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 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 scripting 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 hearken to the misguided warnings and that I used to be in a position to spend a month traversing my manner throughout this beautiful Central American gem. 

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Nicaragua is actually not the only country in Central America that is still a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that you need to add to your journey plans this 12 months. 

Every day and each new place in Nicaragua was a nice shock, however listed here are 8 issues that basically 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 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 stated, I wouldn’t stroll round many locations after darkish, however I wouldn’t do that in most international locations immediately. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime charge than its rather more fashionable 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 numerous 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 stage 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Department, principally on account of restricted healthcare availability and poor legislation enforcement points.

As a traveler, in the event you keep in the primary vacationer areas similar to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, try to be fantastic, though I might 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… effectively, numerous 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’ll be able to 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 earth you’ll be able to see this!)

Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will notice stunning nature all over the 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 greater 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 snicker 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 shiny coloration, one after the following.

The entire metropolis of Granada, for instance, appears 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 under no circumstances a surfer. I’m rather more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown type of traveler.

That being stated, I do recognize a very good seashore city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is strictly 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 can remind you of a mini Rio De Janeiro and extra locations to eat and drink than you could possibly presumably get by means of, this seashore city is one to remain some time and chill.

On the coast alongside the Pacific you will discover 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, yow will discover one other fashionable seashore city of Las Penitas.

Across the nation, situated about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you will discover the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embrace them on this journey on account of time, they’re positively on my radar for one more go to. 

The Ease Of Travel 

Before this journey, I had numerous 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 all the sub-continent roughly and oftentimes value lower than a cup of espresso.

Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, principally on account of time restraints and being outdated and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.

Where any customer will possible wish to go in Nicaragua is effectively linked by transportation, and shuttle busses usually value 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 just a few occasions after I couldn’t make shuttle occasions on account of work. The finest tip is to get a card from one you want and maintain 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 all over the place 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 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 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 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 dear than Nicaragua and El Salvador.

And but, simply how cheaply you could possibly get by in Nicaragua nonetheless stunned 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 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, every day bills similar 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