Where to Go • Indie Traveller

Nicaragua is somewhat of a travel new frontier in Central America. Case in point: the Lonely Planet guidebook for Nicaragua is only in its 3rd edition, compared to about a dozen editions for countries like Costa Rica or Mexico. Nicaragua had long been off the radar before it got discovered, as it were, by intrepid surfers and backpackers. Now is the best time to go, while you can still enjoy rock-bottom prices compared to other countries in the region.

Note: Nicaragua saw much political unrest in 2018. Currently it is safe and travelers are starting to return to Nicaragua.

The scenery and nature in Nicaragua is maybe not quite as epic as that in Guatemala or Costa Rica (subjective as that is), though its many volcanoes, beaches and the Nicaragua Lake do make the country extremely worth visiting. It is also a fantastic cultural destination, with the colonial cities of Granada and Léon being great attractions in particular.

Why visit Nicaragua

Not yet convinced that…