The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

This page is all about showing you a snapshot of the real Nicaragua. A lot of travel sites are all about offering a “one-sided approach” in regards to the part of the world they are promoting, covering over or brushing off any potential negatives that might make a potential client not want to visit. Not us. While we firmly believe that Nicaragua is the best, most exciting, “on the up” vacation destination on the planet, and that one would have to work pretty hard in order to have a bad time here, we also acknowledge that Nicaragua is not going to be for everyone, especially in these relatively early stages of tourism in the country.

The single most important thing for us is to ensure that all of our clients have the most amazing vacation experience possible, from the moment that they first visit our website to the moment they arrive home. To that end, our Travel Consultants work closely with our clients to get a feel of what they are looking for and to plan the best possible trip with the least possible unpleasant surprises. Our Client Service Department is on-hand, inside Nicaragua, to assist with anything that our clients need while here. All of the hotels that we work with have been personally vetted by us, as well as the tour operators that we use for transfers and excursions. We leave nothing left to chance.

With that said, all the preparation and client service in the world means very little if Nicaragua itself is not the right fit. We are acutely aware that Nicaragua is virtually unknown as a tourist destination, and also that the country has a “reputation” based on past events. For this reason we believe that anyone thinking of coming here should be as well informed beforehand as possible, in order to make the best decision regarding their vacation destination. This leads to fewer unpleasant surprises, and helps Nicaragua develop its tourism industry in the best possible way.

We love Nicaragua and want nothing but the best for it. We also love our clients and want nothing but the best for them, too! A few minutes perusing this page could save potential heartache down the line….

The Good:
There is so much that is good about Nicaragua that we can’t possibly put it all on this page. Just check out the images on this website, look at some of our packages! Beyond that, the people make up the best of Nicaragua. You will see this instantly upon arrival. The stunning physical beauty of the land and coastline helps too, as well as beautifully preserved colonial cities, languid tropical islands, great food and amazing sunsets. Did we mention that it’s cheap here too?

The Bad:
The fact that Nicaragua is still in its infancy regarding tourism is not all good. Service, while not something that other Latin American or Caribbean countries are known for either, can be downright slow on occasion, even in the better hotels and restaurants. This is not due to apathy but more due to a lack of clear understanding as to what foreign tourists expect, and is bound to improve with time, although it’s worth bearing in mind that Costa Rica is at least 15 years ahead of Nicaragua in terms of tourism, and still suffers from occasional service issues itself. This is Latin America after all! The thing to do is relax, have a cold drink and ride with it. Check out that sunset… why are you stressed? Nicaragua also suffers from infrastructure problems, with power blackouts and the occasional loss of water. These are not common occurrences by any means, and things are certainly better than they used to be, but they do happen. The internet goes down on occasion. All these problems can be easily overcome by relaxing and being in the right state of mind. The power, the water and the internet is always going to come back soon enough, and in the meantime there’s the ocean or pool to relax in.

The Ugly:
Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Americas (only Haiti being poorer), and as you travel through the country, this poverty can be obvious. The city of Granada, in particular, has lots of street kids that can break your heart. Overall, there is much less evidence of wealth then most North Americans and Europeans are accustomed to seeing in their own parts of the world, and this can certainly make some people uncomfortable. If this is the case as far as you feel, you may need to think further as to whether Nicaragua is the place for you. One assurance we can make is that the poverty is not as ugly as you first might see it. Nicaraguans, who have less in their personal possession on average than other people in the Western Hemisphere, are somehow the most generous. People who appear to have nothing will still find a way to offer you something. That is an experience we can all learn from. There are many organizations here on the ground that can benefit from your visit, and most of the hotels that we work with put part of their profits into social programs in Nicaragua, so you certainly contribute just by coming here!

If, after reading this page, looking over the FAQ’s, or checking out some of our hotels and packages, you decide that Nicaragua is not for you at this time, we understand. Perhaps you’ll want to come in a few years when tourism has got going more, and if that’s the case, we will be happy to help you then! In the meantime, we have both Costa Rica and Panama, and can certainly put together a wonderful vacation for you in either of those destinations. In the meantime we thank you for considering Nicaragua and hope that we’ve at least planted a seed in your mind of Nicaragua being a potential future destination for you.

If, on the other hand, Nicaragua is still a tempting prospect for you, then congratulations! You’re about to embark on the vacation of a lifetime and we will be with you all the way!

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