Adventure
There are so many activities, places of interest, and adventure in Nicaragua that we cannot possible list them all. The following are a few ideas to tempt your adventurous taste buds:
HIKING / VOLCANOES
Whether you're hiking up a mule trodden road or one of the more than 28 volcano ascents throughout Nicaragua, you will be surrounded by some of the most spectacular natural beauty Central America has to offer.
Nicaragua's Maribio and Dirian mountain ranges contain both dormant and active volcanoes. Each range is completely unique and offers sweeping countryside panoramas, exotic foliage, and different difficulty levels and duration. The Masaya Volcano allows you to walk right up to its edge and peer down into the crater. Or visit Crater Santiago where green parakeets roost above the smoldering molten lava. You can even swim in the warm waters of some craters. Just make sure to ask a guide before taking the plunge.
On the less well-established trails you will be able to truly experience the country and culture by sharing the road with horses, cattle, and families walking to and from their fields and small adobe villages on paths that have connected the rural communities for centuries.
FISHING
Nicaragua is a fisherman's dream. With its two large lakes, hundreds of miles of Pacific coastline, and numerous crater lakes, Nicaragua has enough fresh and saltwater species of fish to keep you active all year long.
Sport fishing trips are available all year. Saltwater fishing on the Pacific mainly concentrate on tuna, snapper, mahi-mahi, roosterfish, sailfish, and jacks. Fresh water fishing mainly concentrates on tarpon, tilapia, snook, and guapote.
SAILING
The sailing in Southern Nicaragua is some of the finest in the world. Clear blue water, warm tropical breezes, lush green island palms, and gold sand beaches await you in Nicaragua.
Nicaragua is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year. The average daytime temperature during the summer is 85º F while the winter temperatures average 70º F.
Sailing conditions in the waters off of southern Nicaragua consist of 15 to 55 knots winds, high humidity, and frequent calms. This area also receives far less rain than the Caribbean region, which is wet most of the year.
For those that don't own a boat or that want to take it easy and let someone else do the work, there are numerous charter companies to work with in the region for you to either enjoy on your own or with a group of newly acquainted friends.
OPEN-AIR MARKETS
Throughout Nicaragua you will find small roadside stands and quaint local markets where locals come to sell their wares. The town of Masaya is home to one of Nicaragua's best open-air markets. Fresh fruits and vegetables along with handmade goods such as jewelry, pottery, leather goods, hammocks, clothes, musical instruments, etc. are available for purchase.
Also visit the historic cities of Leon and Granada - founded as the first city in continental America in 1524 - to experience Spanish colonial architecture, antique churches, horse-drawn carriages, or the local markets that are distinctive to each one.
SURFING
"He moved on to Nicaragua, where the surf apparently hadn't dropped below head-high since prehistoric times."...Allan C. Weisbecker
Year round offshore winds with incoming Pacific swells give Nicaragua's beaches world-class surf breaks that are just now being discovered. You can find hollow A-frame beach breaks, classic point breaks, or critical outer reef breaks. Enjoy offshore winds over 300 days of the year due to Nicaragua's permanent Santa Ana condition.
Local surf shops are aplenty near the coast and you will have no trouble finding equipment, lessons, or directions to some of Nicaragua's virtually unvisited virgin beaches.
CANOPY TOURS / ZIP LINES
Propel through a tropical jungle high above the forest floor. From this vantage point you will be able to view countryside and jungle life from a perspective previously only scene by the exotic species that reside in this colorful landscape.
Nicaragua's canopy tours and zip lines provide you with an exhilarating leap through Pochote trees and breathtaking views of active volcanoes, tropical wildlife and ocean and lake vistas. These tours supply you with the equipment needed and are fully chaperoned by trained guides.
DIVING & SNORKELING
Nicaragua's Pacific Ocean offers fantastic diving and snorkeling in and around rock reefs inhabited by colorful, parrotfish, snappers, surgeonfish, dolphins, manta rays, bull sharks, and depending on the season, whales.
The best Pacific diving and snorkeling in Nicaragua is in the summer months (December through April) when the waters are the clearest - visibility ranges from 40 to 80 feet - and temperatures range from 75 to 82º F. Lobsters, Octopi, shrimp, and seahorses are abundant in these waters due to little exploration by humans. For divers, there are also old shipwrecks off the coast for you to explore - just make sure that you have an experienced guide to show you the way.
Freshwater diving and snorkeling takes you into Nicaragua's volcanic crater lakes of Apoyo and Xiloá. Apoyo has better visibility, but Xiloá has more colorful fish. There are still at least 10 unidentified fish species in Nicaragua's freshwater crater lakes.
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