Information about Nicaragua
Important Information about Nicaragua
Located in Central America.
Population: Approximately 5,490,450 inhabitants
Capital City: Managua
Territory: 130,682 sq. km, including 10,333 sq. km of internal water
Bordered in the north by Honduras, in the east by the Caribbean Sea, in the south by Costa Rica, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean
Principal Airport: Managua
Principal Ports: Corinto and San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Coast and Puerto Cabezas and Bluefields on the Atlantic Coast
Languages:
Spanish (in the Pacific Coast and Northern regions of the country)
Miskito (regional dialect)
English Creole (in the Atlantic autonomous region of the country)
Currency: Córdoba (also popularly called the Peso)
Currency Exchange Rate: approximately 19.40 cordobas for $1
Nicaragua is divided into 15 cities and 2 autonomous regions. The cities are grouped into 3 geographical regions:
Atlantic Region:
The Autonomous Region of the North Atlantic (Puerto Cabezas)
The Autonomous Region of the South Atlantic (Bluefields)
Pacific Region:
Carazo (Jinotepe)
Chinandega (Chinandega)
Granada (Granada)
Leon (Leon) founded in 1522
Managua (Managua)
Masaya (Masaya)
Rivas (Rivas)
Río San Juan (San Carlos)
The Central Region:
Nueva Segovia (Ocotal)
Madriz (Somoto)
Estelí (Estelí)
Jinotega (Jinotega)
Matagalpa (Matagalpa)
Boaco (Boaco)
Chontales (Juigalpa)
Considered the safest country in Central America, Nicaragua offers a wide range of tourism possibilities. It is difficult to know where to begin because of the wealth and variety of tourist attractions.
Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and 2 autonomous regions. The departments are grouped into 3 geographical regions: the Atlantic, Central, and Pacific regions. Managua, the capital, has many modern hotels and restaurants. Government and Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) offices, the international airport, and most major shopping malls are located in Managua. From there you can easily travel to any place in the country.
Mountains, nature reserves, wet and tropical forests, rivers and waterfalls, a huge variety of flora and fauna, coffee, cocoa and tobacco production, handicrafts from rural communities and indigenous weaving, among others, are interesting attractions offered by the Northern and Central Zones. In Matagalpa, Estelí, Jinotega, and the Segovias you can enjoy hiking tours through the beautiful nature reserves of El Arenal, El Musum, El Tisey, and El Apante, and enjoy refreshing baths in the rivers and waterfalls located there. By visiting rural communites, you will learn about fair trade issues and coffee and tobacco production processes.
The Pacific Region, with its warm weather and beautiful beaches, invites you to visit Jiquilillo in Chinandega, Poneloya in Leon, and the clear waters of San Juan del Sur, where you will find the best waves in the country. If you are looking for a quiet beach, visit El Coco or La Flor in San Juan del Sur, which are also very special beaches because of the thousands of turtles that arrive there every year to lay their eggs.
A trip to Nicaragua would not be complete without visiting the beautiful island of Ometepe, with its 2 impressive and beautiful volcanoes and many beaches where you can enjoy the waters of the great Lake Nicaragua.
The colonial cities of Leon and Granada are an open door to a different world, a world full of history and culture. In Granada you can travel the streets by carriage and visit the Isletas, which are little islands of volcanic origin (365 in total). You can easily make a trip to Mombacho Nature Reserve, which is located on the steamy slopes of the Mombacho volcano. You can also climb the the impressive Cerro Negro volcano, still active, and conveniently located on the outskirts of Leon.
Masaya, well-known as the capital of Nicaraguan Folklore, offers the opportunity to see typical handcrafted products of the region. On Thursdays many different kinds of artistic performances, known as “verbenas,” are also held at the market.
The Atlantic Coast offers a completely different experience from the rest of Nicaragua due to its culture, language, ethnic groups, religion, politics, and history. Bluefields, Pearl Lagoon, the Miskito Cays, and the Corn Islands are some of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. The Corn Islands are two precious islands of white sand, turquoise waters, palm trees, and impressive coral reefs and sea life.
Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. It is marked by volcanic chains divided into 3 large blocks:
The Nicaragua volcanic axis that was formed by 3 big lakes (Nicaragua, Managua, and Tisma) and the mountain range Maribios (Volcanoes Saint Cristóbal, Momotombo, Telica, Casita, El Chonco, and Cosiguina). San Cristóbal is the highest volcano of Nicaragua at 1745 meters and the Casita volcano reaches 1405 meters.
The Central Mountain Range, also called Segovia’s Shield, is part of a wide plateau whose height ranges between 1,500 and 1,760 meters and is traversed from east to west by several other ranges: the Isabelia, Dariense, Huapí, Yolaina. The highest point is closest to the Honduran border in the Dipilto-Jalapa range. Peak Mogoton rises to 2,107 meters.
The plains of the Caribbean, from the bay coast to the marshlands, extend from the eastern border of the Central Mountain Range to the sea. They are comprised of 4 climatic zones:
The Caribbean Plains (very regular weather and rain)Eastern Slope of the Central Shield (sutropical humid)
Western Slope of the Central Shield and tectonic depresión (subtropical, with a very marked dry season)
Coastal Pacific Stripe (subtropical dry)
The Coastal Pacific Stripe also has the highest percentage of urban population. 60% of the population lives in several large cities.
The capital, Managua, stands out with approximately 680,000 inhabitants. Apart from Managua, though, only León contains more than 100,000 inhabitants.
Agriculture represents 23% of the Gross National Product, which is produced by 40% of the active population and comprises 60% of the entire value of all exports.
Principal commercial products of Nicaragua: Coffee (the Northern Zone: Matagalpa, Jinotega, and the Managuan massif), cotton, peanuts, and sesame seeds (León and Chinandega), sugar-cane (Gulf of Fonseca region), bananas (Gulf of Fonseca region). The basic foodstuffs, corn and beans, are grown in the high inland areas, with the exception of rice, which is cultivated in the plains surrounding the city of Sebaco.
The primary sector is known for an outstanding meat production industry, which exports cattle products, as well as forest products and fishing enterprises (Caribbean Sea).
The other natural riches of Nicaragua are represented by the extraction of gold, copper, and geothermic energy. The remaining industries, which do not occupy even 20% of the active population and which represent 25% of the GDP, are based on the manufacturing of food products and textiles.