Nicaraguaâs Caribbean coast is distinctly different from the rest of the country. Geographically, the mountainous range in the middle of the country flattens out and is covered with lush vegetation, tropical rainfall from May to December and beautiful Caribbean coastline. Culturally, it is just as different; a British colony from 1687 to 1894, the most common language is English; the population is mostly the African-influenced Miskito indigenous group; the culture is more similar to Caribbean culture than that of the rest of Nicaragua.
Bluefields is Nicaraguaâs main port town and the most visited tourist point on Nicaraguanâs Caribbean coast, mainly for travelers interested in visiting the Corn Islands. Flights run regularly from Managua to Bluefields; the land route involves a boat and partially unpaved road trip taking up to 12 hours. Recently rebuilt after Hurricane Joan destroyed this coastal town, there are no swimming beaches and the water is murky. The highlight of Bluefields is truly the culture and nightlife, which is full of reggae, calypso and soca rhythyms. The economy is based on seafood: shrimp, lobster and deepwater fish. If you are in the area in May, donât miss the week-long festival, Mayo-Ya!
By Dyani Makous Dyani Makous has a B.F.A. in writing and a minor in Photography from Emerson College. She is currently living in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, working...
The words unspoiled paradise have never been so appropriately applied as to when used in reference to Little Corn Island. It's a place of phenomenal beauty, where coconut trees sway in the gentle
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Fifty miles east of Bluefields, on the Atlantic Coast, Big Corn Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nicaragua. Travelers come from all around to dive and snorkel in the
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Urban population: 30,000. Tel code 279. Altitude 8m
Puerto Cabezas is a sweltering backwater on the Caribbean coast, and political and economic capital of the RAAN, the North Atlantic
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The peaceful town of WaspĂĄm lies in the heart of Miskito territory, pretty much as far off the beaten path as possible. Its name in Miskito language may come from was-pana, meaning river with trees,
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A few years ago a European NGO decided to build Bluefields a badly-needed road connection to the outside world. But when they called a meeting with the city's elders to discuss the project's
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Although you wonât find many foreign travelers there, the small town of El Rama plays a significant role in Nicaraguaâs trade route as well as offering an affordable means of transport between
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Forty miles north of Bluefields, is a relatively undiscovered cultural enclave. Pearl Lagoon is a small, tranquil, clean village with friendly natives, which is suitable to a wide variety of
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Kakabila, NicaraguaNeisy\'s Guest House, one minute\'s walk away from a sandy beach, is the place to stay when visiting the beautiful and tranquil Miskitu Indian village of Kakabila. Neisy\'s Guest
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($20/night) Framed with marine murals of bright blue seas and tropical fish, Anastasia hotelâs interior is as refreshing as the cool breezes of the North Shore, where it is located. Each room is
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Guesthouse El Cortijo 1 offers ten rooms in a large house on the main street (Calle RevoluciĂłn), the lower-floor ones dank and dark, the ones upstairs somewhat brighter, all with bathroom, A/C and
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Set in the same lovely wooden-beamed building as the museum, the hotel Judith Kain offers 16 good-value rooms. The comfortable singles and doubles all come with bathroom (regular, not bucket shower),
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There are a few nice hotels as well as some acceptable hostels and cabins in town. Wherever you go, be prepared to share the garden or yard with chickens and dogs, beneath lines of drying laundry.
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One of the most accommodating and comfortable places in Pearl Lagoon is Casa Blanca, located 100 yards north of the Municipal Stadium. They offer Internet service and tours, as well as the option
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Located in the âFirst of Mayâ neighborhood on the north side of Enitel, the Green Lodge Bed and Breakfast has a family feel, a quaint atmosphere, and clean rooms. The most economic option
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If youâre spending the night in El Rama and looking for something comfortable, Hotel Costa Verde is a great find. The most inexpensive room is $11.00 per night for a single bed, with a
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The cheapest hostel in town, Hospedaje Velasquez, is not for the faint-of-heart. This farm-style hostel is full of simple rooms, equipped with a single bed and a fan. If you need to wake up early,
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($10.00-$35.00) This popular backpacker spot sits on stilts just a 15-minute walk north of the dock. The large deck is stocked with plenty of chairs and tables and overlooks the ocean, where the
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($12.50-$25.00) Conveniently located at the North End of the island, next to Brisas Mar, Hotel âJâ is a good deal for the budget traveler who prefers a room with air-conditioning. All rooms
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