BootsnAll Travel Community

I've decided to go to Nicaragua this year. I only have a week, and I'll be at a school learning Spanish (seems best for a lone female with short time there.)

My concern after reading these boards is going somewhere too American. Don't get me wrong, I love the USA, but I want a NEW experience.

Can someone tell me about one or all of these places in relation to it?

San Juan del Sur
Granada
Leon

Or should I pick a different school in another area?

Thanks!

Steph

Leon is a real cool little city and it is amazing what goes on behind all of those imposing doors. Behind each one is a charming little courtyard. If you are going to get a hotel room. Go away from the centre of town a little bit and you will find some amazing bargains that give you everything. Like a hot shower and television and breakfast for four dollars and fifty cents everything. Take a walk a little farther out of town when you can. If you like to drink sodas and walk with them, carry an empty plastic bottle with you to pour the pop into. They won´t let you leave the store with the bottle and there is nothing worse than having to walk around with a sandwich bag full of Sprite.

There are some amazing churches there. Also, leave half a sandwich somewhere and see just what type of person eats the other half. Shocking.

Managua is now centred around a giant shopping mall. If you ask for the centre of town from where the bus lets you off, this is where you will go. It is worth it to walk around from there but you are better off to ask for the big church that is the centre of the old town. Much of Managua is rough looking. Be confident, and I assure you, you won´t end up with a shiv sticking out of your ribs.

Never went to Granada. Sorry.

Back to the school thing. If you are looking for a place that has the culture in spades and there is not a million other backpackers. Leon is the place for you. That is the place. Go to Leon. Have I mentioned that Leon is good?

D

Who puts Hot Sauce on Their Popcorn?

Oh. San Juan Del Sur. That is a surfers beach. You will meet a lot of surfer bums there. If that is for you. Go there. I have a buddy who owns property there.

Have I mentioned I like Leon? However, this is not near the water, which always make for a more excellent time. Weigh that if you will

D

Who puts Hot Sauce on Their Popcorn?

I was in Nicaragua for a couple of weeks, two years ago. Most of the backpackers where not Americans. There were some retired Americans there looking for cheap land to buy and spend their time. Granada was nice enough. Close enough to Managua to get to the airport, but far enough away to be small town like. Leon and Granada have a potential to be like Antigua is in Guatemala. A travellers oasis of a sort.
Most Americans that go to CA stay in Costa Rica or Belize. My favorite country was Guatemala.

i spent 4 weeks in Nica and loved it.
i studied in Esteli, which has four schools, and it was a amazing time. the whole week i was there i only talked to three foreigners. it's a really fascinating city, full of revlutionary history and surrounded by amazing mountains. it also has the cheapest rates for studying spanish.
leon is also great, and it actually is near the ocean - there's a beach 20 minutes away.
i didn't really like granada, and thought there were too many americans, of the obnoxious expat variety.
esteli is definitely the best place for total immersion and good instruction...

Hey, check out my new blog:

Central America At Last