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Managua
The city of Managua is the capital of Nicaragua, and its population is estimated at one million inhabitants. It originated as a small indigenous city.
After celebrating the country's independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821, Managua was elevated to a city in 1846, and became the capital of the Republic of Nicaragua in 1852.
The name Managua comes from the Nahuatl "managuac", and means "Surrounded by Lakes"; it is commonly know as "the Bride of Xolotlan" (the Nahuatl name for Lake Managua).
Like the rest of Nicaragua, Managua has a strong folkloric heritage and deep-rooted traditions. The customs and habits of its residents also identify the capital as a happy, caring, hard-working and, above all, optimistic place which has been able to move beyond adversity and continues to unite efforts to overcome it. Along with other cities and towns around the country, Managua has its own special cuisine.
Bluefields
The city of Bluefields is the oldest city on the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, dating back to 1602. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, English pirates and traders began to populate the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, attracted by the natural features of the coast that served as both a refuge and a source of supplies.
In 1894, President Jose Santos Zelaya definitively incorporated Mosquitia into the national territory, and on October 11, 1903, Bluefields officially became a city.
The greatest cultural and traditional expression of the municipality is in the festival of the Palo de Mayo (the Maypole) which lasts throughout the month of May, and in which the population of Bluefields and the rest of the Atlantic Coast region participate.
Miskito Cays
The Miskito Cays are a true paradise in the Caribbean, consisting of small islands with white sand beaches and plentiful coconut trees.
These cays provide protection for wildlife because the sea around them has coral reefs and submarine feeding areas that are refuge for the manatees and marine turtles.
In the Caribbean Sea, from Cape Gracias a Dios to Puerto Cabezas, there is a 120 kilometer (75 mile) length of islands, sandbars and coral formations, which became part of the Miskito Cays Biological Reserve on November 30, 1991.
This Reserve is located 77 kilometers (48 miles) from Puerto Cabezas. It protects coral reefs, marine feeding areas, marine turtles, manatees and other wildlife. The largest cay - called Big Cay by the local residents - is to the northeast and has an area of 37 km2 (14 mi2). It is the only grassy cay; mangroves are the dominant vegetation on the rest of the small islands.
It is also the only cay with potable water. There is a belief, among those that fish there, that Big Cay is inhabited by the ghosts of the pirates that wreaked destruction on the Atlantic Coast several centuries ago. For this reason, no one sleeps on Big Cay, it is only visited during the day.
Corn Island
Corn Island is some 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the coast and can be reached by air or by boat.
On these idyllic Caribbean islands, you can enjoy turquoise waters, beaches of white sand, beautiful coconut palms, exquisite fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and the rhythm of the Nicaraguan Caribbean region.
From Corn Island you may also visit Little Corn Island and enjoy its deserted beaches, hike to the interior of the island and swim in its beautiful multi-toned waters.
Corn Island and other sites on the Atlantic Coast offer warm water diving in transparent waters with an abundance of fauna and coral formations. Among the most fascinating species that can be observed in the Caribbean is the manatee.
In the case of scuba diving accidents (decompression sickness), patients can be transferred to Puerto Cabezas where there is a hyperbaric chamber.
Granada
The colonial city of Granada is located some 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Managua. Founded in 1524, it is the oldest city in the continental Americas.
Set on the west coast of Lake Nicaragua, it has excellent potential for tourism and historical interest. Like Leon, the city still retains its colonial style.
Relive those times by taking a ride in a horse-drawn coach, leaving from the Parque Colon, and enjoy the scenery of Granada. On Fridays, experience the Noches de Serenata (Serenade Nights) and enjoy the local cuisine and a festive atmosphere enlivened by a variety of musical groups.
Isletas de Granada
Visit the shores of Lake Nicaragua and take a boat ride from La Cabaña Amarilla or from Port Asese, for an incredible ecological voyage among 350 small islands, borne of an ancient and violent explosion of Mombacho Volcano.
On the Isleta La Ceiba, visit the hotel of the same name, where you may enjoy aquatic and fishing activities and spend the night under a sky inundated with stars.
Take photographs of the San Pablo Fort. To the south is Zapatera Island, famous for its many pre-Columbian petroglyphs, which are well worth viewing.
Leon
In the western part of the country, the city of Leon was founded by the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524.The city of Leon was the capital of Nicaragua until 1852.
Leon still retains its colonial-style streets and buildings from that time, evidenced by its beautiful cathedral - the largest in Central America. The cathedral's atrium is adorned with impressive lions, more of which are found around the fountain of the central plaza. This church was built between 1747 and 1860, and then restored in 1992. The interior is in the baroque style, and holds valuable oil paintings and frescos as well as an image of Christ carved in wood, which was rescued from Leon Viejo. It also houses the tomb of the "Prince of Spanish Letters", Ruben Dario.
Matagalpa
According to some historians, the name "Matagalpa" is from the Nahuatl and means "Entangled Town".
There is a great abundance of protected areas such as Mount Musun, providing habitats for thousands of species, including a wealth and variety of birds and other species. Ferns and orchids abound in its lush wet tropical forests.
Among the architectural beauties of Matagalpa is the baroque church of San Jose de Laborio, which is across from the Ruben Dario Park, and San Pedro Cathedral which, architecturally, is the most magnificent building of the city. Inside you may appreciate the fine silverwork and woodwork, as well as bas-relief and mid-relief sculptures.
Ometepe
The name, Ometepe, comes from the Nahuatl word "ometepetl" which means "Two Hills", as two majestic volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas, rise out of the island. It is the largest lake island in Central America. The lake itself is the only freshwater habitat for sharks in the world.
Ometepe is an ecotourist's jewel, with its two volcanoes, Concepcion (1,610 meters or 5,282 feet) and Maderas (1,340 meters or 4,396 feet above sea level) and their tropical dry forest. They are united by a small isthmus, Istian, giving the island the shape of an inverted eight. The Maderas Volcano has a beautiful lake at its summit.
The island is an ideal site for aquatic sports, fishing and ecological hikes which provide contact with its rich flora and fauna. You will find petroglyphs and statues on Ometepe that are an important part of Nicaragua's pre-Columbian treasure. |
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