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 approach as much as Mexico, a visit which I’m finishing in 5 months whereas working full-time on-line as a digital nomad.
Whereas each nation has been wonderful (I’m scripting 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 all the pieces 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 hearken to the misguided warnings and that I used to be capable of spend a month traversing my approach 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 @Go to 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 need to add to your journey plans this 12 months.
Day by day and each new place in Nicaragua was a nice shock, however listed here are 8 issues that basically shocked me:
The Security
Let’s begin with the one factor that involves thoughts while you first hear about touring in Nicaragua. Is it protected?
Whereas 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 nations right now. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime charge than its rather more standard 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 may be quite a lot of poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was principally within the countryside, and the cities didn’t appear to have too unhealthy of a homeless downside.
At the moment, Nicaragua has a stage 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Division, principally resulting from restricted healthcare availability and poor legislation enforcement points.
As a traveler, if you happen to keep in the principle vacationer areas akin to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, you need to be advantageous, though I might completely carry medical health insurance with you.
The Nature and Wildlife
For a rustic that is called the land of lakes and volcanoes, it certain has… nicely, quite a lot 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 may chill and swim all day within the volcanic lagoon after which take a simple hike as much as the highest of Masaya Volcano to see the sundown and the effervescent lava (one of many solely locations on this planet you may 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 all the pieces 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 big iguanas simply chillin’ across the garden.
Apart 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 Colours
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 ever seen the homes?!”
I needed to snicker as a result of, sure, after all there’s a paint retailer on each nook, as a result of each home on this nation is painted some neon vivid shade, one after the following.
The entire metropolis of Granada, for instance, seems to be prefer it may need been painted to be an Instagram backdrop, however nope. They’re 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 Seashores
Let me get this out of the way in which 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 admire a superb seashore city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is strictly that and makes a simple 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 might probably get by way of, this seashore city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you’ll find different smaller cities, akin to Playa Mardras and Playa El Coco, each good choices for a really quiet vibe. Within the northern a part of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, yow will discover one other standard seashore city of Las Penitas.
Throughout the nation, positioned about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you’ll find the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey resulting from time, they’re undoubtedly on my radar for one more go to.
The Ease Of Journey
Earlier than this journey, I had quite a lot of reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it will be simple to navigate the transportation and learn how to attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I wished to incorporate.
Nevertheless, one of the best factor about Central America is that getting from level A to level B could be as simple or as low-cost as you make it.
Hen busses join your complete sub-continent roughly and oftentimes value lower than a cup of espresso.
Subsequent up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, principally resulting from time restraints and being previous and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.
The place any customer will seemingly need to go in Nicaragua is nicely 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 can be fairly low-cost right here as nicely, and I used them just a few occasions after I couldn’t make shuttle occasions resulting from work. The very best tip is to get a card from one you want and preserve utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that basically shocked me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as nicely) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers all over the place we went; sure, this nation will not be a secret anymore, and other people do come right here.
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Nevertheless, what did shock me was the place these vacationers have been coming from. In my month of assembly individuals, 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 People would possibly nonetheless take into account Nicaragua not fascinating sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Each of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Additionally, with increasingly flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to succeed in this fascinating vacation spot.
Moreover, Nicaraguans may desperately use some extra vacationer {dollars} of their economic system, they usually deserve it.
The Historical past
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 wish to see some stunning 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 Value-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 expensive than Nicaragua and El Salvador.
And but, simply how cheaply you might get by in Nicaragua nonetheless shocked me.
Now, some places undoubtedly 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.
Nevertheless, it’s potential to seek out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low-cost choices out there.
Apart from lodging, every day bills akin to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally value lower than I anticipated.
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