Nicaragua hides amazing volcanoes
There was some reason for the distrust: years of political instability and natural disasters tarnished the image of Nicaragua, which became a regular presence on the “not recommended to travel” lists of embassies around the world.
But everything is in the past, both the bad reputation and the secret. They have been overcome by the spectacular nature of the Ometepe Island, the old charm of Granada and the transparent waters of the Corn Islands. Considered “Costa Rica at popular prices”, backpackers, retirees and families come in search of adventure, Nicaragua is, if anything, an open secret.
1. SURF THE PACIFIC COAST
Before the backpackers, came the surfers. The waves of Nicaragua are famous throughout the world , and professionals and amateurs alike flock to this piece of Pacific coast. With a thousand surf schools and camps to choose from, San Juan del Sur – a Central American hippy enclave par excellence – is a good option for neophytes. Experts can put their expertise to the test Popoyo, Santana and Colorado , further north, which go up a level, or several, in difficulty and adrenaline.
Nicaragua, surfing mecca
2.**CLIMB A VOLCANO (OR TWO)**
Ometepe Island is a geological wonder: two volcanoes in the middle of lake Nicaragua . Concepción and Maderas are guessed from Rivas, on the other side of the lake, and the ferry ride passes in an excited countdown. The "twin volcanoes" are, in addition to the perfect postcard, the star activity of Ometepe: a visit to the island is not complete without reaching the top of one of them. Climbing Arenal takes about six hours and is suitable for all levels; Concepción is crowned in nine, and is reserved for experienced mountaineers.
3. AND SLIDE DOWN THE SLIDE OF THE OTHER
Suffering to the top is not your thing? Then go down from it. The Cerro Negro volcano , in the north of the country, is famous for its dark sand, perfect for sandboarding: the art of sliding downhill on a snowboard. Cerro Negro is a young volcano, and the summit is reached in an hour . Returning to sea level takes much less time: the board and gravity take care of it.
Ometepe, the island of volcanoes
Four. ADMIRE GRANADA
Granada almost did not exist: the first Spanish settler settlement in Nicaragua , was the victim of riots and robberies, and almost disappeared in a fire in 1856. Luckily for us, that was not the case, and Granada has become a tourist mecca. With their cobbled streets and its colorful houses, Granada exudes charm in every corner . Old convents are confused with museums, traditional taverns with jazz bars, and before you know it, weeks have passed without being able to take off from Granada.
5. DIVE THE CORN ISLANDS... OR NOT
Palm trees, crystal clear waters, fish of a thousand colors... The perfect Caribbean postcard is in the Corn Islands, on the north coast of Nicaragua. Little Corn and Big Corn , as the two main islands are called, invite you to lie on the sand, swim in the Caribbean Sea and appreciate the good life from a hammock. Or just the opposite: they invite you to descend to 20 meters below sea level and discover the underwater world among turtles and corals. It's your choice.
Granada, a city to admire
6. DISCOVER MANAGUA
Managua is one of those cities with a bad face: dirty, noisy, preceded by a perhaps undeserved bad reputation. Many travelers avoid it completely, seeing only the interior of the bus station or the airport, but the poetic chaos that is the capital of Nicaragua is well worth a day or two . Shattered by an earthquake in 1972, Managua is a mix of colonial neighborhoods and post-revolutionary buildings dotted with greenery. The Revolution Square , nerve center of the city and scene of multiple protests, and the Loma de Tiscapa National Historical Park , with its recognizable statue of the revolutionary Augusto César Sandino, are two must-sees.
7. VISIT THE "NEW" AND "OLD" LEON
León may not be the capital of the country (it was until 1858), but it still maintains the political mentality and elegance of who was the heart of the country. Deeply marked by the Sandinista revolution, the traces of the civil war can still be seen in the graffiti and murals on every street in León . For a more objective account, the Museum of the Revolution is an excellent introduction to recent Nicaraguan history. On the contrary, to find León's past you have to leave the city. The ruins of the “old León”, the 16th century colonial settlement that gave birth to the city, are less than an hour away by bus, and are a glimpse of what León could have been… if an earthquake had not destroyed it in 1610.
Get lost in Leon
8. PUT YOURSELF WITH GALLO PINTO, CHEESE AND TOSTONES
And rondón, and nacatamales, and vigorón... Nicaraguan gastronomy, in the purest Central American style, is based on some few ingredients and a lot of imagination . Gallo pinto (rice and beans) with tostones (fried plantains) is the signature dish, and is served as a side to just about everything else. Other essential tastings are the quesillos (tortillas stuffed with mozzarella and onion) , rondon (seafood and coconut stew) and bath (boiled beef with yucca and plantain) . To drink, don't miss one Toña, the national beer.
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Big Corn Island Beach