It’s no secret that travel can change you, or that it can make wonderful and unexpected things happen. Traveling pushes you to learn about new cultures and ways of life. It helps you to grasp at different ways of thinking and doing things. It allows you to meet new people from around the globe, to shed your comfort zone, and to see unimaginable beauty in foreign cities, towns, and natural areas.
Perhaps most impressively, travel can allow someone to fall head over heels in love with a place that’s not home. I’ve traveled to plenty of countries that I’ve liked and enjoyed…but only a select few that I can truly say I genuinely fell in love with.
…And Nicaragua tops the list.
There’s something so special about Nicaragua to me. I’m sure that part of this love affair comes from something intangible; that my passion for this beautiful country is (at least partly) a reflection of my own feelings, experiences, and memories from my time there. But there are definitely plenty of very real reasons to fall in love with Nicaragua, too.
Here are the top ten things that make Nicaragua so unique, beautiful, and oh-so loveable:
1. Colorful colonial buildings galore.
Granada is what you might call an “Instagrammer’s paradise.” I mean…hello, save some color and charm for the rest of the world, would you?!
The best part is that all of those colorful colonial buildings and churches are just so fitting with Granda’s overall vibrant and animated personality. The vocal street vendors, the upbeat Latin tunes drifting out of homes and car stereos, the warmth and friendliness of the locals…it all just fits together so perfectly with the city’s colorful scenery and history.
2. Volcanoes for days.
…19 of them, to be exact! Pick any random city or town in Nicaragua, and chances are that you’ll be within view of a volcano.
Not only are they pretty amazing to look at, but they’re also incredibly cool to hike and explore. Some of them are lush and jungle-y, others are rocky and smoldering. I recommend seeing both an active and inactive volcano while you’re in the country, since the difference between the two is pretty mind-blowing.
3. Laid back surf towns.
San Juan del Sur, Playa Maderas, Popoyo…take your pick! Nicaragua has too many chilled out little surf towns to count, and there’s really something for everyone.
Whether you want to party it up in San Juan del Sur or take it easy in Las Peñitas, it’s all too easy to get stuck in one of these charming beach towns for much longer than you intended.
4. Unbelievably cheap accommodation.
Have champagne tastes and a beer budget? Look no further than Nicaragua for finding great deals on accommodation.
You can easily snag a hostel room for less than 10 USD per night, or you can live it up like a king in a place like La Omaja on Ometepe for prices way lower than those you’d find at a comparable hotel in the States.
I saved big bucks in Nicaragua by staying in ultra cheap accommodations for the majority of my trip, yet all of the places I stayed were consistently clean, comfortable, and had near-perfect locations.
5. Mountain towns (and Nicaraguan cowboys).
Cowboys in Nicaragua? You bet!
Matagalpa was one of my favorite stops in all of Nicaragua, in part because of the totally unique rural cowboy culture. Many of the smaller northern cities in Nicaragua are heavily dependent on agriculture (especially coffee and tobacco) and there are fair number of ranches and farms scattered among the rolling hills, too.
If you’re looking for fresh air and solitude, then you’re probably looking for a getaway in the mountains of Nicaragua. Yee-haw!
6. Wild and rugged Isla de Ometepe.
I’ve gushed about Isla de Ometepe at least a hundred times before, so please bear with me as I sing its praises at least one more. I swear, this little island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua is like no place else on earth.
While one half of the island does have a paved road circling the island’s perimeter, the other half is entirely unpaved and rural. In fact, according to the owner of my guesthouse on Ometepe, there are some residents on the Volcán Maderas side of the island that have never even crossed over to the Volcán Concepcion side!
For an outdoor lover, Ometepe is heaven. You can hike two amazing volcanoes, kayak the river that runs through the middle of the island, rent bicycles and explore, swim in a freshwater spring, and stroll the sandy beaches backed by lush jungles.
Isla de Ometepe is truly just a breathtakingly wild place to visit. In fact, I’ll say something about this island that I hardly ever say about any of the places I’ve traveled to: I would live there…in a heartbeat!
7. A national appreciation for coffee and chocolate.
Now, I don’t know about you, but any place that puts an emphasis on chocolate and coffee in the way that Nicaragua does is a place that I never want to leave.
No joke, I probably had at least two cups of coffee every single day that I was in Nicaragua. The production of coffee and cocoa beans is such a big part of the country’s industry, and you can literally taste the freshness in every cup of coffee (and bite of chocolate!)
To really drive home the point, here’s a post that I wrote just about chocolate, and another one about coffee…because there’s actually THAT much to say on both subjects when traveling in Nicaragua.
8. Cheap eats and drinks.
Tacos, smoothies, rice and beans, beer…for less than 10 USD, you can have all of the above!
There are surprisingly diverse dining options in Nicaragua, too; everything from Middle Eastern to Italian cuisine, and from healthy salads and wraps to tasty fried chicken.
In general, though, my favorite meals were the cheap local rice and bean plates, which I would sometimes order with chicken, eggs, or other veggies.
9. The friendliest locals you’ll ever meet.
I’ve always enjoyed chatting with the locals whenever I travel abroad, but as most seasoned travelers know, in some countries that’s easier said than done (here’s looking at you, France!)
But in Nicaragua? All you have to do is grab a seat in a public park, and I can guarantee you’ll have made a new friend within 10 minutes or less.
Even with my limited Spanish, I had so many amazing interactions with the people I met in Nicaragua.
From the guy in Granada’s central square who sat and helped me practice my Spanish for an hour and half for no reason, to all of the men and women who took me under their wing and helped me figure out what the hell I was doing as I traveled via chicken bus, the Nicaraguan locals were a big part of the reason I loved Nicaragua so much.
10. Chicken bus adventures.
Speaking of those infamous chicken buses…local transport was my favorite way to travel during my time in Nicaragua. It cost next to nothing, it was safe, and it provided plenty of entertainment and insights into the local culture as I traveled from Point A to Point B.
I also thought the Nicaraguan chicken buses were easier to navigate (and they felt safer) than their counterparts in other countries, like Guatemala. If I ever make it back to Nicaragua (fingers crossed!), chicken bus is definitely the only way I’ll travel.
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Linked with Wanderful Wednesday
Have you ever been to Nicaragua, and if so, what did you love the most? If not, what’s a place you’ve fallen in love with?
Now I have to pack my bags AND leave for Nicaragua!! Wonderful post!!
Thanks Isabel! Nicaragua is definitely a pretty amazing place.
I love your list! My husband and I have traveled in Nicaragua several times and enjoyed it so much! Our chicken bus adventures were the best and we loved Ometepe. We even rented a scooter to tour the island ourselves and honestly feel like that was the best way to see everything… San Juan del Sur was a great little beach escape. One of our favorite things to do though was to visit Rivas (near SJDS) and go to a baseball game (which we did twice). The national sport all across Mexico and CA is soccer but Nicaragua’s is baseball! Pretty cool 🙂
Francesca @ twobackpacksoneadv.com recently posted…Backpacks & Books – Under the Tuscan Sun
I bet that baseball game was SO fun! I rented a scooter on Ometepe too and agree that it was the perfect way to explore the island. I honestly think Nicaragua is such an ideal travel destination, it has so much diversity to offer!
Yep, you’ve definitely convinced me! Nicaragua seems like paradise on earth and your pictures are just amazing!!! Thanks for linking up with us 🙂
Van @ Snow in Tromso recently posted…Impressions of a Cabin in the Swedish Wilderness
Thanks Van! Nicaragua IS pretty much my version of paradise on earth. I want to go back!!
Wow, these photos are incredible!! It was great to read about a place that isn’t usually documented, especially when it sounds so amazing. I’d love to visit Central America. The first few photos remind of Cartagena in Colombia, which I adored, so I think that Nicaragua would win me over too! Thanks for linking up with us.
Marcella ~ WhatAWonderfulWorld recently posted…Street Art of The World
Ahh that’s awesome to hear, because I’m dying to visit Colombia! If it’s anything like any of the cities in Nicaragua, it sounds like I’d probably love it.
“Perhaps most impressively, travel can allow someone to fall head over heels in love with a place that’s not home.” Couldn’t have said it any better! I’ve fallen head over heels for so many places that it’s hard to count! I’ve never been to Nicaragua, but it looks lovely! IT definitely looks like an Instagram paradise as well! Those colors are stunning! 😀 Thanks for linking up Kelly!
It’s DEFINITELY an Instagram paradise, especially Granada. Everything there is so beautiful!
Nicaragua is the only country I have not visited in Central America. Well, at least, looks like I have left some of the best for last. Would love to visit (for all the reasons you have mentioned, plus, to visit friends). As a matter of fact, I miss Central America.
I miss Central America too! And yes, if you loved the rest of Central, you’ll definitely love Nicaragua too 🙂
You’ve completely made me feel I’m missing out by not having been! Nicaragua sounds wonderful and I now feel compelled to put it on my bucket list. How good would it be with a family, do you think? #WanderfulWednesday
I think it would be an awesome place to travel with kids! There are all kinds of family-friendly activities like zip-lining, kayaking, walking tours…plus all of the cities are super walk-able on their own.
Sounds great. Definitely on the list now!
Clare (Suitcases and Sandcastles) recently posted…Searching for the Royals at Kensington Palace
Good decision, Nicaragua is the best! 😉
Amazing – you possibly had me at cowboys… but cheap eats and gorgeous architecture don’t hurt either! Great list 🙂
Jessi (Two Feet, One World) recently posted…24 Hours in Rotterdam
Thanks Jessi! Haha I can’t lie, as a Texan, the cowboys were possibly one of my favorite things about all of Nicaragua!
my sister backpacked through central america a few years back and she said 100% Nicaragua was her favorite country! I was so surprised, because you always hear about costa rica and even panama, but she was all about Nicaragua. she mentioned just about everything you did in this post too. she loved hiking the volcanos!
carrie recently posted…The Bahamas: What to Know Before You Go
Yeah, Nicaragua definitely surprised me! I had NO idea how much I was going to fall in love with it when I went there…I honestly think about it and miss it all the time.
I love this post! It’s taken me straight back to Nicaragua and your photos are beautiful! My favourite place was also probably Ometeppe – the volcano I climbed was a really challenging day’s hike! Worth it for the views and monkeys though and then we got to chill out by the lake again to recover, so it was perfect. I also loved the Corn Islands, which are an incredibly cheap way to have some Caribbean paradise for a few days. I recommend Little Corn! Oh and Leon is one of my favourite places – a good escape from Managua on the way to the beach. I’m going to have to go back now and see more of these places in your post too! 🙂
I never made it to the Corn Islands…I’ve heard from multiple people that they’re amazing though, I’d love to go someday!
You had me at pretty, colourful colonial buildings, but coffee & chocolate made it official – I must visit Nicaragua!!
Lauren Bishop recently posted…The Sweetness of Sharing in Split, Croatia
I know, right?! It’s honestly heaven on earth.
Sorry if this is a duplicate- I’ve already read this post like three times heh.
Anyways, I’m about to reach 25 years and my goal is to get to 25 countries before then… I have 4 left to go. Tons of travelers keep telling me to do Nicaragua first- and after your photos seriously looking into going in Sept- and then go from there. Any recommendations after Nicaragua?
You look like you really know how to enjoy yourself on your travels!
Lauren recently posted…How to be a Good Travel ‘Grammer
Ahh yes yes yes do Nicaragua!! If you’re traveling directly from Nicaragua you could definitely do any of the other countries in Central America super easily. If you haven’t been to Guatemala, that would be my vote. All of the countries around there are so unique though, you really can’t go wrong.
Perfect! I’m actually all set for December. SO pumped for the chocolate.
Lauren recently posted…The Minimalist Travel Carry-On Essentials
Yay!!! Have fun!
I don’t need any other reason, it really looks amazing and I will plan to stop there when I’ll be in South America! Your pictures are great!!
Xx
Thanks!! Have fun if you do end up going!!
I’ve never been to Nicaragua, let alone South or Central America. Beautiful photos and sceneries. Will definitely add this to my list of places I should visit 🙂
You definitely should 🙂 Happy travels!
So ready to visit for at least a month. Want to be by a beautiful beach and close to a good golf course. Eat healthy, exercise, and meet friendly locals. Is this still the place you fell in love with or has the unrest made it to dangerous? Please advise..
Well it’s a bit difficult to say, as I haven’t visited Nicaragua since 2015! But I do know many people who have traveled there in 2018 and 2019 and had an amazing experience, even after all of the political unrest. If it helps, I would definitely go back in a heartbeat!
My favorite part is where you mentioned that Nicaragua tops your list of places to visit. I only came across this itinerary the other day and I got curious about their surf camp. It might be a good idea to do more research on this place and see if we can visit it next year.