Why Go?Packed with attractions, the southwest offers up some of Nicaragua’s hallmark vistas and adventures. Surfers have been hitting this coastline for years, drawn by perfect, un-crowded waves and chilled-out surfing encampments. Most start their trip through the region in San Juan del Sur, where you’ll find better accommodations, high-octane parties and a solid selection of restaurants catering to international ap-petites. Beyond this there are spirited fishing villages, sea-turtle nesting grounds and tough-and-true inland towns.

No trip to the southwest would be complete without a few days on Isla de Ometepe. The island itself is shaped like an infinity symbol, with bookend volcanoes dominating either side of a secluded universe where you’ll discover waterfalls, wildlife, lost coves and enchanted forests. There’s kayaking, swimming, hiking and biking, and many travelers extend their stay as they dive into paradise lost in the quiet spots and friendly traveler encampments that define this island escape.

When to GoNovember through May is the dry season. It means less ver-dant foliage, slightly longer days, plenty of adventure op-portunities and remarkable sunsets over the curving Pacific Ocean.

April to December is surf season and you get big barrels and double-overhead exposure. Book ahead for surf camps during this time. Beginners may consider other times of the year to avoid the wave traffic.

September to October is the peak season for sea turtle arrivals at Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor. You could see over 3000 turtles arrive on the same day!

Best Surfing¨¨ Playa Hermosa (p136)

¨¨ Playa Maderas (p135)

¨¨ Bahía Majagual (p135)

¨¨ Playa Gigante (p125)

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Playa Hermosa Beach

Hotel (p136)

¨¨ La Posada Azul (p131)

¨¨ Morgan’s Rock (p135)

rivas........................... 109San.Jorge......................111isla.de.ometepe.......... 112Pacific.Beaches...........125Tola.&.Beaches............125refugio.de..vida.Silvestre..río.Escalante-.Chacocente.................127San.Juan.del.Sur.........127Beaches.North.of..San.Juan.del.Sur.........134Beaches.South.of..San.Juan.del.Sur.........136

Southwestern Nicaragua

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

south

western

nicarag

ua .so

uthw

estern n

icaragua .

south

western

nicarag

ua NiCArAgUA.Hig

Hlig

HTS

106Managua

Bahía Salinas

Bahía MajagualP A C I F I C

O C E A N

Arena Blanca

Golfo deSanta Elena

Brito

Río

Esc

alan

te

Teco

mapa

Las Lajas

Carazo

Rivas

Granada

El Carmen

Moyogalpa

San Jorge

La Virgen

Puerto Soley

Puerto Asese

Granada

SanBlás

Santa Isabela

Los Ángeles

San Juan de la

Masatepe

ConcepciónPuebosBlancos

El Rosario

Santa Teresa

JINOTEPE

El Caimito

Diriamba

Dolores

Nandaime

La Paz de Carazo

San Juande Oriente

Las Conchitas

LosViejitos

Pueblo

Paso Realde Ochomogo

Potosí

RIVAS

Belén

Tola

Las Delicias

La Bocade Brito

Nuevo

Huehuete

Veracruz

El Astillero

Santana

Las Salinas deNagualapa

Majagual

La Boquita

Casares

Reserva

VolcánMombacho

Natural

Parque NacionalVolcán Masaya

Refugio de VidaSilvestre Río Escalante−Chacocente

Parque NacionalArchipiélago

Zapatera

90ºW12ºN

11ºN

90ºW

Isla Redonda

Isla Grande

Isla Zapatera

Isla Bolaños

Isla

(629m)

(1345m)

VolcánMombacho

(934m)

VolcánMasaya

Zapatera

Playa Guasacate (Popoyo)

PlayaMarsella

Playa Maderas

Playa

NacascoloPlaya

Remanso

Playa

Playa Ocotal

Playa El Coco

Tamarindo

Playa Hermosa

216

2

2

6262

GigantePlaya

El Ostional

Refugio deVida Silvestre

La Flor

San Juandel Sur

30 km15 miles0

0

South- western Nicaragua Highlights1.Explore.Isla de Ometepe.(p112).–.climb.a.volcano,.kayak.the.wetlands.or.swim.in.a.lagoon...or.do.all.three

2.Welcome.the.thousands.of.nesting.turtles.that.arrive.at.Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor (p137).–.a.not-to-be-missed.experience

3.ride.giants.at.the.world-class.surfing.(and.sunbaking).spots.north.and.south.of.San Juan del Sur (p127)

4.Watch.a.sunset..There.are.few.places.better.on.earth.to.say.goodbye.to.the.day.than.one.of.San.Juan.del.Sur’s.beachside bars (p133)5.get.to.know.the.real.pace.of.village.life.with.community-based.tourism.in.tiny.El Ostional (p137)6.Charge.the.waves.and.sip.the.surfer’s.never-ending.summer.at.Playa Gigante (p125)