Volcanoes to climb, waves to
surf, tropical
rainforest to trek and colorful,
colonial cities to explore.
Nicaragua has no shortage of attractions. Yet the country remains undiscovered by the tourist hordes, with misconceptions still lingering in the popular consciousness.
Nicaragua has suffered its fair share of human and natural disasters in the past century: a brutal military dictatorship, civil war, earthquakes and the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. But after decades of turmoil, this former no-go area is at peace and is emerging as a potential
regional travel
hotspot.
While the tourist infrastructure is by no means completely developed, for some travelers this adds to Nicaragua’s
‘off the beaten track’ appeal. Add to this the country’s
friendly, welcoming people, outstanding scenery and beautiful colonial architecture, and the attraction is evident.
From the 1930s to the 1970s, Nicaraguans lived under a harsh dictatorship, first with General Anastasio Somoza Garcia as president, followed by his son, Luis Somoza Delbaye. A rebel movement, the
Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), overthrew the Somozas in 1979, but faced opposition throughout the 1980s in the form of American-backed ‘Contra’ guerrillas.
With the days of the Contra war now over, Nicaragua is slowly getting back on its feet and the
burgeoning tourist industry is offering a much needed boost to the country’s economy.
GeographyNicaragua borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific. In the north are the Isabella Mountains, while the country’s main feature in the southwest is Lake Nicaragua, 148km (92 miles) long and about 55km (34 miles) at its widest. The island of Ometepe is the largest of the 310 islands on the lake. These islands have a reputation for great beauty and are one of the country’s main tourist attractions. Lake Managua is situated to the northwest. Volcanoes, including the famous Momotombo, protrude from the surrounding lowlands northwest of the lakes. The country’s main rivers are the San Juan, the lower reaches of which form the border with Costa Rica, and the Rio Grande. The Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz) in the Caribbean are two small beautiful islands fringed with white coral and palms. They are very popular as holiday resorts with both Nicaraguans and tourists. The majority of Nicaragua’s population lives and works in the lowland between the Pacific and western shores of Lake Nicaragua, the southwestern shore of Lake Managua and the southwestern sides of the range of volcanoes. It is only in recent years that settlers have taken to coffee growing and cattle farming in the highlands around Matagalpa and Jinotega.
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