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I’m simply over midway via a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my means as much as Mexico, a visit which I’m finishing in 5 months whereas working full-time on-line as a digital nomad.
While each nation has been wonderful (I’m penning this from the completely gorgeous Antiqua, Guatemala) one nation has stood out as an sudden spotlight.
I’m speaking about The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes itself, Nicaragua.
Being American, most of every little thing I had heard about Nicaragua earlier than planning this journey was not optimistic, to say the least.
Let me wholeheartedly say that I’m so glad I didn’t take heed to the misguided warnings and that I used to be capable of spend a month traversing my means throughout this gorgeous Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is situated in Central America and is thought for its breathtaking sunsets and tropical seashores🌴 – #nicaragua #travel #traveltiktok #travelinspo #nicaragua🇳🇮 #tiktoktravel #nicaraguatiktoks #nicaraguatiktok #paradise – 📽: @david.tejada.73 @Leo Chavez @Visit Nicaragua @Colleen ♬ Me Gustas Tu – Sped Up Version – Manu Chao
Nicaragua is definitely not the only country in Central America that continues to be a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that it’s best to add to your journey plans this yr.
Every day and each new place in Nicaragua was a nice shock, however listed below are 8 issues that actually shocked me:
The Safety
Let’s begin with the one factor that involves thoughts while you first hear about touring in Nicaragua. Is it secure?
While some media protection on the nation and its management doesn’t paint the nation in one of the best mild, as a traveler there for a month, I by no means skilled something that made me really feel unsafe.
That being mentioned, I wouldn’t stroll round many locations after darkish, however I wouldn’t do that in most international locations at the moment. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime price than its way more well-liked neighbor of Costa Rica (one other nation I by no means felt unsafe in).
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Nicaragua is the second poorest nation within the Western Hemisphere, and touring from one location to the subsequent, you will notice this firsthand.
There is a whole lot of poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was largely within the countryside, and the cities didn’t appear to have too dangerous of a homeless drawback.
Currently, Nicaragua has a degree 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Department, largely resulting from restricted healthcare availability and poor regulation enforcement points.
As a traveler, if you happen to keep in the principle vacationer areas similar to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, try to be superb, though I’d completely carry medical health insurance with you.
The Nature and Wildlife
For a rustic that is named the land of lakes and volcanoes, it certain has… properly, a whole lot of them. One exercise many do right here is volcano boarding down the spectacular Cerro Negro, simply reachable from Leon.
I opted for a extra laid-back expertise and headed to Laguna de Apoyo simply outdoors Granada, the place you may chill and swim all day within the volcanic lagoon after which take a simple hike as much as the highest of Masaya Volcano to see the sundown and the effervescent lava (one of many solely locations on the earth you may see this!)
Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will notice lovely nature in every single place you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and every little thing in between will shock you.
I skilled most of this on the wonderful Ometepe Island, the place I used to be awoken by howler monkeys, noticed spiders larger than my hand (in my bathe, no much less) and large iguanas simply chillin’ across the garden.
Aside from these creatures, the sheer quantity of colourful and engaging birds I noticed in Nicaragua actually gave Costa Rica a run for its cash.
The Colors
On a stroll within the little city of Moyogalpa one night, I commented on all of the paint shops that this small city had. To which my husband replied, “Have you seen the houses?!”
I needed to snigger as a result of, sure, after all there’s a paint retailer on each nook, as a result of each home on this nation is painted some neon vivid colour, one after the subsequent.
The complete metropolis of Granada, for instance, seems to be prefer it may need been painted to be an Instagram backdrop, however nope. They are simply colourful right here.
The colours of locations like this in Central America are one factor I’ll undoubtedly miss when this journey is finished.
The Beaches
Let me get this out of the way in which proper now; I’m by no means a surfer. I’m way more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown type of traveler.
That being mentioned, I do admire a great seaside city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is precisely that and makes a simple begin for any journey via Nicaragua, because it’s simply over the border from Costa Rica.
With a Jesus statue that can remind you of a mini Rio De Janeiro and extra locations to eat and drink than you may probably get via, this seaside city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you’ll find different smaller cities, similar to Playa Mardras and Playa El Coco, each good choices for a really quiet vibe. In the northern a part of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, you could find one other well-liked seaside city of Las Penitas.
Across the nation, situated about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you’ll find the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey resulting from time, they’re undoubtedly on my radar for an additional go to.
The Ease Of Travel
Before this journey, I had a whole lot of reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it might be straightforward to navigate the transportation and methods to attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I wished to incorporate.
However, one of the best factor about Central America is that getting from level A to level B might be as straightforward or as low-cost as you make it.
Chicken busses join the complete sub-continent kind of and oftentimes price lower than a cup of espresso.
Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, largely resulting from time restraints and being previous and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.
Where any customer will seemingly wish to go in Nicaragua is properly linked by transportation, and shuttle busses usually price lower than $30 an individual, with door-to-door drop-off.
It’s price noting that non-public drivers will also be fairly low-cost right here as properly, and I used them a number of occasions after I couldn’t make shuttle occasions resulting from work. The greatest tip is to get a card from one you want and hold utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that actually stunned me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as properly) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers in every single place we went; sure, this nation isn’t a secret anymore, and other people do come right here.
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However, what did shock me was the place these vacationers have been coming from. In my month of assembly folks, I should have solely come throughout 4 different American vacationers. Many I met got here from Australia, some from Germany and France, and some Canadians.
It appears to me that Americans would possibly nonetheless take into account Nicaragua not attention-grabbing sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Both of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Also, with an increasing number of flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to achieve this fascinating vacation spot.
Additionally, Nicaraguans may desperately use some extra vacationer {dollars} of their financial system, they usually deserve it.
The History
One declare to fame of Nicaragua is that it gave the world one of many biggest names in Spanish literature, Ruben Dario. After spending his life as a diplomat, poet, and journalist, Daio is now a nationwide hero.
If you wish to see some lovely preserved historic cities, Leon, Granada, and Ciudad Antigua have been the primary established by Spaniards after they reached the shores of Nicaragua.
Wander their historic facilities and take within the structure and tradition; simply keep in mind to look each methods for the quite a few horse and buggies that zip round these streets all hours of the day.
The Price-tag
Going into this journey, I knew some counties in Central America could be cheaper than others. For instance, I used to be ready for Costa Rica and Panama to be extra dear than Nicaragua and El Salvador.
And but, simply how cheaply you may get by in Nicaragua nonetheless stunned me.
Now, some places undoubtedly price greater than others. For instance, San Juan Del Sur didn’t appear all that low-cost to me, particularly when it got here to lodging.
However, it’s potential to search out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low-cost choices out there.
Aside from lodging, day by day bills similar to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally price lower than I anticipated.
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