My wife and I ( late fifties but fit and still a bit adventurous) visited Ecuador last spring. We spent a couple of weeks at Puerto Lopez and a couple of weeks in Vilcabamba and finished up our trip in Cuenca. We loved the trip very much and are planning another trip south in 2016. Time frame yet to be determined. Our Ecuador trip was done in May and we found the climate to be very agreeable. For our next trip I am thinking that maybe Nicaragua would be a good place to explore. I had been thinking of San Juan Del Sur but it seems that perhaps that might not be appropriate. Another concern is that our Canadian currency has fallen even further behind the USD which will make our trip a little more expensive. Has anyone in our demographic spent considerable time in both countries?? Sometimes I feel that we should just stick with what we enjoyed last year in Ecuador. We did enjoy the destinations, the people and the food. We both have limited spanish. Thanks
Nicaragua will be very hot in May, especially in the lowlands, Leon and Granada, not sure if that's what your looking for, you can get out of the heat around Esteli and Matagalpa. Don't think SJDS would appeal to you, it's a dump, IMO. It is a cheap country.
Have you looked at Guatemala, kind of sounds more what your looking for based on above.
I love both countries a lot. Nicaragua is my favorite country in CA. I think you'd find it considerably easier than Ecuador to visit, just because the transport distances are so much shorter. If you go in May, that would be rainy season. But rainy season in CA isn't really something to be avoided. It just means a thunderstorm is likely sometime each day. Then lots of sunshine when it's not raining. Rainy season is May-October, so if you visit March-April, likely no rain.
You'll find the high mountains in Nicaragua to be a lot greener than the barren highlands in Ecuador. And Granada is just as pretty a colonial city as Cuenca. I think both countries cost about the same, though the public transport in Ecuador is definitely cheaper.
And everyone on this forum will tell you to avoid SJDS. I agree. The better beaches for Nicaragua are further north at Las Penitas and Jiquillillo. Though if you want hoards of gringos and higher prices, SJDS is perfect for that.
I think you would enjoy Nicaragua. No sense in returning to the same place if there are others to explore. Granada is nice with many available day trips. Ometepe may appeal to you. SJDS is just not that appealing though it is easy to get to and worth a nite. There are many beaches along the coast of the Pacific but SJDS is the most populated and Gringo oriented. There are also the Corn Islands in the Caribbean for something totally different. The mountains around Maltigalpa, Esteli are cooler. You can travel fairly cheaply here ans stay at nice places. Hey, if you don't like it, go back to Ecuador next time. There is just so much to see. I don't see why you would go back to the same place.
Nicaragua is one of the hottest countries I have been to, at least Managua, Granada, Massaya, SJDS, and even Ometepe, though Ometepe has a nice lake breeze. You might want to head north and higher elevations for cooler temps, cause the south is a downright hot, period.
Head to Guatemala as another good option, or Costa Rica's mountains...
Adventure Travel to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Thailand, Burma, China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hawaii and USA National Parks.
Thanks to everyone for your comments, sounds like Nicaragua will be in my sights for 2016.
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Hi kickinmule - I don't think you'll regret your decision. Like #2, Nica is my favorite CA country, too for numerous reasons. As for when to go, I wouldn't let weather factor much into your plans. Every year, regional climate change and patterns have gotten more and more unpredictable for what defines rainy season...at least as previously known.
If and when you decide to return to SA, please consider Colombia! My time in Ecuador is limited, when measured against Nicaragua or Colombia, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it - even more so than Nica!
I like Nicaragua. But it does get hot. Two nice colonial towns. Some people prefer Granada because it is so pretty. Others prefer Leon because it seems more "real". Several day trips possible from Granada like volcano Mombacho (cloud forest), active volcano Masaya, Lake Apoyo and the white villages, Chocoyero-El Brujo (waterfalls, wildlife). Leon has churches and murals and museums, great street food. Near Leon there are amazing volcanoes like Cerro Negro and Telica. The beaches in that area are nice. Swimming is not always easy but you can play in the waves. Las Penitas is a small fishing village and Jiquilillo is a rural area with deserted beaches. Both places have a nature reserve where you can go kayaking. Ometepe Island is a special place : rural communities, two very different volcanoes, a natural spring pool, a nature reserve, waterfall, kayaking... The Rio San Juan has rainforest and wildlife and El Castillo, a quaint village with a fort. The northern highlands are mountainous and have cloud forest, birds, hiking opportunities, coffee, cowboys...
I really love Guatemala for the Maya culture, the scenery, the volcanoes so that would be another country to consider. Antigua is beautiful, Lake Atitlan amazing (volcanoes, Maya villages and markets), Xela has volcanoes, hiking, hot springs and more Maya villages and markets. Nebaj has great hiking and traditional villages. The stepped pools of Semuc Champey and the scenery around Lanquin. Tikal of course : impressive Maya ruins in the jungle. No great beaches. In the highlands nice spring like weather.
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