Simple-to-travel and budget-friendly Nicaragua will not be essentially the most well-known vacation spot in Central America, nevertheless it may simply be the place you may have essentially the most enjoyable!
It’s surprisingly neglected and form of low-key superb, particularly when you’re a backpacker in search of someplace comparatively unspoiled.
Positive, if you wish to witness numerous wildlife like sloths or toucans it’s higher in neighboring Costa Rica, which is famed for its extremely developed ecotourism. However… be ready for journey prices a minimum of 3X what you’d spend in Nicaragua. Funds journey is a lot simpler right here.
The journey distances are additionally very manageable, so you may log on, volcano boarding, jungle mountain climbing, or stroll by means of colonial cities all inside hours’ distance of one another.
I beloved my time in Nicaragua whereas backpacking the Latin American Gringo Path. It’s probably the most affordable nation in all of Central America, which made it an ideal place to remain longer, be taught some Spanish, take browsing classes, and do numerous enjoyable excursions and actions at inexpensive costs. I truthfully obtained caught in Nicaragua far longer than I had deliberate!
Nicaragua is getting steadily (re-)found by intrepid backpackers, drawn by its pleasant costs, native vibe, and nascent ecotourism. Right here’s what that you must know earlier than you go.
Why go to Nicaragua
Unsure but if Nicaragua is your vibe? Then first take into account these high causes for visiting Nicaragua.
A haven for thrillseekers
Whether or not it’s browsing in San Juan, kayaking or mountain biking round lake island Ometepe, or boarding down the slopes of an energetic volcano (!), energetic vacationers will discover tons of issues to do in Nicaragua.
A spot to decelerate and loosen up
It’s equally simple to embrace your interior sloth. Ometepe Island, which is in the midst of lake Nicaragua, is a very relaxed place with little site visitors and loads of hammocks. Search for surfer hangouts on the Pacific coast the place you may cheaply lease a spot proper on the seashore.
Comparatively low crime ranges
Whilst you shouldn’t take this to imply that it’s 100% secure in every single place (the capital Managua does have a little bit of a nasty rep), Nicaragua has luckily principally escaped the gang violence that has bothered different close by nations.
Now, that doesn’t imply you’re in Japan right here — that is nonetheless Central America! Make sure to take correct security precautions and skim some official security suggestions earlier than you go. However normally the safety state of affairs is a lot higher than in, say, neighboring Honduras or elements of South America (like Ecuador proper now).
Extraordinarily inexpensive
There are good dorm beds to be discovered for simply $7 an evening or so. or funds personal or semi-private rooms for as little as $11. A typical meat-with-rice-and-beans set meal will set you again simply $2.50.
Undertouristed
Following unrest in 2018 (which has lengthy since handed!) to not point out the pandemic, there was a interval throughout which tourism in Nicaragua slowed to a trickle. Now the nation is again within the sport, however nonetheless with out the crowds you may even see in different locations.
Tourism isn’t practically as developed in Nicaragua as in, say, Costa Rica or Mexico, and it’s principally the area of backpackers and impartial travellers. Nevertheless, in case you are a little bit of a ‘flashpacker’ or like extra boutique-style lodging, it’s also possible to discover it.
Hostel suggestions
Having fun with your journey is as a lot about the place you’re staying as the place you’re going. Luckily, there may be some superb lodging in Nicaragua providing distinctive worth for cash.
Listed here are a couple of solutions:
Hostel Hola Ola
Pool, BBQs, film nights — however not so excessive as San Juan’s social gathering hostels.
Selina Granada
One other Selina location with superb amenities and proper on the principle sq.
Oh, and let me share just a little secret with you. For an unbelievable expertise, you have to spend a minimum of a couple of nights at The Treehouse.
It’s close to Granada in a really magical location with essentially the most beautiful sunsets over the forests. The sensation of residing among the many bushes right here could remind you of among the well-known hostels in Minca, Colombia, when you’ve been there.
A bit of sidebar: I stayed on this hostel a bunch of years in the past when it had a unique identify. The proprietor on the time was, I child you not, caught in jail — so he had left the hostel completely to the volunteers to run. As you may think about, this rapidly created a mini-society with its personal guidelines and a touch of Lord of the Flies… the hostel upkeep was completely within the trash however the events have been a ton of enjoyable.
I’m completely happy to report that below the brand new proprietor this place has blossomed and been residing as much as its full potential, with at the moment a 9.6 (!) rating on Hostelworld. This place actually is a singular expertise — I’ll always remember sitting within the remark treehut surrounded by howler monkeys!
Journey route for Nicaragua
Whereas Nicaragua is the most important nation in Central America, most of its key sights and cities are clustered within the southwest.
See these two lakes close to the Pacific coast? That’s the place most issues are, and that’s the place you may focus your journey analysis.
Though Nicaragua is giant when it comes to land space, when travelling round it really feels very compact. The distances between Leon, Granada, Ometepe, and San Juan Del Sur are by no means greater than a few hours or so.
A typical route: give attention to the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, utilizing these as a base for excursions reminiscent of volcano hikes. Loosen up on the volcanic island of Ometepe. Occasion or chill in San Juan Del Sur by the coast, or select from among the quieter seashore cities additional north. All this could simply refill 10+ days. Don’t trouble with the capital Managua, which could be very trendy and never so interesting.
Much less-visited areas: need to transcend the overwhelmed path a bit? Think about the mountainous areas north-east of Managua and Leon. The Caribbean facet of Nicaragua consists principally of distant and dense jungles with apparently among the worst roads in Central America. Not many vacationers go this manner with one exception: Corn Island is a well-liked vacation spot within the east, which is greatest reached by airplane from Managua. (Be aware: as it’s distant, the Corn Islands are considerably dearer than the remainder of Nicaragua.)
Locations to go to in Nicaragua
Discover the previous cities of Grenada and Léon
Whereas the capital of Managua was principally flattened in an earthquake years in the past (and is now an unappealing sprawl), the cities of Granada and León are very nicely preserved and filled with Spanish colonial structure.
Granada is arguably essentially the most nice of the 2. Its essential cobblestone strolling avenue is lined with properly renovated homes with quite a lot of eating places with out of doors seating. There have clearly been some makes an attempt to make Granada good and tourist-friendly, although it’s nonetheless a really low-key form of place.
León is the grungier and considerably extra chaotic metropolis. It might lack the contemporary paint you discover on the partitions in Granada, nevertheless it has a kind of tough magnificence that I discovered very fascinating and interesting, so it was really my favourite of the 2. This weblog has a pleasant comparability of the 2 cities.
Decelerate on Ometepe
Situated proper in the midst of Lago de Nicaragua, Ometepe is an awfully scenic island shaped by two joined volcanoes known as Concepcion and Maderas.
Mountaineering the volcanoes, kayaking and mountain biking are the principle actions right here.
However if that sounds exhausting, Ometepe can be an exquisite place to unwind. Learn a guide in a hammock whereas having fun with lakeshore views, or take a swim within the island’s thermal springs. Make sure to spend a minimum of a few nights on the island!
Board down a volcano
In Nicaragua you may go volcano boarding… sure, you learn that proper!
This inconceivable mixture of phrases means precisely what you’d suppose it does: you hike up a volcano after which glide all the best way down on a board. Nicaragua claims to be the one place on this planet the place you are able to do this.
There are a variety of various operators with excursions leaving from Leon, with some utilizing velocity meters to maintain rating of everybody’s high velocity. Some folks do get injured whereas volcano boarding, so have enjoyable however watch out.
Snorkel, dive or fish on the Corn Islands
The Corn Islands are Nicaragua’s distant outposts on the Caribbean facet. Most native islanders right here have extra in widespread culturally with Caribbean islands than they do with the Nicaraguan mainland, and you can see that most individuals converse English. The islands have virtually no site visitors, with small golf carts being the principle type of transportation.
Each Huge Corn Island and Little Corn Island make for glorious bases for snorkeling, SCUBA diving or ocean fishing.
Whereas it’s doable to get to close by Bluefields by bus after which take a ferry, this journey takes very lengthy and runs alongside very badly maintained roads by means of the jungle. It’s best to easily fly to Huge Corn Island from Managua.
Occasion in San Juan del Sur
San Juan is Nicaragua’s primary surfer and backpacker social gathering hotspot. It’s a spot that will not enchantment to everybody, however in fact, it may be a really enjoyable place to let free or get caught.
It’s undoubtedly very gringo-fied and is dwelling to a plethora of backpacker hostels, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a really small and laidback city—and a far cry from the slick seashore developments in nations like Mexico.
There are common film nights and pub crawls on the town, in addition to the legendary Sunday Funday, which is basically an enormous wild pool social gathering with nice sundown views. You’ll be able to test their Instagram for extra particulars.
If you’re on some form of anthropological cultural-immersion journey by means of Central America, this clearly isn’t the place you need to be. I have to warn you, that is Nicaragua and the events go laborious!
San Juan is dwelling to a number of infamous hostels the place video games of beer pong and different social gathering occasions happen fairly often. I’ll simply warn you that these should not for anybody wanting an excellent night time’s relaxation. Examine hostel descriptions when you want to keep away from this, or keep in one of many guesthouses or small motels.
San Juan del Sur is just not all about partying, thoughts you. You’ll be able to take fishing or snorkelling journeys from right here, hike as much as the city’s Jesus statue overlooking the bay, or be taught Spanish in one of many many inexpensive language faculties.
A number of lovely seashores are only a quick jeep journey away: the playas Hermosa, Marsella and Maderas.
Surf and swim at playa Maderas
If you’re searching for a extra tranquil place close to San Juan then all that you must do is head to Playa Naderas, which is a few 20-30 minute drive north from city. Jeeps and pickup vans frequently take passengers from San Juan all through the day.
The seashore in San Juan city itself will not be something particular, however Maderas is beautiful.
At this seashore I stayed at Hostal 3 Hermanos for per week (you may’t guide it on-line, so that you simply should go there in particular person).
There’s nothing like waking up within the morning and going for a run on an empty seashore with a whole lot of little crabs dispersing in your path. Round midday folks from San Juan start to reach making the place very energetic, although it turns fully quiet once more round 5 pm. It’s a magical place that has very a lot the alternative vibe of San Juan, so if that you must detox or are simply within the temper for a calmer environment, you’ll discover it right here.
Hear the roar of an energetic volcano
Apart from volcano boarding, Leon can be an excellent base from which to go on volcano hikes.
I can extremely suggest mountain climbing as much as the high of Mount Telica, a still-active volcano. You’ll be able to lie down in your stomach and peek over the sting of the crater to see the lava under, the place it’s a right away drop of a whole lot of meters.
The hike up is gorgeous and never too strenuous, although go together with a information as there are scorpions, tarantulas and rattlesnakes to keep away from on the best way.
It’s doable to take a day journey or to camp on the high and keep the night time there. Apparently, it’s additionally doable to drive up the volcano and solely stroll the final bit, however the hike is great and makes reaching the crater really feel all of the extra rewarding.
One other fashionable volcano hike goes as much as Volcan Masaya, which isn’t removed from Granada. I didn’t do that hike however heard it’s nice as nicely.
Float across the crater lake of Apoyo
Close to Granada, you can see a lake in the midst of a volcano crater, which is a good place to swim round and benefit from the solar, or to go kayaking or paragliding. Go to the close by city of Catarina for an excellent panoramic view of the lake. The city can be well-known for its pottery and different handicrafts and is a good place to choose up some souvenirs.
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