AWL Images; Nicaragua Tourism Board
NICARAGUA
AS NATURE INTENDED
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
To ind out more, go tovisitnicaragua.us wanderlust.co.uk March 2020 147
G
reen is the
perfect
adjective
for Nicaragua.
Not only does
it apply to the country’s lush
jungles but also to the raft
of responsible measures
Nicaragua has introduced
to make sure that its areas
of pristine and natural beauty
stay protected for generations
to come. You’ll fi nd raw
adventure and wild animal
encounters in a destination that
has designated 30% of
its geographical layout to natural
reserves – the largest in Central
America – along with a desire
to welcome visitors to its safe
shores in a sustainable manner,
encouraging a slower pace of
travel so that they may discover
its delights to the fullest.GO WILD
Eco-tourism in ‘The Land
of Lakes and Volcanoes’ doesn’t
disappoint. With 28 volcanoes,
there’s a host of escapades
to enjoy; from swimming in any
of the 14 volcanic lagoons
to peering at molten lava from
the edge of steaming craters,
from caving in volcanic cones
to even volcano boarding.
Then there’s Lake Cocibolca,
abody of water so immense that
when it was found by Spanishexplorers they thought it a sea,
or take a trip down the San Juan
River; dancing through verdant
banks on the Nicaraguan side
of a natural wonder that’s found
just a step over from the border
of popular Costa Rica.
Nature lovers will be surprised
by the sheer biodiversity
on offer. The Bosawas
Biosphere is the largest tropical
rainforest north of the Amazon
whilst in the south-east, you can
spot howler monkeys, jaguarsand puma, and hundreds of bird
species (including the rare Royal
fl ycatcher) at the Indio Maiz
Biological Reserve. Make
for the Pacifi c, for some mindful
whale-watching from the
western coastline and a chance
to visit the Chacocente and La
Flor Sanctuaries, which protect
thousands of nesting turtles.COASTAL &
CULTURAL GEMS
Head east and you can
experience all the charm
of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast.
From the bustling chief port
of Bluefi elds, go south to fi nd
the colonial city of Greytown
or make your way north to the
municipality of Puerto Cabezas.
Alternatively, take a boat ride
to the paradisal retreat of The
Corn Islands, located 70km
offshore, for a recharge.
You’ll fi nd a vibrant cultural
mix during this exploration,
mostly Mestizo and Creole, with
a chance to interact with small,
indigenous communities, such
as the Miskito and Garifuna.
This diversity is something
that Nicaragua respects, with
languages and traditional ways
of life protected in law. It means
that when travellers visit, they
too can share in this celebration
of multi-ethnic and multilingual
communities; experiencing
traditions and customs that
have been passed down for
centuries and ensuring that this
kind of cultural sustainability
can endure for many more.Natural highlights
(clockwise from this)
Gaze out over Lake
Cocibolca; festival fun
on the Caribbean Coast;
and Our Lady of the
Assumption Cathedral
in Granada