Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a beautiful country just north of Costa Rica. While they have some similarities, Costa Rica is undoubtedly the more popular of the two with tourists.

Nicaragua is often overlooked, but sometimes for a good reason – it isn’t always safe, or stable to visit Nicaragua. You need to check the current safety situation at the time you’re planning to go.

I believe that Nicaragua is worth a visit, especially if you enjoy mountains, volcanoes, amazing beaches, and colonial towns with medieval architecture.

Key Places to Visit in Nicaragua

• San Juan del Sur, especially popular for surfers
• Grenada, a colonial city with medieval architecture
• Masaya Volcano, one of the few active volcanoes in the world with a lava lake (it’s common to visit Masaya as a day tour from Grenada)
• León, another city; known for its history and architecture
• Ometepe Island, which you don’t want to miss – a beautiful island home to two volcanoes, stunning natural beauty.
• The Corn Islands: Big Corn and Little Corn Island. They are completely different from the rest of Nicaragua, and almost feel like a different country
• Managua, the capital. Not the most exciting part of the country, but I was glad to see it at least

Want to fit most of these in? Check out my 7 day Nicaragua itinerary

FAQ about Nicaragua

Which is better, Costa Rica or Nicaragua?

Both Costa Rica and Nicaragua are amazing places to visit. They have a lot of similarities, but some key differences. In general, Costa Rica is the more popular choice, especially if you’ve never been to Latin America before. Check out my article comparing Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Is Nicaragua safe?

Nicaragua is generally safe, but it suffers from political unrest. The political situation there has been unstable for a number of years. I went back and forth on cancelling my trip, but ended up going. It’s important to stay up to date with the situation.