Nicaragua

Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanoes, is usually seen only as a third-world country. Through this blog, we will show you that there is so much more to Nicaragua than what is assumed by most. We’ll introduce you to our beautiful landscapes, unique culture, and heterogeneous people.

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Nica Vocab

Nicaragua’s official language is Spanish, but we also have some Nicaraguan slang words. Sometimes we have a really hard time explaining their meaning to foreigners, but they are used so often that we wanted to show you at least some of them:

  Tuani: (too-ah-nee) cool

Mae: (mah-eh) dude

Bacanal: (bah-cah-nal) party

Chiche: (chee-cheh) easy

Dale: (dah-leh) ok

Chunche: (choon-cheh) thing

Chiripa: (chee-ree-pah) luck

Loco/a:  (loh-coh) dude

Jincho: (heen-cho) hick

Tula cuecho: (too-lah coo-eh-cho) gossipy

-Nat

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Cocibolca y Xolotlán

If you look at a map of Nicaragua, there’re two things that stand out: the two lakes in the Pacific Region. The smaller lake is called Lake Managua (or Xolotlán) and the larger lake is called Lake Nicaragua (or Cocibolca).

The photograph shown above shows Lake Xolotlán. Unfortunately, this lake has undergone a lot of pollution throughout the years. however, if you look at it and its beauty, you can see how gorgeous it is and how important it is to save it! As a nica, I don’t want to see part of our natural heritage destroyed, but I believe that if enough people join the cause, we can restore our lake to its former health & beauty! <3

As for the photo below, that’s a picture of Lake Cocibolca, famous for its fresh water sharks. What?! Fresh water sharks?! I know. Cool, right? Lake Cocibolca also has a bunch of islets in it. How did they form? Oh, a volcano erupted thousands of years ago and formed 365 islets in Lake Cocibolca. How can this keep getting cooler?! I don’t know dude, that’s just how we roll. But hey, one more fun fact before you decide to scroll up or down: one of these islets still has a fort (called the Fort of San Pablo). This was built in order to protect the city of Granada from pirates in the 18th century. I know, add Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow (<3) and this post couldn’t blow your mind any more.

-Nat <3

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Flora & Fauna

Nicaragua’s flora and fauna has been exposed to all sorts of threats, and for this reason, over 70 areas in the country are now protected in order to help preserve the habitats of many endangered species.

The Bosawás Biosphere Reserve, located in the northern part of Nicaragua, is the second largest rainforest in the Western Hemisphere after the Amazon, in Brazil.

Unfortunately, I can’t name all the animals that can be found in Nicaragua because they are just too many! 

But here are some:

Jaguar

Cougar

Ocelot

Motmot (previously introduced as Guardabarranco)

-Nat 

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Sea Turtles

Nicaraguan beaches, both on the Pacific and the Atlantic, are visited each year by sea turtles. There are seven species of sea turtles in the world, five of which come to Nicaraguan shores; these are: the Green Turtle, the Hawksbill Turtle, the Leatherback Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle, and the Olive Ridley Turtle. 

These turtles lay their eggs (about 90 each) and return to the ocean. Two months later…surprise! Baby sea turtles hatch and begin their journey towards the ocean. 

-Nat

[lakesnvolcanoes]

La Carreta Nagua

Ever heard of a cart driven by Death and pulled by two skeletal oxen that only comes out at midnight? Well, all Nicaraguans certainly have.

La Carreta Nagua is an old legend, passed on mostly through oral tradition.

The legend says that its presence is an omen of death, and whoever sees it, is “taken” by it.

On a funnier note, Internet memes have also been applied to Nicaraguan legends. The image below is basically saying, “She’s so ugly…that not even la carreta nagua will take her.”

   I know…you probably can’t stop laughing.

  -Nat

[lakesnvolcanoes]

Soy Puro Pinolero

"Soy puro Pinolero; ¡Nicaragüense por gracia de Dios!"  is a phrase from the song Nicaragua Mía by Tino López Guerra, but it’s often used to show true pride in being Nicaraguan.

The phrase can be literally translated into “I’m very pinolero; I’m Nicaraguan thanks to God.”

The first part of the phrase is a reference to pinolillo, which is a sweet cornmeal and cacao-based traditional drink. This drink has become such an essential part of Nicaraguan tradition, that nicas use a twist of the name and refer to themselves as “pinoleros.”

The second part of the phrase refers to the importance of religion in Nicaragua. The majority of the population is Catholic and most of our holidays and national celebrations are based around religious celebrations. Thus, what else could we do, but thank God about being who we are?

There’s nothing else I can say about this but that I’m puro pinolera, nicaragüense por gracia de Dios! <3

-Nat

[lakesnvolcanoes]

La Máquina

Located in the Pacific Region, La Máquina is one of Nicaragua’s eco-touristic attractions. This natural reserve is an 88 hectares tropical dry forest that includes a beautiful waterfall at its entrance. 

http://vianica.com/attraction/69/centro-ecoturistico-la-maquina

-Nat

[lakesnvolcanoes]

Caribbean Paradise

Fifty miles off the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, lies two of the Caribbean’s tropical paradises: Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island. Their palm trees and white sand beaches have attracted people for quite some centuries, including pirates and buccaneers in the 17th century, which have led to the existence of numerous stories about shipwrecks and scattered treasures along its shores.

What to do once you’re visiting? Anything you want! Just kidding…but some of the available activities include: scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, water-skiing, and kneeboarding.

http://www.bigcornisland.com/index.html

-Nat

[lakesnvolcanoes]

Masaya Volcano

rodrigocastillo's video on Instagram

 One of Nicaragua’s most visited volcanoes is the Masaya Volcano, for its unconventional crater and surrounding animal and plant life around it. Tourist get to drive up to the crater of the volcano and see into the volcanic pit. 

If standing at the edge of an active crater isn’t exciting enough.   Ask your guide to take you back into the lave tubes at night.  With only a hard helmet and flash light, you explore lava tubes, and get the experience of watching 35,000 bats, fly by you on their way to the opening of the cave.    Once you exit the cave,  you walk back to the crater edge and look down in the glowing red crater.  Get a sense of how hot it is down there.

The Masaya Volcano  was dubbed by National Geographic to be "the mouth of hell"given that the Spaniards, came across it during the 16th century, knew that within the territory human and ritually deposited valuables were sacrificed to the gods in fear of possible calamities.

- Ed

[lakesnvolcanoes]

Recall that New York Times travel article where Nicaragua was listed as #3 in the 46 places to visit in 2013? One of the main reasons for this is Nicaragua’s large bodies of water and proximity to the Pacific, allowing for a variety of tourist attractions to inhabit the area. Being one of the safest nations in Central America, Nicaragua is becoming a hot spot for tourists around the world, while at the same time profiting from it.

            Small local businesses such as Pico de Garza is one of them. Just for you to get an idea of how laid back it is to own a small islet/island... My sister happens to own one with her husband. Every Sunday, they go along with friends to merely enjoy the view of the Mombacho Volcano right on the opposite. They have in fact worked and spent to build a pool within it and it is now an attraction to tourists for its restaurant, water-skiing and kayaking. However, they invested slowly and gradually within their expenses. It has been more of a fun experiment for them, and now it happens to be a source of income for them.

- Eduardo

View of the Islet - IG: @eduwv

"sinfiltro" Photo by Claudia Guerra. IG: cguerras9

http://www.picodegarza.com/

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I’ve actually been asked before “But do you guys…know who Bruno Mars is?” Yes. Yes we do. We don’t live in a bubble in outer space. Billboard Top 100? Yes, we’re familiar with them. Of course we have our own singers, ranging from salsa (like Luis Enrique) to rock (like Contrapeso), but just so you know, we’re all on the same page when it comes to music. 

-Nataly

Also have your share of alternative nu rock and hardcore rock bands like Nemi Pipali and Contrapeso.

Brothers Bruno and Michael Cortina, along with friend Hamed Salas currently compose the band, and play locally in venues such as The Reef and Uruk Kali. They are currently signed by Powerhouse Trio Musicál Nicaraguense.

Contrapeso is a current rising rock band. 

-Eduardo

[lakesnvolcanoes]

While being in Nicaragua, indulging in sweets and food can sometimes be inevitable. These range in options from countless colored sweets in markets, like rosquillas, leche burra, or cajeta. These handmade sweets are rooted in our culture, not only due to their affordability but their own uniqueness and home-warmth familiar advertising.

            Nicaragua also has catering and bakery good services such as Café las Flores. Even individual and sophisticated goods from small home-owned catering services: Prices range here as well, but you will definitely not grow hungry here. Food is everywhere, in and around the streets.

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Sweets in Huembes Market

"Meringata" - Vanessa Wong-Valle's V Treat Catering Service

- Eduardo

[lakesnvolcanoes]

                                               (Granada; Photography by: Jimmy Mendieta)

                                                                                  (La Calzada, Granada)

Impression: Nicaragua is a forest & people live in huts.

Reality: Nope. We don’t live in huts, in fact we only have them by the beach!

A little historic background, the Spaniards were the ones who conquered the natives & took over their home. Because of this, most places outside of the capital have Spanish-influenced architecture. For example, the cathedral and houses above are both from the city of Granada, which used to be the capital of Nicaragua when the Spaniards were ruling.

However, the capital has taken a different approach with its architecture. Office buildings, hotels and even houses look modern and simply beautiful.

                                                                                               (Centro Pellas)

                                                                                                    (Invercasa)

                                                          (Invercasa; Photo by: Claudia Guerra)

One of the things I personally enjoy the most about Nicaragua is the opportunity to drive for short distances yet be exposed to such architectural diveristy. Gotta love it! <3

-Nataly

[lakesnvolcanoes]

Getting around in Nicaragua can be a little tricky. There are no zip codes, we do admit; not just yet. However, you can always rely on rolling down your window for a local who might give you his or her unique directions (Del Palo de Mango, Una Cuadra al Lago?, or From that Mango tree, go one block to the Lake), but you’ll eventually get where you want go. 

-Eduardo

"A Street In Granada" &

"Full" by Alejandro Alvarez IG: alexalvarezr

[lakesnvolcanoes]

With the new app-geared photography instilled by the abundance of smartphones, photography continues to become a major contributor in providing unique life experiences through colorful social media feeds.

Nonetheless, for you to know how Nicaragua truly is like, you need to know its people. For many who use apps such as Instagram to catalogue life experiences, these often provide the unique and heterogeneous lenses into our true, Nicaraguan culture unknown to many. 

("contrast |" Photo by Claudia Guerra.) 

-Eduardo

[lakesnvolcanoes]

                                            (Aeropuerto Internacional Augusto C. Sandino)

Not to brag about it, but we do have the prettiest airport in Central America. Just sayin’ ;)

-Nataly

[lakesnvolcanoes]

                                                                          (Metrocentro)

                                                        (Galerias Santo Domingo)

Great news for the shopaholics!! Nicaragua offers the best of both worlds. Our malls in Managua offer stores such as Nine West, Guess, Benetton, Lacoste, etc. Shop away in those top notch places you’re already familiar with.

                                     (Handmade bracelets; Photo by: Estefania Argeñal)

Wanna go with traditional though? Even better! Our people are really talented in handmade products. Just look at the bracelets in the picture above. Pretty cool, huh?

A definite must-go-to place is Spices&Sugar, a store located in Granada that sells 100% Nicaraguan products designed by Mignone Vega. Check out it Facebook page for more info!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spices-Sugar/124296090915401

-Nataly