This is our second part of top travel experiences in Nicaragua which includes Pearl Lagoon, Padre Ramos, Peñas Blancas, León, & Maribios Volcano Complex. If you missed the first top travel experiences in Nicaragua, you can read the older blog posted below and this list included: Rio San Juan Ometepe Island Zapatera Island Selva Negra La Flor Wildlife Refuge
With the exception of the colonial city of León, our second list includes sites that are less traveled, poorer infrastructure, and generally require more adventurous spirit to reach and enjoy. If you yearn for those places that aren’t filled with tourists, worse yet – tourists in your market segment (the horror of seeing “yourself” walking around tourist shops!), or just want some real authentic experiences, this is a good list. Generally speaking, to visit these sites you will need a rental car (4x4 recommended), tolerance for rustic accommodations, and some basic Spanish ability. And good maps that you can download since internet is scarce in these parts.
Pearl Lagoon & Pearl Cays
This surprisingly large lagoon on the Caribbean coast is about a 6-hour drive from Managua. You can also fly to Bluefields and take the ~1 hour water taxi. Pearl Lagoon is the name of a community and also the name of the lagoon, which is over 20 miles long and over 10 miles wide. It is surrounded by 14 communities which are predominantly Creole but also Miskito & Garifuna indigenous communities. The Pearl Cays are about a 1.5 hour boat ride from Pearl Lagoon community. Main activities are cultural tours to the Garifuna and Miskito communities; artisanal fishing; sea turtle conservation projects; and visiting the Pearl Cays. Pearl Cays have outstanding snorkeling with healthy patch reefs, sea kayaking and overnight camping with local outfitters. We like Kabu Tours (http://www.kabutours.com). A visit would not be complete without a meal at Queen Lobster.
Padre Ramos Nature Reserve
On the opposite side of the country, on the northwest Pacific coast near the Honduran border lies the natural area of Padre Ramos. Named after the largest community in the area, the nature reserve is composed of large tracks of mangroves and small beach communities. In the shadow of Consiguina Volcano, the landscape is spectacular with very few tourists. It is a key Hawksbill Sea Turtle nesting area and there is lots to learn about the conservation efforts of this special area of Nicaragua. Padre Ramos is one of two Hawksbill nesting sites in the Eastern Pacific and could be key to the species survival since the Eastern Pacific sub-population does not depend on reef ecosystems, which are under severe stress worldwide. We recommend visiting with the Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Initiative (ICAPO in Spanish) http://www.hawksbill.org . Sea kayaking, volunteering for turtle projects, relaxing on the beach are the highlights.
Peñas Blancas Massif
About 2 hours north of the city of Matagalpa, this spectacular natural area is part of the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected area in Nicaragua. Its dramatic white cliffs (silicate) is how it was named and is on the border of the departments of Jinotega and Matagalpa. One of the tallest peaks is located here at 1745 m (5,725 ft) and harbors cloud forest to rainforest habitats. Low visitation and difficult access creates a challenging but pristine experience. Primary activity is hiking & camping in pristine ecosystems. There is a small ecolodge at the entrance, and if you are interested in a longer stay, private cabin for rent. This area is well known by our AME member Matagalpa Tours and they can assist in setting up a visit… www.matagalpatours.com
León
This beautiful colonial city rivals Granada with half the tourists. It is an ideal location to explore the northern part of Nicaragua including Padre Ramos, the many volcanoes (30 minutes from Cerro Negro), and nearby beaches of Juan Venado Wildlife Refuge. If you are a colonial history buff, you’ll need about a week. Most famous & visited, is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of León, largest cathedral in Central America and national hero and poet, Ruben Dario is buried here. Many good food and accommodation options. It also is a university town, with a vibrant night-life when the students are in session.
Volcanoes of the Cordillera Los Maribios Mountain Range
If you are looking for some challenging hiking and like to “bag” peaks in different countries, the Maribios Mountain Range is ideal. It is a volcanic range comprised most notably by San Cristóbal 1745 m (5725 ft), Pilas 983 m (3225 ft), Telica 1060 m (3478 ft), Cerro Negro 450 m (1475 ft), and Momotombo 1258 m (4127 ft and counting!). These are all reasonably close to León. Highlights are a late afternoon ascent/night-time descent of Telica after observing the glowing caldera, sandboarding Cerro Negro, and observing the currently active Momotombo. These are all active volcanoes so you need to check ahead if you are determined to climb. Momotombo had a spectacular eruption earlier this year and is currently closed to the summit.
If you like this list and would like to visit them all on one trip here is our suggestion:
Day 1: Flight to Bluefields, boat taxi to Pearl Lagoon
Day 2 & 3: Overnight on the Pearl Cays, visit to Garifuna community
Day 4: Transfer to Managua and drive to Matagalpa
Day 5 & 6: Peñas Blancas
Day 7 & 8: León and climbing one of the volcanoes
Day 9 & 10: Overnight trip to Padre Ramos Nature Reserve
Day 11: Return to Managua/flights home
Start planning your epic trip to Nicaragua today!
Hasta pronto!
Mark Willuhn is the Executive Director for a regional sustainable tourism non-profit called Alianza Mesoamericana de Ecoturismo (AME). You can follow him and AME members at www.exploremesoamerica.com and on Twitter @ExploreMeso or contact him directly at mark@exploremesoamerica.com
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