Nicaragua is not a rich, but a very beautiful country. It has well-developed tourist destinations, but prices for tourists are reasonable. In addition to the beauties of nature and museums that are familiar to us, Nicaragua offers entertainment that is unique in its kind.
Where can you slide on a wooden board down the slope of a volcano? To Nicaragua! And where can you look into the crater of an active volcano? To Nicaragua! And see the old city buried under a layer of lava? Also in Nicaragua. And this is not the whole list of unique sights of the country.
In addition to volcanoes and beautiful natural parks, the country has beautiful picturesque cities that a tourist should definitely see. Despite the poverty of the country, they are very neat and cute. Among them are Granada, Esteli, Managua.
The coasts of Nicaragua are strewn with fine white sand. Therefore, beach holidays are well developed here, hotels, restaurants and cafes have been built, and the number of tourists is growing every year. The country has quiet, deserted beaches and places to dance in the sand all night.
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What to see in Nicaragua?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
City of Granada
The main tourist city of Nicaragua. An independent life, separate from the whole country, flows here. Horses gracefully pass through the streets with well-preserved colonial architecture. They ride tourists, and also serve as a means of transportation among local residents. It is calm and quiet in Granada, the poverty of the state here does not in any way affect the charm of the old city, the beauty of churches and nature.
Ometepe Island
In the middle of the most beautiful Lake Nicaragua, there is a beautiful island. It is famous for the volcanoes Concepcion and Maderas. In fact, Ometepem is an isthmus connecting these two giants. The height of Concepción is 1610 m, and the Maderas volcano is 1394 m. Tourists to the volcanoes are taken by local residents. In the crater of Maderas there is a lagoon, near which a forest has formed, coffee and banana plantations, and on the island itself there are many cafes and restaurants.
Volcano mombacho
Not far from Granada is the Mombacho volcano, which has a national park. It is called "cloud forest" because of its constant humidity. It was she who became the reason for the appearance of the most beautiful wildlife on the volcano. The park has several trails lined with wooden steps. During the walk, you can see many species of animals and orchids. Excellent views from the top of the volcano.
Corn Islands (Corn Island)
The Corn Islands are located in the Caribbean Sea, 70 km off the coast of Nicaragua. Recently, they have become more and more popular. The white beaches are surrounded by coral reefs and are great for diving. They are quiet and calm, the serenity is replaced only by incendiary festivals. Among them are the Crab Festival and the Palo de Mai Dance Festival.
Esteli town
This city in northwest Nicaragua can be called the tobacco production capital of the country. Trade is actively developing here, so Esteli is constantly growing. It has a well-arranged water supply network and waste water runoff. Therefore, the atmosphere in the city is very pleasant. In the vicinity of Esteli, you can see hills with rock paintings. The remains of huge animals were also found there.
Salto de La Estanzuela waterfall
6 km from Esteli is the picturesque waterfall of Salto de La Estanzuela. A tour to it can be ordered in the city. On the way, the guide will tell you about the history and peculiarities of these places. You can swim in the lake near the waterfall, and walk around the surroundings to see the beautiful nature. The Salto de La Estanzuela waterfall is small, but it grows significantly in size during the rainy season.
City of Managua
The capital of Nicaragua, the largest city in the country. The city has suffered from natural disasters more than once, but it has retained a pleasant appearance and neatness, and people have not lost their optimism and love of life. The city center is located near Lake Managua. There is also the central park and the main square of the city. The most unusual sight of the city is the Akaulinka trail. These are footprints of people and animals fleeing from the volcano.
Old Cathedral in Managua
The Old Cathedral or Cathedral of Saint James was built in Belgium, and then brought to Nicaragua by ship in 1920. It is made in neoclassical style, made of concrete and metal. The foundation for the cathedral is the base of the demolished church of Santiago. Its appearance attracts many tourists, but no one manages to get inside. Due to the deplorable state after the earthquake, it was closed.
San Juan del Sur beach
San Juan is an entertainment center for dance and beach lovers. Near it there are beautiful beaches with cafes, clean sand and beautiful nature. Some of them are completely deserted, and some have excellent surfing conditions. Beginners are offered surfing lessons. Dancing on the beach starts in the evening and ends at about two in the morning.
Lake Apoyo
One of the most beautiful places in Nicaragua is located not far from the pretty and tidy town of Catarina. This is Lake Apoyo. Its area is 21 km², and its depth is 175 meters. Apoyo is circular, its water is clear and has an incredible blue color. Due to the fact that the lake is heated by a volcano, swimming in its warm water, admiring the magnificent landscapes, is a heavenly delight.
City of Leon
The ex-capital of Nicaragua lies northwest of Managua. The city of Leon was founded in 1524 at the foot of the Momotombo volcano. But after its eruption, the city was moved 30 km further. Leon is now considered the intellectual center of the country. The city is steeped in history, it has preserved a lot of beautiful architecture. Leon is home to the largest cathedral in Central America, many museums and churches.
Volcano Cerro Negro
On the Cerro Negro volcano, they have fun in a very unusual way, something like this can not be done anywhere else. The volcano is considered active, its last eruption was in 1999. Its height is 728 meters. The top offers incredible views. And those who want to ride on its steep black slopes covered with ash and sand, sit on a special wooden board and rush down with great speed.
Leon Viejo
The ancient colonial city of Leon, built in the 16th century, was destroyed by a volcano. Many buildings were buried under a layer of lava. And so, in 1967, the ruins of the city were discovered. It is a unique 16th century colonial city that has never been rebuilt. Leon Viejo is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Momotombo volcano
The volcano is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Managua. It was he who buried the city of Leon with a stream of lava, forcing the inhabitants to move. The volcano has a conical shape, its height is 1297 meters. Momotombo is one of the symbols of Nicaragua and was even depicted on the country's coat of arms. And on December 1, 2015, the volcano woke up for the first time in 110 years, putting on a fire show for tourists.
City of Katarina
First of all, the city is famous for Lake Apoyo and gorgeous landscapes. Not far from it rises the Mombacho volcano, which can also be seen from observation platforms. In Katarina there are cafes, restaurants with delicious cuisine, shops with souvenirs and sweets, workshops. You can buy here for every taste and budget. Traditionally, picturesque paintings by local artists are brought from it.
Leon cathedral
The city of León is home to the beautiful León Cathedral. Its construction lasted more than half a century: it began in 1747 and ended in 1814. It was consecrated by Pope Pius IX in 1860. This is the largest cathedral in all of Central America.Its main attraction is the statue of the Virgin Mary, which was created for the cathedral in the 20th century. Many famous residents of Nicaragua are buried in the cathedral.
Bosavas Nature Reserve
Only an hour's drive from the capital is the Bosavas nature reserve. Its area is 730 thousand hectares. And this is about 16% of the territory of the entire country. Bosavas are the green lungs of Nicaragua. Pines, oaks, rubber plants and mahogany grow in the reserve. Among the representatives of the fauna are alligators, cougars, ocelots, monkeys, deer and a bird, which is the symbol of the country. It is called guardabarranco and stands out with blue feathers on its tail.
Volcano Masaya
Volcano Masaya is part of the largest national park in Nicaragua. This is the first attraction that tourists rush to see. The volcano is over 2500 years old, and its height is 635 meters. It is unique in that it allows you to approach yourself tightly and literally lower your head into the crater. From the top of the volcano, incredible views open up; there you can also ride horses, admiring the nature.
Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua is freshwater, with an area of 8264 km². It is the largest freshwater lake in Latin America. Once it was part of the ocean, but then it separated from it, while retaining some of the inhabitants. Among them are sharks. This is the only freshwater lake on the planet where these animals constantly live. The waters of Nicaragua are not very calm; waves appear on them from time to time.
Solentiname Archipelago
These are volcanic islands located in the south of Lake Nicaragua. The archipelago consists of four large islands and 32 small ones. People lived on the archipelago in ancient times. This is evidenced by ancient petroglyphs. On the rocks and stones, scientists have found drawings depicting people, parrots, monkeys. The Solentiname Islands have been awarded the status of a national natural monument.
Montelimar beach
Montelimar Beach is located in the west of the country. It is covered with fine white sand, surrounded by picturesque nature and washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The length of the beach is 3 km. There are luxury and five-star hotels on it. Tourists are offered a relaxing holiday on the beach, entertainment in hotels or excursions to the cities of Nicaragua.
Fortress of the Immaculate Conception
The fortress is located in the town of El Castillo. It was erected in 1672 to protect against invaders and wild tribes. She survived more than one terrible battle, was captured and sieged again. Now the fortress houses a two-story museum, which includes the surviving premises: barracks, armory, prison cells, a chapel. The fortress offers beautiful views of the river and picturesque jungle.
Akaulinka Footprint Museum
These are the oldest human footprints found on the American continent. Their age is more than 6 thousand years, and they were left on volcanic lava. During the volcanic eruption, people and animals, trying to escape, fled from their settlement, leaving traces. In addition, the museum presents various household items of people who lived in that territory and even the remains of a mammoth.
Selva Negra Mountain Resort
It is a hotel located on the territory of a historic estate, surrounded by coffee plantations. This coffee farm was founded by German immigrants in 1891. Since 1976, the place has been a popular tourist destination in Nicaragua. The resort is located 11 kilometers from the town of Matagalpa.
