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Tourists discover peaceful Nicaragua
As Nicaragua celebrates its second decade of peace, tourists are discovering Granada as one of the most attractive historic centres in Central America.
In Nicaragua, 'surf' steaming volcanoes and explore colonial cities
With a grin and quick pace, guide Rigo Sampson led a small group of hikers up a steep trail to the top of Cerro Negro, a stark 1,300-foot-tall volcano of black cinders, sulphur-stained rock and steaming vents. The dark volcanic cone thrusts ominously, without a speck of vegetation, out of the lush Nicaraguan plains near the city of Leon.
IMF Mission to Nicaragua
An IMF mission led by Vikram Haksar visited Managua over the past two weeks to discuss the authorities' medium-term economic program for which they have requested IMF support through a new three year arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF).
Adventure Travel 2006: The Best Trips
Nicaragua is so hot right now, but few norteamericanos seem to know it: The country remains virtually untouched by the U.S. travel market, perhaps because most travelers recognize Nicaragua only as the other half of the Iran-Contra Affair. These days, though, the political climate has stabilized, and the future's looking more hopeful.
Nicaragua: A don't-go spot of the '80s goes boom
Boomtown fever is often followed by nostalgia for the way of life that just disappeared. Rapid change usually means rapid loss of charm. Tourism boomtowns are, of course, no exception, and the world brims with overbuilt locations where it's now impossible to find what led folks to flock there in the first place.
Far, Far Away From Home
Buzz Dow, 58, who runs a family business in Cincinnati, Ohio, already had a second home in Vail, Colorado, and was looking for a third by the sea. "But we wanted to be in a community that was less developed and didn't have a lot of tourism," he says. "When I started looking at Nicaragua, my wife thought I was totally crazy."
Bright prospect in Nicaragua
"People often say about Nicaragua that if you come for a day you’ll never return but if you stay for a month you’ll never leave.” That’s the view of Tim Rogers, 31, editor of the Nica Times, the country’s fledgling English-language newspaper.
Nicaragua, a land of poetry…
To the new generation of travelers, Nicaragua represents booming beach breaks, volcano hiking, island paradises and laid-back colonial towns. It seems that the message - 'the civil war finished decades ago people!' - has finally gotten across to a world who had the country pegged as a troublespot.
Contra to expectations...
Nicaragua, a country best known for coffee, natural catastrophes and revolutionary politics, is turning to tourism as a way out of poverty. But what’s the draw for potential visitors? Michael Kerr went to see.
Raising the Bar in Nicaragua
Central America has seen a number of spectacular ocean real estate booms during the last two decades. Those who have been prescient and jumped on board early in these meteoric cycles have reaped massive gains – and have had the good fortune to enjoy beautiful property as well. It is not too late capitalize on this trend taking place now on the western coast of Nicaragua…
Nicaragua's Corn Islands, an unspoiled Paradise
If your idea of a Caribbean vacation includes facials, room service and $25 breakfasts, head to those islands whose names start with "Saint." But if strapping on a pair of hiking boots, slathering yourself in high-test mosquito repellent and trekking through the jungle to deserted beaches quickens your pulse, Little Corn or its sister, Great (also called Big) Corn, are your ticket.
The best real estate buys aren't where you might expect
Suzan Haskins has a tip for people interested in finding the world’s undiscovered beachfront property: follow the surfers. Long before any condo or resort developers arrive, surfers stake out remote beaches in their quest for good waves, says Haskins, who is the Latin America editorial director for InternationalLiving.com.
Nicaragua, the new Panama
Adventurous Americans, Canadians and Europeans willing to dodge livestock and potholes for the two-hour car ride south from Managua to this sleepy fishing village on the west coast of Nicaragua are finding just that.
Nicaraguan vice president says foreign investments signal confidence
Nicaragua: Nicaragua's vice president said Sunday that recent investment promises from three large international financial groups demonstrate confidence in the impoverished Central American nation.
Turtles, surf draw tourists to Nicaragua
Visitors to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua come for an authentic Central American experience. In recent years, the country has become a tourist destination.
Nicaragua rising: War-torn image gets a tourist makeover
Long branded the black sheep of Central America, Nicaragua is working hard to erase its 1980s reputation as a war-torn outpost where gringos were more likely to encounter Kalashnikov-toting campesinos than a comfortable hotel.
Surf’s Upscale as Sport Reverses Beach Bum Image
Surfing’s popularity has helped drive international real estate sales, with property along remote coastlines being bought and developed into resorts and vacation homes. Parts of Costa Rica are considered so crowded that some surfers have pushed north to Nicaragua.
Tycoon pledges more Nicaragua aid
Latin America's richest man, Carlos Slim, has agreed to invest more in Nicaragua after talks in Managua with left-wing President Daniel Ortega.
Real Estate: Nicaragua Optimism Despite Ortega
Real estate continues its boom in Nicaragua, spurred by low prices and growing tourism.
After Long Hiatus, Ortega Returns to Office in Nicaragua
Former revolutionary Daniel Ortega was sworn in as Nicaragua's president Wednesday, promising to maintain relations with the United States while joining a growing coalition of leftist leaders who have taken power across Latin America.
The Rediscovery of Nicaragua
LOLL in one of the pools at Pelican Eyes, a new development above the town of San Juan del Sur, on Nicaragua's Pacific Coast: a tranquil breeze blows up the hillside from the perfect bay below, the pool's disappearing edge merges with sea and sky, and the only sound is the rhythmic tapping of the bricklayers who are building the place.
Ortega Gets Early Vote of Confidence
Investors, developers and leaders of the financial sector are giving President-elect Daniel Ortega a cautious vote of confidence in response to the Sandinista leader's outreach efforts to build bridges of cooperation and communication with the private sector.
Ortega seeks to calm business fears
Americans have snatched up beachfront property at rock-bottom prices, planning tropical retirements. With Nicaragua's war long over and the government on the mend, thousands of gringos are living rich in the hemisphere's second-poorest nation.
Off the Beaten Path: Nicaragua rediscovered
Traveling off the beaten path has always been for the adventurous. But lately it seems as if more places in the world have gone from "go" to "don't go" due to wars, weather, crime and violence. Yet in a few hopeful spots, unexpected countries have become "go" destinations again. When no one was looking, Nicaragua became one of them.
50 Tours of a Lifetime
Like many of our readers, the editors of National Geographic Traveler have always shied away from organized tours, feeling that unscripted, independent travel is the richest sort.
U.S. Contribution to Economic Prosperity in Nicaragua
In 2005, U.S. direct investment in Nicaragua reached $245 million; this is equivalent to 5 percent of Nicaragua’s GDP of $4.9 billion.
Rival to Panama Canal Planned
Seeking to cash in on booming Asian exports, Nicaragua will announce a $20-billion proposal next week to build a canal linking the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans that would accommodate ships too large to use the Panama Canal, Nicaraguan officials said Friday.
Coast-to-Coast Volcano-Hopping Nicaragua
Nicaragua is so hot right now, but few norteamericanos seem to know it: The country remains virtually untouched by the U.S. travel market, perhaps because most travelers recognize Nicaragua only as the other half of the Iran-Contra Affair.
Cigar Aficionado Home
Tobacco men travel to the volcano-studded island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua for the next big thing.
Sandinistas… so What?
Dear International Living Reader, if you haven't heard already, this is an election year in Nicaragua. And as in any country in an election year, there are rumors, polls, and talk…a lot of talk.
Postcard from Nicaragua
Just before dawn, make your way through the narrow cobblestone streets of Granada, cross the still-silent Calle Vega and take a seat amid towering palms and lush mango trees dotting the Parque Central. You'll have a fine vantage point when the sun rises over Lago de Nicaragua and illuminates the towering cathedral.
Postcard from Nicaragua
For those mesmerized by the power of volcanoes, Nicaragua is a rising attraction, writes Anne-Marie O'Connor. But demand by rim-seekers has outstripped the limited infrastructure, putting hikers at risk.
Nicaragua Latest Retirement Haven
Florida native Jimmy Lewis had lived in neighboring Costa Rica for two years before he came to Nicaragua in 2001 to investigate an intriguing tale. ''I had a buddy in Granada who had been bugging me to visit for years, telling me you could order a whole fried bass and a bottle of rum for only $6,'' Lewis recalled. ``I thought, what the heck kind of a jungle is he living in?''
Nicaragua wants to lure tourists
Fifteen years after the Contras stopped battling the Sandinistas, Nicaragua still finds itself fighting that notorious war. Not on the ground, but in the minds of U.S. travelers who continue to fear the lush, rustic country just north of Costa Rica.
Nicaragua Enticing Budget Travelers
To the south, Costa Rica is known for its ecotourism. Farther north, Guatemala beckons with Mayan treasures and indigenous cultures. Now, Nicaragua is making a name as a Central American travel destination, too, welcoming guests to its beaches, Spanish colonial cities and other attractions.
In Nicaragua, Chasing the Unsurfed Wave
SURFERS are different from other travelers. Rattling down a dusty washboard road that connects the Nicaraguan towns of Rivas and Las Salinas in a rented microbus crowded with surfboards and duffel bags, dodging herds of goats and ox-drawn buggies loaded with bananas, the three of us weren't looking for cultural enrichment, boutique hotels or fine cuisine -- we just wanted to get stoked.
Destination: Nicaragua. Tranquility in an old trouble spot
It's easy to fall in love with San Juan del Sur, a fishing village on Nicaragua's Pacific coast. The pace is slow and the people are engaging. The rainy season, we had been assured, was over. But that hadn't stopped the torrential rain from pounding the roof of the Hotel Villa Isabella as I tried to fall asleep.
The world’s best-kept retirement secret
The war is long over, but the bad rap remains. Today's Nicaragua is an inexpensive paradise eager to welcome expatriates. Nicaragua is virtually unknown to most people and usually misunderstood, which is why forward-thinking investors can find some of the best real-estate deals on Earth in this country.
Spring Travel. Follow the Money
Travelers who have been to both countries say Nicaragua is like Costa Rica was 20 years ago, except there's even more on view, from an active volcano to a rich history. "It was an extraordinary learning experience," says Alan Bloch, a retired investment manager from Los Angeles who took his wife and two daughters there a few months ago.
Nicaragua, Best Deal?
Nicaragua? For many Americans, the name alone conjures images of revolutionaries and civil war. But that all ended 15 years ago, time enough to build infrastructure and some deluxe properties. Just last October, the group that runs the Lapa Rios ecolodge in Costa Rica opened a sister property in Playa Ocotal, Nicaragua, called Morgan's Rock.
First Jack Nicklaus Golf Course in Nicaragua
The developers of Seaside Mariana Spa & Golf Resort announce plans that Jack Nicklaus, one of the world's most preeminent golf course designers, will create the centerpiece to its development. Seaside Mariana Golf Club will become the first Jack Nicklaus-Signature golf course in the country. The 7,200-yard, par-72 course will be highlighted by tropical, undulating terrain, and the Nicklaus Design team will strategically design the course to be both challenging and enjoyable for players of all levels.
Nicaragua Rising
In addition to trailblazing vacationers like the Wilson's, an estimated 6,000-7,000 Americans live at least part time in Nicaragua. Many have gravitated to San Juan del Sur and other stretches of the Pacific coast, where the number of real estate developments has expanded from about two dozen to nearly 100 in less than three years, and to Granada, a proposed UNESCO heritage site on the northwestern shore of Lake Nicaragua.
50 Tours of a Lifetime
With the world's greatest concentration of inland waters, plentiful rain forest and a string of striking volcanoes, Nicaragua is considered one of the next hot adventure destinations. Nearly one-fifth of Nicaragua is forest reserves filled with toucans, parrots, monkeys and iguana in a land of more than 50 volcanoes. We'll swim in the warm waters of one extinct crater and hike around the steaming Crater Santiago, where green parakeets roost above smoldering lava. Our travel takes us to a native artisan market and authentic highland villages and to historic León and Granada, where brightly painted colonial homes reflect one of the oldest European settlements in the Western Hemisphere.
Relaxation matches exhilaration as we kayak the bird-rich Archipiélago de Las Isletas, a chain of 354 islands; visit the sweet beaches along the sweeping half moon bay of the little fishing village of San Juan del Sur and sail all day along the beautiful Pacific coast - all part of Central America's best-kept secret
Paradise Discovered?
WHAT second-home buyers yearn for in Central America is Costa Rica before the building boom. They want ocean views and unspoiled land, without the steep prices, crime and American fast-food chains. They want Panama before Donald Trump. Adventurous Americans, Canadians and Europeans willing to dodge livestock and potholes for the two-hour car ride south from Managua to this sleepy fishing village on the west coast of Nicaragua are finding just that. Three-bedroom homes with unfettered views of shimmering bays and turquoise water.
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