8 Things That Shocked Me About Visiting Nicaragua For The First Time
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I’m simply over midway by means of a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my approach 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 penning this from the completely beautiful 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 approach throughout this beautiful Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is situated 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 it’s best to add to your journey plans this 12 months.
Every day and each new place in Nicaragua was a pleasing shock, however listed below are 8 issues that basically shocked me:
The Safety
Let’s begin with the one factor that involves thoughts if 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 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 this time. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime charge than its rather more widespread 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 notice this firsthand.
There is plenty of poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was largely within the countryside, and the cities didn’t appear to have too unhealthy of a homeless drawback.
Currently, Nicaragua has a degree 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Department, largely as a result of restricted healthcare availability and poor regulation 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, you need to be high quality, though I’d 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… effectively, plenty 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 straightforward hike as much as the highest of Masaya Volcano to see the sundown and the effervescent lava (one of many solely locations on the planet you possibly can see this!)
Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will notice lovely nature in all places you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and every little thing 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 larger than my hand (in my bathe, no much less) and big 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 snigger 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 brilliant shade, one after the following.
The complete metropolis of Granada, for instance, seems prefer it might 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 completed.
The Beaches
Let me get this out of the best way proper now; I’m under no circumstances a surfer. I’m rather more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown form of traveler.
That being mentioned, I do recognize an excellent seaside city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is precisely that and makes a straightforward begin for any journey by means 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 can probably get by means of, this seaside city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you can 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, yow will discover one other widespread seaside city of Las Penitas.
Across the nation, situated about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you can find the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey as a result of time, they’re undoubtedly on my radar for an additional go to.
The Ease Of Travel
Before this journey, I had plenty of reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it will be straightforward to navigate the transportation and how one can 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 will be as straightforward or as low-cost as you make it.
Chicken busses join all the sub-continent roughly and oftentimes price lower than a cup of espresso.
Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, largely 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 seemingly need to go in Nicaragua is effectively related 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 effectively, and I used them a number of instances after I couldn’t make shuttle instances as a result of work. The finest tip is to get a card from one you want and hold utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that basically stunned me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as effectively) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers in all places we went; sure, this nation is just not a secret anymore, and folks 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 will need to 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 may nonetheless contemplate Nicaragua not fascinating sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Both of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Also, with increasingly flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to succeed in this fascinating vacation spot.
Additionally, Nicaraguans may desperately use some extra vacationer {dollars} of their economic system, they usually deserve it.
The History
One declare to fame of Nicaragua is that it gave the world one of many best names in Spanish literature, Ruben Dario. After spending his life as a diplomat, poet, and journalist, Daio is now a nationwide hero.
If you need 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 can 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 can get by in Nicaragua nonetheless stunned me.
Now, some areas 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 attainable to seek out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low-cost choices obtainable.
Aside from lodging, every day bills equivalent to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally price lower than I anticipated.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com