Nature of Nicaragua - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Fans of trekking and camping who are not very demanding for comfort will find many interesting routes in Nicaragua. Beautiful islands and lakes, active volcanoes with lava eruptions, thermal springs, and tropical flora – this country has so many wild areas with untouched nature. As proof of this, Museo Huellas de Acahualinca exhibits human footprints in the petrified lava. The age of these footprints is 5,000 – 6,000 years BC.

Nicaragua is a Spanish-speaking country. When studying the geography of Nicaragua, don’t forget about its language. Even in such popular tourist centers as Granada, not many people can speak English. Nicaragua is a volcanic country. Today, Cerro Negro Volcano not far from Leon is one of the most popular centers of extreme tourism in the country. There are hiking routes that lead to the top of the volcano. Cerro Negro offers one more unusual activity – volcano surfing. People slide down the slope covered with black volcanic ash using a special sandboard. Speed, hot air, dust, adrenaline, and great mood – this is something that you will definitely want to share with your friends.

The Masaya Volcano National Park includes several active volcanoes and thermal springs that surround them. Lava from the previous eruptions made tunnels in the ground. Today, tourists can visit these tunnels. Santiago is the most active volcano here. There is an observation area at the edge of the 570-meter-wide volcano crater. From here, visitors can see the burning lava lake. If you are scared of active volcanoes, climb to the extinct Mombacho that is located not far from Granada. The road to the top goes through the jungle. Tourists can walk to the top or reach it fast in a car. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In the national park of Archipiélago Zapatera, all connoisseurs of wild nature can explore an interesting area full of architectural landmarks that date back to the conquistador period. Canoeing to the islands in Lake Nicaragua is one more popular activity. Local maps often use another name of the lake, Cocibolca. It is home to such rare species as freshwater shark and swordfish. Small islands in Lake Nicaragua are perfect for romantic tourists. There is a restaurant on every island.

Ometepe is the biggest island in Cocibolca. There are two volcanoes on Ometepe, namely, active Conception (1,610m) and extinct Maderas (1,394m). There is a lake in the crater of Maderas, and the area is surrounded by tropical forests, tobacco and coffee plantations. Tourists can book excursions to any of these volcanoes. Some routes are complex and potentially dangerous, so they require good physical training and a professional guide. If you want to explore the north of the country, consider participating in the Ruta del Café tour. The Coffee Route tour includes such cities and areas as Esteli, Jinotega, Madriz, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia. During this tour, participants get acquainted with the coffee culture in Nicaragua, the history of cultivating coffee, coffee beans roasting methods, and the diversity of types and tastes of the popular drink.

If you like water-based adventures, don’t forget to visit Somoto Canyon. Here, the Coco River flows in a stone corridor for several kilometers. There are several routes in the canyon, ranging from simple to advanced ones. A horse-back riding excursion is the simplest way to explore the area. Fans of extreme activities usually select the complex trail that includes walking in the river, swimming in deep areas (all participants wear life-jackets), and exploration of the place where the River Coco meets two other rivers, the Tapacalí and Comali. The 13-kilometer-long path leads between cliffs and caves. The average length of the journey is 6 hours.

The Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is the biggest biosphere forest reserve in Central America. Indio Maíz Biological Reserve and Miskito are popular marine reserves that protect corals, sea turtles, and manatees. In Chichigalpa, at the foot of the active San Cristóbal Volcano, there is a tourist center that specializes in extreme sports. Visitors can rent gear, book excursions, eat, or find shelter here. There are no railways in the country because of the seismic activity, and so buses, taxis, and rented cars are the only available means of transport. Tourists should remember that spring and autumn are the most typical earthquake periods.

Despite some information regarding the potential danger of Nicaragua for tourists, the country is relatively safe compared to other countries in Central America (Salvador, Panama, Belize, and Honduras). As a rule, locals are friendly with Eastern and Western Europeans, but some people can be a bit cold with “gringo”, tourists from the United States. There are European tourists who used public buses or hitch-hiking to cross the country and proved that it is safe to travel in Nicaragua. It is possible to find free rooms even in small towns. Pay your attention to the time when you plan to visit this country. There are only two seasons in Nicaragua, winter and summer. Autumn and spring exist but the start of these seasons is not obvious.

Winter is Nicaragua is the time when it is warm in Europe – from May to October. Winter is the season of rains. It can rain heavily but rains usually do not last long. Rains that last several days are rare here. The average temperature is between +23°C and +31°C. Summer, the period from November to April, is warmer. The temperature is always above +30°C. On the Pacific coast and in the center of the country, the season change is more noticeable. The weather remains comfortable on the Caribbean coast almost all year round except for April and May. This part of the country is suitable for tourism for ten months a year.