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I’m simply over midway by way of a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my method 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 superb (I’m scripting 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 part I had heard about Nicaragua earlier than planning this journey was not constructive, 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 in a position to spend a month traversing my method throughout this gorgeous Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is positioned in Central America and is understood 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 is still a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that you must 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 once 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 the most effective gentle, 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 present. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime charge than its far more standard 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 following, you will note this firsthand.
There is quite a lot of poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was principally 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, principally as a result of restricted healthcare availability and poor legislation enforcement points.
As a traveler, in case you keep in the principle vacationer areas equivalent to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, try to be superb, though I might completely carry medical insurance with you.
The Nature and Wildlife
For a rustic that is called the land of lakes and volcanoes, it positive has… nicely, quite a 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 possibly can 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 this planet you possibly can see this!)
Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will note stunning nature in all places you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and every part in between will shock you.
I skilled most of this on the superb Ometepe Island, the place I used to be awoken by howler monkeys, noticed spiders greater 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 interesting 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 chuckle as a result of, sure, in fact 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 following.
The complete metropolis of Granada, for instance, seems 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 positively miss when this journey is completed.
The Beaches
Let me get this out of the best way proper now; I’m on no account a surfer. I’m far more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown sort of traveler.
That being mentioned, I do respect a superb 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 by way of Nicaragua, because it’s simply over the border from Costa Rica.
With a Jesus statue that may remind you of a mini Rio De Janeiro and extra locations to eat and drink than you might presumably get by way of, this seaside city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you’ll find different smaller cities, equivalent 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 will discover one other standard seaside city of Las Penitas.
Across the nation, positioned about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you’ll find the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embrace them on this journey as a result of time, they’re positively on my radar for one more go to.
The Ease Of Travel
Before this journey, I had quite a lot of reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it could be simple to navigate the transportation and how one can attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I needed to incorporate.
However, the most effective factor about Central America is that getting from level A to level B might be as simple or as low cost as you make it.
Chicken busses join your entire sub-continent roughly and oftentimes price lower than a cup of espresso.
Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, principally as a result of time restraints and being previous and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.
Where any customer will possible wish to go in Nicaragua is nicely related by transportation, and shuttle busses typically price lower than $30 an individual, with door-to-door drop-off.
It’s value noting that personal drivers may also be fairly low cost right here as nicely, and I used them a number of occasions after I couldn’t make shuttle occasions as a result of work. The finest tip is to get a card from one you want and maintain utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that actually stunned me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as nicely) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers in all places we went; sure, this nation just isn’t a secret anymore, and other people do come right here.
@itsvivslifee Nicaragua – the land of lakes & volcanoes🌿🤍 #visitnicaragua #nicaraguatravel #travelnicaragua #nicaragua #volcano #traveltiktok #travelbucketlist #nicaraguatiktoks #visitcentralamerica #centralamerica ♬ video games – favsoundds
However, what did shock me was the place these vacationers had been coming from. In my month of assembly individuals, 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 think about Nicaragua not attention-grabbing sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Both of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Also, with increasingly more flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to achieve this fascinating vacation spot.
Additionally, Nicaraguans might 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 stunning preserved historic cities, Leon, Granada, and Ciudad Antigua had 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 expensive than Nicaragua and El Salvador.
And but, simply how cheaply you might get by in Nicaragua nonetheless stunned me.
Now, some places positively 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 doable to seek out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low cost choices accessible.
Aside from lodging, day by day bills equivalent to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally price lower than I anticipated.
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