The Background

Perhaps not the most obvious choice for a summer holiday destination, and an even less likely wedding one, but the rugged landscape of Nicaragua captured my heart in 2011. So, after much deliberation, budgeting, and the subsequent ruling out of sunny old England (weddings here are expensive), my now husband and I returned and took our wedding vows in a garden on Big Corn Island Nicaragua surrounded by our closest friends.

Our holidays are dictated by school term time; my hubby is a teacher. In addition to this are 3 further non-negotiable factors we have to consider when planning our trips: Must be bikini weather, surf must be very good/very accessible, and we must be able to live in relative luxury for 4 weeks on a budget of approx. £2500 pp, to include all flights/accommodation/food/any other expenses.

Nicaragua does tick all the boxes. Despite being ‘rainy season’ the weather is still amazing in August. The surf on the Pacific coast is highly consistent and due to the massive in land lakes it’s constantly off shore. Flights and internal travel are still affordable and the cost of living while you are out there is cheap in relation to neighbouring countries and the Caribbean islands. I can’t see this lasting unfortunately, so recommend getting in there before it goes the same way as Costa Rica.

Best Places To Stay & Visit – Main Land Nicaragua

Popoyo:

We stayed at Hotel Popoya where there is a beach break out front and free transport to and from Popoyo reef. Rooms are clean and spacious, beds are large and comfortable, mosquito nets are provided and the pool is a peaceful, perfect suntrap surrounded by butterflies, birds and lizards. Food is good and the bar is plentiful. You can stay up drinking and swimming long into the night, no one will bother you. There is nothing else around, so you will need to provide your own entertainment.

Worth mentioning:  The filet mignon is super tasty. Wash it down with a glass of Flor de Cana, the local rum (which is almost as cheap as water). Also the gallo pinto is served with everything but particularly tasty with breakfast (esp. after a night on the rum).

Playa Colorado:

If you travel as a group of more than 4, have a look at a catered house rental over hotel or guest house accommodation. We stayed in Altos de Colorado and it worked out cheaper pp than our week in Popoyo. The houses are incredible. Infinity pool, lookout tower, enormous balconies, air conditioning, bedrooms with Jacuzzis, full entertainment systems, and dedicated chefs who come in daily to cook breakfast and dinner and top up the fridge with freshly blended juices. For us this was a perfect pre-wedding week of relaxation.

Tip: Pre-order bottles of wine with the agent, they’re not in abundance in the supermarkets and what you do find isn’t always that great. Organise to go via the supermarket on the way there to stock up on beer and snacks, other than the odd local bar, there isn’t a great deal else around.

Granada

Is worth a visit, it is interesting, colourful and there is a bit more going on in terms of nightlife. If you’re travelling having spent time at either of the above don’t expect the same standard of accommodation for your money. We didn’t spend longer than a couple of days here, I’m glad we went, but that was enough for me.

Laguna De Apoyo

A short taxi ride from Granda and a different scene again, Laguna De Apoyo is a lake in the crater of a now extinct volcano. It really is beautiful and shouldn’t be missed. There are plenty of places to stay, we ended up here at Posada Ecologicala Abuela and spent our days jumping off the dock, swimming in the crystal clear blue water, kayaking and sunbathing. At night just relax and listen to the unmissable sound of the howler monkey. This accommodation was rustic (other people’s opinion was that it is dated and musty) but the location more than made up for it.

 

Say tuned for part two when we go to Big & Little Corn Island for a wedding!