Nicaragua
- born again
By Anisha Shah
Photo: Anisha Shah
Where else can you board down an active
volcano at breakneck speed or kayak Central
America’s largest lake, housing freshwater
sharks?
‘Why not Costa Rica?’ ask my
friends. It’s an understandable
question, given Costa Rica’s huge
lead on tourism. But that is exactly
the reason I veer towards its
neighbour, north of the border.
Nicaragua blissfully combines
authenticity, adventure and
remoteness. The oldest colonial
city in continental America, the
largest lake in Central America,
active and dormant volcanoes,
primeval forest, virgin beaches
and offshore Caribbean islands are
just some of it’s assets. Nicaragua
is for those craving an exclusive
escape, with its signature freedom
of tourism en-masse, giving it a
private island ambience at mindboggling affordability. Nicaragua
is also considered the safest
country in Central America.
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Ometepe: volcanic
islands in the lake
As the rickety passenger ferry
pounds the waves of Lake
Nicaragua, towards the paradisiacal twin-volcanic Ometepe
Island, it’s hard to believe this is a
lake. The ‘lancha’ boat creaks and
groans, it’s aged skeleton rattling
and jostling in the strong surf of
the largest lake in Central America,
spanning 8,264 km² (roughly the
size of Cyprus.) All I can think
of are the lake’s most infamous
residents, Caribbean bull sharks,
which adapted to freshwater to
lay their eggs in the safety of the
depths of the lake. More legendary
figures now, since a sh &