Don’t call it “the new Costa Rica.” Nicaragua, Costa Rica’s neighbor to the north, deserves more than that. The New York State-sized country has finally come into its own, putting its tumultuous political history behind it, and emerging as the “it” spot for ecotourism and adventure travel. Here, you can swim in crater lakes, climb up or sandboard down an active volcano, hike through misty rain for
ests, dive a primeval reef, and surf barrel waves – all for fewer pesos than in other Central American destinations like Costa Rica and Panama. Over the last 6 years, tourism to Nicaragua has grown an average of 16.6 percent per year, and no doubt current TV series Survivor: Nicaragua will bump it up even further in 2011. Nonetheless, beaches remain deserted, resorts are few and far between, and pristine nature is everywhere (some 17 percent of the country comprises nature reserves, not to mention other extraordinary topographic features like Central America’s largest lake and some 50 volcanic cones and 400 volcanic islands). New hotels, like the Hotel Spa Granada (www.hotelspagranada.com) in the country’s colonial namesake city, off-the-grid horseback-riding ranch Rancho Chilamate (www.ranchochilamate.com) near San Juan del Sur, and newly expanded, treetop wellness retreat AQUA Nicaragua (www.aquanicaragua.com) on the Pacific Coast, offer earth-friendly, value travel experiences with unbeatable starting rates, ranging from $59 to $185 per night – in high season! Plus, TACA Airlines is adding additional service on its LA to Managua route in January, making West Coast access even more convenient (flights can be had from under $600 round-trip). Non-stop flights from the East Coast usually connect in Miami, Houston, and Atlanta and tend to hover around $550 round-trip, even in peak winter months. Nicaragua was also deemed the safest country in Central America (by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2009) and was just chosen by U.S. News & World Report and AARP as one of the best affordable places to retire abroad. before lesser-known Nicaragua becomes as touristy as its popular neighbors.
— Stephanie Johnnidis
www.passportnicaragua.com
