CHRISTIAN HEEB / GETTY IMAGES ©JOHN COLETTI/ GETTY IMAGES ©3
4
León
3
A royal city with revolutionary under-
currents, León both enchants and
baffles. Within the city, you’ll find an artsy,
slightly edgy vibe originally fueled by the
Sandinista revolution and now by the uni-
versity (p148) and a 120-horsepower party
scene. Come sunrise, you can spend a good
day exploring the Catedral (p143), muse-
ums and downtown area, before heading
out to honey-blonde beaches, volcanoes
and Old West cowboy towns. View from León
CatedralIsla de Ometepe
4
Lago de Nicaragua’s beloved center-
piece, Isla de Ometepe (p112) has it all:
twin volcanoes, lush hillsides cut by walking
tracks, archaeological remains, ziplines,
monkeys and birdlife, waterfalls, lapping
waves at your doorstep, and a laid-back
island air that keeps travelers in the now as
they make their way through this lost para-
dise found again. At the heart of the island’s
charms are the cool hostels, camping areas
and peaced-out traveler scenes. Custom-
fit your experience from high-end luxury
lodges to groovy-groupie hippie huts.PLAN YOUR TRIP
NICARAG
uA’S T OP 15