• Nicaragua

    Granada and the Masaya Volcano

    Granada is Nicaragua’s emblematic city– a picture-perfect colonial gem that lies just south of Managua on the country’s main tourist circuit. The city’s photogenic, cobbled streets amble between rows of brightly colored houses and are perfectly framed by a mountainous backdrop. Granada is widely recognized as one of the oldest European settlements in the Americas and, like most European cities, centers around a square, a church and a vibrant pedestrian promenade. With the rise of tourism in Nicaragua, Granada has drawn a steady stream of visitors and expats to its well-preserved architecture and proximity to lakes,…

  • Volcano above Lake Nicaragua
    Nicaragua

    Things to See on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua

    When the Spanish conquistadors first set their eyes on Lake Nicaragua, they named it the Mar Dulce, or Sweet Sea. And it is not difficult to imagine why. For the lake, like an ocean, extends outward into the horizon for miles and miles. At the heart of the massive lake, lies Ometepe Island, known in Spanish as Isla de Ometepe. The island boasts a dramatic profile, windswept beaches, abundant wildlife and tranquil countryside. Flanked by two volcanoes and held together by an isthmus, it is both an icon of Nicaragua…

  • Colorful San Juan del Sur
    Nicaragua

    The Colorful San Juan del Sur Nicaragua

    Once a sleepy fishing village on the Pacific Ocean, San Juan del Sur has become a popular surfing mecca for young backpackers. San Juan del Sur’s colorful clapboard houses line an expansive crescent of silvery sand. They sit in the shadow of rolling mountains, under the watchful gaze of the world’s second tallest Jesus statue. In recent years, backpackers and surfers have changed the face of San Juan del Sur. The popular tourist destination houses an eclectic mix of locals and bleached-blonde surfers. Fancy fish restaurants line the city’s beach.…