In comparison to the rest of Latin America, Nicaragua travel is still an unknown destination. It is best compared to Costa Rica 30 years ago; a raw destination with huge potential and as such now is the time to go.
Whether it is a honeymoon in Nicaragua or just a Nicaragua vacation, the country has a lot to offer. San Juan del Sur is the best area for beaches and the new Mukul Resort, close to the border with Costa Rica has it all; private plunge pools, bungalows with ocean views and a long sweeping white beach.
Granada has always been the main area for tourism and has some of the best options with regards accommodation in the country. Leon is a beautiful colonial town in the west of the country and receives fewer visitors, but is well worth the effort of getting there. Lake Nicaragua and Ometepe Island with its twin volcanoes offers a range of activities from bike riding to hiking and kayaking and is easily linked with the nearby San Juan del Sur.
The south east of the country is less accessible, but worth the time and money to get there. The remote Solentiname Archipelago is home to Nicaraguan art and also offers some great wildlife opportunities. The Rio San Juan which creates the border with Costa Rica is still very much untouched. The Rio Indio lodge is on the Caribbean Sea and is a great place to go game fishing whilst the rustic Sabalos lodge is a unique place to stay and perfect for breaking up the 7 hour motor boat ride to the coast.
The Corn Islands in the Caribbean Sea are the best place to go snorkelling, though visibility can be an issue at times. The islands are a backwater where small towns and wooden huts are the norm. The beaches are excellent and superb for beach combing and forgetting everyday life.
If you want to see a country before it changes, then head to Nicaragua sooner rather than later. It won’t be long before its true potential is realised and a range of new, modern, boutique hotels start popping up all over the country and some of that unique authenticity is lost.
