Infrastructure and Development

Phone Service and Communication

There are several cell phone towers in the Gigante area and the service is reliable. Most residents have a pay-as-you-go phone and minutes can be purchased at the pulperia in the center of town. Connection to the internet is made by most residents via a G3 card connecting through the phone system. The signal is not as strong (only 256K) as you find in the larger cities, but it works for most applications. Casa Amarilla is equipped with a G3 card for use by clients. There is also wireless internet service available in the restaurant located in Hotel Brio.

Utilities

Electric service for lighting and air conditioning in Gigante is fairly reliable and improving all the time as the area becomes more and more of a vacation destiny. Casa Amarilla is equipped with a generator sized to handle the lights, fans and refrigerator in the event power is lost during your stay. Potable water is provided from a well system in the Arenas Bay development which was installed as a part of the Arenas Bay community outreach effort. The water system is reliable but the pumps depend on the town power system. In order to ensure continuous water supply during your stay, Casa Amarilla is equipped with a large (5000 liter) back-up water system. Although the town potable water is drinkable, the water from the well has a strong taste due to the large amount of minerals in the well water. And clients at Casa Amarilla are provided with purified drinking water that tastes much better.

Development

There are a number of resort projects and housing developments in the area including Guacalito de la Isla, Hacienda Iguana, Rancho Santana and Arenas Bay. All developments are required to follow Nicaraguan environmental laws and permitting requirements to ensure the area remains unspoiled and attractive for tourists. The area has been referred to as the “Central American Riviera” because of the beautiful beaches and scenic coastline. The environmental permitting system for development has allowed the area retain its natural beauty. The development in the Gigante Area, as well as the rest of the Department of Rivas, has provided many jobs in tourism and construction. This has made Rivas the most prosperous Department (similar to a state) in Nicaragua.