Hike the Mombacho Volcano
After you’ve spent a sufficient amount of time admiring Mombacho Volcano from the islets, it’s time to get a closer view. Hiking up the 
volcano.
Technically Mombacho is a dormant volcano, and it is has 4 craters, with a summit of approximately 1200 meters. One of the neatest things about the summit is that due to the height and location of volcano, the resulting environment is a cloud forest.
Cloud forests are generally tropical or subtropical evergreen-moist mountain top forests with a high incidences of low-level cloud cover. Because of the moisture and make-up of the forest, they are often covered with moss, both on the ground and on the vegetation.
You can hike on your own, hire a guide from the biological station, or go with a tour company. If you decide to use a company, make sure and ask lots of questions, as almost anyone in Nicaragua feels they can be a tour guide.
To do it without a guide head straight to the volcano itself and enter the reserve. Once you go inside the reserve there is a truck that takes 4 trips up to the summit daily. You can take your own car, but you will want to make sure it is a 4 wheel drive vehicle, and that your driver is comfortable driving up steep hills. The ride takes about a half an hour. Make sure you bring a sweater as it is chilly up top!
There is a tourist center at the summit, with souvenirs and a cafeteria. You can also hire a guide to take you around the volcano.
For more information visit www.mombacho.com.
For hiking tours visit www.toursnicaragua.com
Explore the Islets of Granada
For some beautiful adventure and action packed travel in Nicaragua, head to the islets of Granada. If you are more 
into relaxing, take a boat, but if you want to get your heart pumping then rent a kayak!
Head down to the Marina Cocibolca, where you can find plenty of rental and tour agencies. At NicarAgua Dulce you can choose between kayaks and electric boats. and go with or without a guide.
Make sure you bring a camera, and hire the guide (they only cost $5 an hour!). They make sure you see all the best sites. With NicarAgua Dulce you have the choice of going to a small private island (Zopango Island in Asese Bay) where you can eat fresh fish cooked on the BBQ, swim with the turtles, and chill out on comfortable hammocks.
While winding in and out of the over 300 little islets you can get some great shots of the Mombacho volcano, and see some amazing sites on the islands themselves. Apart from the animals and plant life, there are some incredible mansions, in contrast to the little houses constructed by the locals who live there.
Check out the NicarAgua Dulce web-site for help planning your trip to this amazing destination.
Good Food and Good Service at Las Nogueras in Managua
The food at Las Nogueras in Managua is known for being some of the best in Central America. The main menu items represent a variety of international cuisine with a Spanish style influence. The atmosphere is great, especially on the outdoor patio, which is almost always full (call ahead if you like). Even if you get stuck inside the food is worth it.
The service is good as far as the waiters being attentive and accomodating. The only complaint that has registered is that sometimes there are errors on the bill (additional items, a double tip) and so on. Make sure you keep your guard up when it comes to money and dishes. Waiters often recommend the more expensive items, and if you order liquor be very specific as to what kind you want (top shelf or not) as they will serve you the more expensive kind.
The presentation is excellent; the food looks and tastes great.
Las Nogueras is good for a private romantic dinner on the outdoor patio, or a big group meal. With an extensive menu everyone is sure to find something they will enjoy.
Las Nogueras is located in the Zona Hippos, one block from Joe’s Giraffe on the left.
Transportation in Bluefields
Once you finally get to Bluefields, whether you choose to take the short trip by plane or the extremely long adventurous trip over water, you will find that getting around once on the island is not difficult.
The primary forms of transportation in Bluefields are buses, mini-buses, and taxis. Taxis are inexpensive and the most comfortable way to travel.
Prices may have gone up since the last time I was there, but the cost for the buses and mini-buses is about 2 cordobas, and the taxi is about 5. That is during the day. At night, after 10 pm, the price of the taxis goes up to 10 cordobas. The buses only run until about 8 pm, but the taxis will run until there are no more passengers to take!
From Bluefields you can travel up to El Bluff and Pearl lagoon by means of panga, a small boat.
No worries though, getting around in Bluefields is easy. The people are very helpful, and the transportation is relatively safe, although you should also keep a close eye on your belongings and watch out for pick-pockets.
Enjoying the Food in Bluefields
If you are coming to Bluefields, you better be sure of at least one thing: you like seafood. Even if you don’t like it, I would start chanting, “I like seafood” over and over again to try and convince yourself. And hey, if you love seafood, you will be in paradise in Bluefields, as fish isn’t just the staple, it’s what the locals do best. Add in some coconut milk, the dominant flavor of the region, and you are good to go.
The food along the coastal regions of Nicaragua is quite different from the interior; the culture and make-up of the population is extremely different as well. If you have visited Nicaragua, but have never made it to the Atlantic coast, there is a whole other world for you to discover.
If you are looking to try a local dish, I recommend the rondón,
Visit Peal Lagoon and Pearl Cayes from Bluefields
If you plan to stay a relative amount of time in Bluefields, you might consider planning a trip up the coast to visit Pearl Lagoon and Pearl Cayes, which is about an hour north of Bluefields.
The trip from Bluefields to Pearl Lagoon (Laguna de Perlas) is a journey in itself! First you travel across the bay, and then follow the river up to the next lagoon. The trip 
affords you the opportunity to see local communities of the Miskito people that live right on the waters’ edge. You will also see natives using the waterway as a means of transportation to conduct their daily business. At certain places on the river the width of the it can get pretty narrow, encompassing you in the jungle.
Once you arrive in Pearl Lagoon, look up Miss Ingrid’s. As far as I know she runs the only place to stay at in Pearl Lagoon. For your food however, you have options: Miss Ingrid’s or Del’s. Both places serve up some pretty delicious eats, and you can get a meal for between C$20 and C$80.
Boats leave every morning from the bay for Pearl Lagoon. While you could make the trip without a technical tour guide, since every boat is navigated by a local, it makes sense to have someone along with you who knows the area and can add to your experience on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua.
One such company is Tours Nicaragua, which offers a variety of Caribbean Culture Tour packages, many of them arranging from your travel from Managua to Bluefields.
Condor Journeys and Adventures also has a number of tours that allow you to explore the Caribbean Coast.
Traveling from Managua to Bluefields
Once you have arrived in Managua you have two main options for traveling from the city to Bluefields.
Option 1 – Flying
You can purchase tickets to fly to Bluefields from Managua directly at the Managua airport. La Costeña Airlines is the most popular for domestic flights within Nicaragua, and they also offer flights to nearby countries. You can view schedules and fares by visiting the La Costeña Airlines web-site. Flights cost about USD $130, with three fights leaving in the morning (two early and one mid-morning) and one flight leaving in the early afternoon. Currently the online booking section of the La Costeña Airlines web-site is under construction, so in order to make inquiries regarding reservations online the site suggests you email reservacion@lacostena.com.ni. The flight is around an hour, and one round-trip ticket secures you 50 lbs of stowed luggage and a carry-on bag.
Option 2 – Bus and Boat
The bus and boat method is for those whose travel is dictated by money, not by time. This method is by far the more economical, but it also takes 10 times the amount of time. The entire trip from Managua to Bluefields by bus and boat takes roughly between 10 and 12 hours, but costs a fraction of flying there, at about USD $20 for the entire trip.
The tried and true way is by taking an overnight bus from Managua to he port city of El Rama, where you catch the boat that goes down the river to Bluefields. If you prefer a more comfortable 10 hour drive to the Atlantic Coast you can contract a private bus 
company such as Empresa Vargas Peña (tel 280-1812 in Managua; tel 822-1410 in Bluefields) who provide service from Managua to El Rama, and then a connection to the boat that takes you to Bluefields. Empresa Vargas Peña departs three times daily from the Mercado Iván Montenegro in Managua: 5 am, putting you in Bluefields at 3 pm, a 2:45 pm departure, staying overnight in El Rama and completing the boat leg in the morning, and a 9:30 pm departure, arriving in Bluefields at 7:30 am the following day.
Bluefields may not be the easiest place to get to in Nicaragua, but it is worth the work.
Bluefields Nicaragua Hotel and Casino
The Oasis Hotel in Bluefields, built in 2006, is situated atop the largest casino on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, overlooking the Bluefields Harbor. It is considered to be the most luxurious hotel on the Atlantic coast.
This boutique hotel only has 16 rooms total, including a 2 bedroom Presidential suite with a Jacuzzi bath. All guests are welcome to a complimentary breakfast buffet. Other amenities include private baths, hot water, a mini bar, cable TV, and WiFi internet.
The Oasis Hotel can work to accommodate groups for private functions in connection with the casino and they can also arrange for airport pickup.
The Oasis Hotel and Casino also holds an international fishing tournament each year which attracts avid fisherman from all over. This year it will be held on the 25, 26, and 27 of February.
The casino has a special offer for hotel guests: a double bonus of $25 match play + $10 in free tokens. There are a variety of table games including slot machines, blackjack, roulette and poker to cater to every player.
A standard room at double occupancy costs US $75, with $20 for each additional person.
The Oasis Hotel and Casino is located on the Esquina del Muelle Municipal (the corner of the Municipal Pier) in Bluefields. Call (505) 572–2812 to make reservations. Check out the Oasis Hotel and Casino web-site by clicking here.
Fussion ChillOut Bar Concert & Gallery in Managua, Nicaragua
So whether you agree with me on Managua or not (see this entry on living in Managua) you will have to agree that the night scene in the city is pretty hoppin.
A particular favorite is Fussion Bar, or the extended name Fussion ChillOut Bar Concert and Gallery. Fussion Bar is the brain child of Atahuallpa and Dirhiangem Mejia, second generation members of one of Nicaragua’s most famous musical families.
The vibe at Fussion appeals to the artsy crowd, looking for more than your standard bar bumping bass and playing a mix of rap and reggaeton. During the week, the crowd stays pretty chill; people come here to relax and grab a drink with some friends. On the weekends the place heats up with live concerts by a variety of musicians.
Mini-Spanish Lesson for Gringos
One word that you won’t find in your handy dandy501 Spanish Verb book or Madgrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish, but that is extremely important for you to know in Nicaragua (and Honduras) is chele.
Chele the term used in this region to refer to light skinned Caucasians, more commonly than the broadly used gringo. It is also used to refer to lighter skinned Nicaraguans. Chele much like gringo can be offensive, but most often it is not. It is actually used with affection or mockingly by Nicaraguans to refer to other light skinned Nicaraguans. In other instances there is no particular emotion behind it, it is just the term for a light skinned foreigner or person.
It was explained to me that the word chele comes from the Spanish word for milk, leche. You guys remember using pig Latin as kids, thinking that your parents didn’t understand what you were saying? It is kind of like that. Chele takes the two syllables in le-che and reverses them, making che-le.
Obviously the connection is that milk is white, and foreigners from the north often have milky white skin. I like the word for its etymology and cleverness.
Signing off as the Nicaragua Chele!