Highlights of Nicaragua
- Capture stunning photographs in Leon
- Leon is a great place for photography, especially in the evenings when the light is beautifully reflected off the colonial buildings.
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- Explore the scenic city of Granada
- A highlight of any trip to Nicaragua, this beautiful colonial city has some stunning architecture and a rich history. The lakeside location adds to Granada's appeal and the nearby Mombacho Volcano helps to create a dramatic backdrop.
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- Journey to the remote wildnerness of Rio San Juan
- Rio San Juan is a remote region of Nicaragua ideal for those seeking an authentic and adventurous experience. The river town of El Castillo has a long colourful history and welcoming inhabitants while the pristine expanse of the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve is wonderful for wildlife enthusiasts.
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- Learn about Nicaragua's violent history at Managua
- Whilst it might not be the most aesthetically-pleasing city in Nicaragua, Managua instead offers interesting and moving sights that help to provide a better understanding of the country's turbulent past.
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- See unique arts and crafts on the Solentiname Islands
- The Solentiname Islands are known for the talented families of artisans who live there and who boast a proud history of producing beautiful paintings and balsa wood crafts. The islands are also extremely beautiful, peaceful and are good for wildlife and for those seeking total seclusion.
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- Snorkel the clear waters of the Corn Islands
- Located off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands provide some stunning marine life and are an idyllic spot for snorkelling or scuba diving.
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- Take time to relax on Ometepe Island
- Ometepe Island is one of Nicaragua’s most beautiful places and still mostly untouched. Lodgings are fairly basic, but the location makes it well worth the effort.
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- Visit the coffee plantations at Matagalpa
- A lesser visited part of Nicaragua, the beauiful region around Matagalpa has some of the world's finest coffee plantations, not to mention stunning natural scenery.
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Our country specialists have travelled the length and breadth of Nicaragua - here are a few of their favourite things to do
After years of political instability Nicaragua has emerged to become one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries in Central America.
Diversity
Committed to welcoming visitors the Nicaraguans are proud of their country and rightly so: there are some fantastic places to visit including traditional villages, old Spanish colonial cities, fertile hills, secluded quiet beaches and a whole string of active volcanoes and deep volcanic crater lakes.
Natural highlights
There are three main regions: the Pacific region is made up of volcanoes, lakes, beaches and mangrove swamps, the central region contains mountains, rivers and farm land, and the Caribbean region comprises rainforest, mangroves, marine lagoons and coral reefs. For many visitors the most striking feature is the amazing inland sea of Lake Nicaragua with Ometepe, the world’s largest lake island, at its heart.
Authentic and rewarding
Due to its turbulent history Nicaragua is one of the least visited countries in Central America, which has helped preserve its authenticity and adds to its fascination and charm. It is certainly a country for the more adventurous simply because its infrastructure for visitors is relatively undeveloped, however, this is part of its appeal and those willing to make the effort will be all the more rewarded by what they find.
Popular Places to visit in Nicaragua
Granada, located 46 kilometres south of Managua, sits on the shores of the magnificent Lake Nicaragua in the shadow of the imposing Mombacho volcano.
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León was once the main political, cultural and religious centre of Nicaragua and is one of the oldest colonial cities in Central America.
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Ravaged by decades of war, fire, earthquakes and hurricanes, it is a credit to the Nicaraguan people that Managua still stands today.
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Lying between Managua and Granada, Masaya Volcano National Park is a fascinating place to visit, en route between the two cities or as a day trip from either one.
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Rising proudly from the waters of Lake Nicaragua, Ometepe Island is made up of two magnificent volcanic cones and is a more than impressive sight as you gaze across to its shores.
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The impressive Rio San Juan flows from the town of San Carlos on Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean coast and was used as a natural canal between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for centuries, giving it immense commercial importance and a turbulent and fascinating history.
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The friendly fishing town of San Juan del Sur is located on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, a two hour drive south of Granada, beautifully set on a horse-shoe bay.
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An idyllic archipelago in the southern part of Lake Nicaragua, the Solentinames are made up of four large islands covered in luxuriant tropical vegetation and a scattering of smaller uninhabited islets which are a haven for birdlife.
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Located roughly 45 miles off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands are comprised of two small atolls ringed by palm trees and white sandy beaches.
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Flight time
Approx. 13 hours (Via USA or Europe)
When To Go
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