Travelling to and around León, Nicaragua

After a 20 hour bus crossing through 4 countries and 3 borders, I made it to León at around 10pm on a Thursday. I caught a shuttle bus from Antigua in Guatemala through El Salvador and Honduras for $80. A friend I met on the bus, and I went to Bigfoot hostel which was around £4 a night (Nicaragua is one of the cheapest places I’ve been in Central America), we walked around in the hope for food, but it was a ghost town. We ate in a petrol station and made some bread and cheese and sat, hoping León would be livelier the next day. And it did not disappoint.

After sleeping in a comfy bunk bed in a ridiculously hot room, I knew some of my friends I had met on my previous adventures were in the city. So, I met up with my mates from Brighton who I met around 4 months ago, Maddy, Roxy and Cass, we always have a great time. We walked around the city, if you are here, you must eat every type elote form they have. Elote loco, elote nachos all of it. It’s essentially sweetcorn, crisps, and sauce but it’s sooo good. We walked around the market, saw the churches and I fell in love with the city, it had a very local feel. Next, we went for drinks in Via Via and got a truck to Playa Las Pinitas for Lucas’ birthday. The beach was beautiful and surrounded by nothing but a small, pretty hostel. We drank rum, played volleyball, swam in the warm ocean, watched the sun fade, and then went back to Via Via’s bar. Nicaragua is probably the cheapest country I’ve been to yet, with a strong cocktail costing 80 Cordoba (£1.30) and a beer around 50 Cordoba’s (£1). I borrowed someone’s skateboard, rode around the basketball court filled with political art, checked out the graffiti, went to the Mirador Bar for a beer and I headed home. (Strange fact, although there are mounds of art and murals in León, only 2 of the paintings are by Nicaraguans. The rest are done by Germans, as León is twinned with Hamburg.)

We went volcano boarding! It was crazy fun, and one of the highlights of my last 6 months. I booked it with Via Via hostel for $30, there was a group of around 20 of us and we all bonded, along with the guide being great. We hiked up Volcan Cerro Negro with our boards, the wind was crazy and it’s hard to stand up while you walk to the highest peak. Then we slid down the volcano one by one on a piece of metal. It was great. Having a great day with a group of people I really liked, I headed back to my hostel in high spirits, only for things to go wrong. I had heard about Big Foot Hostel not being great and that people get things stolen, but it was around £4 a night and the shuttle I arrived with was paired with the company. My stay there was fine to begin with, but my very special ring, my most prized possession was stolen. And after arguing with the owner, some boys in my room come to reception and say 3000 Cordoba had also been stolen. I automatically went across the road to Via Via, where a lot of my friends were and liked the vibe. Big Foot hostel still made me pay for my remaining night and I left. The staff told me it’s normal and happens all the time in León, so just be careful.

Some things to watch out for; Along with hearing people getting things stolen in Nicaragua, this is one of the places I’ve felt the need to be more cautious and self-aware in. The locals are kind and genuine but walking alone in the day, it is 35-degree heat daily, the men often coo and catcall girls. I don’t know if it’s because I’m blonde or white or because it is different / lack of education on this. All cultures are different, I hope one day it changes. Those are the only negative things I can see in the whole country, aside from that it’s one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever been to. I highly recommend León’s free city walking tour, learning about Nicaragua’s past and future, it became a pivotal point in my travels. Lionel our guide was so insightful, and it made me certain I need to go on more walking tours as you learn so much about the city you are stepping in. The bar I went to in León was called 23 Bar with a mix of locals and backpackers for cheap prices. Often the hostels have a bar where many backpackers stay, but I enjoyed 23 Bar a lot, with plenty of street food outside it after a night of drinking. The large cathedral in the centre of the square was beautiful and looked over the entire city. It holds a lot of history and you can watch the sunset from the roof of the building.

So if you want culture, head on a walking tour and learn about the rollercoaster of Nicaraguan history and politics. If you seek adventure, go volcano boarding or hike the nearby volcanoes. If you are a social butterfly, stay in one of the bustling hostels and meet other backpackers. León has something for everyone and is easy to access from all around Nicaragua. I think León is a great first stop in Nicaragua and a good entry point into the rest of the country.