NICARAGUA

No, it is not in Africa if you were associating the name to an African country! It is in the middle of the American continent! Nicaragua, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, is the largest country in Central America with a total area of 130,700 square kilometers and a population of almost five million inhabitants. Being in the tropic, the country has a diverse climate, terrains and wildlife. The climate is characterized by two seasons: The rainy season from May to November and the dry season which starts in December and ends in April. Average temperatures range from 30° C to 21° C. The coolest months are from November to February mainly in the northern highland towns.

Nicaragua, known as the land of lakes and volcanoes, borders Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Geographically the country is divided into three major zones: the Caribbean lowlands in the east, the Pacific lowlands in the west where most of the population is concentrated and the cooler mountainous central highlands in between. Nicaragua has the two largest fresh water lakes in the whole region: Lago Xolotlán known as Managua Lake and Lago Cocibolca known also as Nicaragua Lake. Cocibolca Lake is the eighth biggest lake in the world and the only one inhabited by sharks. Sandy uncrowded beaches, virgin forests, active and dormant volcanoes are amazing in Nicaragua.

Managua is the capital of Nicaragua and it has no downtown as it was devastated by an earthquake in 1972 and yet not rebuilt due to subsequent facts as the revolutionary war against dictator Somoza and his overthrow in 1979, the counterrevolutionary war in the eighties and devastating hurricanes in late nineties and 2007, which deeply affected the country’s economy.

Despite all adversity, since 1990 the country has enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere, a more participative democracy and politic stability attracting not only foreign investment but also a considerable number of North Americans and Europeans who have chosen Nicaragua as a destination to retire. New tall buildings and modern malls started the new face and new downtown Managua south of the old Managua since 1990. The Nicaraguan currency is the Cordoba and can be obtained by changing dollars or euros at the banks. There is much undiscovered the country has to offer beside that at the present it is considered one of the safest countries in Central America. More information about Nicaragua can be found at www.vianica.com

Immigration information

Visas are not required for most American and European nationalities. Visitors can stay up to 90 days upon entering the country with a passport valid for the next six months. Once arriving at the International Airport in Managua, a $5 entrance tax is charged, as well as a $32 airport exit tax when leaving the country. Both must be paid in U.S. dollars. The citizens of the following countries need to obtain a visa: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, China (PR), Egypt, Ghana, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Popular Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine National Authority, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Siri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Vietnam and Yemen. You can find out more information about other countries that require a visa to enter Nicaragua by consulting the Nicaraguan embassy in your country.

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Masaya, Nicaragua

Masaya, known as the city of the flowers (ciudad de las flores) is also called the capital of the Nicaraguan folklore. The province offers beautiful nature places to visit such as the active Masaya Volcano National Park, the Laguna de Masaya and beautiful Laguna de Apoyo both crater lakes situated at short distance from the city. Situated at 28 kilometers away from Managua city and at just 17 kilometers from the colonial Granada city, Masaya is the most populated province in the whole country with an approximated population of 162,868 inhabitants. Masaya was declared a village in 1819. In those old times some Spanish chiefs and traders had their business in Granada and used to have their homes in Masaya because of its peacefulness, distant from that busy Granada for which reason we still can see some remaining colonial houses in the city. Later in 1839 Masaya was declared a city. In the year 2000 the government declared Masaya the capital of the Nicaraguan folklore. The people of Masaya are hard working, friendly and very creative. Inside the city we can find many shoes, hammocks, ceramics, handicrafts and furniture workshops where family members work together enthusiastically. Catarina and San Juan de Oriente, traditional artisan towns, are within the province at a short distance from Masaya downtown and are also a great sample of the folklore and popular art in this region of Nicaragua.

Masaya is full of popular culture of Nicaragua and folklore. The longest lasting celebration in honor to San Jerónimo from September to December with lots of traditional dancing and carnivals is part of this colourful cultural heritage. Another popular procession is San Lázaro in which lot of people participate bringing their pet dogs creatively dressed for favours conceded by the saint. During the whole year cultural activities such as folkloric dancing, parades, carnival, cultural fairs, and other religious processions are performed. Every Thursday there is a special cultural performance known as las verbenas in the Centro Cultural Mercado Viejo or handicrafts national market where the visitors can enjoy the typical food, the marimba music and folkloric dressing. Other cultural activities are organized by the Casa de Cultura Alejandro Vega Matus in downtown such as the famous Carnaval de Masaya, the folkloric dancing, painting and music lessons for general public including children. People of Masaya love baseball games and his local team San Fernando. NicaSpan students who like this sport can enjoy going to a baseball game at the ¨Roberto Clemente¨local stadium.

There are some good restaurants and hotels in Masaya as well as hostals. We have lessons to improve your spanish skills working on Spanish for Specific purposes. Internet cafes are found almost in every corner. Local traditional snacks and food are sold in the city. There are five banks in Masaya and a couple of ATM machines. Credit cards and dollars are accepted in most of the stores, restaurants and hotels in the city. Masaya is easily accessible from Costa Rica by car. Comfortable and affordable international buses also travel everyday from Liberia and San Jose Costa Rica to Managua, Nicaragua stopping by in Masaya. For itinerary and reservations visit www.ticabus.com