Among seasoned travelers, Nicaragua is considered one of the world’s last frontiers and one of the few places in the Americas where it is possible to have a truly authentic and cultural vacation experience. Despite having lived through political turmoil and natural disasters, the Nicaraguans are a very warm people that are excited to share their culture and show the beauty of their country to its visitors. Some of the highlights worth visiting in Nicaragua are the colonial towns of Granada and Leon, volcanoes such as the Masaya and the Mombacho or Lake Nicaragua, one of the world’s largest fresh water lakes. One should not forget to mention the beautiful beaches along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and the cooler mountainous region in the center of the country.
Tourism is still very new in Nicaragua and after the first wave of backpackers -- mostly from Europe -- the country is becoming more and more popular with tourists looking for unique and authentic experiences with a focus on nature, culture and history. The most tourism attractions are found in the south of the country, just north of the Costa Rican border, which makes Nicaragua a popular extension for tourists visiting Costa Rica and more and more visitors to Costa Rica come on day excursions to the colonial towns of Granada and Masaya.
Quick Tips:
The question that most people ask is whether Nicaragua is a safe place to travel. Many of us have a very poor image of Nicaragua due to the news coverage of the civil war in the 1980s and the natural disasters in the late 1990s. However, today Nicaragua can look back at almost 15 years of democratically elected governments and the political situation is very stable. Poverty is one of the nation’s biggest challenges and tourism could be one important source of employment and economic development. The hope is that the tourism development happens in a sustainable way that ensures that everybody wins and both human and natural resources are respected.
Best Way To Get Around:
Access to Nicaragua is possible by International carriers to the Managua International Airport served by international airlines like American, Continental, Iberia and Grupo Taca. Another way of arriving to Nicaragua is through the Liberia International Airport in northern Costa Rica (just one hour from the border) that is now served by American, Continental, US Airways, Delta, and various charter airlines. To travel to Nicaragua from Liberia one can take a local flight on Nature Air to Granada or cross the border near Penas Blancas and use taxis or rental cars as mode of transportation.