Another beautiful day on Corn Island, Nicaragua

Newsflash: the war is over. Just don't go telling everybody.

After all, we wouldn't want everyone finding out that Nicaragua possesses the ecological wonders of Costa Rica but for a fraction of the price; cities with alluring Spanish-colonial architecture but without the camera-toting tourists; chilled-out Pacific surf beaches that haven't been overshadowed by high-rise development; and a dramatic volcanic island whose beauty could blow any of the Caribbean countries out of the water.

Situated between Costa Rica in the south and Honduras in the north, Central America's best kept secret enjoys both a Pacific and Caribbean coastline. On the Pacific side, a growing community of foreigners and backpackers can be found around the former fishing village of San Juan del Sur, where a long dark-sand beach stretches between two cliffs. Surfers haul their boards just south of San Juan del Sur to ride the breakers at a smattering of pounding surf beaches. 

On the country's Caribbean side, the two tropical paradise islands of Big and Little Corn Islands (Islas del Maíz) beckon with their white-sand beaches lined with coconut palms and inviting azure water with brilliant coral reefs.

Nicaragua´s sweltering capital, Managua, offers hours of fun browsing its lively produce and craft markets, while 50km east lies Granada, Nicaragua´s crowning jewel. This stunning colonial city situated on the shores of Lago de Nicaragua has a faded charm that is vaguely reminiscent of Havana, Cuba, although the government is increasingly seeing the city´s tourist potential and many of the buildings are undergoing restoration and receiving a lick of paint. 

Granada makes a good jumping off point for exploring Nicaragua´s most visited attraction, Isla de Omotepe, consisting of twin volcanos (one still active) that rise spectacularly from the waters of Lago de Nicaragua. Accessible by boat, the island is perfect for wildlife-spotting (monkeys and rare birds abound) and for hiking up one of the  volcano´s lush cloudforested slopes. 

Survival guide 

A nation of revolutionaries and poets, Nicaragua has a reputation for being home to some of the friendliest and most hospitable people on the continent.

With 17 volcanos dotting the country, it remains vulnerable to the forces of nature. Political turmoil has not entirely disappeared either, with troubles currently underway in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) near the Honduran border. Travellers would be advised to steer well clear of the RAAN.

Nicaragua experiences a dry and a rainy season. Its dry season is from December to May and temperatures can be unbearably hot. In April and May, the country can be dry, dusty and rather unpleasant. Nicaragua´s cool central mountain region is the best place to escape from the heat. Hurricane season is between June and November. The Pacific regions are at their greenest and coolest around December and January. The Corn Islands in the Caribbean are best avoided in the rainy season between May and November.

Spanish is the official language spoken, although Miskito (an indigenous language) and English are also spoken. 

The official currency is the Cordoba, although US dollars are widely accepted.   

Numerous international buses link Nicaragua with the rest of Central America.
Managua International Airport is the country´s main international gateway and lies 11km east of the capital. Granada International Airport has flights to San Jose and Liberia in Costa Rica.