Direct decendants of Nicaragua

The Caribbean coast was dominated by the British from the 1500s until the mid 1800s and most people here speak English. The atmosphere is more Carribean than Latin American: Reggae is the music you will hear in every bar.

Unfortunately Bluefields suffered almost complete destruction by Hurricane Joan in 1988; none of the nice colonial structures stand any more. The beautiful tropical setting and unique culture remain however.

Situated on the San Juan river which markes the border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, El Castillo is a little out of the way and is reached by boat from San Carlos, situated where the San Juan river and Lake Nicaragua meet.

El Castillo itself is a fort with great historical importance as it was the last line of defence against enemy armies and pirates wanting to raid Granada. It is a pleasant town with a few basic accomodation options and small museum in the fort itself.

One of the most unsuccesful rebuilds is the new cathedral with its pink and purple dome architecture. What remains of the city’s early colonial architecture is most interesting to the visitor however.

That's why the Goverment of Nicaragua has implemented a new program to promote other very atractive destinations in Nicaragua, such as SAN JUAN DEL SUR shown in the picture on the right side of this window.

Escape commercialism, put Nicaragua in your adventure list today.

In Masaya you can find two markets. One of them you can buy everything from live poultry to clothes and fast-food. The other one, called the old market, is a bit calmer and much more touristy. There you can buy all kinds of arts and crafts from Nicaragua and surrounding coutries.

If  you want to get a bit more active, and off the market crowd, onthe side of town you see the small lake Masaya, and out in the distance you will see the Mayasa Volcano.  You shold  head out to the park where the Masaya Volcano is located.  It is not far from town...the views are very nice, and you will get to see an active volcano...  you can see the warm fumes coming out of it as well as the lush vegetation in the area. 

 A little further south, on the way to Granada, visit the town of Santa Catarina.   You should check out their lake...  it is actually the volcanic crater filled with water...the view is breathtaking... be sure to bring your camera along.     

Then you can head toward Granada, on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. This one is a colonial city.... very scenic.    Check out the Granada section for more information.

Masachapa is located on the Pacific coast less than an hour from the International airport in Managua.  This quiet unique fishing village would be a great way to start a Nica vacation.  There are some very nice clean hotels and restraunts, directely on the beach. one of the most famous would be Hotel Summer, the food is great and the rooms are comfortable, another great place to stay would be Casa LaSasso this hotel/hostel is located directly infront of the Pozo Azul (blue water hole) great for snorkeling and swimming. 

Masachapa also is famous for it's rock pools that are created by the rock formation on the ocean floor when the tide goes out.  These are great for children because they are not deep at all.  When it comes to having a beer with the locals The Triangle Bar is recomended. The locals are very nice and peaceful people.

Some of the activities that are offered on the beach would be horse back/atv rentals/snorkelling/fishing/surfing/kayak/beach vollyball.

It truly is a great place for a family vacation or even the curious backpackers and surfers.

Besides that, you’ll have the chance to see nature at it’s best: forests, fishes and (rare) birds. San Juan is also known for its turtle refuge sanctuary and this is the place where you can spot both enormous and tiny (endangered) sea turtles.

Restaurants and bars dot the San Juan del Sur beachfront and are all quite pleasent.  The main expatriat hangout was Ricardo's  on the beach.  A new bar, Coquito, next to where Ricardo´s used to be offers live music on saturdays and an always enjoyable open mic night on thursdays. the food and beer there is also the cheapest on the beach. Iguana bar has loud music at night and is usualy full, for the latenight partiers there are two discos in town, Jungle Rooms is the funkier of the two situated in an old victorian style beach house on the beach road, a bit farther down is the crazy crab, newly renovated in a local style under a Palapa right on the beach!

SanJuansurf.com

Did you know Nicaragua has one of the biggest lakes in Latin America? Lake Nicaragua, Lago de Nicaragua in Spanish or the natives call it Cocibolca ``The Sweat Sea``, is the second biggest lake in Latin America behind Lake Titicaca. Lago De Nicaragua was part of the Pacific Ocean , but Volcanic activity made the land rise forming Lake Nicaragua. The freshwater of Lake Nicaragua contains fish usally associated with saltwater, including tuna and sharks, which have adapted to the environmental change. Lake Nicaragua has the only species of freshwater sharks in the whole world. The last was seen a few years ago, and the people think they are living in the deep water near Solentiname only.

Lake Nicaragua is 100 miles long and up to 45 miles wide, also reaches a depth of 84 feet. Lago De Nicaragua has several large islands, the largest is isla de Ometepe which has several small volcanoes rising from its surface.

Nestled deep in the Caribbean, Granada , Nicaragua , features a wide range of hotels, catering to the shoestring budget traveler, the traveler with a moderate budget, and the traveler wanting to sleep in luxury. The following lists World 66’s top picks:

Budget ($10-$35)

Oasis Backpacker’s Hostel

Students and families alike love Oasis! You can’t go wrong with Oasis Backpacker’s Hostel in Granada , a luxurious yet relaxing environment for travelers on the cheap.  Set in a recently and stylishly restored traditional building, Oasis is fully equipped with modern conveniences, including free wi-fi internet, fax, patio with pool table, roof top terrace with sun chairs, fully-stocked bar, and BBQ for guest use. Oasis’ comfortable, soft beds are furnished with high quality sheets, blankets and pillows. Travel guidebooks, including Fodor’s, have consistently rated Oasis among one of the best hostels worldwide.

Moderate ($40-$81)

Hotel Granada

Close to Lake Nicaragua and just four blocks away from the city center, Hotel Granada is the biggest and oldest hotels in the city, featuring comfortable rooms with A/C, private bathroom, and cable TV.  In addition to its renowned conference room hosting up to 100 guests, Hotel Granada has also boasts a small but tasty coffee shop selling locally-grown beans. The hotel’s restaurant features an array of local and international cuisine, including wine, beer, and a full bar.

Hotel Kekoldi

Located right in the heart of the city and only three blocks away from Granada Park , Hotel Kekoldi de Granada, built in 1524 with its beautiful architecture and private garden, is consistently a surprise to travelers. Kekoldi has 12 gorgeous, spacious rooms, featuring hot water, A/C, satellite TV, and internet. The best part?   Buffet style meals included to satisfy even the most picky eater.

Top Shelf ($85 +)

Casa Le Merced

Casa La Merced, a gorgeous colonial style home built hundreds of years ago in Granada ’s historical conservancy and charming city. Located just in front of the great Merced church, this snazzy hotel will not disappoint the rich traveler. Rooms feature Wi-fi, A/C, mini-bar, TV, queen sized beds, and central heating. As one Yahoo Travel reviewer writes: “Casa la Merced is a spectacular Hotel. I felt as if I was back in time and yet, having all the comforts of being at home away from home. It is located in the heart of Granada and across one of the most beautiful churches. Its employees are extremely helpful and caring. I will go back again to Casa la Merced .”

What do to?

León city, has

1) Many churches and important colonial buildings.

2) Happy Fun volcano: "Cerro Negro" for Sandboard. Hiking in Telica Volcano

3) Poneloya Beach. Juan Venado Island

Big waves

León Viejo, one of the oldest Spanish colonial settlements in the Americas, is located in the department of León in North-Western Nicaragua at the shore of lake Managua (Xolotlán) and the Momotombo volcano. This site was added to the World Cultural Heritage list in December 2000.

In 1524 a group of Spaniards, led by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, landed on the west coast of Nicaragua and made their way to the native community of Imabite (which is now the village of Puerto Momotombo and the location of the León Viejo ruins). The Spaniards decided to construct a settlement on this site due to its strategic location at the lake and its proximity to numerous indigenous settlements where cheap labour forces could be obtained.

But the town was very hot and overrun and so by the year 1570 the majority of the inhabitants had already moved to Subtiava, the spot of present-day León. This also led to a decline in the availability of labour. Another important factor for the abandonment of the site were the regular eruptions of the Momotombo volcano. In 1610, only 86 years after its foundation, León Viejo was completely abandoned.

The abandonment undoubtedly is responsible for the town's excellent state of preservation. In the last few years archaeological interest in the site has increased significantly and there are great opportunities for future research and excavations.

Visitors to the ruins can expect to find the original settlement structure. The majority of the remains, such as the church and the governer's house, are located along the main avenue that leads west from the main plaza. On the plaza the statue of Hernández de Córdoba, the founder of León Viejo, can be found. At the end of the Avenue the convent and the Iglesia de la Merced can be found. Walking up a hill, one can reach the place where once the fortress was located.