2019-10-01 Wanderlust

NICARAGUA

148 wanderlust.co.ukOctober 2019

DIDYOU

KNOW?

Nicaragua’s

nationalbird,the

turquoise-browed

motmot,laysits

eggsunderground.

Nestingpairstake

turnstodigholes.

151

Argencove

chocolate

Granada’s artisan chocolate

maker uses the ­inest cacao from

around the country, mixing it

with local ingredients such as

passion fruit and cashews.

152

Surf central

In-the-know surfers

head to Popoyo for its long

stretches of deserted beach

and virtually guaranteed surf.

153

Indio Maíz

biological

nature reserve

For the ultimate jungle

adventure, this remote wildlife-

rich reserve is the biggest

expanse of rainforest north of

the Amazon basin.

154

Estelí’s cigars

After the Cuban

revolution, tobacco seeds were

smuggled in to Nicaragua in

women’s handbags. Now the city

of Estelí leads the world in

premium, hand-rolled cigars.

155

Pearl Cays

On this string of tiny

palm-covered islands, there’s

nothing much to do but swing

daily in a hammock, swim in

the Caribbean, and ­ish for

your supper.

156

Rum

Flor de Caña

produces some of the world’s

­inest rum, and their Chinandega

distillery boasts the world’s

largest rum barrel.

SIX MORE NICARAGUAN SECRETS

Sarah Gilbert; Map illustration by Scott Jessop

Planning Guide

 The Wanderlust guide to

Nicaragua and El Salvador Archive

Online exclusive

 Revolutionary trails (Issue 104)

Visit http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/200

More online

Wild encounter
A white-faced
capuchin monkey
on Ometepe Island

Accommodation

Nicaragua has lodgings for every

budget. On Ometepe Island, Xalli

Hotel (xallihotel.com) has doubles

from US$35 (£29) B&B; on Little

Corn, Yemaya Island Hideaway

(yemayalittlecorn.com) has doubles

from US$70 (£57) room only; and

in Solentiname, Cabañas Paraiso

(+505 8732 1597) has doubles from

US$120 (£100) full-board.

In Granada’s Isletas, Jicaro

Island Lodge (jicarolodge.com)

has doubles from US$400 (£330)

full-board; in Granada, Hotel con

Corazon (hotelconcorazon.com)

has doubles from US$56 (£46)

B&B; in Managua, HotelLos Robles

(hotellosrobles.com) has doubles

from US$100 (£83) B&B; and on

the Paci­ic Coast, Morgan’s Rock

(morgansrock.com) has doubles

from US$460 (£380) B&B.

Food & drink

Gallo pinto (rice and beans) is a

Nicaraguan staple. Also, look out for

nacatamales (steamed dumplings),

vigorón (fried pork and yuca) and

guapote, a freshwater ­ish. Tropical

fruits such as guanábana (soursop)

and calala (passion fruit), are often

turned into drinks – refrescos (with

water) or batidas (with milk).

Further reading

Nicaragua (Lonely Planet, 2019)

http://www.visitnicaragua.us – o‚ icial

tourism board site