Northern Pacific Coast (Nicaragua)

Northern Pacific Coast is a region along the Pacific coast in western Nicaragua. It has beautiful beaches, impressive volcanoes and colonial cities and churches.

Cities

  • 馃實 Leon - a colonial city and the intellectual center of Nicaragua
  • 馃實 Chinandega - a commercial and agricultural center
  • 馃實 Corinto - with Nicaragua's largest port
  • 馃實 El Viejo - an old historical city with indigenous roots
  • 馃實 El Sauce - a pilgrimage city

Other destinations

Beaches
  • 馃實 Miramar, El Velero, Playa Hermosa & El Tr谩nsito- a string of Pacific beaches close to Managua.
  • 馃實 Poneloya & Las Pe帽itas - two Pacific beach towns near Le贸n.
  • 馃實 Aserradores - northern beach with the famous Boom surfing wave.
  • 馃實 Jiquilillo - beach next to the Padre Ramon Nature Reserve.

Nature
  • 馃實 Estero Real Nature Reserve - a huge estuary and the home of wild growing corn
  • 馃實 Volcan Cosig眉ina - which in 1835 had the third largest volcanic eruption in recorded history.
  • 馃實 Cordillera Los Maribios - a chain of impressive volcanoes, many active. On Cerro Negro you can do Volcano surfing.
  • 馃實 San Jacinto hot springs.

History
  • 馃實 Le贸n Viejo - the ruins of old Le贸n, destroyed by a volcano eruption in 1610. Now an UNESCO world heritage site.

Understand

The Northern Pacific Coast of Nicaragua consists of the departments of Chinandega and Le贸n with an approximate population of 865,000 (2020). Along the Pacific coast, there are many beaches and estuaries. A chain of active volcanoes, the Cordillera Los Maribios, cuts through the region.

The two major cities are Le贸n and Chinandega, Nicaragua's second and fourth largest cities respectively. Le贸n, a colonial city founded in 1524, is the country's intellectual center with the oldest and largest cathedral, the oldest university and many museums. Chinandega is a commercial and agricultural hub. Corinto has Nicaragua's biggest port.

The region is a major agricultural producer. Important crops include sugar cane, rice, soy, corn, beans, bananas, peanuts and sesame seeds. There are fishing villages, shrimp farms and salt producers along the coast.

Talk

Spanish

Get in
  • Internationally by air through Managua Airport or by land from Honduras.
  • From Managua by bus, car or taxi.
  • From the Northern Highlands by bus or car.
  • From Honduras via the border crossing at Guasaule.
  • From El Salvador by boat from La Union to Potos铆.

Get around

There are frequent buses between Le贸n, Chinandega, Corinto, El Viejo and all other major towns in the region. From Le贸n there are frequent buses to Poneloya and Las Pe帽itas, and from Chinandega to Corinto, but other beaches are harder to reach.

See
  • The colonial city of Le贸n, founded in 1524.
  • Cathedral of Le贸n, the largest in Central America.
  • Ortiz-Gurdi谩n Art Museum in Le贸n.
  • Sutiava, the indigenous neighborhood in Le贸n.
  • Chorotega Nicarao Archeological Museum in Chinandega.

Do
  • Hike up Volcan Cosig眉ina or one of the many volcanoes in the Cordillera Los Maribios.
  • Surf down Volcan Cerro Negro.
  • Swim or surf the Pacific beaches in Poneloya, Las Pe帽itas, Aserradores or Jiquilillo.
  • Kayak in the Juan Venado, Padre Ramos or Estero Real Nature Reserves.
  • Enjoy the hot springs in San Jacinto.

Drink

Temperatures can rise well above 35掳C (100掳F) during the dry season (December - April), so make sure to stay hydrated. Although some say that tab-water in Le贸n is safe, stick to bottled water, delicious juices, beer or the local Flor de Ca帽a (Nicaraguan rum).

Stay safe

Pacific coast currents can be very strong and dangerous even for trained swimmers in their best health. Don't go too far out, stay on official beaches, don't go too far out and follow any warning signs. Weaker swimmers may prefer to enjoy the estuaries with their calmer waters.

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