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Have you ever considered traveling to Nicaragua? Few destinations have such beauty, yet remain undeveloped. Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and still has one of the lowest crime rates in Latin America.

Come visit Nicaragua, the authentic and friendly emerging tourist destination in Central America - at least in today's edition of Let's Go Places.

The “country of colonial cities and lakes”, offers coffee and tobacco cultivation, active volcanoes as well as a practically untouched rainforest, and Caribbean islands.

A vacation here is ideal for those who are looking for a special and authentic experience. Nicaragua embraces travelers with offerings of volcanic landscapes, colonial architecture, sensational beaches, and pristine forests that range from breathtaking to downright incredible. The country is richly blessed with original preserved remains of Spanish colonial history.

León and Granada, the two eternally rival colonial cities, offer a particularly imposing selection of historic buildings and districts.

But the place that has won my heart over is Little Corn Island, a tiny island in the Caribbean Ocean off mainland Nicaragua. While we loved Granada, the Masaya Volcano, the Laguna de Apoyo, and Ometepe Island, Little Corn Island is a place Greg, my husband, and I will always fondly remember.

Make sure to scroll down to find out more about what makes this tiny island so special.

I definitely want to check out Nicaragua again. Friendly people, beautiful scenery, awesome hotels and lodges, great food, and affordable.

Have you ever been to a place that was very special for you? Do you plan on visiting it again? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

TropiQ Trips Blog

The Best Caribbean Overwater Bungalows in Panama, Belize and Mexico

Dreaming of staying in a French Polynesian overwater bungalow but can’t fathom the cost? Well, did you know that you can stay in just as beautiful and dreamy resorts in Central America? In fact, some of the most notable and beautiful resorts offer stunning Caribbean overwater bungalows near the US that anyone would enjoy!

While many enjoy Central America further inland, experiencing a tropical vacation in one of the overwater bungalows is one of the best ways to enjoy activities and views in the country you are visiting.

Staying in an overwater bungalow can also be one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating ways to spend your time in Central America. The most beautiful and affordable overwater bungalows in the Caribbean are found in three countries: Panama, Belize, and Mexico. While I know that Mexico is considered North America, it felt right to include it in this article.

Tour Of The Week

Discover the Highlights of Nicaragua on a 7-Day Self-Drive Tour

A scenic self-drive tour is a fantastic way to experience the Highlights of Nicaragua with freedom and flexibility. Combine on this tour the impressive and well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture of Nicaragua with the active and extinct volcanoes that you can see from near and far.

The tour begins in the seaside resort of San Juan del Sur on the southern Pacific coast of the country. After a short detour, head north to León, a university town and a pearl of a colonial-style city.

Via the capital of Managua, the route leads back to Granada, another amazing example of a colonial city, with colorful streets and well-preserved historical witnesses to the rich colonial history.

In between, you will visit natural beauty such as the island of Ometepe, the Mombacho, and Masaya volcanoes and get to know the cities of León and Granada on city tours.

A truly varied journey with many highlights of Nicaragua. Check it out here:

Nicaragua

I Went on a Yoga and Surf Retreat in Nicaragua During the Pandemic — Here's What It Was Like

Nicaragua's remote Costa Dulce ecolodge hosts week-long yoga and surf retreats year-round. This what it's like to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Costa Dulce has 13 solar-powered cabins, most with ocean views and none with AC, TV, or other unnecessary creature comforts. But that's not to say it's not comfortable. The cabins are all en suites with ceiling fans.

And there are plenty of creatures. One night I walk into the kitchen only to be met by the resident skunk. He's friendly and knows how to slide open the screen door with his nose.

This Tiny Island Off the Coast of Nicaragua Is an Underrated Caribbean Paradise

The Corn Islands are far — but the distance is cultural as much as it is physical.

Colonized in 1655 by the British, rather than the Spanish who ruled the rest of the country, Nicaragua's eastern coast has its own blend of Afro-Caribbean cultures. Its locals speak English, Creole, and native languages, including Garifuna and Miskito, as well as the Spanish they learn in school. On Little Corn, the population hovers around 850, mostly descendants of the slaves freed from the four families who colonized the area.

I understood that Little Corn is a world apart from the rest of Nicaragua.

Little Corn Island Is Nicaragua's Best-kept Secret

Getting to Little Corn Island — 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua — requires a big commitment.

From Miami, there's a flight to Managua, a connecting flight to Corn Island (with a quick touch down in Bluefields), a transfer to the Corn Island harbour, and a 30-minute boat ride.

But once you arrive, the Caribbean water makes crystal clear that, in this case, it's not about the journey, it's about the destination.

Nicaragua holidays - Where to stay

We think of the New World as new. But Granada, built in 1524, was already old when the Great Fire consumed wooden London and when the first trees were felled by settlers on the muddy island of Manhattan.

The Parque Central, the town square, has been its main stage for five centuries and has as many stories as Hampton Court. Henry Morgan piled the town's loot between the two fountains here. On the balcony over to my right, William Walker, the Tennessean adventurer, and megalomaniac, declared himself President of Nicaragua in the mid-19th century.

Please read on:

Vogue's Insider Guide to Nicaragua | Where To Stay, Eat, And Visit In Nicaragua According To A Vogue Insider

Vogue's shopping editor Naomi Smart reveals her ultimate holiday itinerary for the land of lakes and volcanoes.

Often overlooked in favor of neighboring Costa Rica, this tropical playground boasts Lake Nicaragua – the largest freshwater lake in Central America – as well as colonial towns such as the Unesco World Heritage Site Granada and a lush volcanic island with Unesco Biosphere Reserve status called Ometepe. Oh, and some of the best surf breaks in the world. However, the country still remains relatively undiscovered ...

Travel News

Can We Take a Family Vacation If Our Kids Haven’t Received the COVID-19 Vaccine Yet?

One in three American adults has now received at least one jab of the COVID-19 vaccine. But for those adults who have children, there’s a conundrum: Is it safe to travel around the U.S. before the kids can be vaccinated, too?

Much of the answer, says Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communication lead at the Covid Tracking Project, depends on the destination.

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