Nicaragua, located in Central America, is not exactly a prominent tourist destination. The country is known for its political unrest, poverty and natural disasters. Every time I told someone I was going to Nicaragua for a vacation, I got the same incredulous stare. ‘Who goes to Nicaragua?’ or ‘You’re going to die!’ were just a few of the reactions. I patiently told those people that Nicaragua is a safe country, no longer facing political unrest. After my week’s vacation, I will vouch for Nicaragua as a country of hidden beauty on the verge of being discovered by the masses.
I began my vacation in San Juan Del Sur, a small fishing town on the Pacific coast. San Juan’s claim to fame was that Matthew McConaughey, the Hollywood superstar, had visited! The place has incredible surf, beautiful beaches and fantastic accommodation.
Early one bright, windy morning, we climbed into a boat that took us to a beach popular for its surf. I donned my wetsuit and attempted to pay attention to my instructor who repeatedly had me practice going from the paddling position to the standing up position. Fun!
Other than the coastline, Nicaragua also has a number of active volcanoes in its interiors. I visited Masaya, an active volcano that last exploded in 2001 and constantly releases gases from its crater. Surprisingly, we were allowed to drive all the way to the rim. Standing on the edge of the crater was a sublime experience, but at the same time, terrifying. Perched high up in the sky was a holy cross, built by the locals to ward away evil spirits. Climbing up the stairs to the cross was all the more exhausting due to the billowing clouds of sulfur rising in the sky. Upon reaching the pinnacle, I looked down and felt insignificant as nature’s wrath lay
below me. Worth the climb up here for sure!
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