perfect place.

“This community is growing a lot and I see the different kinds of people here,” she said. “People travel a lot here and they’ve been exposed to my food — Latin American food. They’ve been in Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras and Guatemala. ... When you mention plantains or yucca they know already and they like the food.”

Chavez created the authentic dishes on the menu from recipes her mother and aunt often made when she was a child, she said, adding that she stays true to the country’s flavors by importing many ingredients from Nicaragua.

To read more about Nicoya, click here.

International Fishing Tournament Held on Pacifica Coast

An international fishing tournament, sponsored by Maspor Marine of Nicaragua, was held on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, in Chinandega. It was just one of many high profile tournaments of its kind that are put on up and down the coasts of Nicaragua, with all sorts of prizes.

For more information about this and other tournaments of the like, refer to Maspor´s website, www.maspor-marine.com.

Press Articles

NUWIRE INVESTOR: Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Markets

Published on: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Written by: Melana Yanos

For investors who want to explore foreign real estate, some of the best opportunities are just south of the border in vibrant Latin America. NuWire has selected our Top 5 Latin American real estate markets, all of which offer spectacular landscapes and appealing lifestyles at affordable prices.

The market appears especially ripe for picking as Latin American governments implement programs to attract foreign investment and improve their economic growth potential. Investors can also take advantage of the growing number of resources available for locating and purchasing real estate in Latin American countries.

To continue reading, click here.

Nicaragua: Paradise on the Pacific Coast

LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY

November 04, 2007

Real Estate News

(PRLEAP.COM) International traveler and real estate investor Vinnie Apicella draws on years of experience and local connections to offer Nicaragua as a featured location at Vinnie’s World, www.vinniesworld.com, an online platform that allows visitors to capitalize on key investment opportunities in select emerging market locations.

The creator of Vinnie’s World has been a frequent visitor to Nicaragua since 2001 and combined a wealth of knowledge and local resources, including everyone from ex-pat business owners to property managers to legal advisors, which have enabled him to make a number of successful property purchases and distribute detailed information to site visitors.

To continue reading, click here.

Press Media Wire: Real Estate Along Nicaragua's Pacific Coast Booming!

Published 12/11/2007 - 10:38 a.m. GMT

Pacific Coast (PressMediaWire) - Nicaragua real estate represents the best deal on Coastal and Colonial Property offered today in the Americas. The Southern Pacific region has experienced unprecedented growth over the last several years, and with the continued hype from both the Surf world, Speculators, Retirees, and publications like the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Miami Herald and Men’s health, this looks not likely to change anytime in the near future. Heralded as “the Next Costa Rica”, Nicaragua offers many the last chance to own an affordable piece of gorgeous beachfront real estate, just a short 2 hour flight from Miami.

Over the next 5 years 80 million Americans will retire. A recent article in Forbes found that some 10% of these individuals plan to retire overseas. The top 5 destinations for this some 8 million, to-be expatriates include Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, and NICARAGUA.

To continue reading, click here.

Internet Travel News: Travelers seek authenticity in '08

December 11, 2007

Responsible tourism is on the increase and according to responsibletravel.com, the world's leading directory of specialist eco holidays, 2008 will see the search for true authentic travel intensify.

Destinations in Central and South America that have traditionally been perceived as 'dangerous' - such as Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia - are set to soar in popularity next year, according to responsibletravel.com.

"We have already seen a remarkable 259% increase this year in the number of enquiries through responsibletravel.com for holidays and places to stay in Nicaragua, compared to last year . Guatemala too has grown by 92% and Honduras by 69%. We're also predicting an increase in popularity for Colombia in 2008 as more tour operators begin to offer trips there and people become more confident in getting 'off the beaten track' to search for that truly authentic travel experience," says Justin Francis, co-founder and managing director of responsibletravel.com.

To continue reading, click here.

Los Angeles Times: Dollars still go distance in some less-traveled locales

By Jason La

LOS ANGELES TIMES

December 16, 2007

Longing for an out-of-country excursion but feeling a little poor because you have only dollars in your pocket? Even with the fast-eroding value of the dollar against other currencies, you still can find international destinations where your buck goes a long way.

And you won't have to forgo choice sightseeing or comfort. All you need is a little latitude -- and longitude -- in selecting your next vacation spot.

To continue reading, click here.

The Seattle Times: In Nicaragua, 'surf' steaming volcanoes and explore colonial cities

Sun, Dec. 16, 2007

BY KRISTIN JACKSON

The Seattle Times.

LEON, Nicaragua -- With a grin and quick pace, guide Rigo Sampson led a small group of hikers up a steep trail to the top of Cerro Negro, a stark 1,300-foot-tall volcano of black cinders, sulphur-stained rock and steaming vents.

The dark volcanic cone thrusts ominously, without a speck of vegetation, out of the lush Nicaraguan plains near the city of Leon. In this Central American country laced with dozens of volcanoes, it's one of the most active: The fierce, small volcano erupted in the 1990s, spewing rocks, ash and lava and sending farmers fleeing from nearby villages and fields.

These days, Cerro Negro has become an offbeat destination for adventurous hikers who take a steep trail to the top and then ''volcano-surf'' to the bottom, leaping and sliding on their feet down a very steep side of the volcano.

To continue reading, click here.

Baltimore Sun Travel Features: A journey homeward to Nicaragua

Family rediscovers charms of a sometimes-overlooked land.

By Martha Phifer

Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer

Comparisons are rarely fair. Most often, they hinder a person's ability to see things for what they are.

Few question Costa Rica's reputation as Central America's hottest destination -- attracting more than 1 million tourists a year who are captivated by its natural beauty and year-round moderate temperatures.

But north of its border lies the region's largest country, where tourism is quietly, yet steadily booming. Nicaragua has managed to sneak into "hot-destination" guides as a must-visit location. And it should: Nicaragua's history, beauty and cultural identity are worth experiencing, regardless of -- and because of -- the country's differences or similarities to its neighbor.

My family left Nicaragua in the early 1980s after the fall of the Somoza regime, and though we visited on two occasions, the country's unstable political and economic conditions didn't allow for much touring. Now that the country has seen a period of relative stability, it was time for this much-anticipated fresh encounter.

To continue reading, click here.

MSN.com: Crazy, sexy travel of 2007

It was a good year for oddballs and romance-seekers alike

By Forbes Traveler staff

December 18, 2007.

Despite a sluggish economy and a weakened dollar, Americans didn’t forsake their love for travel in 2007. Whether it was a long weekend at the beach or a two-week retreat on a misty mountaintop, many of us hit the road as often as possible—fuel costs be damned. And thanks to Web sites and travel agents who cater to customers with quirky tastes, there was no shortage of unusual destinations and activities for those with the will—and the wallet.

Fading are the days of simple beach volleyball and a lazily flung Frisbee. Today’s outdoor enthusiasts want to surf volcanoes in Nicaragua, shred standing waves in the Amazon and sledge whitewater in New Zealand. We highlighted those adventures, and more, in our round-up of the world’s scariest sports.

To continue reading, click here.

Forbes Traveler: World's Scariest Sports

Lena Katz

Mon Nov 19 13:30:00 EST 2007

Perilous sports from volcano surfing to running bulls.

“When you run the bulls in Pamplona, the point is not to race them—it’s to catch them, to face them as long as you can.”

So says 61-year-old Spaniard Carlos Gil, and he should know. Gil has been running the bulls since the age of 18, and has seen the event evolve from a unique local tradition into the world-famous televised spectacle it has become. Whereas young Americans or Europeans might run once or twice—thereby earning a lifetime of bragging rights back home—Gil runs each of the eight mornings of el encierro (literally, “the enclosing") during the Festival of San Fermin in Navarre, Spain, every year. He has run every section of the half-mile itinerary—from the exciting first sprint, through the crowded cobblestone midway, to the final exhilarating stretch leading into the bullring.

Of all the thrilling components of the Pamplona run, Gil’s favorite is that first moment—which takes place just 150 yards away from the stable where the bulls sleep.

To continue reading, click here.

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