Nicaragua has the greatest natural diversity of all countries in Central America. It has the largest contiguous nature parks, forming the green lungs of Central America. In addition to active volcanoes, large lakes, rivers and tropical rainforests, there are sparsely populated landscapes with horses, herds of cattle, and small gold mines reminiscent of the "Wild West."
Nicaragua has two coasts: the Caribbean coast, known for its paradise beaches, and the Pacific coast, which has stronger waves and is therefore popular among surfers.
The colonial cities of León and Granada have beautiful Spanish-style cathedrals, old mansions, and squares. The combination of Spanish colonial and indigenous cultural heritage is visible everywhere in Nicaragua's architecture, traditions, and everyday life.
However, what makes the country so special and lovable is mostly the charm, openness, and hospitality of the Nicaraguans, who call themselves "Nicas."
The main international airport in Nicaragua is "Managua" (MGA), which is well connected from North America. From Europe, you will most likely have one or more stopovers. Travelers from Europe might want to check if it makes sense to possibly book a flight to the US and separately use a US low-cost airline such as JetBlue to connect from there to Managua.
The main location of our programs in Nicaragua is the old colonial city of León, located approximately 90 km/56 miles from the capital, Managua, and the international airport. It is a city with several universities and colleges and is therefore full of young people and vibrant student life. The attractive beaches of the Pacific coast are only 15 km/9 miles from León and can be easily and inexpensively accessed by public bus.
The language spoken throughout the country is Spanish, and English is additionally spoken on the Caribbean coast.
León
León (175,000 inhabitants) is an old Spanish colonial city located about 90 km/56 miles from the capital, Managua, which has an international airport. The attractive beaches of the Pacific coast are just 15 km/9 miles away and can be easily reached by bus every 45 minutes at a low cost.
The university city has always been the intellectual hub of the country, especially during the university semesters when it is populated with young people and vibrant student life.
León offers numerous bars, nightclubs, and live music venues almost every day. Throughout the year, many interesting festivals are celebrated, often for religious reasons. The city also has cinemas and a theater. At the "House of Culture," you can take dance, music, drawing, ballet, and taekwondo lessons. The Nicaraguans are passionate about fitness, and there is a gym on almost every street.
The beaches of the Pacific coast (Poneloya and Las Peñitas) are only 15-20 km (9-12 miles) away, perfect for surfing. Tourism in Nicaragua is not as well developed as in neighboring destinations but is slowly growing. Around León, you can find ranches offering horse riding and other rural tourism activities. Various small towns near León have colonial and indigenous ruins as well as traditional handicraft production facilities that are worth visiting. Within a day trip distance, you can explore nature parks with crater lakes or mangrove lagoons by boat, where you can observe birds and alligators. Another exciting activity is hiking up the volcanoes Momotombo, Momotombito, and Cerro Negro. On Cerro Negro, you can even try "ashboarding," sliding down the black ash on a surfboard.
For a multi-day trip, you can travel to the English-speaking Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, which is not highly developed for tourism, and visit the paradise "Corn Island."
Accommodation in León
Host Family & Shared Accommodation in León
The accommodation we arrange is with families or individuals who rent out rooms in their houses. The houses are typically large historic buildings in Colonial style, allowing the owners to rent out 2-5 rooms. Therefore, it is likely that there will be other non-family members staying there. In the university city of León, this type of accommodation is primarily aimed at Nicaraguan students but is also available for foreign participants in our programs.
This type of accommodation offers a combination of family and flat-share life. Depending on the family and your preferences, you can choose to live in closer relation with the family or more independently.
The rooms are usually furnished with a bed, a table and chair, and storage space for clothes. Some houses have private bathrooms for the rooms, while others have shared bathrooms with the homeowners or other tenants. You will be provided with your own key. Bed linen is provided, and the room is cleaned weekly. Overnight guests are not permitted in the rooms. Wifi internet is available and the kitchen can be used. If you prefer, you can book breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the family at a small additional cost.
Our Team in Nicaragua
Stefanie
Gioconda
Questions?
your consultant for Nicaragua is
Nicole Hantzsche
(she/her)
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