Natural Beauty of Nicaragua

Submitted by Firefly on 5 December, 2007 - 11:28.

I enjoyed reading Fyl's (and Ana's) e-book - a very different perspective from the usual tourist guides. I am particularly interested in the climate/geography aspect of different areas. While I found useful information regarding altitude and temp, etc., I am unable to get a feel for the physical beauty of the different regions. For instance, we've driven around much of Costa Rica and are astounded by the waterfalls, rivers, lush vegetation, fruit trees, flowering plants, that seems to be present practically everywhere. We are planning to visit Nicaragua in 2008. I tried to look up available images of areas that might have a climate I am looking for (about 2000 ft, 80F-65F High-Low, moderate humidity -- on the pacific side..... the Atlantic half, eh, two-thirds of the country must be too wet), and I came up with a few areas such as the Carazo towns, Ocotal, Somoto, the area between Matagalpa and Sebaco, etc. The images I have seen have not been arresting -- some have been kind of bleak. Obviously, Nicaragua has not been slickly packaged for the tourists like Costa Rica, so fewer images are available on the internet, but I wondered if you could say something more on this topic. If one wanted live amidst natural beauty (as defined above) within a reasonable distance of the PanAm, what are the options? Thanks.

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Submitted by DanPolley on 5 December, 2007 - 16:50.

looking at some of my galleries, such as "Beauty Of Nicaragua" "Looking Around Nicaragua" and a few others. While I live on the Pacific Coast, I present a look at some other areas. I am planning on doing much more traveling in the northern areas of the country in 2008. I travel to Mulukuku every year and to Boaco at least twice. It has been several years for Matagalpa. Our web site is http://www.Dancesar.com and then select Dan's Galleries. Dan Polley

Generic Observation

Submitted by fyl on 5 December, 2007 - 13:23.

The areas that fit your altitude requirements are pretty much parts of Carazo, Estelí, Jinotega, Madriz, Matagalpa and Nueva Segovia. Much of Nicaragua has been a victim of both legal and illegal deforestation. The closer you are to major roads, the more likely that is to have happened.

That doesn't mean that universally being near the Pan Am means a disaster or being away from it is beautiful. But, you can certainly find some nice areas with a bit of looking. For example, both north and east of Ocotal offers some pretty serious greenery. On the other hand, the hills west of Somoto are totally barren. Parts of Miraflor are lush, others pretty close to naked.

If you find a nice area and have access to water, it is not hard to turn it into a beautiful area. A bush can become a tree in two years. A barren hillside can be green in a month with the application of water. And your contribution could increase available watershed to help moderate the green/brown cycle in many areas.

One other area that might be worth looking is the south side of Lake Nicaragua. Cádenas, which at a very low altitude is cooled by the lake and is lush because of available water.

Pueblos Blancos

Submitted by Billy Bob on 5 December, 2007 - 14:27.

I went on a tour of these towns with MONIMBO´tours out of Masaya. They seemed to have the cute factor with the plus that each town seemed to have its industry (furniture, nursery plants, handicrafts, etc.)

Check out your area in both seasons: the north at 850 meters is pretty drab in the dry and very lush in the wet. Higher elevations teld to stay green all year round.

¨¨patas de perro¨¨

April

Submitted by Billy Bob on 6 December, 2007 - 09:40.

To see western Nic. at its ¨worst¨, come in april. Thats the hottest and dryest part of the dry season. If an area is acceptable to you in April, it should be good for the rest of the year. April is also the height of crop burning. Combined with road dust, urban trash burning (you know when your neighbors are burning syrofoam or car tires!) it makes for some pretty yucky days. Probably not as bad as L.A. or Pheonix, but not the paradise you are looking for.

Your 600 meter limit sounds too low, unless you like heat and dust. Check out Jinotega area in addition to the Pueblos Blancos.

¨¨patas de perro¨¨

Temp rather than altitude

Submitted by Firefly on 6 December, 2007 - 21:48.

800m (2500 ft) rather than 600m as the upper limit.............. But, really, it is the low temp that I am concerned about. I like mild weather. I hate very hot (highs over 90F), humid weather, but I hate cold (lows of 60F or lower) even more! I loved my visits to Kauai and Maui (80F high, 70F low), but you have to be filthy rich to live in Hawaii. In Costa Rica, I simply loved Bijagua (600m) in the saddle between the volcans Tenorio and Miravalles. We stayed for a few days at the Heliconias Lodge (700m) up from Bijagua and it was divine, too. So, I guess I am looking for Nueva Javai’i !! ........... But, your point is valid; 600m in Nicaragua may be significantly hotter; may be I should be looking at 800-1000m. But, Jinotega ......? I read Tony (Jinoturistica) say elsewhere on NicaLiving that at 1500m, in Jinotega “it’s definitely cool 3 blankets at night”. That’s way too cold for me.

By the way, thanks for suggesting Pueblos Blancos. Sound very interesting. Did some reading. Seem to have a lot of character. With my interest in medicinal plants, Catarina could be a good fit. Being so close to a lake, may be these towns don’t get too hot in April?