8 Things That Shocked Me About Visiting Nicaragua For The First Time
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I’m simply over midway by way of a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my manner 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 the whole lot 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 manner throughout this gorgeous Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is positioned 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 is still a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that you must add to your journey plans this 12 months.
Every day and each new place in Nicaragua was a pleasing shock, however listed here 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 protected?
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 present. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime fee than its far 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 loads 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 downside.
Currently, Nicaragua has a degree 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Department, largely as a consequence of restricted healthcare availability and poor regulation enforcement points.
As a traveler, in the event you keep in the primary vacationer areas comparable to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, you need to be high quality, 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 certain has… properly, loads 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 exterior Granada, the place you may 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 may see this!)
Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will notice stunning nature in all places you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and the whole lot 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 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 snort 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 subsequent.
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 way in which proper now; I’m by no means a surfer. I’m far more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown type of traveler.
That being mentioned, I do respect 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 way of 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 would presumably get by way of, this seaside city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you’ll discover different smaller cities, comparable 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’ll find one other well-liked seaside city of Las Penitas.
Across the nation, positioned about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you’ll discover the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey as a consequence of time, they’re positively on my radar for one more go to.
The Ease Of Travel
Before this journey, I had loads of reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it might be straightforward to navigate the transportation and how one can attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I needed 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 the whole sub-continent roughly and oftentimes value lower than a cup of espresso.
Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, largely as a consequence 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 properly linked by transportation, and shuttle busses typically value lower than $30 an individual, with door-to-door drop-off.
It’s price noting that personal drivers can be fairly low-cost right here as properly, and I used them a number of occasions once I couldn’t make shuttle occasions as a consequence of work. The greatest tip is to get a card from one you want and maintain utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that basically shocked me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as properly) 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 other people do come right here.
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However, what did shock me was the place these vacationers had 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 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 might 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 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 need 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 bear 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 would get by in Nicaragua nonetheless shocked me.
Now, some areas positively value 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 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 comparable to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally value lower than I anticipated.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com