Take the Kids Along Family Guide Book

Transcription

1 Take the Kids Along Family Guide Book Nicaragua By: Marina K. Villatoro TravelExperta.com

2 Nicaragua Colonial Ci/es Island Hopping Volcanoes Did you Know: 1. Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America 2. Even though the country has suffered from a long history of poli=cal problems, it is rich in natural a@rac=ons that have been preserved. 3. Nicaragua is taken from the name of Chief Nicarao, an Aztec who ruled the lands during the early 1500s. 4. Hernandez de Cordoba discovered Nicaragua Lake and founded the ci=es of Granada and Leon. 5. The largest freshwater lake in Central America is found here with the only freshwater Bull Sharks In the world! 6. Granada is Nicaragua s colonial gem. Table of Contents I. Map of Nicaragua II. About Nicaragua III. Recommended I=nerary IV. Taking the Kids to Eat V. Shopping with Kids VI. Car Rentals in Nicaragua VII. Granada VIII. Leon IX. Masaya Volcano Na=onal Park X. Ometepe Island

3 Must Sees Granada My Take On it: I highly recommend ren=ng a car if traveling with children or hire a private shu@le. This way you have plenty of freedom to get around and not rely on the terrible public bus system. Nicaragua is huge, so plan at least 3 loca=ons to see the different areas, which offer pre@y different scenes and ac=vi=es. For Ometepe Island if you rent a car, have your hotel reserve a spot on the ferry at least 5 days before hand. If you re traveling by foot, have the hotel arrange a taxi pick up once you arrive to the island. Granada is known as "La Gran Sultana" (the Grand Sultan) because of its Moorish and Andalusian colonial architecture of buildings and cathedrals. It s also the best place for great restaurants, an island tour, and lots of family ac=vi=es. Ometepe Island Ometepe Island was formed by two volcanoes that rise from Lake Nicaragua: Concepción and Maderas volcanoes. The name Ometepe is from the Nahuatl Indian s words "ome" which means two and "tepetl" that means mountain - two mountains. it is the largest volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua. Ometepe is also the ONLY freshwater island in the world with two volcanoes on it and with freshwater sharks! Masaya Volcano Masaya Volcano is one of the most ac=ve volcanoes in Nicaragua. It is also one of most accessible ac=ve volcanoes in the world. You can literally drive up to the crater and look down.

4 Recommended I/nerary Day 1 Arrive to Mangua and head to the colorful and lively colonial town - Granada! About 45 minute drive. Enjoy an adernoon walk and relax in the large Central Park. Day 2 Walking and/or horse tour of Granada and a boat tour Islets. Day 3 Take a fun day trip to Masaya Volcano - one hour from Granada. Day 4 Bye bye Granada - off to the Ometepe Island Ferry - two hour drive. Day 5 Enjoy Ometepe Island. Day 6 Take some tours - hiking, horseback ride or just sway in a hammock. Day 7 Bye Bye Ometepe take Ferry back to the mainland (1 hour). If =me permifng con=nue to Leon - 4 hour drive. Day 8 Walking tour and Cathedral tour of Leon. Day 9 Bye Bye Leon and head back to Mangua (3 hours).

5 What To Eat Typical Nicaraguan Food Since the pre- Colonial =mes, corn has been the essen=al ingredient in every Nicaraguan dish. It's wide usage is what s led by the indigenous tribes that once lived in the area. This explains the similari=es of typical Nicaraguan food to other Central American countries. Due to the diversity of its residents: Spanish, Creole, Garifuna and indigenous you can taste all their influences in today s Nicaraguan food. Fritanga Fritangas, tasty fried street foods, are found in most parts of Nicaragua. Here s a glimpse at a typical fritanga menu: gallo pinto (rice and beans), cheese, torta de papa (potato pie), enchiladas (a corn tor=lla pastry), cabbage pies, slices of green and sweet plantain, fried tacos and sweet plantain empanadas, grilled chicken, pork or beef served with corn tor=llas. All Fritangas are served with a cabbage and tomato salad on the side and with pickled onions and hot pepper on top. Fritanga food is also best with drinks like cebada or cacao con leche (cacao with milk) or smoothies made from fruits of the season like oranges, calala (passion fruit), tangerine, giant granadilla, papaya, melon, etc Gallo Pinto There is nothing more typical than this dish! No Nicaragua family survives without it. As a ma@er of fact, it s prac=cally a na=onal symbol. It s a mixture of fried rice with onion and sweet pepper, red beans boiled with garlic. Mix them up and fry them all together. Quesillo Quesillo is sod cheese placed inside a corn tor=lla with pickled onions, wrapped in a thin plas=c sheath and topped off with fresh cream and salt. This is usually sold on roadsides as a quick snack.

6 Typical HandicraTs & Souvenirs Ceramics Clay art is made in the backyards of houses where en=re families work together to create one unique masterpiece which are then sold at the local markets throughout Nicaragua. These decora=ve handicrads are: vases, centerpieces, plaques, wall decora=ons, flowerpots, indigenous figures, dishes, money boxes and other trinkets. Shopping with Kids Natural Jewelry The Natural resources that are available on Ometepe Island are used to create unique pieces of jewelry. Seeds and volcanic stones are the most common materials. They are shaped and sanded then engraved with the island's sceneries and inscrip=ons from the ancient stone carvings that can also be seen on the island. Hand- woven Hammocks Nicaraguan hammocks are considered to be some of the most luxurious and beau=fully adorned in Central America. Families work together to create these hammocks. Tips Bargain, bargain, bargain - it s all part of the fun. You can start by going half down, and then both you and the vendor will meet somewhere in between. Balsa Wood Carvings Brightly painted wood carvings of animals like birds, fish and turtles. Each piece is hand- carved, then sanded to a sa=n smooth finish and skillfully painted.

7 Granada Colonial Buildings, Local Culture, Island Hopping Welcome to Granada

8 Map of Granada

9 Did You Know: Granada is the oldest city in Nicaragua and by far the most popular des=na=on. 1. When traveling in this colonial city you will feel like you are traveling back in =me to when the Spanish conquistadors ruled these lands. 2. Granada is also known as "La Gran Sultana (the Great Sultan) due to it s Moorish and Andalusian colonial appearance. 3. It was named by Hernandez de Cordoba ader Granada of Spain. 4. Granada has seen its share of suffering. It lived through numerous ba@les and invasions by the English, French and Dutch pirates who tried to take control of Nicaragua. My Take On It: Granada is a city for walking. The streets are manicured and colorful. The best part, when traveling with kids, is that it s not too far of a walk to get to any of the major a@rac=ons. Definitely do the Islets boat tour where you see 365 =ny islands on Lake Nicaragua. To get here you will need to either drive, if you rented, or take a cab. NOTE: When taking a cab, find out what the fare is from your hotel. Taxis tend to OVER charge. A horse carriage ride is a great way to see the highlights of this city and then enjoy the adernoon in Central Park.

10 Kid Friendly Ac/vi/es Free and Dirt Cheap Fun Exploring the City Granada s Cathedral This amazing cathedral is situated at the western end of Parque Central. The bright yellow neoclassical church was originally built in 1583, and was destroyed in the 19th century and then rebuilt again in the early 20th century. The Cathedral of Granada provides an iconic backdrop to the city's cultural life as it stands tall overlooking Central Park. Also makes a good landmark if you get lost. Central Park Hanging out in Central Park can be done for days! Watch the locals, shop from the street vendors, drink a refreshing typical fruit smoothie or simply relax by the fountain. Or how about a taste of their famous vigoron. A typical meal from Granada that consist of yucca, pig fat and vegetable salad with cacao drink on the sides. Might not be a kid favorite, but mama and papa can certainly try it. Lake Front Park El Malecon is the park along Lake Nicaragua. Every Sunday evening local families hang out with their children on the grassy areas. This is a great spot to stroll along the shore and enjoy the views of the freshwater lake.

11 Kid Friendly Ac/vi/es Free and Dirt Cheap Fun Exploring The City Hiking Hiking ac=vi=es (guided or solo) will take you to organic coffee planta=ons and hundred year old haciendas on the slopes of Maderas volcano. Explore the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous Nahuatl Indians who have led thousands o f r o c k c a r v i n g s ( p e t r o g l y p h s ) throughout the area. Santo Domingo Beach Santo Domingo Beach is a narrow strip of land that connects Maderas and Concepcion volcanoes. It is a 4km stretch of black sand which is considered to be the prefest freshwater beach in all of Nicaragua. The dense vegeta=on of the Vulcan Maderas looms over at the beach's end and is simply amazing. Swaying in a Hammock What more is there to say this is the best place to plop into a hammock, grab a drink and simply soak in the views!

12 For the complete Guide and tons of Insider Fun BUY NOW! - Find the Best Family Friendly Hotels and Adventures - Free and Dirt Cheap Attractions for the Whole Family - Secret Spots to Explore - Insider Tips and So Much More! So Buy Now and Have a Trip of a Lifetime With Your Family Take the Kids Along! Nicaragua Family Guide Book

13 Fun Info & Disclosure Time is so precious. Especially when it comes to planning your family vaca=on. So why waste it on looking through hundreds of websites (most of them outdated) and reading through 300 page guidebooks that barely touch upon REAL family travel and kid friendly places? With our family's hours of researching and personally experiencing each loca=on, hotel and tour I hope this book will help you with your trip and give you more =me to do what you really love - being with your kids and gefng them excited for the new adventure! Each hotel and tour has been tested and approved by my family. We love the local and most authen=c experiences from bou=que, locally owned hotels to the most typical, and educa=onal tours! The guide specifically stays away from restaurant recommenda=ons because traveling with kids takes on a whole different feel and many kids are either picky eaters or don't like to sit through a fancy dinner. What the guide (and I) do recommend and highly promote is ea=ng (or at least trying) local cuisines. The guide helps you navigate through the most common cuisines of each country and region. And most importantly to get the kids excited about experiencing new foods! Now it's =me to have some SERIOUS fun! Happy Travels, Marina K. Villatoro and The Villatoro Family Travelexperta.com All contents copyright 2012 by Travel Lat Am Corporation. All rights reserved This informa/on was accurate when it was published, but can change without no/ce. Please confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in ques/on before planning your trip.