Overview
** NICARAGUA **
Read travel tips for Nicaragua from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit Nicaragua. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Nicaragua, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for Nicaragua. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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I spent three weeks in Nicaragua and could have stayed much longer. The prices are very affordable (~$5 a meal and nice king bed private room options for $20 per night), and the locals are friendly. I had a mix of relaxing and adventure with all of the beaches and volcano hiking. Nicaragua is also known for surfing year round, especially at the beginner level. So if you’ve been wanting to try surfing, this is your place. The local food is flavorful, but it’s heavy on the rice and beans. Even for breakfast. I didn’t see many black people, but I was never treated differently and felt welcome. I was surprised by all of the Northern European tourists, but they were friendly as well.
Nicaragua is definitely one of my favorite vacation spots. I flew into Managua airport and took a shuttle to León. Staying at Poco a Poco hostel, I was able to find a lot of activities to do, such as hiking and camping on Telica volcano and volcano boarding (hiking up and surfing down) Cerro Negro.
After a few days, I took another shuttle to Granada, which is slightly more tourist-friendly, i.e. foreign bank cards are widely accepted and more locals speak English, etc). Here, I stayed at Hostel Oasis, and went kayaking on Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America, and visited another active volcano, Masaya.
Nicaragua is very affordable and a few dollars go a long way, especially if you stay in hostels, like I do! The hostels are clean, safe and a good place to meet fellow backpackers. It has everything Costa Rica offers, but at a fraction of the price. Although travel advisories warn against travel to Nicaragua because of recent political turmoil, I must say that I had no issues whatsoever and felt safe traveling across the country.
I was warmly welcomed everywhere I went and never felt out of place as a black man. If you are into adventure/physical activity, León and Granada are for you. If you prefer more water-based activities like the beach or surfing, or want to just party (Sunday funday), then San Juan del Sur is your destination.
We loved our Nicaragua Experience!
Things to do:
– Check out the Nicaraguan beaches. Imagine a Costa Rican beach without many people on it. We essentially had a private beach to ourselves right outside of our Airbnb.
– Do Sunday Funday! Essentially a huge bar tour on Sunday where you get to network and party it up with other foreign travelers. Highly recommended!
https://explorewithlora.com/sunday-funday-nicaragua/
– Learn to surf. Nicaragua is a surfers paradise as many people come from all over the world just to surf. They have plenty of instructors who will teach you the basics.
I highly would recommend visiting Nicaragua, especially San Juan Del Sur. You’ll experience some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Everyone was very nice and respectful. The food from a scale 1 to 10, I would rate it a 7.8. I just expected better tasting food, my expectations could have been to high. The American dollar really stretches there so everything was really cheap. I was alone but whenever I head back I am definitely coming back with a love one. It was quite and very romantic. Perfect couples getaway trip.
Nicaragua is definitely a hidden Paradise. The main tourist attraction are the towns of Granada, San Juan del Sur and León.
Granada and Leon are beautiful colonial cities, the architecture, history, museums, restaurants, and night life are amazing. Research about William Walker before going, it will all make more sense if you heard about him before. I still don’t understand how people from U.S don’t know much about him. San Juan del Sur Is a beach and surfing spot also known for the night life, lots of bars and places to go out dancing. I recommend to visit Ometepe Island, staying in Rivas for one night if doing so, or there’s small simple places at the island to stay. You need to take a ferry at Rivas to visit Ometepe. The Caribbean Side of Nicaragua is worthy seeing, amazing beaches, not very touristic so still authentic, Corn Island is the spot to visit, it’s a long way sontaking a domestic flight from Managua is the best option. Little Corn Island has better hotels. Great for snorkeling and enjoy the beach. The Caribbean Side of Nicaragua is mainly Afro descendent, English is spoken over there. I don’t recommend to stay long at Managua, but if there’s no option or need to overnight, go to Salvador Allende Port to see the sunset, dinner and drinks. It’s going to take time to travel safely in Nicaragua again, but whenever that green light is given don’t think it twice. Nicaragua is known as the land of Volcanoes and lakes. If you like rum Flor de Caña is the best, export quality. The factory has a tour that I’ve heard great comments about.
Corn Islands in Nicaragua are paradise! You need to take an extra flight to get there from Managua through La Costeña airlines. Big Corn Island has beautiful beaches that are practically deserted so relaxing is easy there. The people are Caribbean and live a slow-paced life, so you’ll feel the relaxed vibe immediately. There’s not a ton to do there besides exploring the island, so it makes for the perfect location for beach lovers to de-stress without lots of tourists around. Make sure to visit before these islands become more developed and begin changing!
There is so much history in Nicaragua!! There are so many different parts with so much to do. Tours, volcano boarding, and so much more