After you’ve spent a sufficient amount of time admiring Mombacho Volcano from the islets, it’s time to get a closer view. Hiking up the volcano.
Technically Mombacho is a dormant volcano, and it is has 4 craters, with a summit of approximately 1200 meters. One of the neatest things about the summit is that due to the height and location of volcano, the resulting environment is a cloud forest.
Cloud forests are generally tropical or subtropical evergreen-moist mountain top forests with a high incidences of low-level cloud cover. Because of the moisture and make-up of the forest, they are often covered with moss, both on the ground and on the vegetation.
For some beautiful adventure and action packed travel in Nicaragua, head to the islets of Granada. If you are more into relaxing, take a boat, but if you want to get your heart pumping then rent a kayak!
Head down to the Marina Cocibolca, where you can find plenty of rental and tour agencies. At NicarAgua Dulce you can choose between kayaks and electric boats. and go with or without a guide.
Make sure you bring a camera, and hire the guide (they only cost $5 an hour!). They make sure you see all the best sites. With NicarAgua Dulce you have the choice of going to a small private island (Zopango Island in Asese Bay) where you can eat fresh Read more
As the US pinches pennies, it is being felt around the world, however in some areas, tourism is actually increasing! Nicaragua is one of those places, probably because the costs associated with a trip to Nicaragua are less than that of other Central America or Caribbean Island prices. What hurt Nicaragua in the past is now making it one of the more attractive vacation spots.
Take Playa Roca Beach Hotel in Las Penitas, Leon in Northern Nicaragua for example. They have seen a 42% increase in visitors over last year! That is incredible when overall the world is in recession. At Playa Roca you can still get a room on the beach with a view of the ocean for a Read more
The food at Las Nogueras in Managua is known for being some of the best in Central America. The main menu items represent a variety of international cuisine with a Spanish style influence. The atmosphere is great, especially on the outdoor patio, which is almost always full (call ahead if you like). Even if you get stuck inside the food is worth it.
The service is good as far as the waiters being attentive and accomodating. The only complaint that has registered is that sometimes there are errors on the bill (additional items, a double tip) and so on. Make sure you keep your guard up when it comes to money and dishes. Waiters often recommend the more expensive items, Read more
Selva Negra is the perfect place to do some hiking as me and my friends found without really trying. We were enjoying a nice pleasant afternoon hiking in the woods, with a fairly large group. We had decided to wander around a bit, enjoying the rain forest and the beautiful flora and fauna.
The Indiana Jones/Romantic Passage was a nice trail that everyone enjoyed. We were told that it has its two names for its two different sides; it is an adventurous trail, hence the Indiana Jones name, and when it rains, it gets quite slippery, causing you to have to lean on someone for help. (We were there when it was dry, so I guess we enjoyed the adventurous Read more
The Huellas de Acahualinca, the ancient footprints, are one of the most interesting things you can see in Managua. This historical site has attracted attention since is was uncovered by workers quarrying in the area. The prints were buried under more than 12 feet of compacted volcanic material. The Huellas de Acahualinca originally from researchers of ancient cultures, and now from groups of tourists looking to see into Nicaragua’s past.
Truly a testament to time, the footprints, which were discovered in 1874, are estimated to be between 6000 and 7000 years old. The footprints were made by a group of 12 different individuals that included men, women and children. The group was traveling together; the prints all lead in one Read more
For a fun day trip from Managua head to Laguna de Xiloá, also called the Jiloa Lagoon, a crater lake located about 20 km Northeast of Managua. The water is clean and clear, and perfect for swimming.
If you want to make a day out of it, you can either pack a picnic lunch, or buy food from the vendors walking around selling things to eat. When the wind is good, in addition to swimming you can enjoy windsurfing and kiteboarding. There are also arrangements for scuba diving excursions in the Laguna de Xiloá.
To get to Laguna de Xiloá in a car, take the highway to León, pass the Ciudad Sandino and look for the Read more
Charly’s Bar and Restaurant is a great little place to dine if you are looking for something different than the traditional gallo pinto served up at local Nicaraguan restaurants. The bar is the brainchild of German born Charly Steinmaier who lives in Grenada with his wife and daughter.
Charly’s opened in 1995 and serves up some pretty good German sausages and brochettes. (For those of you who can’t get enough of the gallo pinto, no need to worry, traditional fares are serves up here as well.) There’s everything from gouda to goulash, and if it’s not on the menu, you can ask if its available; the chef is pretty flexible.
For an adults only night out you in Managua, you might want to try the Barceló Playa Montelimar Casino. The casino features 107 gaming machines and 6 table games, where you can play Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, and more. You can come and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants, or drinks at one of the bars.
During the day the Montelimar Resort has even more to offer. This 401 room hotel sits surrounded by sprawling grounds just begging to be explored. The resort offers ATV rentals, horseback riding, mini-golf, chess, tennis, ping pong and more! There is even a little zoo and a duck pond! The main pool is huge, and they have a little Read more
Los Chiles, on the northern coast of Costa Rica, is a launch pad for those looking to take a trip along the beautiful River Frio and across the border into Nicaragua. If you have the opportunity to sail this river in either direction, it is well worth it. Most boats dock in the small town of San Carlos, on the banks of Lake Nicaragua.
The ride down the river is full of different types of wildlife, including many species of birds, capuchin and howler monkeys, and loads of turtles. San Carlos is a quiet little town, with exquisite scenery. Lake Nicaragua is simply immense, majestic in its own right.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments