Do You Know Why You Should Visit Nicaragua This Year?

Nicaragua is a coastal Central American country that is often overlooked in favour of its much more popular neighbour, Costa Rica. We, however, give you five reasons why we think you should visit Nicaragua this year. Or at least as soon as possible.

1. Diverse nature

The Nicaraguan coastline differs, the western one is quite different from the one in the east. While waves crash against the Pacific coast in the west, the Caribbean Sea shimmers in turquoise tones and sandy beaches surround the tropical Corn Islands (that are part of Nicaragua). The central part of the country encompasses high-altitude areas in the north, covered by tropical forests and numerous coffee plantations. This very region has seen high growth rates in ecotourism in the last couple of years. Nicaragua is also a land of lakes and volcanoes, which is evident by the Ometepe, an island with two volcanoes, sitting amidst the country’s largest lake. Have you ever been tempted to simply just gaze down into a crater of an active volcano? Take a trip to Masaya Volcano to experience a truly incredible view of the bubbling lava inside the crater at dusk.

2. Heightened adrenaline guaranteed

Don’t worry, you’ll never get bored in Nicaragua because the country offers much more than just relaxation at the beach or a stroll down the colourful colonial houses. Near the city of León, you have a unique opportunity for an unusual activity that can’t be found anywhere else in the world – you can ride or surf down the active volcano’s steep slope on a wooden snowboard! Adrenaline already starts rushing through your veins when you start going uphill and your heart will undoubtedly beat like crazy before you slide down. This fun experience alone is reason enough to visit Nicaragua, especially since you never know when the volcano might erupt the next time, making going downhill with a snowboard impossible. Oh, and by the way, if you book at Get Your Guide, you get 10% off all activities as a member of Hostelling International.

Apart from the volcano which you can slide down on a wooden snowboard, there are also other volcanoes that you can climb, or, if you prefer, you can upgrade your surfing skills on the south-western coast or swim with the fish in the Caribbean.

3. No need to dig deep in your travel pockets

Everyone knows filling up the piggy bank isn’t easy and young people often search for destinations that offer more for less money. Nicaragua is certainly one of those destinations. Despite Southeast Asia still being the cheapest travel destination, your wallet will thank you when travelling to Nicaragua. Cheap hostels, especially off-season, delicious and cheap meals, and activities for which you don’t need to dig deep in your pockets. Thanks to all this, you’ll always have enough coins left for some cold beer during sunset.

4. There’s no massive tourism

A lot of tourists still visit the country, but their numbers have drastically decreased since 2018 when protests and political upheavals began. Things calmed down quite quickly, but it all did a large number on tourism, causing it to suffer. Many hostels and restaurants are closed or half empty, and the services are somewhat limited in certain places, but the situation has been improving. Despite this, the country is completely safe for travel, and if you’re interested in going somewhere where you don’t have to line up in queues for a museum or where you’re almost alone on the beach at sunset, then we highly recommend that you buy your plane ticket this year.

5. A genuine travel experience

It is due to this lack of travellers that the locals get more excited when foreigners visit their country. They gladly engage in conversations, share tips and sometimes even invite foreigners to their place. It is the conversations that unfold over plates full of delicious home cuisine that are usually the best.

So, what do you think? Have we convinced you? Is it worth visiting Nicaragua this year?

We wish you happy travels!

If you’re interested in some real travel tips for Nicaragua, you can find them together with our other articles on our blog: BlueMarble Vagabonds. You can also take a peek at our Facebook and Instagram profile for some extra dose of travel inspiration.