Nicaragua (San Juan del Sur) Cruise Guide

Situated on a horseshoe shaped bay on Nicaragua's Pacific coast, San Juan del Sur is an attractive and lively beach resort. Large cruise ships anchored in the bay look strangely out of place in this laid-back town, which until a few decades ago was a remote fishing village.

Visitors today are welcomed by local craftspeople selling their wares on the golden beach, while the beach bars and restaurants set-up by enterprising ex-pats are great places to soak up the atmosphere of this small and still relatively under-developed jewel in Nicaragua's tourism crown. More adventurous visitors can explore further afield for a range of ecotourism activities.

Sightseeing

San Juan del Sur itself does not offer much in the way of attractions. Besides the beach, the bars and the restaurants there is little to do in the town itself. There's an impressive Petroglyth just outside of town and if you're there between July and December you may be able to see Olive Ridley or Leatherback turtles who return each year to nearby Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor to lay their eggs.In the last few years a number of eco-tourism companies have sprung up offering canopy tours, wildlife watching and visits to surfing beaches nearby. Those with a little more time may want to explore Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua with its twin volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations.

Highlights

• Iglesia San Juan Bautista (church)
• Playa Marsella (nearby beach)
• Petroglyph (ancient monument)
• Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor (turtle refuge)
• Canopy Tours
• Ometepe Island

Tourist Information

Instituto Nicaragüense De Turismo
Hotel Crowne Plaza, 1c Sur, 1c Oeste, Managua, Nicaragua
Tel: +505 254 5191.
Website: www.visitanicaragua.com

Shopping

Locals sell arts and crafts, such as hand-carved wood products and colourful paintings, direct to cruise ship visitors on the beach.

Eating Out

There are a few local restaurants serving the standard Nicaraguan fare of rice, beans and chicken. But most of the beachside restaurants serve dishes devised with the Gringo in mind.

When To Go

The dry season is from November to April and it gets progressively warmer until the wet season kicks off in mid May. For turtle-watching aim for July or August.

Transfer Times

Nearest Destination

San Juan del Sur.

Transfer Distance

1km (0.6 miles).

Transfer Time

5 minutes.

Key Facts

Region

Nicaragua

Time Zone

GMT - 6.

Currency

Nicaraguan Gold Córdoba (C$) = 100 centavos.

Language

Spanish.

Location

West coast of Nicaragua, Central America

Population

17,000.


Government

Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Religion

Mostly Roman Catholic with some Protestants and other religions.

Social Conventions

The Nicaraguans are generally reserved but friendly people. Handshakes are the normal form of greeting. Dress is informal especially around the beach, although visitors should cover up when visiting religious sites.

Tipping: Some tourist restaurants add a 10% service charge. Where they don't a 10% tip is welcome.
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