
8 Things That Shocked Me About Visiting Nicaragua For The First Time
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I’m simply over midway via a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my manner 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 superb (I’m penning this from the completely gorgeous Antiqua, Guatemala) one nation has stood out as an surprising spotlight.
I’m speaking about The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes itself, Nicaragua.

Being American, most of every little thing 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 in a position to spend a month traversing my manner throughout this gorgeous Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is situated in Central America and is understood 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 actually not the only country in Central America that continues to be a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that it’s best to add to your journey plans this yr.
On daily basis and each new place in Nicaragua was a pleasing shock, however listed here are 8 issues that basically shocked me:
The Security
Let’s begin with the one factor that involves thoughts once 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 mentioned, I wouldn’t stroll round many locations after darkish, however I wouldn’t do that in most international locations right this moment. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime charge than its rather more widespread 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 subsequent, you will notice this firsthand.
There may be numerous poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was largely within the countryside, and the cities didn’t appear to have too dangerous of a homeless drawback.
At the moment, Nicaragua has a stage 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Division, largely because of restricted healthcare availability and poor legislation enforcement points.
As a traveler, in case you keep in the principle vacationer areas akin to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, you have to be superb, though I might completely carry medical health insurance with you.

The Nature and Wildlife
For a rustic that is named the land of lakes and volcanoes, it certain has… effectively, numerous 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 exterior Granada, the place you possibly can chill and swim all day within the volcanic lagoon after which take a straightforward 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 possibly can see this!)

Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will notice lovely nature all over the place you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and every little thing in between will shock you.
I skilled most of this on the superb 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 large iguanas simply chillin’ across the garden.
Except for 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 chortle as a result of, sure, in fact there’s a paint retailer on each nook, as a result of each home on this nation is painted some neon shiny coloration, one after the subsequent.
The entire metropolis of Granada, for instance, appears to be like prefer it might 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 positively 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 form of traveler.
That being mentioned, I do admire a great seashore city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is precisely that and makes a straightforward begin for any journey via 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 would presumably get via, this seashore city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you will see 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, you will discover one other widespread seashore city of Las Penitas.
Throughout the nation, situated about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you will see the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey because of time, they’re positively on my radar for one more go to.

The Ease Of Journey
Earlier than this journey, I had numerous reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be uncertain if it might be straightforward to navigate the transportation and how you can attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I needed to incorporate.
Nonetheless, one of the best factor about Central America is that getting from level A to level B will be as straightforward or as low-cost as you make it.
Rooster busses join your entire sub-continent roughly and oftentimes price lower than a cup of espresso.

Subsequent up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, largely because of time restraints and being outdated and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.
The place any customer will probably wish to go in Nicaragua is effectively linked by transportation, and shuttle busses typically price lower than $30 an individual, with door-to-door drop-off.
It’s value noting that personal drivers will also be fairly low-cost right here as effectively, and I used them a number of occasions once I couldn’t make shuttle occasions because of work. The most effective tip is to get a card from one you want and hold utilizing them.

Undiscovered Gem
One factor that basically shocked me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as effectively) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers all over the place we went; sure, this nation isn’t a secret anymore, and folks do come right here.
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Nonetheless, what did shock me was the place these vacationers have been coming from. In my month of assembly folks, 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 attention-grabbing sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Each of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Additionally, with increasingly more flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to succeed in this fascinating vacation spot.
Moreover, Nicaraguans might 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 lovely 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 bear 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 Worth-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 dear than Nicaragua and El Salvador.
And but, simply how cheaply you would get by in Nicaragua nonetheless shocked me.
Now, some places positively price 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.
Nonetheless, it’s doable to search out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low-cost choices obtainable.
Except for lodging, every day bills akin to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally price lower than I anticipated.

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