• Visit León, the intellectual capital of Nicaragua. It contains a university, religious colleges, the largest cathedral in Central America and several colonial churches. Colourful, provocative and revolutionary graffiti graces the city walls, and the whole of the city is charged with an artistic buzz.

• Head north of León to the Hervideros de San Jacinto, natural sulphuric hot springs fed by an underground river which is heated by the Telica volcano.

• Tour the beautiful colonial buildings of the city of Granada, located at the foot of the Mombacho volcano. The cathedral has been rebuilt in neo-classical style. Also of interest are the Church of La Merced, the Church of Jalteva and the fortress-church of San Francisco. 

• Catch a boat from Bluefields on the Caribbean coast to see the beautiful, coral-fringed Corn Islands (Islas del Maiz). 

• Look out for exotic wildlife in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. Among the animals inhabiting the reserve are jaguars, eagles, macaws and manatees. 

• Be amazed by Nicaragua's stunning (and mostly deserted) beaches. The Pacific coast has a number of fine sandy stretches, including El Coco, Marsella, Ocotal and many others located in the south of Nicaragua in the department of Rivas.

• From July to January, watch Paslama turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs in the Rio Escalante-Chacocente Wildlife Refuge. This is one of only six beaches in the Americas where you can encounter this species.

• Spend a couple of days in Managua. Visit the National Museum, listen to a concert in the Rubén Darío National Theatre (website: www.tnrubendario.gob.ni) or catch a baseball match at the national stadium.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.