TRAVELING SOLO IN NICARAGUA
If you’re planning to visit Nicaragua, get ready to discover one of the big surprises of Central America. A country that receives practically no tourism and has spectacular places to visit. From hiking volcanoes, diving in the Caribbean and surfing in the best spots of the Pacific Coast!
In this blog I’ll lead you through the most beautiful and unique places that you cannot miss in Nicaragua.
HOW TO GET THERE
The easiest and fastest way is flying directly to Managua airport, the capital of the country, but the cheapest and most common way for travelers is crossing the border from Costa Rica. There are direct buses from San Jose every day, and they last around 12 hours.
Only be prepared to stay for a long time at the border, since you'll have to wait for everyone to get their passport stamps and this might take a while. Also, in the border they’ll ask you some common questions, it's easy to go through it, just be patient & do not stress about the time that you’ll spend there.
SAN JUAN DEL SUR & OMETEPE
Only 40 minutes away from Peñas Blancas, the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, you’ll find one of the most touristic beaches in the country, San Juan del Sur. This quiet fishing village has become one of the main destinations on the country's Pacific coast. It’s a colorful place with a lively nightlife, as well as has a delicious gastronomy. Playa Maderas is one of the most beautiful beaches of Southern Nicaragua!
After the first beach stop, I continued my way to Rivas (30 minutes away), a city in southwestern Nicaragua where you can visit Lago Cocibolca, a freshwater lake in Nicaragua and the largest from Central America. It’s also known as “the sweet sea” and it has bull sharks living in it as many other fish. And it is the only lake in the world where there are sharks that have adapted to a freshwater ecosystem.
But that’s not the most impressive thing about Cocibolca. It actually has the world's largest island in a freshwater lake, Ometepe, with two volcanos on it and one of them is active! Yes, you got it, it’s a unique place in the world.
Ometepe island is perfect to discover by a scooter (you can rent it in Rivas and bring it with you in the ferry, it’s super cheap and easy). Pure nature, beautiful sunsets & island vibes in the middle of a lake. Trust me, you can’t miss it. And make sure you stop at El Pital, a vegan chocolate paradise that has the most delicious chocolate treats!
POPOYO & GRANADA
Only one hour away from Rivas, if you are called by the sea as much as I am, stop at Popoyo, a perfect place to chill & enjoy surfing! They have the “Beginners Bay”, perfect for the new ones, and Popoyo beach, an amazing spot to catch some good waves.
From Popoyo I drove to Granada by motorbike. It took me around 3 hours, but it will be faster by car. Granada is probably the most beautiful city in Nicaragua. Colonial city, colorful and full of restaurants and cafes. It’s known as “the Great Sultana” for being at the foot of Mombacho Volcano. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, karaokes and dancing clubs.
Managua is less than one hour drive from Granada. But as I am not a city person, I skipped the largest city in the country (and I haven’t heard of any recommendations at all for Managua, so check before you go if the trip it’s worth it).
LEON & APOSENTILLO
I made my way to Northern Nicaragua instead. If adventure is for you go to León, the second largest city in Nicaragua, will be your place. Known for its Volcanoes, you can sleep next to the crater or descend from the top of Cerro Negro, the only volcano in the world where you can do sand boarding!
Cerro Negro it’s 728 meters high and there are two different ways to descend: sandboarding (standing on the board as if you were snowboarding) or sitting on the board as if it were a sled. The descent is a lot of fun, as you slide down the slope of the volcano in less than 3 minutes!
A little bit north you’ll find one of the best surfing spots in Northern Nicaragua, Aserradores. The wave is known as "The Boom", it is popular for its high peaks and for being hollow. With a short boat ride you can also reach an island that has two more breaks that guarantee optimal surfing conditions. But there are other surfing spots more mellow and perfect for beginners, such as Nahualapa or Jiquilillo beach.
CORN ISLAND
And last but not least, the paradise in the middle of the Caribbean. White sand beaches, turquoise water and warm climate. Corn Island is divided into two small islands (little & big corn island) with a total area of only nine square kilometers. The smallest of the two is so small that she doesn't even have cars! Corn Island can be reached by plane from Managua (fastest) or by sea from Bluefields. One of the biggest attractions of the island is diving (or snorkeling if you don’t dive).
So, as you can see Nicaragua has a lot to discover. What are you waiting for to plan your trip?
And if you ever do so, don’t forget to visit us here at Still Salty Escape for some good waves & breathtaking sunsets views!
See you soon, amigos!