Lake Nicaragua (Largest in Central America)
An intense border crossing, bright custom-made maracas, active volcanoes, and a relaxing evening in San Juan del Sur. Yes, the Republic of Nicaragua did nothing but impress. A very enjoyable two day getaway that kept us on our toes. With it’s beautiful scenery and even more inexpensive than Costa Rica, Nicaragua is starting to attract many tourists. After a four hour bus ride from our hotel, we finally arrived at the border. And this was only obvious because our tour guide made it known to us. This place did not look anything like the borders back at home in San Diego. The only thing separating the two countries was a regular 10-foot high chain link fence with a door that had to be opened manually for our bus to pass through. However, don’t let that fool you. Beyond this line, we were introduced to beautiful beaches, distinct wildlife, and volcanoes that take your breath away. 
One of our favorite destinations in Nicaragua was the active volcano in Masaya. We were only allowed five minutes in the area due to the possibility of a major ash or lava eruption. For crazy people like us, this actually made it a lot more exciting. Being so close to the crate allows for great photos even though, the sulfur in the air made it difficult to breath. Right after the impressive volcano visit, we headed over to the vibrant colonial city of Granada where we stayed for the night. We were all surprised at the beautiful and unexpected sites such as the cathedral, cobble stone streets, authentic restaurants and traditional local music that complemented the extraordinary time we spent in the city.
A scenic boat ride of the small islands in Nicaragua, called Las Isletas was another great experience. Here, we saw private rustic vacation houses and a few people from the local fishing community. We also spotted many different birds and had an opportunity to feed the monkeys by getting up close and personal.
Before heading back to Costa Rica, we enjoyed a nice lunch al fresco and at one of Nicaragua’s finest beaches, San Juan del Sur. The view was incredible and there was no one else on the beach, or at least that’s what it seemed. It felt like we had it all to ourselves. It was the perfect ending to our trip in Nicaragua. We only wish this stop could have been a full day, rather than a few hours.
This is Life in Color 