This past winter I opted for an escape to Nicaragua. I wasn’t sure what to expect and to be honest, I can’t remember what initially attracted me to the country other than it being a new destination (and one accessible with my reward miles). I most certainly wanted to explore some volcanoes, and it’s well known that Nicaragua is much cheaper to travel than neighboring Costa Rica. I originally had a few days at the end of my trip that involved crossing the border into Costa Rica but ended up having such a great time in Nica, I made a last minute decision to stay longer and forgo the Costa Rican part of the plan. Isn’t spontaneity the best?
Over 11 days I covered a good amount of territory (primarily spending time in 4 locations) and had a great time. Here’s a short list of some of the many things to love about this Central American country:
1. Gallo pinto. The rice and bean dish is a Nicaraguan staple and eaten almost daily. It’s typically served with breakfast, which I initially found odd, but soon decided was delicious. The rice is fried, often with onion and peppers, and mixed with red beans boiled with garlic. I doused mine in Don Julio hot sauce and was sure to grab a bottle to bring home. I plan on recreating this yummy dish in own kitchen ASAP!
2. The colors of Granada. Many consider this colorful, colonial town to be a must-see for visitors to Nicaragua. It’s clean, charming, and a good first stop as it’s just south of Managua (the capital and location of the international airport). I enjoyed people-watching a Christmas parade from Parque Central, eating a nice dinner at Bocadillo’s, and climbing to the top of my favorite cathedral, Iglesia de Merced for sunset. Only one day is needed here but a second or third could be worth it if you plan to visit Laguna de Apoyo or the Masada markets.
3. Great weather! I experienced a few sprinkles on Ometepe Island (resulting in rainbows) but otherwise the weather was sunny and hot… the perfect escape from a terribly cold winter back in the States. Nicaragua’s dry season runs from November to April, and its close proximity to the equator makes for a warm, tropical climate year round.
4. Wildlife galore. Happiness is little piglets running through the street. Wild horses and donkey sightings become second nature, dogs and cats skirt around looking for handouts and scratches, and butterflies flit freely. If you’re lucky you’ll spot howler monkeys. I saw most of these creatures, and more, in the wild on Ometepe Island.
5. Volcanoes. Nicaragua is home to 19 active volcanoes… impressive! Volcanoes are a topography I’m entirely unfamiliar with. They are powerful, scary, and totally different one from another. The feeling of approaching an active volcano by ferry, as I did approaching Ometepe Island, is one that I’m unable to explain.
6. The sunsets. At home I face south with a tall building in front of where I live, and being in a city, I rarely get unobstructed sunset views. I was grateful to view a couple of beautiful ones in Nica, with rainbow colors painted across expansive sky.
7. Hiking. As someone who loves hiking but doesn’t do enough of it, I certainly got my fix in Nicaragua. I hiked Maderas volcano on Ometepe Island, and Cerro Negro volcano outside of Leon. I highly encourage these treks, for both the challenge and the views.
8. Watersports. I kayaked around Lake Nicaragua and also took my first ever surf lesson at Playa Remanzo! Couldn’t believe that I got up on the board and rode several waves. There’s plenty of water fun to be had in Nica.
9. Parties. Looking for a laid-back, party surf town? San Juan Del Sur is your spot. In fact, I was having so much fun I extended my pre-planned two nights into four, despite the town being sold out for New Years Eve. I had a blast with some new friends there, went to a house party, bar hopped, and saw an impressive (rumored European) DJ in action. New Years Eve involved a dance stage over the beach and my flip flops being washed away by the ocean. Yes, this makes two years in a row of NYE shoe loss.
10. Affordability. I used earned reward miles to fly to Nicaragua, so the international departure was covered. For my return, while I paid for a one-way flight from Managua to Miami, a friend hooked me up with a Miami-Raleigh buddy pass home (on standby) which saved me some money. In Nicaragua, public transportation is extremely cheap if you take chicken buses – don’t worry, there’s no poultry involved! Hostels are super inexpensive, as well. On the low end I paid $8 for a night, and $25 on the high end, as it was right around New Years. Breakfast or lunch can be as little as $3-$5 and a nice dinner with wine will run you $10-$13.
My final itinerary was as follows:
Day 1: Arrive in Managua at night and taxi to Granada (just under 1 hour). Stay two nights at the Chocolate Mansion hotel ($177 total), which I highly recommend.
Day 2: Explore Granada. Food, cathedrals, chocolate massage…
Day 3: Travel to Ometepe. Stay 3 nights at La Urraca Loca hostel ($24 total). Town Christmas party.
Day 4: Ometepe. Biking, natural swimming hole.
Day 5: Ometepe. Hike Maderas.
Day 6: Travel to San Juan Del Sur (SJDS). Three nights at Coconut Surf Lodge ($45 total) and one very loud night at Hostel Pachamama ($25).
Day 7: SJDS. Hike to Jesus statue, local beach.
Day 8: SJDS. Surfing at Playa Remanzo.
Day 9: SJDS. Beach time at Playa Maderas, New Years celebrations.
Day 10: Travel to Leon. One night at Blue Hat Hostel ($8/night).
Day 11: Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro. Leave Leon for Managua at midnight for red-eye home.
Conclusion? Totally recommend Nicaragua for a vacation! You can do it on its own or combine it with Costa Rica, as I’d originally intended. You can also take day trips across the border (i.e. Tamarindo or Costa Rica to Ometepe Island). Go check out this gem before other tourists catch on!
