Undiscovered Locations: Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a wonderful country to visit if you want sun, sea – and copious amounts of dust or mud, depending on the season! The locals call it the “land of lakes and volcanoes”, which pretty much speaks for itself. But Nicaragua also has thousands of miles of Pacific and Caribbean coastline, much of it barely accessable, a trait which in my mind makes it all the more attractive. You get the full beach experience, without the throngs of the Mediterranean. In the spirit of fairness, however, it could also be said that Nicaragua lacks infrastructure.

The locals call it the “land of lakes and volcanoes”, which pretty much speaks for itself…

On the Southern Pacific coast, only an hour or so away from Lake Cocibolca, lies the popular beach town of San Juan del Sur. It’s possibly the top holiday destination in the whole country, but despite this it is largely empty for most of the year. It has pool crawls, bars, ocean-front clubs – the works. Its alive, in a very comfortable sort of way.

Although San Juan fantastic in itself, my favourite place is a little way away. If you head further along the coastline, there are several other beaches. A well-known one is Playa Blanca, which can only be accessed by sea. There is Playa Madera, a surf destination. And then, just off from some humble houses and a ramshackle restaurant, there’s Playa Majagual. The parking is difficult, with there being only room for three to five cars in the area nearest the beach. The land adjacent to Majagual itself was bought up for private housing, although thankfully, the little sliver of a trail continues to provide public access.

Depending on the time of year, you’re presented by a wildly different landscape…

You walk out onto the clear sand, and depending on the time of year, you’re presented by a wildly different landscape. If it’s the rainy season, you’re welcomed by luxuriant greenery and plentiful shade. Upon the sharp terrain of the cove, shrubs and trees grow wild. If you happen on the dry season, the beach is bare, much like the small cliffs that surround it. There are no bars on the sand, no anything, really. There’s one small wooden parasol with a thatched roof by the gate to the private property, but it hardly provides any shade at all.

Honestly, I can’t wait to go back…

Most times, you’ll find yourself alone on the beach except for any company you may have brought with you. The waves are never powerful enough for surfing, but for those who enjoy sunbathing and frolicking, you’d struggle to find a better place. The sun beats down, but there’s always a few trees to provide shade, and the beach is big enough to go for a walk. The water is always warm and clean. Honestly, I can’t wait to go back.