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Republica de Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. To the east lies the Caribbean, and to the west the Pacific Ocean. Wedge-shaped Nicaragua may be the largest country in Central America, but it is also one of the least visited. Even after more than a decade of peace, it's synonymous in the minds of many with civil war; this reputation in combination with the ramshackle dilapidated infrastructure of a country that has fought its way through a bloody conflict ánd an American economic blockade, scares many off. Still, travellers who do spend any time there find, much to their surprise, that Nicaragua is their favourite country in Central America. Maybe because it doesn't yet take full care of the tourist experience, Nicaragua is an incorrigibly vibrant and individualistic country, with plenty to offer travellers prepared to brave Nicaragua's superficial obstacles of economic chaos, cracked pavements and crammed public transport. Due to their history at times it seems that every Nicaraguan has both horrifying and uplifting personal stories to tell.
And even though Nicaragua's long-suffering people would rather forget many aspects of the war, the country's political past continues to inform every minute of its present. Nowadays tourist numbers increase have increased as part of the general growing interest in Central America. More than anything, though, the pleasures and rewards of travelling in Nicaragua come from interacting with the inhabitants of the country's complex society. Its people are well-spoken, passionate, engaged and engaging - Nicaraguans tend to be witty and exceptionally hospitable. The best thing you can do to enjoy Nicaragua is to arrive with an open mind, some patience and some experience in speaking Spanish.
In comparison other countries in Central America Nicaragua offers few traditional tourist attractions almost no monuments or ancient temples remain, and earthquakes, revolution and war have laid waste to museums, galleries and theatres. For years the country has suffered from a chronic lack of funding, and high inflation and unemployment have also impoverished Nicaragua's infrastructure. However, visit Nicaragua and you can't remain immune to the country's extraordinary landscape of volcanoes (17 in total), lakes, mountains and vast plains of rainforest. A smattering of beaches - the majority of them on the Pacific Coast - continues to attract the budget surfing and backpacking crowd, while culture and the arts are very much alive in Nicaragua, and it is here you can buy some of the best-value high-quality crafts. Nicaragua has three main eco-regions: Pacific, Central and Atlantic. Most of Nicaragua's population lives in the hot, relatively dry and fertile Pacific lowlands, where much of the agriculture is centred.
It's full of volcanoes, lakes, tropical forests, beaches and mangrove systems This region is also the political and cultural centre of the country - nearly everything thought of as being inherently Nicaraguan, whether food, music, dress or dance - comes from this area. Virtually every traveller passes through the capital city, Managua, but there's little to detain the tourist in the capital. The centre was completely destroyed by an earthquake in December 1972 and there was further severe damage during the civil wars of 1978-1979. The Government has now decided that it will rebuild the old centre, adding parks and recreational facilities. In the old centre of Managua one can still see examples of colonial architecture in the National Palace and the Cathedral. One of the many in Managua and the most interesting of which is Las Huellas de Acahualinca which houses the site where 9000-year-old footprints were found - testimony to Nicaragua's pre-historic past. There are several volcanic crater lagoons in the environs of Managua - Laguna de Xiloa is the most popular of these lagoons. Boats can be hired on the shores of Lake Managua for visiting the still-smoking Momotombo volcano and the shore villages.
You really should visit the 'intellectual' capital of Nicaragua, Léon with a university, religious colleges, the largest cathedral in Central America and several colonial churches. A number of projects are currently underway that will highlight the historical and cultural roots of the city. Or go have a look at Masaya, 26km southeast of the capital, is the arts-and-crafts centre of the country, and both Nicaraguans and foreign tourists descend upon its Mercado Nacional de Artesanía for some of the best crafts in Central America.
As the oldest city in Central Amerika Granada is located at the foot of the Mombacho volcano. Granada with its splendid lakeside setting and wonderfully atmospheric colonial architecture, has many beautiful buildings and has faithfully preserved its Castilian traditions. Granada is considered the museum-city of Nicaragua. It is the oldest town built by the Spaniards on the mainland (1524) on the banks of Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca. . Be sure to have a look the Plaza Principal the fortress-church of San Francisco, seen in this picture with at the rebuilt in neo classical style cathedral, the Church of La Merced, the Church of Jalteva and the fortress-church of San Francisco. Other places of interest include the Park and government buildings. Many of Granada's side streets are lined with typical adobe homes with balconies and arched doorways. The picturesque Alameda, or lakeshore avenue, is another beautiful place that extends from the beach of Lake Cocibolca to the wharf of the Isletas.
Las Isletas is a group of 356 small islands just offshore from Granada in Lago de Nicaragua. The locals make a living out of fishing and growing tropical fruits such as mangoes and coconuts, and there is a remarkable variety of bird life. The island of San Pablo has a small fortress built by the Spaniards to protect against British pirates in the 18th century.
Isla Zapatera is protected as a national park and is one of Nicaragua's most important archaeological areas. Giant stone statues erected by Indians in pre-Columbian times have been moved elsewhere, but you can visit other ancient tombs and structures. There are more tombs and some interesting rock carvings on Isla del Muerto (Island of the Dead).
Masaya, 26km southeast of the capital, is the arts-and-crafts centre of the country, and both Nicaraguans and foreign tourists descend upon its Mercado Nacional de Artesanía for some of the best crafts in Central America.
Nearby Managua are Pochomil and Masachapa beaches. Montelimar Beach Resort is the largest of its kind in Central America. A visit to the El Velero beach is recommended. On the Caribbean coast there are a number of small ports, the most important of which is Bluefields. . The beautiful and as yet unspoilt Islas del Maiz (Corn Islands),, just off the coast of Bluefields, offer a welcome respite from the stresses of mainland life. It's a popular Nicaraguan holiday resort with surfing and bathing facilities that make it ideal for tourists. The Pacific coast has a number of fine beaches, including San Juan del Sur, El Coco, Marsella, Ocotal and many others which are located in the south of Nicaragua in the department of Rivas. If you'd like to see beaches in the way they originally were, without a number of touristic developments you can see them in Nicaragua.
Ecotourism is beginning to have some impact In the Lago de Nicaragua area, with more and more travellers visiting Isla de Ometepe and the Solentiname Islands. Volcano-viewing and hiking are the attractions of Ometepe, with its thrilling twin volcanoes rising out of the freshwater lake. Further south in the lake, near the Costa Rican border, the Archipiélago de Solentiname, is the site of a communal society established for artists by the poet Ernesto Cardenal. The islands are known for their distinctive school of colorful primitivist painting. They are a great place for hiking, fishing and taking it easy.
Physically cut off from the rest of the country, the Caribbean lowlands - called the Atlantic Coast in Nicaragua - actually make up nearly fifty percent of the country's landmass. Hot, humid and perpetually rainy, this area is sparsely populated and little-visited. Most of its inhabitants gain a living from fishing and subsistence agriculture. Politically and culturally distinct from the rest of Nicaragua, the region governs itself autonomously, regularly fighting tooth and nail with the central government. Descended from escaped African slaves and from the indigenous peoples, the Miskito, Rama and the Suma the majority of Atlantic Coast inhabitants) speak English. Food, dance, music and religion on the Atlantic Coast are West Indian rather than Spanish: rice-and-beans is cooked with coconut milk and the radio play is strictly reggae in the hot and ramshackle jungle towns of Bluefields and Puerto Cabezas.
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