I just wrote about a game changing new golf resort that debuted on Barbados last month, and for travelers looking for new and different options for warm weather getaways this winter–whether they play golf or not–I’ve got an interesting one.

I first wrote about Mukul here at Forbes in 2014, almost a decade ago, when it was one of the world’s highest profile new luxury getaways. The dream project of one of Nicaragua’s most successful businessmen, entrepreneur and philanthropist Don Carlos Pellas, Mukul had just 37 luxe villas in the Guacalito de Isla master-planned community, which also featured second homes. It spanned nearly 1,700 stunning, lush coastal acres, with world-class amenities like a David Kidd-designed 18-hole golf course (Kidd famously did Bandon Dunes, the Castle Course at St. Andrews, Mammoth Dunes, Laucala Island and many other “must play” routings around the globe), a surf school by the world’s top operator, Tropicsurf, an award-winning spa, and much more. Mukul means “secret” in the native Mayan Chorotega language, but in terms of luxury travel it was a badly kept secret, featured in just about every top publication covering the space.

I visited a year after it opened, played the course with Kidd, took surfing lessons, sampled the rums (more on that to come), swam, hit the spa and thoroughly enjoyed everything about the place. Unfortunately, its naturally beautiful location in Nicaragua proved a double-edged sword, as political instability, a nationwide crackdown on dissent, and human rights abuses led to Mukul’s closure in 2018. As a resort, it has remained shuttered ever since, though surprisingly, real estate sales for second homes continued.

The reimagined Mukul Resort, still the pride and joy of Pellas, who among many other things (transportation, technology, sugar, ethanol and more) owns ultra-premium Flor de Caña rum, which his family founded, will celebrate its grand reopening in January 2024. A soft opening began this month with limited rental availability as of this week. The ownership proposition has been shifted to a new membership model, but the resort will once again welcome guests for nightly stays.

With improvements since last time, but nothing taken away since I visited, I would predict, with good reason, that the resort would be better than ever. But a big caveat is that when I visited Nicaragua was not experiencing the ongoing human rights crisis that continues to this day, with a massive exodus of fleeing residents. The attempt to rebuild the country’s tourism in the face of that political situation explains why the prices are low compared to competitors, with rates from $550. Even over Christmas itself, ultra-prime time throughout the Caribbean, private beachfront villas with plunge polls were going for $840 and the flagship luxury lodging, a 20,000-sqaure 3-bedroom home with large private pool and direct sand access, was still available (as of December 4) for $6,500, far less than this type of spot would command at many other luxury beach resorts. The value proposition is definitely there, but the current situation in Nicaragua is most definitely not for everyone.

Mukul has had some enhancements since the last time around, including a major renovation of its main Palapa, the largest in Latin America and the resort’s beating heart. Even more than before it is positioned as the central gathering hub with activities such as pop-up dinners, rum tastings, and a more elaborate Flor de Caña rum experience in which guests can blend and take home their own bottle. Kul Kids, an adventure-driven kids club, will now entertain a wide range of ages.

All the food and beverage has been upgraded as well. There’s a fine-dining restaurant showcasing upscale Latin-inspired cuisine, an al fresco dining focus at the poolside La Terraza Lounge with authentic Nicaraguan dishes, and a Beach Club, with a spherical restaurant built around an old Ceiba tree, serving three meals a day. The Beach Club has been much expanded during the closure, while still showcasing a bar set along the white sand that serves fresh coconut juice, handcrafted cocktails and local delicacies. New activities and amenities here include beach volleyball and tennis, a youth soccer area, cornhole, playground with kids’ pool, adults-only beachfront infinity pool and a shack bar serving fresh smoothies and juices.

Returning are the signature activity amenities, Tropicsurf’s school, allowing guests to learn on a famously consistent left point-break wave just offshore, and David McLay Kidd’s Guacalito golf course. Othe notable resort amenities include multiple tennis courts, multiple pools, outdoor yoga pavilion, eight miles of interconnected walking trails under lush jungle canopies, fishing (via local operators), and the Mukul Spa, which had previously voted Number One in the world by Virtuoso, a luxury travel consortium built around the world’s top travel advisors (agents) and their demanding clientele.

All resort accommodations feature a private pool, and these include the Tree Suite Bohios, Beach Villas and larger private residences. The top choice is Casona Don Carlos, the Pellas’ family home, the 20,000-square-foot beachfront residence mentioned above.