Central America Travel » Active Volcanoes

The 9 Best Travel Destinations for 2006

Charles — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 02:46:58 +0000

When the publishers of the Lonely Planet travel guides issued their annual list of the best travel destinations for this year there were a few surprises. Gone were some of the over-priced, over-crowded tourist traps of previous years. There are some new entries to peak the curiosity and provide ever-expanding new vistas and experiences for the crowd-weary world traveler. Here’s a partial list in reverse order.

9. Germany
An old favorite that still can pull its weight with the tourism crowd and one of only two European entries that made the list, Germany has much to offer. More than just Oktoberfest, beer and sausages, travelers can delight in specialties from each of the country’s regions.

8. Colombia
A stunning surprise entry on the list for the first time, Colombia may be know for its drug-trafficking and civil war violence, but it’s also the world’s leading producer of fine emeralds. It’s the world’s second leading producer of coffee after Brazil, but the quality of the rich, mild coffee produced here is second to none. One of South America’s most beautiful countries, scenic delights range from still-active volcanoes like the smoldering Galeras to the bubbling mud spews of Totumo near Colombia’s Atlantic coast.

7. India
Mythical, mysterious, enchanting and a hundred more adjectives besides, how could this wondrous place not be on anyone’s wish list of travel destinations? A large percentage, up to 75%, of the population living in large cities speaks at least passable English. I’m surprised it’s only number eight. But it is on the list and deservedly so. Food, festivals, culture and history pour into the streets at every turn

6. Canada
June, July and August are peak tourism months for the USA’s giant Northern neighbor. English is the language of all Canada’s provinces with French being the language of choice in the province of Quebec. There are marvelous winter festivals in Quebec City and francophone Montreal to delight the senses for willing to brave the frigid minus forty and below temperatures. There’s plenty to keep you warm though.

5. Antarctica
Not only know as “that frozen continent at the bottom of the world”, Antarctica is now featured in a number of commercials and travel ads. But with temperatures ranging from degrees F to degrees F, “What’s the attraction?” you might ask. More than you might imagine. There’s not exactly a shortage of wildlife despite daytime temps in the minus teens on a “warm” day. Marine life is also abundant as are formations of ice and snow on the glaciers that the continent feeds. Wanna play with the penguins, anyone? The experience of being there itself is a unique, one-of-a-kind adventure that draws many. Stormy Cape Horn and the beauty of wind swept Patagonia are also near. Scientific expeditions from a number of countries are nearly always in progress. At times the place is not unlike Grand Central Station. Antarctica is certainly not for everyone, but it does have its charms.

4. Mexico
Long a favorite destination of North Americans from the USA and Canada, what’s not to like about this country famous for hot chili peppers and even hotter senoritas? From the beach to bullfights, you can find nearly any form of diversion you like. Skiing in Mexico? You betcha. Mt. Orizaba, North America’s second highest peak is south of the border.

3. Nicaragua
With a stable economy and rock-bottom real estate bargains, this country has caught the eye of investors and ex-pats looking for scenic locales and tranquility. Once torn by civil strife, conditions have reversed and improved to the point it’s now a tourism destination for in the know and savvy on Central American affairs.

2. China
With one billion, three hundred million inhabitants, the world’s most populous country has awakened from its “sleeping giant” image to thrust its presence onto the world scene with a vengeance. Authentic Chinese food, not that “cloned” stuff you get at the chain franchises, awaits you in a variety and abundance that must be experienced to be believed. The Chinese eat and drink things that will absolutely amaze and astound you – and they make it look good too. From the world renowned Great Wall, the only man-made structure visible from outer space, to vast stretches of seemingly as yet unexplored country, even the Chinese are still turning up discoveries and treasures in their own midst.

1. Argentina
It takes two to Tango as they say. If you want to try your hand at Argentina’s national pastime, here’s definitely the place. For meat lovers this is paradise as the beef here is among the best in the world and certainly the best in South America. The beef here is not only great, but there’s plenty of it and it’s cheap by U.S. and European standards. Gauchos, as Argentine cowboys are called, still abound on the grassy pampas and plains that comprise most of the country. There are tours, “tenderfoot” home stays at ranches and plenty of open spaces for a roundup of experiences that’ll leave you wanting more. Be sure to wash down all that succulent tender roast beef with locally produced wines that are surprisingly good at even more surprisingly affordable prices.

So there you have it, the top ten travel destinations for 2006. Where would you like to go this year? Forget the “old favorites” temporarily. Step out; try something new and different for a change. Fish for Piranha in the Amazon region of Colombia, or Bull sharks off its Pacific coast. Explore China’s historical, cultural and epicurean delights. Oomph, Pah, Pah your way through Germany’s scores of different sausages and hundreds of varieties of malted brews. Carve an original ice sculpture in Quebec City, laughing at the record cold temperatures all the way. Fish or canoe one of Canada’s unspoiled lakes with water so pure you can drink it. Whichever direction the wind blows you, you’re bound to enjoy experiences and sights to last a lifetime.

Tweet This Post

Costa Rica – Natural Attractions

Charles — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:02:05 +0000

Costa Rica is a resort country with a total of 74 resorts located on its territory. Lush greenery, mountains and ocean – that’s what you should come here for. The country’s main attractions are: national resorts, mountains and underwater caves, waterfalls, picturesque valleys and volcanoes. More than 25% of the country’s territory are occupied by government-protected natural parks.

The first attraction is Arenal Volcano – the most famous active young volcano in Costa Rica. All in all, there are about 120 volcanoes located on the country’s territory, with 70 active ones. Arenal is a high cone-shaped mountain, which is illuminated at night. Indians thought the volcano was a sacred animal. It was very active prior to the XVI century. Then in 1968, after approximately 400 years of dormancy, the volcano erupted again. Nowadays tourists from all over the world come to La Fortuna de San Carlos, an Indian settlement situated by the foot of the volcano. However, sometimes the mountain is all covered with clouds and is hard to see. There are also lots of swimming pools, ponds and waterfalls found by the Arenal. Tourists will also like local mini zoo with tropical butterflies, snakes and other animals.

Poas Volcano is one of the country’s most visited volcanoes. Its crater is 1,5 km big and is one of the largest craters in the world. Entrance to the national park is closed during the volcano eruption. You should definitely observe a beautiful Botos lagoon located in one of the local craters. There is also a Sarchí town not far from Poas. This is the centre for Costa Rica wood handicrafts, where you can buy excellent hand-made things.

Irazú Volcano is situated 31 km north-west of Cartago. This is the highest of the active Costa Rica volcanoes. There is also a national park surrounding it. The top of the volcano is often compared with the moon surface and its crater contains a mineral lake, which changes its colour from red to green.

Costa Rica is also famous for its parks. Local nature is almost the same as it was a million years ago. Two of the most famous parks in Costa Rica are: Tortuguero National Park and Manuel Antonio national park, framed by wonderful beaches with clean white sand. Manuel Antonio park is ideal for bathing, fishing and wildlife exploration: there are iguanas, red crabs and lizards living here.

550 km from Costa Rica coast there is an uninhabited Cocos Island, 24 sq. km big. Jacques-Yves Cousteau called it the most beautiful island in the world. This is a wild forest-covered place, untouched by civilization. The island is also the centre for diving and thousands of people from all around the world come here every year to dip into crystal-clear waters. Among the other islands to visit in Costa Rica are Negritos and Los Pájaros.

There are about 10 types of rainforests located on the country’s small territory. Monteverde is a cloud forest located on top of a mountain. The level of humidity is really high, and there are about 120 Amphibia and reptile species living here along with 100 mammal species and 400 bird species (including the famous quetzal – many people come to Costa Rica just to see this bird). Order a skytrek “fly” to have a look at the rain forest from the high trees.

These are just a few of Costa Rica’s natural attractions – but the number of them is really high, since the country’s economy depends on travel industry. However, for some reason, travel business is mainly oriented on beach vacations and not eco tourism. But the number of eco tourists is getting bigger and bigger every year.

Tweet This Post

A Visitor’s Guide to Beautiful Costa Rica

Charles — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:57:05 +0000

North of the country of Panama and south of Nicaragua, lies tropical Costa Rica, a country of amazing beauty and a rather notable and peaceful history in comparison to its non-democratic neighbors.

Before making plans to visit, know that entry requirements may vary depending on your country of origin. You will not need a vaccination for diseases like malaria before visiting the country, but other things like passports and visas will be needed from some travelers. Others will only need a passport such as those coming from the U.S., the UK, and Canada.

The maximum stay allowed is 90 consecutive days, however, extensions can be added with the help of immigration or a travel agency.

Sightseeing in Costa Rica

From hot air ballooning to white water rafting, and just about every exciting activity you could ever think of in between, Costa Rica has something to offer everyone. For starters, the country is home to incredible variety of rainforests as well as hundreds of breathtaking waterfalls, lagoons, winding rivers, and mangrove swamps.

There are 112 volcanic craters in Costa Rica with seven active volcanoes as well as coral reefs to explore and an unbelievable number of different species of animals, birds, and insects. Some of the wildlife you can expect to see in Costa Rica include 208 species of mammals, 220 species of reptiles, 160 species of amphibians, 850 species of birds, and 1,000 species of butterflies.

It also boasts 9,000 species of plants including more than a thousand different types of gorgeous orchids.

Golfing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a golfer’s paradise as the tropical country is well on its way to becoming a popular place to hit the links. Some of the best courses you’ll find includes those at the Melia Conchal Golf Club at the Melia Playa Conchal Beach and Golf Resort which offers stunning vistas, rolling greens, and plenty of sparkling waters nearby.

Near San Jose and the Juan Santamaria International Airport is Parque Valle del Sol, a course with quite an interesting layout peppered with lagoons and other hazards for golfers to navigate. Yet another fun but challenging course is at the Rancho las Colinas Golf and Country Club, and be sure to visit Cariari Country Club in San Jose, a championship golf course that has hosted events from the PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association of America).

Surfing in Costa Rica

The country boasts some of the best surfing spots in all of the Pacific Ocean, but most especially near the northern and southern borders and off of the country’s central beaches. To the south of Jaco is Playa Hermosa, the place to go if you are on the lookout for a few big swells, but if nothing exciting is happening here, just a short drive in either direction will bring about a collection of impressive waves.

While the Atlantic Ocean side has suffered some damage thanks to strong storms and flooding in the area, Salsa Brava at Puerto Viejo boasts a legendary break during January and February in particular.

Some other activities you may be interested while visiting Costa Rica include snorkeling and scuba diving, kayaking, biking, hiking, backpacking, bird watching, fishing, and swimming.

Tweet This Post

Costa Rica Accommodation – Hotels in Volcano Arenal

Charles — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:42:05 +0000

Costa Rica is a small country in Central America, located between Nicaragua and Panama, being also bordered by the Caribbean Sea in east and the Pacific Ocean in west. Many people know little things about the central region of America, one of them being the fact that countries from there are ruled by undemocratic regimes and are pretty dangerous for foreign citizens. Still, Costa Rica has been always an exception to this rule, this country being safe, enjoying a stabilized democracy and an ongoing economically development. Therefore, in the main vacation spots is a fast growing tourism industry and a wide range of accommodation units.

Hotels in Costa Rica offer great accommodation, but tourists find good housing also in vacation rentals such as homes, condos, villas, cottages and mountain cabins. Everywhere in the country are great vacation resorts, where holiday makers can enjoy the splendid tropical nature and friendship of local people (called ticos) alike. Costa Rica is divided in 7 provinces (Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas and San José), all of them featuring many vacation attractions and interesting things to see and to do.

One of the major attractions in Costa Rica are the volcanoes. Many tourists are interested in this natural wonders and in this country they can see several active volcanoes such as volcano Irazu (the highest one, with 3,432 meters), volcano Poas (having one of the largest active craters in the world), volcano Turrialba, volcano Rincon de la Vieja, Miravalles, and volcano Arenal, located in the northwestern region and being the only volcano in Costa Rica which is constantly active. Due to this fact, volcano Arenal is visited yearly by an “army” of vacationers who want to see flowing the stream of hot lava. The big number of holiday makers visiting the area year after year led to a fast development of the accommodation units in the region. Hotels in volcano Arenal region belong to the best in Costa Rica and generally feature excellent amenities, good food and some of them even organize different tours of volcanos, but also to other tourist attractions in the area. Some of the best hotels near volcano Arenal are Hotel Magic Mountain, Hotel Volcano Lodge, Hotel Occidental El Tucano, Hotel Royal Corin, Hotel Arenal Kioro, Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort, Hotel Lomas del Volcan, Hotel Arenal Manoa, Hotel El Bambu de Sarapiqui, or Hotel Arenal Paraiso Resort & Spa. Beside hotels, there are available a big number of vacation rentals like cabins, homes, villas and cottages, representing a great alternative solution to accommodation needs of tourists.

After holiday makers enjoyed the splendors of incandescent lava (the night views are really spectacular!), they can stay in hotels in volcano Arenal area and take trips to other regions of the country, like the capital city San Jose, or can head straight to hotels settled in the Pacific region of Costa Rica and enjoy a few days of beach vacation and different water sports (surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and sailing are great there!) or just relaxing in hammocks under the chilling shadow of palm trees…No matter where tourists travel in this country, accommodation in Costa Rica is great and memories gained there last for lifetime!

Tweet This Post

Costa Rica, A Paradise For Eco-Tourism

Charles — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:29:05 +0000

For those who would like a destination for eco-tourism, Costa Rica is hard to beat. For a little country in Central America that’s only 19,730 square miles, there’s definitely a lot to see and do there. Costa Rica means ‘rich coast’ in Spanish, which is the country’s official language. Located between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, Costa Rica is one of the most stable and prosperous of all Latin American countries. There are tropical beach resorts on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the country for sun vacationers but the main attraction of Costa Rica is the eco-tourism. For example, there is a wider variety of bird species in Costa Rica alone than in all of Europe and North America.

Surprisingly, there are diverse eco-systems and microclimates within Costa Rica. In addition to the coastal beaches, there are dense jungles and rain forests with a wide variety of fauna. Some of these forests are referred to as cloud forests because of the moisture of the mists that linger among the trees in some parts. One forest has a cable car set up so that tourists can observe the plant and animal life at the treetop levels. For the more adventurous types, there is a place where one can swing from tree to tree using a network of rope attachments. There are also dry forests as well as colder barren volcanic tundras. Quite extreme changes in microclimate can be observed even within 30 minutes of travel. Some parts of the country have canal systems similar to those found in the Amazon and a few rivers offer excellent white water rafting.

There are several volcanoes within the country and the extinct ones are easily accessible since they are tourist attractions. A few have beautiful turquoise color lakes that have formed in the craters at the top of such volcanoes. One of the more famous active volcanoes is Arenal where visitors can safely watch the eruptions from a nearby facility that has outdoor hot springs naturally heated by the mountain.

In addition to the many different birds that can be sighted, there is a wide number of other exotic wildlife including monkeys, sloths, jaguars, bats and reptiles that can be seen during one of the many available nature tours. Every year, there are sea turtles that come to certain beaches to nest and this event attracts many nature lovers. The wildlife in Costa Rica is not only rich on land or the air but also in the surrounding oceans. For scuba divers, Costa Rica offers excellent diving opportunities and they are quite different from the waters in the Caribbean. The higher amounts of plankton in the local seas attract more numbers of large marine animals than can be found in the Caribbean.

Coffee and bananas are some of the main exports for Costa Rica. For coffee lovers, this is the place to sample some of the best in the world although it should be warned that the locals like their coffee quite strong. Tours in the valleys will often go past numerous coffee plantations.

Most tourists will fly into the capital city of San Jose. Although there is some nice colonial architecture to see in San Jose, it’s not one of the nicer places to stay in Costa Rica. The city is noisy and polluted but relatively safe. One can use San Jose as a base for many day trips to the various rain forests, volcanoes and beaches. Travelers can also fly into Liberia which is a town in the north part of the country. This is a much quieter region and close to many of the northern resorts. One option that many travelers take is to rent a vehicle and tour the country on their own. However, the roads of Costa Rica are not the best with lots of potholes and mudslides are common during the wet season from June to November. If renting a vehicle, a 4×4 is definitely recommended.

There is so much to see and do in Costa Rica that many visitors return to see parts of the country that they missed before. The country is easily the most popular destination to visit in Central America. Costa Rica now has tourist offices set up in North America for those who want further information.

Tweet This Post

Costa Rica Accommodation – Hotels in Volcano Arenal

Charles — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 05:44:05 +0000

The big number of holiday makers visiting the area year after year led to a fast development of the accommodation units in the region. Hotels in volcano Arenal region belong to the best in Costa Rica and generally feature excellent amenities, good food and some of them even organize different tours of volcanos, but also to other tourist attractions in the area. Some of the best hotels near volcano Arenal are Hotel Magic Mountain, Hotel Volcano Lodge, Hotel Occidental El Tucano, Hotel Royal Corin, Hotel Arenal Kioro, Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort, Hotel Lomas del Volcan, Hotel Arenal Manoa, Hotel El Bambu de Sarapiqui, or Hotel Arenal Paraiso Resort & Spa. Beside hotels, there are available a big number of vacation rentals like cabins, homes, villas and cottages, representing a great alternative solution to accommodation needs of tourists.

Tweet This Post

Costa Rica, A Paradise For Eco-Tourism

Charles — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:29:05 +0000

Tweet This Post

Provinces of Costa Rica

Charles — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 16:09:39 +0000

Costa Rica has seven provinces that are actually legal jurisdictions of the country, each with its own local court system and building guidelines, etc. However, people often refer to these areas to describe location and activity also.

> Alajuela

Size: 9,753 km2
Population: 590,000
Coordinates: 10º, 27′,46″ north and 84º, 48′, 25″ west
Borders: North: Nicaragua; south: San José; South West: Puntarenas; West: Guanacaste
Capital: Alajuela

Alajuela stretches from the Central Mountain Range to the fertile northern plains, presenting a remarkable diversity of stunning landscapes. Visit two of the most popular active volcanoes in the country, Poas and Arenal. The main crater of Poas, a mile in diameter, displays fumeraol and geyser activity that has earned it the distinction of the largest geyser in the world.

Arenal regularly astounds visitors with its rumbling eruptions of ash and lava. Relaxing in the thermal waters at Tabacón Hot Springs, in the shadow of Arenal, is the perfect way to conclude a day of jungle exploration. The artisan center of Sarchi is home to Costa Rica’s famous hand-painted oxcarts.

> Cartago

Size: 3’125 km2
Population: 393,000
Borders: North and East: Limón; West: San José
Capital: Cartago
Km from Puntarenas to San José: 21 km

The numerous farmer villages that cover the land with a multi-color carpet from the different plantations produce coffee, vegetables, sugar cane, potatoes, macadamia nut, Pejibaye, and ornamental plants. There are some National

Parks and Protected Wildlife Refuges in Cartago: The Papantí National Park, the Irazú Volcano National Park, and the Guayabo National Monument, which is the largest and most important archeological site discovered in Costa Rica.

Cartago is the city that was most affected by earthquakes, some of them caused by the volcano Irazú. In 1841 and 1910 the city was almost totally destroyed. For that reason you’ll find hardly any buildings older than 70 years. In 1574 the first church was constructed. Also destroyed in the same year was the Supreme Court of Central America, which was a gift of the American Andrew Carnegie.

The cool climate during the whole year is very pleasing. The average temperature is 20-24° C with no extremes during the year. In the higher elevation, for instance in Tierra Blanca, the temperatures are considerably lower.

> Guanacaste

Size: 10,141 km2
Population: 220,000
Borders: North: Nicaragua; East: Alajuela; West: Pacific Ocean
Capital: Liberia
Km from Liberia to San José: 203 km

The northwestern province of Guanacaste named after the large umbrella-like trees prevalent in the zone, encompasses a vast area if diverse topography. From the boiling mud pots of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, to the sun-drenched beaches of the Pacific coast, this corner of the country offers much to the adventurous traveler and sun worshipper. Santa Rosa and Guanacaste National Parks are vital protective areas for the Dry Pacific climatic zone.

Santa Rosa is also a very important historic site and protects remains of structures dating from the colonial period and Costa Rica’s struggles for independence. The seasonal lake of Palo Verde National Park attracts the largest concentration of waterfowl and wadding birds in Central America.

> Heredia

Size: 2,657 km2
Population: 316,000
Borders: North: Nicaragua; South: San José; West: Alajuela; East: Limón
Capital: Heredia
Km from Heredia to San José: 11 km

High mountains thick with tropical forests, spectacular waterfalls and raging rivers provide settings for a multitude of nature and adventure activities in Heredia Province. The rugged mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park are characterized by thick forests, deep rivers cutting through steep canyons and countless waterfalls.

Heredia also has a University and part of the National Park Braulio Carrillo. There are lots of rain forests with all its nature called flora and fauna.

There are several interesting locations in this Province. Starting with Heredia and its old church, a bathing spring called Ojo de Agua, National Parks, and Volcanoes Barva. Heredia is full of beautiful landscapes and views.

> Limón

Size: 9,188 km2
Population: 275,000
Borders: North East: Caribbean Ocean; West: Heredia, Cartago, San José; South West: Puntarenas; South East: Panamá
Capital: Limón
Km from Limón to San José: 166 km

The crystal clear Caribbean beckons all dreamers to enjoy Limón Province’s 130 miles of sandy beaches and coconut palms. Barra del Colorado offers world-class tarpon and snook fishing. The beach at Tortuguero National park is the most important nesting site in the western Caribbean for the green sea turtle.

Cahuita National Park and Manzanillo provide excellent scuba diving throughout the year. The laid-back Afro-Caribbean lifestyle of the region is irresistibly alluring. It is the perfect place to shed pressures of the concrete jungle.

One of the most interesting sites of Costa Rica is Tortuguero. A system of natural lagoons and navigable channels also called the Costa Rica’s Amazons. It hosts the Tortuguero National Park and is a must for any tourist interested in Flora, Fauna and Turtles.

> Puntarenas

Size: 11,277 km2
Population: 360,000
Borders: North: Alajuela, San José, Limón; East: Alajuela; North West: Guanacaste; South: Pacific Ocean; South East: Panamá
Capital: Puntarenas
Km from Puntarenas to San José: 106 km

Blessed with seemingly endless beaches, Puntarenas stretches along two-thirds of the country’s Pacific coast to the southern border with Panamá. The popular Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the most beautiful in the country and a south Pacific paradise. The dense rich green jungle of Corcovado National Park stands as an unspoiled showcase of tropical nature.

The private Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is one of the richest in the world. Straddling the Continental Divide, this is the only known home of the very rare golden toad. Carara Biological Reserve protects a transitional zone and harbors an incredible variety of wildlife including the larges population in the country of the endangered scarlet macaw.

> San José

Size: 4,959 km2
Population: 1,300,000
Borders: North: Heredia, Alajuela; East: Cartago, Limón; South West: Puntarenas.
Capital: San José

San José is the hub of the country. Located in the Central Valley, surrounded by towering green mountains, the capital city is vibrant and not as intimidating as most Central American capitals. Several downtown pars provide tranquil green oasis amid the stresses of city life. Nightlife is vibrant and international restaurants are plentiful. Various museums, including the 100 year-old National Theater and several dance and theater companies make San Jose the cultural capital as well.

The city of San José has been the capital of the Province of San José since 1823. It is the place where most of the Costa Rican population is concentrated. Here, there are many public interest sites, such as museums, galleries, and entertainment places like restaurants, casinos, bars and nightclubs. In the countryside you’ll find coffee, vegetables, sugar cane, beans, corn and ornamental plants.

Tweet This Post

Retirement in Nicaragua – Safe, Cheap and Full of Incentives

Charles — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:12:35 +0000

Nicaragua is one of the cheapest countries in Central America for retirement – and it’s fast becoming one of the most pleasant.

Nicaragua is virtually unknown to most people and usually misunderstood, which is why forward-thinking investors can find some of the best real-estate deals on Earth in this country. For the record, Nicaragua is not in the midst of a civil war, and it’s not a communist state.

The country has, however, suffered from a serious case of bad press, that’s all.

Nicaragua is one of the most beautiful countries in all the Americas. It boasts a dramatic Pacific coastline; long, gentle Caribbean beaches, volcanoes and freshwater lakes dot the hilly inland. Colonial cities like Granada and León offer visitors a taste of days gone by, while Managua, the capital, is rapidly becoming a real first-world city.

The country’s most famous beach destination, Barceló Playa Montelimar, is an all-inclusive resort with four restaurants, an airstrip and miles of secluded beaches.

Farther south is the popular town of San Juan del Sur, where cruise ships dock regularly. The town is quickly becoming a hot spot for North American expatriates and is one of my favorite destinations.

Masaya is home to Nicaragua’s best craft market, offering just about anything that’s hand-crafted in the country – ceramics, leather goods, iron work, hammocks, jewelry, rocking chairs, masks, clothing and many others.

There are five active volcanoes at nearby Masaya Volcano National Park offering the best volcano viewing in Central and North America. It’s the only place in the region where you can see hot magma rising from the depths of the Earth – and you can drive right to the top.

Lake Nicaragua, the 10th-largest freshwater lake in the world, is famous for its freshwater sharks, the only ones in the world. The lake has great sport-fishing and, with 350 “isletas,” there’s lots of island hopping going on.

The islands of Lake Nicaragua were created hundreds of years ago when the volcano Mombacho exploded. Today, you can explore this extinct volcano along trails in the cloud forest.

You’ll see more varieties of orchids than just about anywhere else in the world and all kinds of wildlife, including 170 counted species of birds and blue morpho butterflies. You can also take a canopy tour, shooting from treetop to treetop on harnessed zip-lines.

Safe and Stunning

Nicaragua is a nation at peace. Its government is democratically elected, committed to a free-market economy and eager to attract foreign investors. A recent study by the Inter-American Institute on Human Rights and a survey of police forces in the Americas show that Nicaragua is one of the the safest countries in Central America after Costa Rica and one of the safest countries in the world.

In September 1999, Nicaragua enacted the most attractive – and most aggressive – tourism-incentive law in Latin America. If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of owning your own B&B, running a sailboat charter, leading adventure treks into the jungle, dishing up meals in your own restaurant or operating any kind of tourism-related business, Nicaragua is the place to do it.

Law 306 is sweeping in scope and offers hard-to-beat benefits for investors who take advantage of the program. If your business qualifies, you pay no income- or real-estate taxes for up to 10 years. You can bring in (or buy locally) all the supplies you need — from furniture and boats to linens and cash registers — tax- and duty-free.

Incentives for Foreign Retirees

If you’re simply in the market for a place to relax and spend a few months a year in a quiet, safe, affordable retreat, again, Nicaragua is hard to beat. The country’s retiree incentive program is much like Costa Rica’s was in the 1980s, attracting thousands of expatriates. To be eligible, you need only be over 45 and have a monthly income of at least $400.

The benefits come mostly in the form of tax incentives. As a foreign retiree, you:

Pay no taxes on any out-of-country earnings.

Can bring into Nicaragua up to $10,000 of household goods for your own home, duty-free.

Can import one automobile for personal or general use duty- and tariff-free, and sell it after five years, tax-free.

Can import an additional vehicle every five years under the same duty exemptions.

The cost of living in Nicaragua is a fraction what you’re used to paying up north. Sources on the ground say a two-week supply of pork and beef costs about $65. For enough fresh vegetables to feed four or five people daily for a week, expect to pay about $55. A 30-minute consultation with a U.S.-trained physician will cost you about $35. You can hire a maid who will cook, clean and do your laundry for less than $120 a month; and you’ll spend just $25 on a wonderful restaurant meal of local delicacies, including with wine and dessert.

Tweet This Post