The Nicaragua Gringo

Tourism Increases – At Least to Nicarauga

July 13th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Business, Nicaragua - Family Friendly, Nicaragua - Gringo Favorite, Nicaragua - News, Nicaragua - Places to Stay, Nicaragua - Travel Tips, The Best of Nicaragua | 2 Comments »

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 Read more

Good Food and Good Service at Las Nogueras in Managua

July 9th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Business, Nicaragua - Family Friendly, Nicaragua - Gringo Favorite, Nicaragua - Must See or Do, Nicaragua - Places to Eat, Nicaragua - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

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 Read more

Lobster Divers Strike and Political Tensions Mount on the Mosquito Coast

July 2nd, 2009 | Nicaragua - Business, Nicaragua - Culture, Nicaragua - News | No Comments »

Well you all know that I have a great love for the Caribbean side of Nicaragua… what you may not know is that at the current moment there is much political tension on that far away side of the country.

It seems the indigenous separatists and the Sandinista government are heading towards confrontation as reports stream in of mounting tension and even violence.

The Sandinista government is suspicious of the separatists leaders and is claiming that they are working in conjunction with the U.S. CIA to stir up problems with the lobster divers and the fishing companies, with the ultimate goal of toppling the regional government.

Contrary to that, the separatists claim that the Sandinistas are using the strike Read more

Transportation in Bluefields

April 4th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Once you finally get to Bluefields, whether you choose to take the short trip by plane or the extremely long adventurous trip over water, you will find that getting around once on the island is not difficult.

The primary forms of transportation in Bluefields are buses, mini-buses, and taxis. Taxis are inexpensive and the most comfortable way to travel.

Prices may have gone up since the last time I was there, but the cost for the buses and mini-buses is about 2 cordobas, and the taxi is about 5. That is during the day. At night, after 10 pm, the price of the taxis goes up to 10 cordobas. The buses only run until about 8 pm, but the Read more

Enjoying the Food in Bluefields

March 20th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Places to Eat | No Comments »

If you are coming to Bluefields, you better be sure of at least one thing: you like seafood. Even if you don’t like it, I would start chanting, “I like seafood” over and over again to try and convince yourself. And hey, if you love seafood, you will be in paradise in Bluefields, as fish isn’t just the staple, it’s what the locals do best. Add in some coconut milk, the dominant flavor of the region, and you are good to go.

The food along the coastal regions of Nicaragua is quite different from the interior; the culture and make-up of the population is extremely different as well. If you have visited Nicaragua, but have never made it to Read more

Visit Peal Lagoon and Pearl Cayes from Bluefields

February 16th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Adventure, Nicaragua - Culture, Nicaragua - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

If you plan to stay a relative amount of time in Bluefields, you might consider planning a trip up the coast to visit Pearl Lagoon and Pearl Cayes, which is about an hour north of Bluefields.

The trip from Bluefields to Pearl Lagoon (Laguna de Perlas) is a journey in itself! First you travel across the bay, and then follow the river up to the next lagoon. The trip affords you the opportunity to see local communities of the Miskito people that live right on the waters’ edge. You will also see natives using the waterway as a means of transportation to conduct their daily business. At certain places on the river the width of the it can get pretty narrow, encompassing you in Read more

Traveling from Managua to Bluefields

February 7th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Travel Tips | 3 Comments »

Once you have arrived in Managua you have two main options for traveling from the city to Bluefields.

Option 1 – Flying

You can purchase tickets to fly to Bluefields from Managua directly at the Managua airport. La Costeña Airlines is the most popular for domestic flights within Nicaragua, and they also offer flights to nearby countries. You can view schedules and fares by visiting the La Costeña Airlines web-site. Flights cost about USD $130, with three fights leaving in the morning (two early and one mid-morning) and one flight leaving in the early afternoon. Currently the online booking section of the La Costeña Airlines web-site is under construction, so in order to make inquiries regarding Read more

Bluefields Nicaragua Hotel and Casino

February 2nd, 2009 | Nicaragua - Places to Stay | 1 Comment »

The Oasis Hotel in Bluefields, built in 2006, is situated atop the largest casino on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, overlooking the Bluefields Harbor. It is considered to be the most luxurious hotel on the Atlantic coast.

This boutique hotel only has 16 rooms total, including a 2 bedroom Presidential suite with a Jacuzzi bath. All guests are welcome to a complimentary breakfast buffet. Other amenities include private baths, hot water, a mini bar, cable TV, and WiFi internet.

The Oasis Hotel can work to accommodate groups for private functions in connection with the casino and they can also arrange for airport pickup.

The Oasis Hotel and Casino also holds an international fishing tournament each year which attracts avid Read more

Fussion ChillOut Bar Concert & Gallery in Managua, Nicaragua

January 29th, 2009 | Nicaragua - Nightlife | No Comments »

So whether you agree with me on Managua or not (see this entry on living in Managua) you will have to agree that the night scene in the city is pretty hoppin.

A particular favorite is Fussion Bar, or the extended name Fussion ChillOut Bar Concert and Gallery. Fussion Bar is the brain child of Atahuallpa and Dirhiangem Mejia, second generation members of one of Nicaragua’s most famous musical families.

The vibe at Fussion appeals to the artsy crowd, looking for more than your standard bar bumping bass and playing a mix of rap and reggaeton. During the week, the crowd stays pretty chill; people come here to relax and grab a drink with some friends. On the weekends Read more

Mini-Spanish Lesson for Gringos

January 23rd, 2009 | Nicaragua - Culture, Nicaragua - Travel Tips | No Comments »

One word that you won’t find in your handy dandy501 Spanish Verb book or Madgrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish, but that is extremely important for you to know in Nicaragua (and Honduras) is chele.

Chele the term used in this region to refer to light skinned Caucasians, more commonly than the broadly used gringo. It is also used to refer to lighter skinned Nicaraguans. Chele much like gringo can be offensive, but most often it is not. It is actually used with affection or mockingly by Nicaraguans to refer to other light skinned Nicaraguans. In other instances there is no particular emotion behind it, it is just the term for a light skinned foreigner or person. Read more

Tourism Increases – At Least to Nicarauga

Good Food and Good Service at Las Nogueras in Managua

Lobster Divers Strike and Political Tensions Mount on the Mosquito Coast

Transportation in Bluefields

Enjoying the Food in Bluefields

Visit Peal Lagoon and Pearl Cayes from Bluefields

Traveling from Managua to Bluefields

Bluefields Nicaragua Hotel and Casino

Fussion ChillOut Bar Concert & Gallery in Managua, Nicaragua

Mini-Spanish Lesson for Gringos

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