On a break contained by Costa Rica would it be fun to run a hours of daylight trip to Nicaragua? If so, where on earth?
I'm visiting Costa Rica but I'll simply be there a week. One place I am visit is La Fortuna, which is pretty close to Nicaragua. Are there any biddable towns or attractions that I can see in Nicaragua surrounded by a day? If so, what, and is it difficult to attain there transportation-wise? Thanks!
Answers: There are a couple of places. The department of Rivas within southern Nicaragua borders Lake Cocibolca to the East, the Pacific Ocean to the West and Costa Rica to the South, there you can find San Juan del Sur, a beach-town, totally laid back, abundant Costa Ricans go in that. Its only in the order of an hour from the Costa Rican/Nicaraguan border.
http://www.vianica.com/visit/rivas
Lake Cocibolca, also known as Lake Nicaragua, is a extremely popular day-tour destination for people taking a cruise along Costa Rica or are on a Costa Rican tour in close proximity the border (Guanacaste). In the lake are 3 attractions, the Solentiname Islands, they are an archipelago near a community of artisans founded by our famous poet Ernesto Cardenal. Just north of these islands is the Island of Ometepe, it is the largest volcanic island within a freshwater lake surrounded by the world. There is much biodiversity there and the island is made up of two volcanoes which are connected by a strip of arrive. You can take a ship to the island from the town of San Carlos in the department of Rivas. North of Ometepe is the Islands of Zapatera, small is size but full of Pre-Columbian artifacts and some ruins. You can also budge hiking there. http://www.vianica.com/activity/115/hiki...
http://www.vianica.com/visit/ometepe
Now, out of the sea and back onto Mainland Nicaragua. From Costa Rica, taking the Pan-Am road, you hear North to Granada (or you can take a flight from Liberia/San Jose). Granada is the oldest colonial city contained by mainland America. Its full of amazing architecture. You will see many tourists taking tours throughout the city. Once you attain there i recommend you herald to the center of town (its a plaza surrounded by a colonial church and other colonial buildings) and there is a park, enjoy a plate of Chancho con Yucca from the place right in front of the Church, its delectable. While in Granada, after you finish sight-seeing and adjectives, head South-East to Asese Port (ask for directions or nick a taxi) Its about a 15-20min. ride and as you drive to the Port, you will see the Lake to your not here, continue going North and you will procure to the parking. There people will bombard you asking if you want to lug a tour around the Islets. The Islets of Granada is the result of the Mombacho volcano's eruption thousands of years ago. Try and get the cheapest volunteer, bargain next to them. There are over 365 islands, but most tours only pocket you for a 1-hour ride around 100 islets. I was later there within December and they charged us $20 (for the boat has a size of about 20 people) for the entire hour minus care of how oodles people go, which was extraordinarily cheap. Along the water they detail you which islet belongs to who, some are even on sale. A lot of birds and monkey (especially on Monkey Island) can bee see. From Granada you can also head to the means city of Managua (1 hour and 30min. away), the city of Masaya (1 hour away; great for souvenir shopping at the mercado), and Leon (about 2 and a half hours away). http://www.vianica.com/visit/granada http://www.vianica.com/activity/29/boat-...
There are also plentiful tours that operate along the San Juan River, also, in the department of Rio San Juan within Nicaragua there is Los Guatazos Wildlife Refuge and the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, the second largest rainforest contained by Central America after Bosawas (also in Nicaragua but within the North bordering Honduras). Along the river are many towns next to interesting history. At San Carlos, in the establishment of the river mouth, is an old Castle/Fort, completely beautiful.
http://www.vianica.com/visit/rio-san-jua...
Now, transportation prudent. From Costa Rica to the city of Rivas in the Department of Rivas the road is drastically good. From the city of Rivas to the pretty beach-town of San Juan del Sur is a 20min. dirt road with some potholes surrounded by between, but the view at the cease is well worth them. From the Costa Rican border to Granada the road is impressively good, the road from Granada to Masaya is half-half. About half-way to Masaya the road is a dirt and some-what difficult, but supportable, its only fruitless for about 10min-20min. The rest is well-mannered. The road from Masaya to Managua (the capital) is perfect (you ratify by two lagoons; Launga de Apoyo and Laguna de Nejapa. Laguna de Apoyo is a must-see and only more or less 15min off track from the road to Managua). There are two possible roads to Leon, the alien highway to Leon and the old highway to Leon. Obviously if you principal over there you use the unusual highway. It is in impeccable shape. Also, the view and countryside is absolutely stunning from Rivas to Granada and Masaya to Managua.
Yes, in that certainly are...Ometepe island within Lake Nicaragua is awesome, Granada has nice colonial architecture and horse-drawn horse-drawn carriage taxis, and San Juan del Sur is a nice shore town with even nicer beach on the gravel road to the south (bus service a bit sparse though- taxi better?). Volcan Masaya is an awesome little alive volcano with a sometimes-smoking crater you can look right down into.
It might be a bit tight to do one of these surrounded by a day, though, especially near the border crossings.
I think its 3-4 hours from La Fortuna to the crucial crossing at Penas Blancas, but I'm not sure. From there its 30-60 min to Rivas, an attractive town next to old buildings, and from at hand a short ride to either San Juan del sur or to the shore of Lake Nicaragua.
Unfortunately the transfer to Ometepe is rather slow if I call in, and once you get here its still 1-2 hours on a very funky bus to acquire to the various sights on the island. But it would worth be the short trip to the shore a moment ago to see the huge lake and the surreal verbs of those two huge volcanos looming up out of it.
I think Granada is *maybe* 1.5-2 hours from the border, so that would also be doable.
Well the simply thing is that the division of Nicaragua that you will access from Arenal is a poor area but remarkably interesting as it gives you a look at the highest differences that tourism can make within a country. From La Fortuna you can get on a tour bus near Aventuras Arenal. They go to the Cano ***** reserve and they will drop you rotten at the boat taxi location within Los Chiles Costa Rica. From here you get your passport stamped within one building, pay the $2 duty to exit, then hop on a boat hackney carriage to San Carlos Nicaragua (this costs $10). The taxi boat leaves around 10:30am and the ultimate boat returning from San Carlos is at 4:00pm. You will need to take in for questioning a taxi posterior to La Fortuna but one guy quoted us $35. (the bus we took with Aventuras Arenal be $17/person one way)
El Castillo is a nicer town to visit within Nicaragua however i think it take longer to get in attendance and you may need an over darkness there.
Good Luck!
Costa Ricans and Nicaraugans do NOT close to each other. So if you net local friends i wouldn't advise you to bring a trip to Nicarauga. Have the locals show you or tell you in the region of great well or not so all right known places you hold to check out.
Definately check out the Hot Springs and beaches. Also Volcano Arenal is really cool.
More Questions & Answers...