Nicaragua: A Land of Breathtaking and Unexplored Regions
Nicaragua, a nation of geographical superlatives, is the largest country in Central America. Its diverse landscape covers an area of 129,494 square kilometers with a broad range of climates, regions and topographies for visitors to discover. In a country that remains 80% undeveloped, travelers can enjoy an incredible array of experiences ranging from hiking through rain forests and jungles, discovering deserted beaches, diving untouched reefs, climbing active volcanoes, surfing the perfect wave or just simply exploring the unexplored.

The country known as the “land of lakes and volcanoes” is primarily divided into three regions: the North-Central Mountains, the Pacific Coast and the Caribbean Coast.

Beaches in Nicaragua
Puerto Sandino
Without a doubt one of the best waves and the longest in Nicaragua. Located near the highway to the city of León, this sandbar is the creator of waves from 300 to 500 meters. It is excellent for tubing and is formed with medium and large swells. It works only at low tide. It can only be reached by a 15-minute boat ride. On the beaches of Miramar, good winds create five types of waves allowing point breaks, beach breaks, and slabs.

Playa Popoyo
It has the most famous and consistent waves in Nicaragua. You can surf on all tides. This “A” shaped wave creates large walls from right to left with occasional barrels. Paddling further out to sea, or with a boat, you can reach the reef outside Popoyo which is a real challenge. It is without a doubt one of the heaviest waves in Central America. It works best with medium boards and during low tide. Located in the municipality of Tola, Rivas department, this beach is recommended only for professionals and kamikazes. Shallow reefs must be taken into account. The wind blows towards the sea more than 300 days a year.

Playa Colorado
There are two famous waves on this beach. The wave of the Colorado River is formed at the mouth of an estuary, it throws perfect barrels on the right and left. It is without a doubt one of the best waves in Tola. This beach is located in the private tourist development “Iguana”, in the department of Rivas. The other wave is Panga Drops. This heavy wave is shaped like a horseshoe and manages to maximize the size of any incoming swell. It is known for its fast starts, huge walls, and occasional barrels. Works best with medium boards and during low tide.

Playa Aserradores
In the municipality of El Viejo, northeast of Chinandega. This beach is different for its black sands and volcanic sediments. The wave is known as “El Boom”, it is popular for its high peaks and for being hollow. With a short boat trip, you can also reach an island that has two more breaks that guarantee optimal conditions for surfing.

Playa San Diego
It is located in the Gran Pacifica tourist development, in Villa El Carmen, department of Managua. It is one of the most preferred waves by professional surfers. Its rocky and coral surface makes for a solid, fast, and consistent left wave that is easy to pipe. It surfs well with medium and large swells and works best at high tide.

Cycling in Nicaragua
“Recognizing the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and which constitutes a sustainable, simple, affordable, reliable, clean and ecological means of transport that contributes to environmental management and benefits health, the General Assembly decided to declare the 3rd of June as World Bicycle Day,” writes the United Nations on its website.

Nicaragua offers numerous sites and activities for those who love traveling through urban cities, rural communities, or to be in one with nature. Cycling is one of the things you can do in the Land of Lakes and Volcanos.

These are some of the places where you can cycle to enjoy and be in contact with the natural beauties that Nicaragua has.

Cerro El Arenal Natural Reserve, Matagalpa
Of 1,428 square kilometers, located 15 kilometers from the city of Matagalpa, on the highway to Jinotega, it has beautiful landscapes, diversity of flora and fauna, it houses cloudy forests interspersed with shade coffee plantations, conducive to the development of sustainable rural tourism, agroecological tourism, and rural community tourism. Its pleasant and cool climate makes it an attractive destination for mountain biking.

Cerro El Ventarrón, between Managua and Masaya
It is the ideal site for cycling and landscape photography enthusiasts. Located behind the Masaya volcano, at kilometer 26 on the Ticuantepe (Managua) – San Juan de la Concepción (Masaya) highway, it is a journey of medium difficulty. The first hours of the day are perfect to travel to this area of the Nicaraguan Pacific region.

Tepesomoto La Patasta Natural Reserve
Between the municipalities of Somoto, San Lucas, Las Sabanas, and San José de Cusmapa, Madriz, with heights of up to 1,700 meters. Valuable area for its flora, fauna, climate, landscapes, and natural attractions. Besides cycling, it is ideal for hiking, camping, and rappelling.

Cerro Negro volcano
In this destination, in addition to the San Cristóbal and Momotombo volcanoes, the short film “Volcánico, an adventure on a mountain bike” was filmed, which won an Emmy for its technical achievements. Here too, Eric Barone the “Red Baron” was not afraid to jump and set a world record for speed overland with his mountain bike on the slopes of the youngest volcano in Central America.

Pilas El Hoyo Complex
Shared with the municipalities of León and La Paz Centro, its extension is 11,569 hectares and is made up of several volcanic buildings that share the same base; being the most prominent the Pilas volcano, with its active crater El Hoyo of 1089 meters; towards the west of the same one rises the Cerro Negro; towards the south rises the truncated and extinct cone of Asososca or Ajusco at the base of which the crateric lagoon of Asososca opens, which is commonly known also as the Tigre lagoon. The landscape, flora, and fauna make it a unique place to travel on two wheels.

Jinotega – San Rafael del Norte Highway
The highway in excellent condition, pleasant climate, sinuous walkway, scenes of rural life in the area, tourist services, and a magnificent view of Lake Apanás will be the perfect complement to venture out pedaling in this part of northern Nicaragua.

Dipilto, Mozonte and San Fernando
Dipilto, with mountains of coffee and pine forests, through which you can take an adventure tour enjoying the pleasant climate and delighting in the exquisite aroma of pine. Mozonte, immerses you in primitive times; touring its productive fields, waterfalls and handicrafts make your stay pleasant, and San Fernando offers you the route to the highest point in Nicaragua, Cerro Mogotón, here you can observe landscapes of pines, rivers, and waterfalls, at the finish line a rich cup of coffee.

Sierra de Amerrique
The extensive mountain range determines the climatic conditions of the department of Chontales. Its formation is related to an ancient volcanic activity. Formerly it was inhabited by fierce people, whose vestiges are scattered throughout the fragile landscape.

Ometepe Island
The circuit of 8, includes skirting the island that has the shape of an eight, the natural benefits offered by the oasis of peace converge on this route; Institutions and private entities organize events of up to 50 kilometers for bicycle lovers, the best event is the one that you can undertake whenever you like.

Golden Triangle in Carazo
It includes the municipalities of San Marcos, Jinotepe, and Dolores, the attractive thing is the climate because it is an area of great vegetation, this is where the greatest aquifer recharge of Carazo is concentrated, it is a productive area for fruits such as pineapple, oranges, mandarins, mangoes and of course you can see the coffee and agroecological farms. Parallel to cycling, observe a great variety of birds.

 

Typical Foods and Beverages
It is a tradition of the towns located on the plateau, from Masaya to Nandaime, to feed pilgrims and promisees during the festivities dedicated to the town’s patron saint. Most of the dishes derive from maize. Jinotepe, Diriamba, and San Marcos are famous for their festive dishes called “picadillo, ajiaco, and masa de cazuela or indio viejo”.

In Masaya, they go all out with corn pastries, foods, and drinks called rosquillas, chicha de maiz, corn with ginger, nacatamales, arroz aguado, pig’s head, pork with casaba and oxtail soup.

The celebrations of Patron Saints in the towns of the northern, western, and northeast departments of the country, the custom of giving food to those who make the pilgrimage is not practiced. However, as an exception, every December 6, in the town of El Viejo, Chinandega, they celebrate the cleaning of the silver and feed the visitors rosquillas and tiste.

With 24 volcanoes and countless lakes, rivers, and lagoons, Nicaragua is known as the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes.”

Only in Nicaragua can you navigate through rivers and lakes from the Caribbean to the Pacific, because here the waters of the Río San Juan meet Lake Nicaragua. With a wide assortment of landscapes and habitats that allow for many different types of vegetation and animal species to flourish, Nicaragua is proud of its tremendous ecological diversity offering more than 70 unique eco-systems. In Nicaragua you will discover 7% of the world’s bio-diversity and learn why Nicaragua is considered “the second lung of the Americas.”

Ecological Regions
Today, although shrinking, there is still the presence of a rainforest that has been left relatively untouched in Nicaragua. The eastern region of the country is home to some of the bigger forests with two reserves that offer a wide variety of vegetation and animals: the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, located in the southeast near the San Juan River, and the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, located in the northeast.

The Pacific side of Nicaragua is quite unique from its eastern side presenting a different world, tropical dry forest. Here, many of the tropical plans and animals survive without the continuous abundance of water. Discover how the trees are the life of the forest, dropping their leaves in order to preserve the needed water supply for the entire forest.

Yet another unique forest to Nicaragua, which can be found at higher elevations, is the cloud forests. Clouds float among the mountain tops and volcano peaks, not only creating a breathtaking background, but also resulting in an exceptional type of vegetation. The humidity creates this area into an evergreen forest, where the tree leaves are always hung high and productivity rates soar allowing for a wide variety of flora and fauna to thrive in such a relatively small area. Isolated from the other areas within these cloud forests, the development of several fascinating, endemic species among the animals and plants has taken place. Such forests can be discovered at Mombacho Volcano and the Maderas Volcano. Located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the island of Ometepe houses two volcanoes, and is actually the world’s largest volcanic island inside a freshwater lake. One of nature’s most fascinating and beautiful spots, the island attracts more and more people every year. In 2010, Ometepe was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve because it demonstrates a balanced relationship between man and nature and is being developed in an eco-friendly way.

Nicaragua also has a number of other ecologically rich areas including swamps, waterways, lakes, lagoons and beaches. Migrating birds often visit these areas and large numbers, making Nicaragua the perfect spot for bird watching. Such prime spots include the swamps at Cosiguina Volcano, as well as the Rio Istián Estuary on Ometepe Island. Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake within Central America that not only houses the beautiful island of Ometepe, but also Solentiname, an archipelago of islands.

The Nicaraguan beaches are often a welcoming sight. Bordering two oceans, Nicaragua is a sun and sand destination. The Pacific side offers more hilled beaches and bays with unforgettable swimming, surfing and sunsets. The Caribbean coast is picture perfect with the classic turquoise sea, white sand beaches and perfectly placed palm trees, the ideal getaway.

With the multiple regions within Nicaragua comes the diversity of the animal species. Below is a short overview of some of the most prominent species living in Nicaragua:

Birds
Due to the diverse ecological regions, a multitude of bird species can be found throughout Nicaragua. More than 700 species exist within the country; some permanently within the country while others are seasonal, escaping the winter blast. Though the countryside offers some of the better birding opportunities, such feathered friends as the hummingbirds and motmot can be spotted throughout the urban cities. With all shapes and sizes, Nicaragua is a birder watchers haven.

Mammals
Known more for its smaller mammals, Nicaragua is home to a wide variety of mammals. Though the smaller mammals can be difficult to spot at times, common sightings include the Howler Monkey, sloths, ant-eaters and more. Desire something bigger, head to the sea to spot the largest mammals on earth – whales. The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua offers unforgettable glances of these large, elegant mammals migrating from north to south. During the dry season, a boat tour can often include observing these migrations.

Marine Life

With the abundant waterways, Nicaragua offers a wealth of sea life. Some of the most fascinating attractions include the underwater treasures of the reefs. The crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea offers rich, colorful reefs with some of the most spectacular underwater creatures gliding in and out. Keep an eye out for sharks, sting rays and barracudas. At one point the bull shark was the most famed resident of Lake Nicaragua. Though normally found in salt-water, here in Nicaragua they adapted to the fresh water after swimming up the San Juan River and expanding their area to the fresh water lake.

Another spectacular sight is the sea turtles. Though many turtle populations have decreased, many still take refuge in the Nicaraguan waters. Roughly between August and January, witness the nesting rituals on one of the many beaches within Nicaragua, as they lay their eggs in the sand. Certain beaches attract thousands of nesting turtles, climbing the sands to deposit their eggs. This nesting experience can only be topped by the hatching of the eggs, as the baby turtles are welcomed into this paradise and crawl to the ocean. An unforgettable experience!

Reptiles
Nicaragua is crawling and with many four-legged friends. A variety of lizard species are among the most frequently spotted reptiles. The Green Iguanas can be found sunning throughout Nicaragua, on streets, rocks and rooftops. The Black Iguanas, though smaller in size, transform from green to brown as they age, a unique process. Asian House Geckos are commonly found in houses feeding on insects. With the ability to walk on walls and ceilings, they appear at night to hunt. Though little in size, their bark is worse than their bite as they are able to produce a loud, bird-like sound which may confuse travelers at first.

Río San Juan
Nicaragua is divided into states known as departments. The country’s most southern department, Rio San Juan, is full of wildlife and bordered by Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River. Historically, pirates and colonialists made their way through this region in search of treasure. Today, Rio San Juan is a popular area for fishing and water activities, and still holds many mysteries waiting to be discovered.

San Carlos
Founded in 1527, San Carlos is the capital of Rio San Juan and its location at the intersection of Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River has made it an important port for the area. From San Carlos you can venture by boat to Ometepe, Granada and Solentiname, and tour the San Juan River. Visitors to San Carlos will find comfortable lodgings, as well as first-rate restaurants where they serve just-caught Sábalo (tarpon) and Guapote. San Carlos’ pier is an excellent viewing spot to appreciate this water paradise and all its natural beauty. You can travel to San Carlos by air, bus or by 4-wheel drive vehicles from Managua.

The José Coronel Urtecho Cultural Center
Dedicated to the memory of the famous Nicaraguan poet, the Jose Coronel Urtecho Cultural Center is located in San Carlos’ central park, and is a great educational resource on the history, flora, and fauna of the San Juan River. The center is built within the walls of a Spanish colonial fortress turned prison, turned police station. Now it has been completely remodeled to become one of the main attractions of San Carlos, housing the city library and meeting hall for concerts and other cultural events.

Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge
Located south of Lake Nicaragua, Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge stretches over 437 square kilometers (168.7 square miles), and consists of a system of wetlands that includes more than a dozen rivers and ponds. In 1997, Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge was added to the Ramsar Convention’s list of internationally important wetlands. This area is the perfect place for bird watching and observing wildlife including caiman crocodiles, sloths and monkeys. In addition, visitors can visit an orchid nursery and breeding centers for freshwater turtles and alligators.

Solentiname
Located 45 minutes away by speedboat from San Carlos is the Solentiname Archipelago. In Náhuatl its name means “place of rest” and its 36 enchanting islands include Mancarrón, Mancarroncito, La Venada, and San Fernando. The islands are known for their native artisans, who create paintings and woodcrafts. Mancarrón offers picturesque scenery and tours of ancient petrographs; in San Fernando you can visit the Casa Cultural (Cultural House) and its museum; in La Venada you can visit the artisans and learn about their woodcraft art.

Sábalos
Two hours from San Carlos where the San Juan River joins the Sábalos River, is the small rural community of Sábalos. In the surrounding area there are country houses and private reserves offering activities that include agrotourism, hiking and swimming in hot springs. Sábalos is known for its charming rustic cabins surrounded by dense rainforest.

Discovering the Castle
Immaculada Conception Castle is not far from San Carlos by boat.Built by the Spanish in 1675, the ruins of an old Spanish fort stand on a hill guarding the river communities from Caribbean pirates. It was here in 1780 that Horatio Nelson, then a young captain, met defeat in an attempt to capture Granada and Leon, to assure the British a route between the Atlantic and Pacific. Inside the fort you can visit the museum and its exhibits that illustrate the story and historical importance of this legendary place.

The Indio Maíz Biololgical Reserve
The Indio Maíz Biological Reserve covers more than 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles) of lowland rainforest and is home to hundreds of species of animals, insects, and trees. This lush paradise is the habitat of pumas and jaguars, which might be heard roaring at night in the distant jungle. Indio Maíz also has manatees and the nation’s largest variety of birds. Descendants of the indigenous people still live here and offer excellent guided tours.

Greytown, The Lost City
In the 19th century, the Caribbean coast town of San Juan del Norte was a prosperous community inhabited by Spanish and Nicaraguans. However in 1841, the British invaded and eventually renamed it Greytown, in honor of then-governor of Jamaica, Sir Charles Grey. Located almost at the mouth of the San Juan de Nicaragua River, Greytown has an interesting history that can only be understood completely by a personal visit. During its tumultuous history, Greytown served as a hub along the Central American route to the California Gold Rush. In the 1850’s, gold-seekers looking for a faster route to California than across North America by stage coach, would take a Clipper ship from New York to Greytown, then board a boat up the San Juan River and cross Lake Nicaragua. From the western shore of Lake Nicaragua they would go by mule the few kilometers to San Juan del Sur, a port on Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast. There, Clipper ships would be waiting to take them north to San Francisco and the gold fields of the Sierras. In Greytown, you can also see the remains of an unsuccessful attempt to build an inter-ocean canal, long before the Panama Canal was constructed. In addition, the Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon), surrounding trails, and local cemetery are all fascinating nearby attractions to explore.

Adventure Fishing in the San Juan River
Situated in such a perfect watery landscape, the San Juan River provides the opportunity for magnificent sport fishing. Tarpon (el Sábalo) is the most sought-after game fish. To preserve this unique species, which sometimes weighs as much as 100 pounds, fishing for tarpon is strictly on a catch-and-release basis. With luck, you may spot the unusual fresh water sharks and the mountain fish, which are both protected species.

SCUBA and Snorkeling
Whether snorkeling in the warm, transparent waters of the Caribbean near Corn Island, the deep, blue Pacific off San Juan del Sur, or the freshwater crater lake of the Apoyo Volcano, Nicaragua offers a variety of remarkable snorkeling and diving venues.

The waters surrounding Corn Island and Little Corn Island off the eastern coast of the country, shelter pristine reefs that harbor a vast diversity of both sea life and coral. Giant grouper, eagle rays, nurse sharks, sea turtles and enormous schools of African pompano are abundant in these rainbow-blue waters. Several tour operators and hotels offer excursions.

Pacific diving, which is for seasoned divers, showcases larger species, including formidable parrot fish, snappers and surgeonfish, moray eels, and depending on the season, dolphins.

Canopy Tours
Nicaragua’s unspoiled rainforests are home to 7% of the planet’s biodiversity.

A great way to observe this abundant flora and fauna is with a canopy tour. Visitors traverse between varying platforms ranging from 10 to 100 feet in the air, using high-climbing techniques and equipment.

It offers an escape from the “real world” atop treetop perches surrounded by vistas of Nicaragua’s majestic volcanoes and a melodious symphony presented by native jungle birds. Mombotour offers such a tour from the Mombacho Volcano (located 9 miles south of Granada), which culminates with a 70-foot rappel from a 250 year-old Ceibon tree.

Canopy adventures can be experienced around the country in a variety of environments and settings, whether taking an exhilarating ride through rainforests, coasting over lakes, rivers, lagoons or flying high above coffee plantations.

Surfing
The beaches of Nicaragua, especially those on the country’s Pacific coast, are known for impressive surf and unexploited beauty.

The most popular destination for surfers from around the world is a 37-mile stretch of beaches called San Juan del Sur. This region, located on the southwest coast of the country, was a stop on Quicksilver’s The Crossing in 2003, a worldwide quest in search of “the perfect wave.”

Maderas, a secluded beach beloved by locals and visitors alike, is one of the surfing community’s best-kept secrets.

Sandboarding down the Cerro Negro
Climbing the Cerro Negro is not like climbing any other volcano in Nicaragua.

The volcano is only 400 meters high, but the ascent is steep and tough. There is no paved trail, merely a natural path along a rim that leads to the top. The ascent takes about one hour to the top, and although it requires some effort, the superb views are rewarding.

The absence of trees provides fantastic scenery, and upon reaching the top, visitors have a 360-degree view of the area.

One of the volcano’s slopes is too steep to climb, but consequently, it is great for a fast descent! Instead of large rocks, this side has volcanic sand, providing a great surface for running downhill. This thrilling experience takes less than ten minutes before reaching the bottom, but for the less athletic hikers it is also possible to walk more slowly, while enjoying the superb views. Alternatively, experienced snow- or sandboarders can use a wooden board to go downhill, much like snowboarding down a mountain, but without snow!

Sport Fishing
Sport fishing is truly one of Nicaragua’s greatest draws. With two oceans, gigantic lakes, multiple rivers and inviting lagoons, Nicaragua has something different to offer every fishing enthusiast.

The International Sports Fishing Tournament takes place each September on the San Juan River and on Ometepe Island, recognized as the world’s 10th largest island to be located in a freshwater lake. In addition, the first International Fishing Tournament took place May 2005 in the lush Solentíname archipelago near the Rió San Juan Region. Still undiscovered, over-fishing has not plagued Nicaragua as it has other nations, and so most bodies of water in and around the country still teem with sea life. Anglers can battle Blue, Black, or Striped Marlin on a Pacific excursion or look on in amazement while reeling in a 100-pound giant tarpon on the San Juan River. Lake Nicaragua (the second largest lake in Latin America) is considered one of the most interesting freshwater fishing spots in the world with bull sharks, “róbalos”, 30-pound snook and mammoth tarpon.

Hiking
Exploring the natural beauty of Nicaragua is something that should not be done in haste, so hiking provides a perfect pace to soak in every last sight, sound, and smell.

The Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve has multiple trails with specialized guides to help point out native vegetation, including hundreds of species of orchids. For the more adventurous, Nicaragua also has many active volcanoes which can be hiked, climbed and even skied. Situated in the northern, more temperate region of the country is Selva Negra, one of several coffee plantations in the area, where one can explore untouched rainforests while learning about the coffee-growing process.

For a more rigorous yet breathtaking outing, climb the two large volcanoes of Ometepe Island: Concepcion and Maderas.

Maderas features petroglyphs, waterfalls, and a beautiful lagoon in the volcano’s crater. Momotombo, one of the most challenging climbs in the country, provides spectacular panoramic views of its surroundings.

Extreme Adventure
A recent trend in extreme adventure is mountain biking and skiing down the side of the Cerro Negro Volcano, an active volcano just east of León. (Cerro Negro is also one of the youngest volcanoes on the planet.) While these extreme sports may carry some risks, for the daring, the adrenaline rush is just another part of the adventure. From exploring and hiking scenic surroundings, taking the plunge into un-chartered waters, to riding the ultimate wave or just pushing adventure to the extreme, Nicaragua offers a host of excellent options for the casual observer and the active participant.

Archaeology is a collaboration between history and anthropology as it rebuilds cultural sequences while discovering the cultural practices of the past. The key to these discoveries is the material culture artifacts representing past ‘fossilized ideas “of the practiced activities.

The material culture incorporates the functionality and stylistic information that may be related to ideological beliefs. Because one of the main sources of material culture comes from everyday life, most of archaeological research trying to rebuild the livelihoods of ordinary people.

Nicaragua was the debatable land between North and South America, among the Mayas and Aztecs on the one hand and Muyscas or Chibchas on the other, and as another severe factor, the wild Atlantic coast came occasionally to dispute the supremacy their more civilized but less bellicose neighbors.