San Juan del Sur is a small fishing/surfer village in Nicaragua located in a beutiful beach inside an amazing cove that goes by the same name. The village overlooks the Pacific Ocean 60 km southwest of Granada and about 24 Km from Costa Rica’s northern frontier.

San Juan Del Sur is protected on 3 sides by majestic volcanic hills and on the one side by a pristine white sand beach. The weather is ideal almost all year long with a very short rainy season that occuras typically between December and March, but rarely lasts the entire season long.

This makes it an ideal location for snorkeling, diving, surfing and my favorite, deep sea fishing!

If you like to go for walks or mild hikes, I suggest you take a nice easy hike up the southern cliff att he southend of the beach, at the top you’ll find a lighthouse and the ruins of William Walkers fort. It’s an easy walk and the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking!

San Juan del Sur is one of the most tourist oriented destinations in Nicaragua. The locals are very friendly and most speak a little english. The beachfront is set up a little like a boardwalk, with many reataurants and bars lining the beach, which makes for great barhopping at night.

Fishing boats fill the ocean inlet and there are even some commercial fishing boats and sailboats that are available to rent. Sometimes it’s fun just to go out and catch your dinner rather than merely buying fish and lobster from the incoming fishing boats! Some of the smaller reataurants will be more than happy to cook up your catch for you as well.

Overnight and weekly accommodations are plentiful and the village is an excellent vacation destination within easy driving distance to many Nicaragua attractions. Cabs are easy to find right downtown and the busses are very frequent and connect to most anywhere in Nicaragua.

Besides that, you’ll have the chance to see nature at its finest: dense forests, an abundance of sea life and (rare) birds. San Juan is also known for its turtle refuge sanctuary and this is the place to be during turtle season. Although, if you go to see the turtles, I highly recommend you go with someone who knows what they are doing.

San Juan’s principal resource is its perfect, protected harbor and its crescent beach, open to the setting sun and protected by El Indio (The Indian), who’s silhouetted face hides in the rocky cliffs on the north end of the bay.

Surf’s up, but so is foreign investment. Fortunately in San Juan del Sur, business and pleasure mix easily, usually over heaping plates of seafood, pasta, and fresh snapper. You’re sure to cross paths with the land sharks and the crazy band of checkbook-toting prospectors madly scouring the coastline for a piece of the pie.

Only in Granada is the interest greedier. Don’t let the frenzy sour your mood. The beach is clean and mellow and the evenings are rum soaked and full of stars.

Many people, especially younger tourists, love to spend time in this town just hanging out, relaxing, and enjoying the surf. For these types of activities, San Juan del Sur is a great place.

There are other more active things to do as well, five minutes from the city center you can find a canopy tour (Da Flying Frog). This is the longest canopy tour in Nicaragua and in addition to the adventure of gliding down the zip lines you can also enjoy some superb views of the bay of San Juan del Sur and the surrounding area.

Another good spot to take in a great view of the region can be found at the viewpoint. On a high cliff at the northern side of the bay there is a cross that marks this viewpoint. You can see it from the beach below and you can easily get there in car or by walking (5 minutes in car, 30 minutes walking). It is advisable to park the car just below the viewpoint, as the last part of the road is extremely steep and slippery, a 4×4 would do fine though.

Both to the north and to the south of the main cove in San Juan del Sur there are secluded beaches that are surrounded by tree-covered hills that give each beach a unique and private setting.

A great way to get a good idea of this magnificent coastline is by taking a sailboat ride along the coast. Not only can you see the beautiful hidden bays pass by along the ride, you can also see some magnificent animals in and around the water.

Birds like pelicans and frigates are plentiful, you’re likely to see sea turtles and be followed by dolphins and if you get really lucky you’ll spot one of the world’s largest mammals during the ride; Whales are regularly seen during the dry season, migrating along the coast!

All in all, San Juan Del Sur is a great vacation spot, highly recommended, affordable and memorable!

The capital city of Nicaragua, Managua is situated on the south shore of the Lake Xolotlan (or Lake Managua).

The capital houses several major business centers, several main banks in Nicaragua; it is also the chief industrial city of the country, and it provides a number of tourist attractions, though not as many as other Nicaraguan locations.

Lake Xolotlan itself is not of great interest for the tourist, although there are places in Managua from where splendid panoramas of the lake are made possible; nonetheless, the lake is rather polluted and the tourists’ attention is redirected to the other much nicer attractions in Managua.

An impressive tourist attraction is the building of the National Palace, a genuinely giant construction, situated near Lake Xolotlan, in the Square of the Republic (Plaza de la Republica).

One of the institutions sheltered by the National Palace is the National Museum, exhibiting various collections of ceramics, pre-Columbian sculptures and figurines and many other objects of interest for the national history of Nicaragua.

The Acahualinca setting, supposedly 6000 years old, is another remarkable tourist attraction. The site reveals the renowned Huellas de Acahualinca, footprints on the shore of the Lake Xolotlan, belonging to a group of no more than 8-10 people, walking on the bank of the lake 6000 years ago.

Their perfect preservation is tributary to the volcanic phenomena in the region. The footprints are visible in a blend of volcanic ash and mud. On the same site a museum is located, exhibiting a number of pre-Columbian urns and tools, some prehistoric animal footprints (most likely belonging to a mammoth) and other such curiosities collected from Managua and locations near Managua.

The Rubén Darío Theater is also worth paying a visit. It is Nicaragua’s national theater, where noteworthy national and international artists have had the opportunity to perform their shows. The building is impressive for a Nicaraguan, and can be for the tourist as well. The main hall in the theater – the main space dedicated to representations – houses a huge stage and more than a thousand seats.

The Old Cathedral in Managua is located in the historical center of the capital. The 1972 earthquake caused serious damage to this cathedral and therefore visits within the construction are not allowed. However, one can stroll in the surroundings of the cathedral and admire its still impressive architecture, although it preserves a touching air of ruin.

The more adventurous tourist, however, may find a particular attraction coming from the lagoons which can be found within the city. One of the lagoons is the Acahualinca, near the Huellas de Acahualinca, next to Lake Xolotlan. Swimming is not possible here, however beautiful views can be enjoyed from the nearby hotels. It is still the hotels which offer great views towards another lagoon where people cannot swim, namely the Nejapa.

The most spectacular, however, is the lagoon of Tiscapa, where canopy tours are allowed. The last lagoon in the city is the Asososca, important because it is the capital’s main source of potable water. Due to this latter reason, the lagoon of Asososca can only be viewed, other activities are interdicted here.

One could label transportation in the capital city of Nicaragua as another exotic “ingredient”. Generally, travelers are advised to trust taxi drivers to deliver them to their selected destinations. In Managua, taxi cabs are fairly inexpensive, one can even bargain with the taxi driver, and, as a plus, choosing this means of transportation will save you from some other complications you may encounter.

Of course, car rental agencies are available, and cars can be rented at prices that won’t damage a foreign tourist’s pocket. However, it is advisable that along with renting a car you also hire a driver who knows the way of the outlandish streets of Managua. Here lies the exoticism of the whole situation: streets do not have names in the way that a foreign tourist is used to. Street signs rather display indications as to the locations one may reach, a situation which can be pretty confusing for a non-local.

This is why taxis or car rentals with an “included” offer of a local driver are preferred. Of course, bus transportation is also existent, yet a bit risky if you are attached to your money. Moreover, if you are used to air-conditioning made possible in the public means of transportation, do not expect the same thing here: the air in Managua’s buses can sometimes be very hot. Of course, no one stops you from trying the rather unusual – from a foreign tourist’s point of view – and somewhat adventurous drive on a bus in Managua.

All in all, though not such a marvelous tourist center as other sites in Nicaragua, Managua does have its resources of entertaining its visitors. A plus is the fact that many of the expeditions through the rest of the country start from here. Moreover, the city is happy to present its visitors with an array of modern hotels, restaurants and bars.