by Holidays in Nicaragua, the waves and beaches will bring me back to this very place every single time. thriving adventure tourism, colorful sun-drenched colonial cities.
After several decades of civil war, political strife and disastrous American interventions. As a result, this country is slowly but surely repairing itself. In comparison to neighboring Costa Rica, Nicaragua is cheaper and much more ‘off-the-beaten track, making it ideal for a backpacking trip of at least a month. Known as the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. And definitely a stunning destination with so much beauty to offer.
In fact, I decided to visit Nicaragua during my trip to Costa Rica. This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! If you’re looking for cost-effective ways to travel, this is a great way to do it.
In addition, this experience a full day tour that includes transportation to and from your accommodation, breakfast and lunch, guides and so much more! This is all the information you’ll need > BOOK HERE
The Central American Hidden Gem, an overlooked place which must be explored. To completely understand how it feels is to experience this extraordinary country!
1. MANAGUA
Managua is Nicaragua’s capital city and the landing pad for anyone flying into Nicaragua. In addition, this country as a whole is up and coming for tourism. This means there are plenty lively eateries, cafes, museums.
You can also view the Tiscapa Crater Lake, a lagoon of volcanic origin that was formed over 10,000 years ago. I highly recommend making a stop at the Roberto Huembes Market, a colorful market where you can by anything from souvenir to delicious fruits.
Managua is a quiet city that one should visit even for just a day or two. Nonetheless, I adore large cities. Especially capital cities, because this is where you can always find signs of a country’s history. Not to mention, I only spent a day traveling through Nicaragua, and I still got to immerse myself in a bit of all that it has to offer.
2. GRANADA
One of Central America’s most beautiful colonial cities is Granada, Nicaragua. With colorfully painted walls, palm trees as the back splash and cobblestone streets, this is a tropical-Latin vibe you don’t want to miss. A place that exudes an air of well-worn sneakers or ripped jeans, bringing warmth to your soul with every turn.
I discovered that Granada is fairly easy to get to. It’s located just one hour away from the capital Managua. This gorgeous city is lively with people playing musical instruments as you rome around, street foods being sold at every turn and horse and carriages clopping hooves around.
Albeit, Granada will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into the most picturesque postcard with architecture reminiscent of the colonial era from which it was built.
Significantly, when visiting this phenomenal city be sure to stop by the Cathedral of Granada, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. This is a landmark that dominates the city’s central plaza with its vibrant yellow façade and towering bell towers.
Inside, there is beautiful simple white interior, accentuated by high arches and soft natural light. I visited in December of 2019, which is slow season in Nicaragua.
This time of year makes for a perfect time to visit because this square can be very crowded during the high season, not to mention the weather cools down during these months. .
While in Granada, I had a lovely carriage ride through the city. This option allowed me to get around more freely since I was able to take my time, take photos and videos and also make random stops along the way!
Afterwards, we stopped at The Choco Museo, where I learned the process behind making different products from the cacao fruit. I still have some natural body creams that I bought there and I cannot wait to replenish!
The Best of Holiday’s in Nicaragua
3. Lake Nicaragua
Firstly, the city is located on Lake Nicaragua. In fact, Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest lakes in Central America (ranking as the 19th largest). It is also considered one of the largest in the world with an area of just over 3000 square miles and an elevation just over 100 feet above sea level, it reaches depths of over eighty feet! It also has many names however, it’s native name is Lake Cocibolca.
Consequently, after an eruption that occurred about 20,000 years ago, it left behind many volcanic islands within the lake. If you have jungle fever, this might be a great place to vacation. There are many private islands to check out along the lake. 🙂
It is also the largest tropical fresh water lake in America. The lake actually has a river which drains it on the southeastern end known as the San Juan River. The river flows slowly, but steadily towards the Caribbean Sea.
As I mentioned before, there are many islands within it’s realm. The largest of all is Ometepe. Notably, Ometepe is a volcanic island with two different volcanoes: Maderas and Concepcion. The first is extinct and has a crater lake on the top; the second is an active volcano that towers over a mile over the lake, creating a unique landmark that is visible from around the lake!
Additionally, Lake Nicaragua is the only freshwater body in the world with saltwater animals! Some examples include, bull sharks, tarpon, and sawfish. Now if this isn’t cool, I don’t know what is! 🙂
4. Trip to the Volcán Masaya
Volcán Masaya is a caldera located in Masaya, Nicaragua. Can’t tell you how much of a thrill it was when Claudio pretended to pick me up and throw me into the pit of this massive volcano! You can just see the smoke emanating from it’s pit in the photos, as the lava continued to bubble below.
This full-day trip from Tamarindo, Costa Rica was one for the books! For a great price, I was blessed to see this amazing country with great company along the way and so much more!
Finding the hidden gems in life is the best part. Nicaragua is one of them! ❤
