Introducing Nicaragua
Smoking Volcán Concepción and her almost perfect cinder cone rise from silvery, pure Lago de Nicaragua to pierce the cloudy sky. 'Land of Lakes and Volcanoes' indeed, you think, as the rolling waves of Cocibolca (an ancient indigenous name for this 'Sweet Sea') rock your suddenly tiny ferry into unspeakable admiration. For these symbols of the nation - wind over water, fire from the earth - convey the elemental significance of Nicaragua's most powerful passions, poetry (don't get them started, unless you want to) and revolution.
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If you climb Concepción you'll look out over gorgeous colonial Granada and her hundreds of tiny tropical isletas (islets), across the slender isthmus pockmarked with crater lakes to where the Pacific breaks hollow on sandy cove beaches. Beyond, red-and-black Volcán Momotombo towers above Lago de Managua - its counterpoint is Sandino's massive iron silhouette, conscience of the nation and solemn defining feature of the Managua skyline. Proud León also beckons with its churches and museums, while the cloud forests, frothing waterfalls and incredible coffee of cool, green Northern Nicaragua may tempt you upwards. Here, in the mountains and lakes, Central America's mightiest rivers begin their journey across the autonomous, indigenous-owned rolling hills of the Caribbean Coast, to the sea.
For visitors of a certain age, just the name Nicaragua - taken from a tribal chief of such wisdom and power that he may never fade from this nation's collective memory - evokes grainy footage of camouflage-clad guerrillas, punctuated by gunfire and a 1980s soundtrack. Despite having ended more than 15 years ago, leaving Nicaragua one of the safest countries in the Americas, the Contra War is too often our collective memory of the land of Nicarao.
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- Experience local living in Granada
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- ...or go on a 32-day adventure
Last updated: Jan 17, 2013
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Nicaragua
Things to do
- All things to do (446)
- Activities (90)
- Entertainment (58)
- Restaurants (126)
- Shopping (35)
- Sights (115)
- Tours (22)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Nicaragua
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1 Maribios Volcanic Chain
Five active volcanoes, all of them climbable, plus crater lakes, hot springs and, of course, volcano surfing
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2 León
The country's finest collection of churches and museums comes with volcano views and great nightlife
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3 Granada
The belle of the ball is this Spanish Colonial beauty; enjoy the architecture from a horse-drawn carriage, then explore her 365 tropical islets nearby
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4 Isla de Ometepe
Two volcanoes, one billowing streamers of ash that turn pale pink at sunset, rise from Lake Nicaragua to one beautiful island
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5 Río San Juan
Glide through the jungle, past Spanish fortresses and pirate havens, all the way to the Caribbean, and explore Solentiname's island art colony
Fast Facts about Nicaragua
- Visa
US$25 for citizens of 40 countries; US$7 entry (no visa needed) for everyone else
- Money
córdoba; US dollar widely used
- Area
129,494 sq km (largest in Central America)
- Population
5,465,100 (least densely populated in Central America)
- Capital
- Shoreline
1040km
- Phrases
Nica (Nicaraguan guys and gals); vos (you); tuanis (right on)
- Country Code
505
- Number of Animal Species
1400