Study
Courses
Most population centers have a Casa de Cultura (House of Culture) where you can enroll in all sorts of classes - painting, folkloric dance, makeup and hair care - dirt cheap, often for less than US$1 per class, or US$6 per month. Classes will almost certainly be conducted in Spanish, although in more touristy areas like Granada and San Juan de Sur there may well be someone who can help you in your native tongue.
Nicaragua is also a good place to learn Spanish, although it's a bit more expensive than Guatemala, which is a favorite among budget-minded backpacking students. Classes cost US$100 to US$120 for 20 hours of instruction at a respected school, and usually include study materials and field trips; homestays, with three meals daily, are arranged for US$60 per week. Prices tend to drop if you register for more than a week. Independent teachers will come to your hotel for US$5 per hour, and can also usually arrange homestays, if not field trips.
There are several schools in sunny San Juan del Sur, where you can also arrange surfing lessons, as well as in Granada, Laguna de Apoyo, León and Estelí.
