I visited Nicaragua after having spent some time on the touristic side of Costa Rica, which made it even more enjoyable. Less touristic, more rooted, it felt much more authentic. Most touristic interests are gathered between the capital Managua and the South of the country: Leon, Granada, Isla Ometepe, San Juan Del Sur. It’s between those places I spent most of my time, hiking volcanoes near Leon, riding their ashes / Volcano Boarding, learning Spanish with one week of intense course in Granada, cycling and hiking in Ometepe admiring splendid sunsets, relaxing in San Juan Del Sur where I took my first surfing lesson ever. I’ve also made the most amazing friends there, with whom I’m still in contact nowadays.

I spent about two weeks in Costa Rica, one week in the central region (Fortuna, MonteVerde), Manuel Antonio National Park, and one week on the Caribbean cost (Tortuguero, Cahuita and Puerto Viejo). Although the East coast is rather developed for mass-tourism, the Caribbean side is much more laid-back, with its regular flow of friendly backpackers. Nature and wildlife is incredible everywhere, and I’ve seen many animals in the wild, in their natural habitat: jaguars (well, just one), massive sea turtles, sloths, many birds of prey, and the usual snakes, crabs, dogs, spiders, and the like.