Travel Blog: Nicaragua
With many countries closing their borders to stop the spread of COVID-19, I couldn’t help thinking about countries that rely on tourism and how they may be suffering right now. This got me thinking about my trip last year to Nicaragua.
Already a country whose tourism industry was struggling as a result of a political crisis in 2018, I can’t imagine how Nicaragua is holding up right now.
Despite the safety concerns we heard about, my boyfriend and I decided to travel to Nicaragua last February and I am happy we did. Nicaragua is a beautiful country full of natural wonders and we were met by so many kind and welcoming people. At no point during our trip did we feel unsafe. Quite the opposite actually. Everywhere we travelled, we bumped into locals and other tourists eager to show us around, take us for dinner, or just chat.
The only thing that struck us about this charming country: it’s practically a ghost town.
Following Nicaragua’s political crises, 80% of hotels and resorts had to close as people were and still are hesitant to travel there - meaning this country, that is very obviously set up to receive tourists, is abandoned and a sense of defeat is palpable on their restaurant, bar, and hostel filled streets.
So with all of that being said, I have decided to write about my trip to Nicaragua last year, hopefully inspiring you to consider travelling there once this pandemic is over.
GRANADA
Our trip began in Granada, Nicaragua’s oldest town. A colourful city full of culture, you can spend hours (as we did) just walking the cobblestone streets and exploring the city’s historic churches and vibrant marketplaces.
Where we stayed: Hostal Los Octavianos
This hostel, with a garden and shared lounge, offers free breakfast, airport pick up, and a 24-hour front desk. The staff were all very friendly and helpful in organizing trips and activities, even personally driving us and accompanying us on a couple of excursions. We were also taken out for dinner on our last night by the owner and one of the staff members who had become like a friend to us. This hostel is walking distance to most of the sights and attractions in the city.
Things to do:
Check out the colourful Colonial buildings
Hang out in Parque Square, the main square in the city
Visit the city’s lovely churches
Eat local cuisine
Soak in the best views in the city from the Bell Tower at Iglesia La Merced
Take a boat tour to one of the islands
Catch the sunset from a volcano
Highlight of our trip: Spending the day at Chocomuseo
Besides getting to enjoy all the chocolate of course and picking out souvenirs, for a small fee, we also were able to spend the day relaxing in the sun at the pool/garden, a part of the museum’s attached hotel.
OMETEPE
After our time in Granada, we took a ferry to Nicaragua’s impressive island: Ometepe. Known for its twin volcanic peaks, you can get lost in Ometepe’s many natural trails. Most of our days here were spent riding around on a motorcycle and taking in the sights.
Where we stayed: Selvista Guesthouses
Selvista is an eco-conscious retreat and tropical permaculture farmstay. Selvista is committed to minimal waste, natural agricultural practices and most of the food grown on the farm is available for use. Every morning, a free breakfast is offered made up of the fresh farm fruits. We stayed in The Jungle House and were blown away by the volcano views right off of our own little treehouse in the jungle.
Things to do:
Visit the natural springs of La Ojo de Agua
Hike up to San Ramon Waterfall
Watch a sunset from one of the many beaches
Browse through a beachside market.
Highlight of our trip: Hiking up one of the volcanos
It was originally our plan to hike both volcanoes during our time there. However, I got sick, so we ended up hiking the smaller of the two - Maderas. About 8 hours to the top and back down, we packed snacks and water for the day and set out with a tour guide. On the top of the volcano there is a lake where we took a break to have lunch.
SAN JUAN DEL SUR
Our trip ended in San Juan Del Sur, a surfing beach town. Embracing the chill culture of the town, we spent most of our time lounging on the beach and admiring the numerous cliffside villas overlooking the ocean.
Where we stayed: Cloud 9 SJDS
Cloud 9 SJDS is an intimate boutique property attracting a younger crowd. Also offering free breakfast and friendly staff, our favourite things about this hostel were the courtyard garden and unique and vibrant art. Each room features different murals and quotes done by various artists.
Things to do:
Spend the day surfing
Drink cocktails by the beach
Do a pub crawl
Highlight of our trip: Watching the sunset from The Christ of the Mercy statue
San Juan Del Sur’s Christ of Mercy statue is one of the tallest Jesus statues in the world and at the end of each day, people gather at this notable monument to watch the sunset over the water. The evening we went, tourists from all over the world were gathered side by side singing songs in a moment that can only be described as magical.
