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.