In July 2008 we had two weeks vacation in Nicaragua.

In the middle of the rainy season all nature is in magnificent tropical greenery. From the plane before landing in Managua we saw mountain green land – “tierra verde”.

Traveling in Nicaragua is very easy, relatively cheap, fast and comfortable.

Managua International airport is few miles outside the city on the north side of the Pan-american highway – international road crossing Central America.
We took a taxi from the airport and to avoid the crowd of the big city we went to Granada via Tipitapa.

All the way about one hour ride we were contemplating the lush tropical vegetation in this rich agricultural region.
Bright orange-color-blossom trees and many other tropical blooms had been seen also. I was impressed how bright and beautiful the colors in Nicaraguan nature are – the green, the red, the orange…

In Granada we arrived at the Park Central where most of the tourists places are just few blocks around. The majestic Cathedral on the east side is one of the main orientation point.

We spent one week in Granada – one week is too little to fully enjoy but is enough to fall in love with Romantic Granada

During our stay in Granada we visited twice the greatest shopping attraction – the neighbor city of Masaya. It is only half an hour ride on a minibus to get there.

From Granada we decided to go north to Leon. We took first a minibus from Granada to Managua to UCA bus terminal. From UCA we got taxi to other terminal at Mercado Boer. There are minibuses leaving as soon as full for Leon, Chichigalpa, Chinandega.

We did a mistake to take the first leaving bus in that direction and it was to Chichigalpa. So we got off on highway with all the languages in the middle of a hot sunny day and needed other transportation to the city of Leon.

In León we were already missing the refreshing breeze of Granada. The center of Leon is a tourist attraction with historical colonial buldings.
We spend one only night there.

Early morning from the main bus terminal we took a minibus to Chinandega – a small town where the only place you can get coffee and snack is at the gas station’s food market “On the Run” close to the bas terminal “El Bisne”. We got a nice room with patio there in hotel San Jose but we could not find a restaurant.

In the morning after free breakfast in the hotel we took minibus back to Leon, taxi from the bus terminal to Mercado Sutiava were the public buses to Las Penitas – depart.

We realized how much fun is to ride with nica people – load latino music, vendors offering food and drinks, babies crying, young people laughing hard working people with heavy bags or baskets. In one such ride you can feel the spirit of the nation!

In about one hour we arrived at Las Peñitas – a beautiful large ocean beach, Leon’s favorite weekend place and world famous surfing resort.

After 4 days refreshing at the ocean side we headed to the mountains of northern Nicaragua – Matagalpa and Estelí.

From Las Penitas early morning we rode the first public bus to Leon then another public bus to Matagalpa (Leon-Matagalpa about 120 km).

It tourned to be the worst travel experience – the road was so damaged – holes and stones, the bus was jumping from one hole to another. The last 30km of our ride got better after we crossed the Panamerican and took the good road.

Altough the mountain sights on the road Leon-Matagalpa are beautiful we would recommend if you go North to Matagalpa, Estelí, Ocotal take a bus from Managua and you will get comfortable ride via the Pan-american highway.

After more then 3 hours painful traveling we got off at the bus terminal of Matagalpa – a beautiful big city spread on a valley between mountains. Unfortunately it was clouded and rainy – no good time for pictures.

Next day we hit the road again on a public bus to Estelí but the road Mataglpa-Esteli is good – it goes Matagalpa-Sebaco were you see the most piled produce market and from Sebaco to Esteli via the well-known Panamericana. Beautiful green mountains all the way to our final destination.

Couple of hours uphill and we arrived at a surprisingly pretty and clean bus station (Cotran Sur) of Esteli.

Estelí is a large progressive city with pleasant climate and many tourists destinations around. For two days we had been enjoying the tropical beauty of this mountain place.

On our departure day with luxury express bus from the same lovely bus station we went downhills to Managua for less then 2 hours and got off straight in front of the airport plenty of time before our flight.

Very good source of information that we used during our journey is ViaNica with lots of information on traveling, destinations, events, hotel and restaurant guides…