nicaragua/central america

[johnny chimpo]

The wife and I want to take a short trip (4 days) somewhere beachy in the next few months, other than Mexico. We spent time in Costa Rica last year (Nosara on the Nicoya Peninsula) and thought we'd gone to heaven. We both dislike overdeveloped, Cancun-like destinations and want to vacation at some out of the way, scenic (and safe) banana republic. My Spanish is OK, and we're not not afraid to rent a car and drive to the destination. Any suggestions on where we should go?

 

[Tex Pete]

Last year, I went to Cahuita in Limon, C.R. It is on the Caribbean side of C.R., and pretty undeveloped. You won't really find any lavish accomodations, but the mix between Caribbean and Latino culture is pretty cool. It is a pretty big destination for European backpacking types.

The drawback would be that you would have to rent a car and drive down there. It's about a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive out of San Jose, not really far from Panama.

I will actually be there again in June.

 

[TXHookem]

I get the feeling that there' s no love lost between Costa Rica and Nicaragua so a Costa Rican opinion may have some bias. Not to say it doesn't have validity, as well. I would check with some gringos who have been there. I've heard it's like Costa Rica before it built up. I have a friend (Brazilian) who lives in Managua and he loves it. Good surf there, too.

 

[stabone]

In reply to:

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[RunTex]

Nica is a nice place.

Try this hotel- Morgans Rock- google it.
Owned by a Costa Rican couple and wonderful resort, great beaches.
Nosara is one of my favorite beaches and if you liked it, you will like this part of Nica.
Also hit the Lago and Granada as well.

 

[longhrnfan]

go to Belize. all the adventure, luxury and natural beauty you can stand. PM me for recommendations.

 

[MustangOrange]

My dad goes to Roatan a lot, in the Bay Islands of Honduras. There are direct flights from Houston on every Saturday & it's supposed to be one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world.

 

[blingbling]

I'm glad the original poster asked this because I've been looking at the same lately.

Probably a 3-4 night trip to somewhere other than Mexico or Jamaica.

Beaches and Nightlife are what I'm looking for - any suggestions?

 

[RunTex]

Belize and Roatan are nice places but both are developed much more so than the parts of CR.

As to Nica..
If you want to try something new, head south from CR to Panama- hit the Bocas Del Toro island chain, the San Blas islands or the Pearl islands, and catch a day tour of the Canal. Fly in and out of Panama city direct from Houston, Panama city is a very nice city along the ocean, by far the nicest central american city.

There is little night life along the Nica beaches. Granada in Lago has good night life and is a cool town. If you liked the Arenal area, you will love Granada and Lago Nicaragua.
The beaches outside San Juan are like what the Guanacaste was 15 years ago before us gringos invaded.

For the most recent poster looking for some nightlife and something different than Mexico and Jamacia- try Costa Rica first and then head to either Nica or Panama next.