Nicaragua - People and places

Masaya volcano-Volcán en Masaya

2022-12-19T17:06:00.009-06:00

We went to the Masaya volcano today. It's definitely worth a visit when you are in the Managua, Masaya, Granada area of Nicaragua. There are various tourist packages available for purchase as you arrive at the main park entrance. The prices (for foreigners) range from $5 to $20, depending on the tour you choose. If you go during the day, there is a three-hour walking tour for $5. One of the night visits, one-hour and 15 minutes, costs $6. There are quite a few other options. Click HERE for the latest information on prices and official tours (in Spanish). For more information, click THIS. Oh, and if you are wondering, yes this is the place high-wire daredevil Nik Wallenda did his walk, with the live volcano below.

Fuimos al volcán Masaya hoy. Definitivamente vale la pena una visita si te encontrás en la zona de Managua, Masaya o Granada en Nicaragua. Podés comprar varios paquetes turísticos al llegar a la entrada principal del parque. Los precios (para extranjeros) varían de $5 a $20, dependiendo del tour que elijás. Si vas durante el día, hay un recorrido a pie de tres horas por $5. Una de las visitas nocturnas, de una hora y 15 minutos, cuesta $6. Hay muchas otras opciones. Haga clic aquí para obtener la información más reciente sobre precios y tours oficiales (en español). Para obtener más información, haga clic en ESTE. Ahhh, y por si preguntabas, sí, este es el lugar donde el temerario Nik Wallenda hizo su hazaña de cruzar este lugar caliente en una cuerda floja.

Granada and the Isletas

2022-12-19T15:50:00.002-06:00

One of the most beautiful tourist destinations you will find as you vacation in Nicaragua is the city of Granada. San Juan del Sur is just 61 miles away so you have to visit here. It's famous for many things but one of the most outstanding features of this tourist destination is Las Isletas. You can find a few luxury hotels, boutique hotels, and many restaurants in the area but mostly you will find natural beauty in and among the 365 small islands. Check out this house built on one of them!!!

Uno de los destinos más bellos que encontrarás en tus vacaciones en Nicaragua es la ciudad de Granada. Está a solo 98 kilómetros de San Juan del Sur así que es un destino obligatorio. Es famosa por muchas cosas pero uno de sus rasgos sobresalientes de este destino para el turismo son Las Isletas. Hay uno que otro hotel de lujo y restaurantes cerca de Las Isletas pero lo que más te impresionará es la belleza natural entre las 365 isletas. ¡Mirá esta casa construida sobre una de las islas!

Bringing Home the Flavors of Nicaragua: A Provisional Guide to Nicaraguan Cuisine

2022-11-28T19:05:00.005-06:00

Introduction to Nicaraguan Cuisine

In a country with a population of 5.6 million, Nicaraguan food is influenced by European, African, and indigenous people.

The foods in Nicaragua are known as some of the most diverse in Central America because it has close ties to European colonization. The African slave trade also influenced Nicaraguan food. This was due to the fact that many found themselves enslaved in the country's fertile land and plantation farms.

The food from Nicaragua has roots in pre-Columbian era. Indigenous groups like the Chibcha people used to eat corn, potatoes, beans, and squash long before Spanish colonization began in 1521. It also includes grains and legumes from Africa like black-eyed peas or chickpeas.

Tips on Finding Ingredients for Nicaraguan Recipes - please check out the many posts on this blog with reference to Nicaraguan food.

For instance, the Nicaraguan food in the picture above is commonly called a "repocheta", a delicious combination of a fried corn tortilla, refried beans, pulled pork, cabbage salad, cream, and cheese. Oh is it good!!!

Managua Cathedral

2022-11-24T19:57:00.002-06:00

The Cathedral of Managua is Nicaragua’s oldest cathedral and one of its most important religious buildings. The cathedral was built in the 19th century and has been damaged by several earthquakes, including one in 1972 that left it with a large crack in its bell tower. This is a great place for tourists to visit and take pictures.

La Catedral de Managua es la catedral más antigua de Nicaragua y uno de sus edificios religiosos más importantes. La catedral fue construida en el siglo XIX y ha sido dañada por varios terremotos, incluido uno en 1972 que la dejó con una gran grieta en su campanario. Este es un lugar idóneo para turistas - para visitar y tomar fotos.

Home cooked lunch in Nicaragua/Almuerzo casero en Nicaragua

2022-11-01T19:17:00.001-06:00

Foods from Nicaragua are great. We had a nice home-cooked meal in Nancimí, Rivas, Nicaragua. It consisted of chicken (cooked in olive oil and basil), slightly refried beans, fried green plantains (called tostones and a big part of Nicaragua's food), a salad made of tomato, onion, cilantro, and lime juice, rice, and some nice ice-cold Coca-Cola to wash it down. One of the simple and delicious home-cooked foods in Nicaragua that you might be served off the beaten path...

Comimos un delicioso almuerzo casero en Nancimí, Rivas, Nicaragua. Consistió de pollo (sofrito en aceite de oliva y albahaca), frijoles ligeramente refritos, plátanos verdes fritos (llamados tostones), una ensalada hecha de tomate, cebolla, cilantro y jugo de limón, arroz y una Coca-Cola bien helada para bajarlo todo. Es una de las comidas deliciosas y hechas en casa que vos podrías probar en caminos adentrados de Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan Vaho (or Baho)

2022-09-02T18:44:00.001-06:00

Vaho (or baho), pronounced 'ba-ho' or 'ba-o' depending on who you ask, is a Nicaraguan food that is one of the country's most popular dishes...typically a Sunday favorite of the food in Nicaragua although you can find it in specialty cafes any day of the week. I ate this particular plate in Ciudad Sandino on a Friday...and they called it 'ba-o'.

As you can see it's made of beef, yuca, green plantains, ripe plantains, tomato, and cabbage salad with onion, lemon, and spicy pepper dressing to top it off. It's not one of my favorites but it is good. Definitely worth a try as it is one of the many varied foods in Nicaragua.

Vaho (o baho), pronunciado 'ba-jo' o 'bao' dependiendo a quién le preguntés, es uno de los platos más populares de Nicaragua... típicamente un favorito los domingos. Sin embargo, podés encontrarlo en vemtas de comida cualquier día de la semana. Este plato en particular lo comí un viernes en Ciudad Sandino... y lo llamaron 'bao'.

Como podés ver, está hecho de carne de res, yuca, plátanos verdes, plátanos maduros, ensalada de tomate y repollo con un aderezo de cebolla, limón y chile picante. No es uno de mis favoritos, pero es bueno. Definitivamente vale la pena probarlo en su visita a Nicaragua.

Nicaragua's beautiful flowers

2022-08-08T14:36:00.000-06:00

Nicaragua has a variety of beautiful flowers that are cultural symbols and national pride. Nicaragua's beautiful flowers are well-known around the world for their beauty, scent, and medicinal properties.

Nicaragua tiene una variedad de hermosas flores que son símbolos culturales y orgullo nacional. Las hermosas flores de Nicaragua son conocidas en todo el mundo por su belleza, aroma y propiedades medicinales.

Chicken with vegetables, plantains, and white rice

2022-07-25T19:13:00.001-06:00

Managua, Nicaragua has some of the best home cooking that Nicaragua has to offer...here is a simple, typical, and delicious dish: pollo con verduras, tostones y arroz blanco (chicken with vegetables, fried plantains, and white rice). Mmmmm....good!

Las Isletas in Granada, Nicaragua

2022-07-05T20:29:00.000-06:00

Reminiscing on the three years that I lived in Granada, Nicaragua, inevitably I go back as a tourist. This time it was with a friend from Mexico so we did the 1 hour tour of Las Isletas. It cost C$450 (negotiated by my Nica wife there at the end of the road in the tourist park at the end of the barrio San Juan del Sur.. The water was shockingly low...I had never seen it so low...but once we were out of the clear (the boat docking area) things were fine. Testing out a new lense on my Olympus so here you go....

Nicaraguan iguana

2022-04-17T10:46:00.001-06:00

3/19/2013

We hear a lot of scratching and running around on our roof. Since we live in a fairly protected property in Managua, this reptile has his run of the place. It's a big Nicaraguan iguana and he regularly comes down to feed on the grass, flowers and trees. My fear is that he get trapped by a neighbor, as these are highly valued for food in Nicaragua, especially during Holy Week (Semana Santa). He survived that. What is the connection between Holy Week (Semana Santa) and iguanas? Read this blog from Rachel Lindsay.

Escuchamos muchos rasguños y correteos en nuestro techo. Como vivimos en una propiedad bastante protegida en Managua, este reptil tiene dominio del lugar. Es una gran iguana nicaragüense. Se baja regularmente para alimentarse de la hierba, las flores y los árboles. Mi temor es que lo atrape un vecino, ya que estos son muy apreciados como alimento en Nicaragua, especialmente durante la Semana Santa. Hasta el momento ha sobrevivido.

Carne asada

2022-03-19T15:30:00.000-06:00

A Nicaraguan stronghold is 'la fritanga', a species of Nicaraguan fast food available on sidewalks throughout Nicaraguan cities and pueblos. There you will find carne asada (beef, chicken, pork), fried cheese, gallo pinto (that perfect mix of rice and beans), enchiladas (a la Nica), fried ripe plantains, tajadas (fried green plantains, a latin american version of potato chips) and many other delicious treats. Don't expect it dirt cheap...that plate cost ($3.25) but its a hefty portion of Nica cuisine that's sure to fill the largest appetite! Ummm!

Street food is a type of food that is served on the streets, by vendors or in other public spaces. Street foods are often sold from a cart, food truck, or portable kiosk, and they include many forms of regional and national dishes.

Street food can be found in many places around the world. In some countries like Nicaragua, street food is one of the most popular types of cuisine. The street foods in Nicaragua are called fritanga and they are served by vendors that typically set up their carts on the sidewalks during evening hours. These carts sell grilled chicken and pork, steak with cheese and rice and beans (gallo pinto). Fritangas also have plantains that are fried to perfection, for a crunchy addition to your plate!

La comida callejera es un tipo de comida que se sirve en las calles, por vendedores ambulantes o en otros espacios públicos. Los alimentos callejeros a menudo se venden en un carrito, camión de comida o quiosco portátil, e incluyen muchas formas de platos regionales y nacionales.

La comida callejera se puede encontrar en muchos lugares del mundo. En algunos países como Nicaragua, la comida callejera es uno de los tipos de cocina más populares. Las comidas callejeras en Nicaragua se llaman fritanga y son servidas por vendedores que normalmente instalan sus carritos en las aceras durante las horas de la noche. Estos carritos venden pollo y cerdo a la parrilla, carne asada con queso y arroz y frijoles (gallo pinto). Las fritangas también tienen plátanos que se fríen a la perfección, ¡para una adición crujiente a su plato!

Pancha, la friendly Nicaraguan monkey

2021-10-18T19:22:00.002-06:00

Monkeys are a popular pet in Nicaragua. They are known to be good at picking coconuts and can provide a lot of entertainment.

Having a monkey as a pet is not for everyone. Monkeys require time, patience, and commitment that not everyone is able to give. However, if you can provide these things, then monkeys make excellent pets!

El mono es una mascota popular en Nicaragua. Se sabe que son buenos recolectando cocos. Pueden proporcionar mucho entretenimiento a las familias con quien viven.

Tener un mono como mascota no es para todos. Los monos requieren tiempo, paciencia y compromiso que no todos pueden dar. Sin embargo, si podés proporcionar estas cosas, ¡los monos son excelentes mascotas y amigos!

La hermosa Flor de Avispa - the beautiful Hibiscus flower

2021-10-02T11:02:00.010-06:00

In Nicaragua, Hibiscus (flor de avispa in Spanish) flowers are very common and often used as decorative plants. The flower is part of the Malvaceae family and can grow up to about 4-6 feet tall. Additionally, this beautiful flower can come in a variety of colors such as white, pink, and red.

En Nicaragua, las Flor de Avispa son muy comunes y a menudo se usan como plantas decorativas. Esta planta es parte de la familia Malvaceae y puede crecer hasta aproximadamente 4-6 pies de altura. Además, la hermosa Flor de Avispa puede apreciarse en una variedad de colores como blanco, rosa y rojo.

Old Cathedral of Managua

2021-09-23T09:36:00.001-06:00

Have you ever been to the old downtown ruins in Managua, Nicaragua? In Managua, there are a lot of buildings with architectural beauty and historical significance that are really worth exploring.

In this case, the Old Cathedral (St. James Cathedral is its rarely mentioned real name) is one of those buildings. This might be one of the first places that you should visit: you can see how it looks from the outside, and walk around the grounds. But even more interesting would be to go inside. It's the same place the famous salsero Luís Enrique filmed the video for "Qué sé yo" (around the year 2000) I don't think any outsiders have been inside since the filming of that video, unfortunately. Entrance is no longer permitted.

This famous building...ruined by the earthquake in 1972 is a great starting point for pictures of the old downtown Managua. This picture of the Old Cathedral in Managua was taken from the backside in the surrounding Rubén Darío neighborhood.

El Astillero, Tola, Rivas

2021-09-18T19:22:00.000-06:00

El Astillero is a quiet little fishing and surfing village in Tola (parte of Rivas), Nicaragua, ideal destination for surfers and surf enthusiasts. Surfing has been a part of Nicaraguan culture dating back to the 1500s. Today, there are four beaches to choose from within this small village: Las Olas, El Patio, El Diamante and La Playita.

It’s about a 11 km. drive from the Las Salinas village. The people are warm and friendly. It is well worth a stop for a day or two on your surfing tour though the golden coast of Nicaragua. Surfers can also enjoy plenty of other activities when they visit this Nicaraguan village including fishing, horseback riding on the beach or just relaxing at one of the many hostels that have been developed to accommodate tourists in recent years.

El Astillero es un pueblo de pescadores y surfistas pequeño y tranquilo en Tola (parte de Rivas), Nicaragua, destino ideal para surfistas y entusiastas del surf. El surf ha sido parte de la cultura nicaragüense que se remonta al siglo XVI. Hoy, hay cuatro playas para elegir dentro de este pequeño pueblo: Las Olas, El Patio, El Diamante y La Playita.

Queda a una distancia de 11 km. de Las Salinas. La gente es cálida y amigable. Vale la pena detenerse por uno o dos días en su tour de surf por la costa dorada de Nicaragua. Los surfistas también pueden disfrutar de muchas otras actividades cuando visitan este pueblo nicaragüense, como pescar, montar a caballo en la playa o simplemente relajarse en uno de los muchos hospedajes que se han desarrollado en los últimos años para acomodar a los turistas.

Convert a school bus into a home?

2021-07-28T16:18:00.000-06:00

Have you ever thought about buying a school bus and converting it into a home? A school bus that was converted into a home in Nicaragua could be the answer to many housing problems.

I'm not sure how this U.S. school bus got to Caña de Castilla, Granada but the old school bus has been converted into a cozy home for the owner’s family. This could be an affordable solution for many families who are struggling with high costs of living and lack of space.

While it may not be ideal for every family, if you are looking to save money on rent or downsize your living space this might just be what you are looking for!

¿Has pensado alguna vez en comprar un bus escolar y convertirlo en vivienda? Un autobús escolar convertido en hogar en Nicaragua podría ser la respuesta a muchos problemas de vivienda.

No estoy seguro cómo llegó este autobús escolar estadounidense a Caña de Castilla, Granada, pero el antiguo autobús escolar se ha convertido en un hogar acogedor para la familia del propietario. Esta podría ser una solución asequible para muchas familias que luchan con los altos costos de vida y la falta de espacio.

Si bien puede que no sea ideal para todas las familias, si está buscando ahorrar dinero en el alquiler o reducir el tamaño de su espacio habitable, ¡esto podría ser lo que está buscando!

Lunch at the market

2021-07-28T15:42:00.000-06:00

I ate at Doña Julia's little lunch place on Wednesday, in the bowels of what was once the Managua Judicial complex. She was offering grilled heart or chicken. I opted for the chicken with rice, fried green plantains (tostones), salad and a Fanta roja (a Coca-Cola version of the Nicaraguan staple 'Rojita' - a carbonated beverage that tastes like sweet, bubbly rose water. This could set you back around C$40 plus C$10 for the drink.

In a country with a population of 5.6 million, Nicaraguan cuisine is influenced by European, African, and indigenous people.

The cuisine is known as one of the most diverse in Central America because it has close ties to European colonization. The African slave trade also influenced the food. This was due to the fact that many found themselves enslaved in Nicaragua's fertile land and plantation farms.

Nicaraguan cuisine has roots in the pre-Columbian era. Indigenous groups like the Chibcha people used to eat corn, potatoes, beans and squash long before Spanish colonization began in 1521. It also includes grains and legumes from Africa like black-eyed peas or chickpeas.

Wherever it came from, Nicaraguan food is good!

Old house - Casa de antes

2021-07-14T19:50:00.001-06:00

This is a typical construction in some parts of Nicaragua, dating back a few years. It's made of wooden supports and mud. It's surprising that these houses are actually cool inside and they last for years, despite the rain, wind, etc. However, in earthquake-prone areas (read most of the west coast in Nicaragua) these houses are slowly being destroyed because of the tremors.

Aquí está una construcción típica de algunos lugares de Nicaragua, obviamente de antaño. Se ha construido de soportes de madera y barro. Sorprendentemente las casas son bastante frescas y aguantan la lluvia, viento, etc. por años. Sin embargo, en zonas de riesgo sísmico (léase toda la franja occidental de Nicaragua) estas casas se van desapareciendo debido a los temblores.
7/23/09

Cortadito

2021-06-18T17:56:00.003-06:00

Nicaragua has excellent coffee production. Of course, the Nicaraguan highlands offer the best coffee varieties. However, almost anymore you point to on a map of Nicaragua, you will find local coffee shops that use locally grown coffee to make a variety of delicious coffee drinks.

Have you met @beiconcito? You can find him here on Instagram. He loves a good macchiato or café cortadito, as they call it in Nicaragua. Here at Café Las Flores you can get some of the best!

#cafe #coffee #coffeetime #pig #piglet #chancho #chanchito #littlepig #tunco #tunquito 🐖 🐷 #managua #nicaeatz #nicafood #nicaraguanfood #comidanica #comidanicaraguense #nica #nicaraguan #nicaraguanfood #nicaragua #foodlover #foodpost #foodoftheday #foodpics #foodpic #foods #foodstagram #cafelasflores @cafelasflores

Wonders of wildlife

2021-04-30T10:57:00.002-06:00

Nicaragua flights aren't only made by airlines. There exists many wonders of wildlife which provide opportunities for ample bird watching throughout the country. I remember being in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua and frequently seeing the turquoise-browed motmot, the Nicaraguan national bird (its local name is guardabarranco).

However, there is another smaller bird that is harder to find, unless you have binoculars for bird watching. It's called the red-legged honeycreeper (mielero patirrojo o mielero colicorto). Recently, I was able to capture a pair of these birds, male and female, feasting on a mango. The well mannered blue honeycreeper would sit back on a branch waiting for his green colored mate to eat. When she would leave, he would come and eat. When she came back, he again moved off to the side and let her eat...they did this for several minutes and took quite a bite out of that mango. It was a beautiful bird watching opportunity. If you keep your eyes open, I imagine this scene repeats itself wherever you point to on a Nicaragua map.

Mango mayhem repeats

2021-04-19T10:18:00.003-06:00

If you look on a Nicaraguan map in search of places where tropical fruits grow, you would find them everywhere. Exotic fruit is common in Nicaragua. For example, there are at least 500 and perhaps as many as 1,000 different varieties of mangos in the world. I don't have an exact answer but Nicaragua must have at least 20 varieties of these luscious tropical fruits...and the Nicaraguan population loves them. Even in the capital of Nicaragua, Managua, it is common to find mango trees in abundance. Well, let me share some pictures of this delight which, in fact, in found throughout Central America.

Si mirás a un mapa de Nicaragua en busca de lugares donde crecen frutas tropicales, las encontrarás en todas partes. La fruta exótica es común en Nicaragua. Por ejemplo, hay al menos 500 y quizás hasta 1,000 variedades diferentes de mango en todo el mundo. No tengo una respuesta exacta, pero Nicaragua debe tener al menos 20 variedades de estas deliciosas frutas tropicales ... y la población nicaragüense las ama. Incluso en la capital de Nicaragua, Managua, es común encontrar árboles de mango en abundancia. Bueno, permitime compartirte algunas imágenes de esta delicia que, de hecho, se encuentra en toda Centroamérica.

Vigorón

2021-03-13T18:39:00.001-06:00

Vigorón is a yummy typical dish in Nicaragua...combine pork rinds, yucca, cabbage salad with fresh lime juice and there you have it...Granada is famous for its vigorón, although you will find it in many places throughout Nicaragua.

It really is a good combination, especially if you can get the chicharrón with a little meat on them. Wash all of this down with an ice cold Pepsi...and you are good to go!

Vigorón es un delicioso plato típico en Nicaragua... combinando chicharrones, yuca, ensalada de repollo con jugo de limón y ahí lo tenés... Granada es una ciudad famosa por su vigorón, aunque lo encontrarás en muchos lugares por todo Nicaragua.

La verdad que es una buena combinación de ingrediantes, especialmente si se puede conseguir el chicharrón con un poco de carnita...luego con una Pepsi helada...y vas de viaje!

Mango season

2021-03-12T18:51:00.001-06:00

There are Mango trees all over Nicaragua and nary a mango goes to waste, at least not at the start of the mango season. Nicaraguans love mangos...in fact, as the trees begin to produce fruitage, green mangos are not spared as they are enjoyed for their tart flavor. As the season progresses, these green mangos begin their transformation into the sweet, succulent flavors that are highly esteemed throughout Nicaragua and many other places around the world.

Stingrays/rayas látigo

2020-12-20T17:01:00.000-06:00

Do you like fresh fish? The fishermen in Corinto, Nicaragua often include stingrays in their daily catch. They are killed at sea and then brought to the beach where anxious workers cut them up. Many times the flesh of these animals is cut, breaded, fried and served as "fish sticks" in the local restaurants. It has a smooth, very neutral, fishlike flavor.

¿Te gusta el marisco fresco? Los pescadores de Corinto, Nicaragua suelen pescar las rayas látigo. Las matan en el mar y las traen a la playa para que los 'fileteros' las preparen. En muchas instancias, la carne se corta, se empaniza y se fria para ser servido como 'dedos de pescado' en los restaurantes. Tiene un sabor suave, neutral, como pescado.

Panorama - Charco Verde

2020-11-19T21:08:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been to Charco Verde on the Isla de Ometepe in Nicaragua? As far as tourism goes, it is a great place to visit, surrounded by the beauty of Lake Nicaragua (Cocibolca). You can see it there towards the center-right of the photo - beautiful Charco Verde.

¿Has visitado alguna vez Charco Verde en la Isla de Ometepe en Nicaragua? En cuanto al turismo, es un tremendo lugar, rodeado por la belleza del Lago de Nicaragua (Cocibolca). Podés verlo allí en el centro, un poco hacia la derecha - el encantado y famoso Charco Verde.

[photo editado by Luminar]