Nicaragua is known as the “country of lakes and volcanoes.” Lake Nicaragua and Rivas are 2 top destinations in this exotic region. The name of Nicaragua derives from “Nicarao,” the largest indigenous tribe when the Spanish arrived and “agua” meaning water. Furthermore, the south has more agua than land, inundated by Lake Nicaragua, the 10th largest freshwater lake in the world.
Being among the Central American Volcanic Arc, Nicaragua has 19 volcanoes, with 3 being currently active. Also, Lake Nicaragua (home to the world’s only freshwater shark) and Lake Managua are both crater lakes. I enjoyed my Lake Nicaragua and Rivas Highlights tour and love sharing insights.
San Juan del Sur Port-of-Call
Returning to one of my favorite ports, San Juan del Sur, as an Acupuncturist for a cruise ship spa, I sign up to be an escort for a tour to Lake Nicaragua and the village, Rivas. In undeveloped countries, I often do organized tours for obvious reasons. Overall, my intention is to see Lake Nicaragua and a hint of this country’s Volcanic arc and exotic landscapes.
Rivas, a Picturesque Town
From San Juan, we bus through the countryside to the picturesque town, Rivas, for our first stop. Discreetly, I dodge the tour group and independently walk around on my own. Firstly, we stop at the beautiful Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, built by the Spanish in 1607. It’s white color with blue trim, eloquently blends with the azure sky, mottled in nimbus shrouds. I am rather inspired by the colors, painting this church as an extension from the sky or Heavens. I take an intriguing photo of a Jesus statue looking down from the roof with the light and clouds emanating behind him…
Across the street is a charming park, with brightly painted benches and bougainvillea to color the serene square. Another park is near with a ferris wheel and merry-go-round, stereotypically painted in the bright green, blue, red and yellow colors of Latin America. The rides are old and remind me of vintage U.S. fairs from 50 years ago. Therefore, this gives me a nostalgic chill to my bones. The bright paint glosses overall, ignoring the age of this mechanical playground, inviting people to come join the fun. Then, after an hour, we leave for the highlight of the day to Lake Nicaragua.
Hotel La Mar on Lake Nicaragua
Next, we arrive at Hotel La Mar on Lake Nicaragua. It’s owned by Nicaragua’s first major league baseball player, Dennis Martinez, who is one of the 14 pitchers in American history to throw a perfect game. Here, we are able to relax and wander close to the open-air deck with amenities, such as, a Nicaraguan band, fruit and drinks along the shores of Lake Nicaragua.
This vast lake reveals no shores when you look upon the horizon, with the exception of the distant Ometepe Island, formed by the pair of twin volcanoes, Mt. Concepcion and Mt. Maderas, majestically painting the lake’s skyline. Mt. Concepcion (1610 meters) is an active stratovolcano, that has erupted 25 times since 1883, with the most recent being in March 2010. Its fumaroles emit steam and gases, wafting across the sky to remind onlookers of its cryptic activity. Mt. Maderas (1394 meters) is inactive with its crater forming a lake and is known for its magical and rare cloud forests at its majestic altitudes.
A Walk on Lake Nicaragua
I walk along Lake Nicaragua, taking in the mysterious atmosphere. The water looks murky with high winds and the twin volcanoes smoldering on the island in the distance. There is something wild and exotic about this lake and it gives me a chill that I can’t explain. I observe beautiful, white herons or egrets wading along the shoreline. It is breathtaking to observe their long and elegant, S-shaped necks stretching into the winds with bodies blending into the foamy waves, from which they feed on fish. Lake Nicaragua is the only lake with the rare, freshwater bull shark and is not particularly inviting to swim in. Nicaragua is not for the leisurely to lounge in passive, paradisiacal comfort. It offers adventures, with passion and rugged lands to explore.
After a nice walk in solitude along the shores of Nicaragua, we head back to San Juan del Sur, where I return back to the ship. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Lake Nicaragua and Rivas as it offers genuine, unexploited culture and rugged, natural beauty. Nicaragua remains fresh and original without a lot of crowds as an organic realm of rich biodiversity and cultural authenticity. I intend to return to explore independently this country’s rare charm and uncanny beauty in a deep journey to uncover its essence.
Read More!
Costa Rica’s Amazing Jaguar Rescue Center Tour with Sloths, Monkeys & other Wildlife
Amazing San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Off the Beaten Path
