Nicaragua 
Nicaragua has a population of 5 million people from a diverse indigenous culture and ethnic background. Nicaragua’s Spanish heritage dates back to 1502 when Columbus anchored off Central America. The cobbled streets, cathedrals and stately buildings of Nicaragua’s cities and towns reflect this colonial splendour. Granada has cobblestone streets that can be explored by horse drawn carriage. León also has some good examples of colonial architecture and the ruins of La Pólvora, San Pablo and El Castillo are all fortresses built by the Spanish to protect the San Juan River area and the city of Granada.
Nicaragua is a country of spectacular natural beauty and colour. The green of its rain forests, the colour of its soaring mountains and volcanoes, its deep azure lakes and seas, birds and plants... are all bathed in the golden tropical sunlight. It is also an area of great environmental and ecological diversity. Between two beautiful coastlines, Nicaragua has giant mountain ranges and stately volcanic peaks dotted with spectacular rivers and lakes. Offshore, sun bathed islands are ringed by living coral reefs. This biodiversity includes some of the most impenetrable jungles in the world, a humid tropical climate in the lowlands and jagged mountains ranging to heights of 12,000 feet.
With over 80 national parks, nature reserves and protected zones in the country and with eco-tourism booming, Nicaragua really is a nature-lovers dream!
Highlights:
• Leon- Former colonial capital boasts beautiful churches, old houses and some incredible festivals
• Granada- The oldest colonial city on the Americas mainland sits at the edge of Lake Nicaragua and its 354 islands, perfect for boat trips and nature tours.
• Bluefields- Sleepy Caribbean port town with access to the Corn Islands, great for snorkeling and diving.
• San Juan del Sur- Beautiful, deserted beaches on the Caribbean coast with memorable sunsets. Nearby La Flor has the country’s important turtle nesting ground.