Although Nicaragua is a relatively small country, there are several very distinct weather patterns that affect the climate here. For weather purposes, it is good to divide the country in three distinct sections, the Pacific lowlands, the Atlantic lowlands and the northern highlands.
The Pacific, which is the most densely populated region of the country, is directly affected by the weather that spawns off the Pacific. Fortunately for Nicaragua, its geographic location makes it almost impossible for an Eastern Pacific hurricane to affect it, as these are rarely spawned south of the Gulf of Fonseca, which is the northernmost land that Nicaragua has on the Pacific. In this area, the rainy season usually begins in May and lasts until early September, and the dry season is between October and April. Although always warm, the hottest months are February, March and April, which mark the end of the dry season. Typically the humidity in the Pacific area is quite low, whereas it is usually very humid on the Caribbean side of Nicaragua.
The Northern Highlands usually have the same pattern of wet and dry months as the Pacific, However the weather is usually quite cooler due to the higher altitudes for most of these towns. As such, the departments of Esteli, Nueva Segovia, Madriz, and Matagalpa are usually several degrees cooler that those in the Pacific, like Chinandega, Leon, Managua, Carazo, Granada, Masaya and Rivas.
The Caribbean Lowlands, basically the land east of Lake Nicaragua is more influenced by weather formed in the Caribbean Sea. Here the rainy season is usually later then that on the Pacific, with the rainy months starting more towards July and August and continuing as late as January of the next year, with February through June being the dryer months. This is because of two reasons, first because the Western Caribbean hurricane season begins August and ends in November, and then because the Caribbean is subject to the influence of cold fronts coming down from the north. In any case, the inter tropical convergence zone directly affects all of Nicaragua and weather can be somewhat unstable. Historically, there are very few hurricanes that affect the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua; however there have been some cases these have caused much damage to life and infrastructure. In recent years, the worst case was that of Hurricane Mitch in 1998 that devastated Honduras and did a lot of damage on the Pacific side of Nicaragua due to massive amounts of rain.
The Nicaragua Canal, a Life Long Dream of Nicaragua!
The concept of a canal in Nicaragua has been going on for almost five centuries. The Spaniards first arrived in Central America in the XVIth century. They soon discovered the vast Lake Cocibolca, or Nicaragua. They learned from the natives that it had a draining point at its south eastern corner. Immediately, they became enthralled with the idea of a route that would connect both oceans. Expeditions were sent to investigate. Soon they found that the San Juan River was navigable all the way between Lake Nicaragua and the Caribbean Sea. With Lake Nicaragua also being also navigable, they struggled, unsuccessfully, to find an outlet from the lake to the Pacific Ocean. The narrowest section between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean is through the isthmus of Rivas, and is only about 12 miles wide.
The pre-Colombian indigenous cultures knew of the river and its interconnection between both bodies of water. Yet, it was not until 1539, when under the command of captains Calero and Machuca, that the route was officially “discovered”. The above mentioned Spaniards led an expedition down Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Coast. This opened a trading route, that permitted trade between Granada and the rest of the Caribbean Spanish colonies.
It turns out that Lake Nicaragua, which has an altitude of 31 meters (about 100 feet) above sea level, drains out towards the Caribbean Sea through the San Juan River. The river takes almost 200 km (120 miles) to reach the sea, which means that the flow of water is gentle and steady due to the very small gradient between both bodies of water. Furthermore, the steady flow of water is ensured, due to the huge body of water that forms the lake, avoiding the need of building dams, and practically eliminating the need for locks to raise or lower vessels during their transit.
Cornelius Vanderbilt officially created the transit route as a commercial shipping route to transfer the individuals that were attracted to the West Coast of the USA during the California Gold Rush. In the days before the transcontinental railroad was finished in the USA, connecting the Pacific Coast to the rest of the USA, it was cheaper, faster and safer to use the transit route which involved travelling from New York or New Orleans to the Caribbean port of Greytown, at the mouth of the San Juan River, and then on a steamboat up the San Juan River to Lake Nicaragua, across the lake to the port of La Virgen, on the Western shores of the lake, and then over land the 12 or so miles to the port of San Juan del Sur, where they would board their steamships north towards California.
Alternate Routes Considered for the Nicaragua Canal
In order to establish and truly control this lucrative commercial route, Vanderbilt commissioned William Walker to look after his interests in Nicaragua. Walker became an important part of Nicaraguan history when he overthrew the Nicaraguan president, and proclaimed himself President of Nicaragua. Once in control, he decided to take possession of the transit route, and therefore lost the support of Vanderbilt. The Central American states, saw Walker as a threat to their own security. Thus, they decided to help Nicaragua get rid of Walker. By invading the country, they forced Walker to flee Nicaragua. He was eventually captured and put before a firing squad in Trujillo, on the Caribbean Coast of Honduras.
During this period of time, Costa Rica, who had seized the southern province of Guanacaste from Nicaragua during the war against Walker, demanded that Nicaragua cede the territory to them as payment for their efforts to help them expel Walker. Nicaragua was not in a position to go to war with Costa Rica after having been devastated by the civil war against Walker, and was forced to give in, signing a treaty that has been called the Jerez Cañas Treaty. Under this treaty, which was signed on the 15th of April, 1858, Nicaragua renounced its rights to the province of Guanacaste; however, in exchange, received a few benefits.
First, it ensures that its border with Costa Rica is pushed a few miles from the shores of Lake Nicaragua. By doing so, it retains complete sovereignty over the Lake. It was also agreed upon that the border that was marked by the San Juan River was acknowledged by Costa Rica as being “their” side of the river, and not the river itself; by achieving this, Nicaragua has complete control of the river, since the river is completely within its border! Furthermore, the treaty states that Nicaragua has the right to build any infrastructure on both sides of the river should it decide to build a canal in the future. As can be seen, Don Maximo Jerez, who represented Nicaragua in the signing of the treaty, was a man of vision, and should (in my personal opinion) be considered a national hero in Nicaragua!
Costa Rica has tried to renege on this treaty a couple of times, the first important effort was in 1888 when both countries requested that the president of the USA, Grover Cleveland hand an arbitral award regarding the disputes. On this occasion, President Cleveland upheld the treaty that had been signed by Jerez and Cañas in 1958, officially putting end to a 30 year dispute by Costa Rica.
More recently, Costa Rica sued Nicaragua in the international court at Le Hague arguing that its rights were being hampered when Nicaragua would not allow armed Costa Rican police to patrol the River. In a historic sentence, the court declared that Nicaragua had exclusive sovereignty over the river and confirmed Nicaragua the rights it acquired when they signed the treaty in 1858!
Such being the case, Nicaragua happens to be sitting on a truly privileged geographic location, with an almost perfect setting to build a true inter-oceanic Nicaragua canal that would probably only need locks on the section between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean. After the court at The Hague ratified Nicaragua’s control over the San Juan River, the government of Nicaragua, led by President Daniel Ortega has officially set out to look for international investors that would be interested in a partnership with the government of Nicaragua to build such a canal. It is evident that such an investment would not only be a good business, but also a tremendous boost to the Nicaraguan economy.
Surfing in Nicaragua has become a major attraction for visiting tourists. Its privileged location on the Pacific coast and the proximity of Lake Nicaragua to the Pacific Coast, has a major effect on the quality of waves for surfing. The offshore winds that are spawned by Lake Nicaragua combine with the surf coming in from the Pacific. This creates large barrel waves that break slowly and create world class surfing waves. In addition, a variety of very affordable surf lodges and hostels along several villages in the Pacific coast make of Nicaragua the most affordable surfing destination in the World.
Waiting for the perfect wave at San Juan del Sur
The quality of surfing in Nicaragua is such that the World Masters Surf Championship took place there last year. Master surfers from around the world joined on the beaches of Tola. The mission: to challenge the surf and see who was best at it. The event was a total success, with President Daniel Ortega and Minister of Tourism Mario Salinas being present at the inaugural event and sending a clear message that Nicaragua is ready for Tourism and that the government means business when it talks about the potential for tourism in Nicaragua.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
Best Surfing Locations in Nicaragua
Surf board rental at beach bar in Playa el Gigante, Tola
The most popular spot for surfing in Nicaragua is probably San Juan del Sur. Here you will find a variety of different lodges and facilities that cater to the surfing market. San Juan del Sur offers a nice combination of good surfing plus an outstanding all around destination with good hotels and restaurants as well as some of the best nightlife on the entire coast in Nicaragua.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
The perfect beach bar awaiting for the surfers at the end of the day. Playa El Gigante, Tola
In addition, the beaches of Tola are also fantastic, and considered by many as the best in Nicaragua for surfers. Here the small fishing village at Playa El Gigante has turned into a full fledged surfing village. You you can stay cheaply in a hammock and have an informal lunch on the beach. Best of all are the ice cold beers at funky bars right on the beach. It is no longer a secret, some of the best surfing in the World at very affordable prices is right here, in Nicaragua!
Have you Heard About the Nicaragua Fresh Water Sharks?
As a kid, my dad used to tell me the story about the fresh water sharks that lived in Nicaragua, and how these where the only fresh water sharks in the world! This was almost 50 years ago, and mankind did not really know much about marine life, sharks included. Thanks to the interest spawned by Jacques Cousteau, that marine scientist that we all loved to watch on the TV as kids, we have learned and understood a lot about marine life and sharks in particular. So, is the myth about Nicaragua fresh water sharks true or not you will ask?
Well… it sort of is true! Yes sharks to do swim in the waters of Lake Nicaragua, and although their numbers have dwindled over the years, there is plenty of scientific evidence that they in fact live and thrive in this huge freshwater lake. However, it turns out that the Nicaragua fresh water sharks are not actually a different species of sharks, but rather good old bull sharks that swim up the mighty San Juan River and end up in Lake Nicaragua!
Modern studies have found that sharks and other salt water fishes and mammals actually do swim up rivers. They do so in search for calmer conditions and less competition for food. Bull sharks have been reported in the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers in South America. The same can be said for the Papaloapan River in Mexico. But why do you not find these sharks in rivers such as the Mississippi in the USA or the rivers in Europe? Well, the answer is easy, sharks thrive in the warm waters of the Caribbean. They require similar temperature in the rivers, the tropical rivers of Mexico, Central America and South America offer ideal conditions. The rivers further north offer water that is usually the result of snow melt and is therefore downright cold!
The reason that these sharks are found only in Lake Nicaragua is actually quite simple. The San Juan River connects the lake to the Caribbean Sea. The river traverses about 220 km from the outlet in Lake Nicaragua, which is only 30 meters above sea level, to the delta in the Caribbean. The current is slow and offers a steady flow of water. This means that sharks can actually navigate these 200 plus kilometers up the river into the lake! Over the years, the San Juan River delta has become clogged with sediment. This has made the passage between the Caribbean and the River rather hazardous for the sharks to navigate in. This, together with over fishing, has generated a sharp decline in the number of Nicaragua fresh water sharks.
Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal: to be or not to be…
The Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal has been a 500 year dream. At times it has seemed like almost a reality, and then, once again, it seems to enter a lethargic state where the dream does not end, but certainly endures in the collective sub consciousness of the Nicaraguan citizens.
You see, ever since the first European explorers discovered Central America, they started dreaming of a connection between the newly discovered Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic, which would allow for global trading and commerce. In 1539 a major breakthrough took place when Captains Calero and Machuca discovered the San Juan River, which served as an outlet from Lake Nicaragua towards the Caribbean Sea. The route from the Caribbean up the San Juan River, across Lake Nicaragua to the port of La Virgen, on the western end of Lake Nicaragua put them at only 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean!
During the eighteen hundreds, Cornelius Vanderbilt created the Transit Company, which successfully exploited the route up the San Juan River through Lake Nicaragua and then had a stagecoach to transfer passengers from the port of “La Virgen” on Lake Nicaragua to the Bay of San Juan del Sur, located about 12 miles distant. The United States of America actually undertook a series of efforts to create the Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal using this route, however, in the end, the French, who had secured the contracts to build a canal in Panama gave up and convinced the American Government that their alternative made much more sense than the Nicaragua Alternative.
Alternate Routes Considered for the Nicaragua Canal
In the second decade of the current century, the Sandinista government made a deal with a Chinese millionaire, Wang Jing, who incorporated the HKND Group to build the Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal. The Nicaraguan executive and legislative government branches hurried to pass all the necessary legislation to pave the road for the establishment of this long held dream: The Nicaragua inter-oceanic Canal.
The Route
Different alternate routes where taken into consideration, and after the feasibility study, the San Juan River was discarded as a route. The final approved route for the Nicaragua Canal enters through the heart of the Rama territory starting in Punta Gorda, south of the city of Bluefields, on the Caribbean Coast. The plan calls for a dam to be built in the RAAS, and would require some locks to elevate the ships from the Caribbean Sea to the lake they will create, and then descend into Lake Nicaragua. The route across the lake goes north of the Solentiname Islands and south of Ometepe and then across the Rivas Isthmus to the coastal town of Brito.
The construction of the Canal was scheduled to start on the 24th of December, 2014. You would guess kind of a Christmas gift to Nicaragua by HKND, however only a symbolic event took place in the Rivas Isthmus. As it turns out, many Nicaraguans are opposing the canal, mostly because the proposal is that they will be paid pennies over the dollar for whatever property is required to build the massive project. The 2015 Chinese financial crisis is also playing a major role in delaying the construction. It turns out that the Chinese billionaire Wang Jing has earned the dubious title of the worst performing billionaire according the Bloomberg Billionaires Index in 2015.
It remains to be seen if the dream of the Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal finally comes to be or if will need to wait another 500 years to actually become a dream come true. Time will tell, for the time being 2015 will certainly not see the beginning of construction of this massive project.
There is only one international airport in Nicaragua. This means that all international airlines must land in the Augusto C. Sandino Internacional Airport in Managua. All Nicaragua flights originate or end in the Managua Airport. There is non stop air service from the North American cities of Miami, Houston, Atlanta, New York, Fort Lauderdale and Mexico City into Managua. American Airlines and Avianca both offer non stop service from Miami; Spirit Air has flights into Managua from Fort Lauderdale. Delta Airlines offers daily flights into Managua from Atlanta and United does so from Houston and Newark International Airport in New York. Aeromexico offers daily service from Mexico City to Managua. As of December 2012, Blue Panorama, an Italian Carrier is offering non stop service between Rome and Managua once a week.
In addition, the Central American Airlines, Copa (Panama) and Avianca (Colombia) offer an extensive network of connections using their hubs in Panama City, Panama, San Jose, Costa Rica and San Salvador in El Salvador. A small Costa Rican airline, Nature Air is currently providing air service between San Jose and Managua.
Airport Terminal and Runway at San Juan de Nicaragua / Greytown,
Although there is just one international airport, there are several domestic airports that reduce travel time and make it faster to get to these destinations. There is only one domestic airline, La Costeña, www.lacostena.com.ni. La Costeña is affiliated with Avianca airlines and offers service with a modern 50 passenger ATR 44 as well as with 14 passenger Cesna Caravan aircraft, which are ideal for Nicaragua because of its relatively flat geography. La Costeña offers two daily flights to Bluefields and Corn Islands in the ATR 44 turbo prop. These are the two best airports after the Managua airport that are capable of receiving medium size aircraft.
Recently, the Nicaraguan government has finished and put into operation three more airfields in the country, the first is the airport in San Juan de Nicaragua, on the Caribbean coast, very close to the border with Costa Rica, the second in the magical island of Ometepe, the third and last in the Tola area, very close to San Juan del Sur. All three airports are being serviced regularly by La Costeña.
Other airfields that have regular air service are San Carlos, Puerto Cabezas, Minas, and Waspan. As you can see, these airfields are mostly located on the Caribbean coast, either on the RAAN, RAAS or Rio San Juan Departments.
Did you Know that Diving in Nicaragua is Outstanding?
When you think about diving in Nicaragua, you usually relate to the Caribbean islands of Nicaragua: Corn Island and Little Corn Island. It is true that diving in the Corn Islands of Nicaragua is outstanding. But you will be pleased to learn about other options for diving in Nicaragua.
There is great diving at Little Corn Island
Nicaragua is blessed with many different lakes, including a large number of crater lakes. Such as the Laguna de Apoyo and the Laguna de Xiloe. The first very close to Granada, the second on the outskirts of Managua. Diving in crater lakes offers a completely different experience than diving in the Caribbean reefs of the Corn Islands. Crater lakes are lakes that have formed in volcanic craters, and offer a unique ecosystem that usually has endemic species living within its waters. Such is the case in both Laguna de Apoyo and Laguna de Xiloe in Nicaragua. In addition, diving in these crater lakes gives you access to caves and views of the volcanic vents.
The Xiloe crater lake offers a total of 18 different species living within its waters. With a maximum depth of 89 meters, the waters are clear, although the use of underwater flash lights is used to help improve visibility in the deep and dark waters within its realms.
The Apoyo Lagoon Crater Lake offers outstanding diving conditions!
The crater at the Laguna de Apoyo still has vents where sulfur gases escape into the lake, and actually keeps the water in the lagoon at a very pleasant temperature! With a depth of over 200 meters, this lagoon has a variety of endemic species that are native to this lake! The clear waters offer good visibility to a depth of about 40 meters without the aid of a flashlight.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
Pacific Coast Diving in Nicaragua
The Clear waters at San Juan del Sur offer ideal diving conditions in the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua
Another interesting area to do diving in Nicaragua is along the Pacific coast. Dive Nicaragua, the only PADI certified operation based on continental Nicaragua. They offer diving to several different sites on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. They use San Juan del Sur as their hub. Although the diving experience on the Pacific Ocean is not as colorful as it is in the Caribbean, if you time your dive correctly, you will be able to have a wonderful experience.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
If you want to take a course and get certified as a diver, contact Dive Nicaragua. They offer PADI diving certification courses which can be arrange in Managua and San Juan del Sur.
As you can see, there are actually several different options to do diving in Nicaragua, and they all provide for a rich, different experience that will prove to be a highlight of your visit to Nicaragua.
Lake Nicaragua, also known as Lake Cocibolca. This is its original precolombian name. The lake was originally named “La Gran Mar Dulce” the great fresh water sea, by the Spanish Conquistors. The size of this lake impressed the conquerers! The lake sits at an altitude of 30 meters above sea level. Lake Cocibolca has a total territorial extension of 8,624 square kilometers. It is the largest freshwater lake in Central America, and the 6thth largest lake in America. Second only to the great lakes that are on the border of the USA and Canada.
It is however the largest tropical fresh water lake in America. The lake actually has a river which drains it on the southeastern end of it: the San Juan River. The river flows slowly, but steadily towards the Caribbean Sea. Its path follows a 200 kilometer route that takes it through some of the best preserved wilderness in the World: The Indio Maiz Biosphere Reserve.
Islands in Lake Nicaragua
View of Ometepe Island from the ferry to San Jorge
Lake Nicaragua has a maximum depth of 30 meters, and has many different islands within its realms. The largest of all is Ometepe, which by the way, is the largest freshwater island in the World! Ometepe is actually a volcanic island with two different volcanoes: Maderas and Concepcion, the first is extinct and has a crater lake on the top; the second is an active volcano that towers over a mile over the lake, creating a unique landmark that is visible from around the lake![themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
In addition, a group of tiny islands, known as the “Isletas” sits just offshore the city of Granada, the largest city on the lake. Many of these islands are private and have beautiful weekend homes that belong to the rich and famous of Nicaragua, as well as to a few expats. There are some that even offer a boutique bed and breakfast hotel within them!
The second largest island in Lake Nicaragua is the island of Zapatera. This island is close to Ometepe, and was once home to a unique civilization. Petro glyphs (big rocks with glyphs carved into them) from the island are at display in the Museum at the San Francisco Convent in Granada. There are a couple of options where you can overnight in Zapatera Island, by far the nicest is the Santa Maria Ecolodge Spa.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
View from Hotel Catalanica in Solentiname
Farther south, another archipelago of islands is an artisans paradise: Solentiname. Most of the community is artists who were educated by the famous priest Father Ernesto Cardenal. Many of the colorful wooden handicrafts produced in Nicaragua are made right there, in Solentiname. There are several different hotels in Solentiname where you can spend the night, enjoy life at a tranquil pace and explore the natural surroundings. Father Ernesto Cardenal even has a home here where he still comes to meditate, and you can visit the church where he originally gave Holy Mass under the unique concept of the “Misa Campesina” or Peasant Mass, inspired by the Theology of Liberation that supported the Sandinista Revolution of the 1980s.[themify_hr color=”light-gray” width=”1px”]
Lake Nicaragua and the San Juan River
The western shores of the lake have become an important site for the production of renewable energy. Several wind parks have been set up along the shores. The steady easterly winds that blow over the lake provide the perfect setting. On the eastern banks of the lake you can still find many different small towns and villages. Many where only accessible by boat from the lake until recently. The new highway that connects Managua with San Carlos was recently finished. Towns such as San Miguelito retain their ancestral charm, and even San Carlos, the capital of the department, is still a pleasant town to visit.
The port facilities at these towns still see a lot of activity, especially in San Carlos. This is the gateway to communities down river. The only way to travel to towns and villages on the river is via the different river boats. These function as a kind of “public chicken boat” that transports people to villages. This is the only way to get to the quaint town of El Castillo. A truly interesting river village for travelers seeking an authentic experience in rural Nicaragua.
Lake Nicaragua and the Interoceanic Canal
When the Nicaragua Inter Oceanic Canal is built, Lake Nicaragua will be the most important part of the equation. It will provide much of the needed water for the operation of the canal. In the meantime, Lake Nicaragua or Cocibolca offers a different, unique setting in all of Central America. Any trip to Nicaragua must include a visit to the city of Granada and the Island of Ometepe. Two shining stars within Lake Nicaragua. If you have more time, make sure you visit the Solentiname Islands. This together with the Rio San Juan are the other two stars that shine on their own within this beautiful and unique fresh water lake in Central America.
Lake Managua is one the Largest Lakes in Central America.
Lake Managua with Momotombo Volcano in the background
Also known as Lake Xolotlan, the lake is adjacent to the city of Managua; making this city different from the rest of Central American capitals. Managua is only Central American capital that is next to a Lake. Lake Managua, also known by its pre Colombian name; Lake Xolotlan. Together with Lake Atitlan, in the Guatamalan highlands, it is the second largest lake in the region (they are both the same size, approximately 1050 square kilometers or 400 square miles). Second only to the huge Lake Nicaragua, to which it is interconnected by a short river, the Tipitapa that drains Lake Managua into Lake Nicaragua.
The most significant landmarks in the lake are the Momotombo Volcano whose peak reaches 1280 meters above sea level (4,200 feet). Momotombo sits on the northwestern shores of the lake. Another small volcano nearby forms an island, the island and volcano are known as Momotombito. Lake Managua sits at an average of 39 meters above sea level. The water level does fluctuate throughout the year, and can rise several meters during significant meteorological events, such as the passing of hurricanes or intense rainy seasons. The lake is relatively shallow, with an average depth of only 5 or 6 meters (20 feet) and a maximum depth of 20 meters, (65 feet).
Over the years, the government of Nicaragua allowed all raw sewage from Managua to drain into the lake. This together with industrial discharge polluted the lake. It is therefore unsuitable to swim and be used for recreational purposes. This however, was not always the case. In the past, Lake Managua provided great fishing for the locals.
A Few Historical Facts About Lake Managua:
Lake Managua was a transportation route, cutting distances from different communities. Travel from from Managua to Puerto Momotombo, located almost next to the ruins of Leon Viejo was an important route. The port town of San Francisco Libre, was part of a route between Managua to Sebaco, Esteli, Matagalpa and Jinotega. As such, Lake Managua served as an important means to transport goods between these cities, and the capital, Managua.
Historic photo with steamships at Lake Managua.
Back in those days of glory, steamships used to provide service for both passengers and cargo. This made it easy to exchange goods between the different communities around the lake. The Steamships, the Amalia, Isabel, Progreso, Managua and Angela, proudly sailed the lake between the different ports over the passing of years. The most important route was that between Managua and Puerto Momotombo. This because this last port, adjacent to the Momotombo Volcano, was served by the railroad that connected the Corinto – Leon – Momotombo route. Thus, this was the easiest way to travel between Managua and Leon. Records show that famous Nicaraguan writer, Ruben Dario traveled from Leon to Managua. To do so he used the railroad from Leon to Port Momotombo and then took a steamship to Managua.
According to the records, the last passenger and cargo boat to navigate lake Managua was the “Chocoya”. She was diesel powered wooden boat that traveled between Managua and San Francisco Libre, in the northern shores of Lake Managua. La Chocoya was at the service of the Catholic Church in San Francisco Libre. Her engine broke down when navigating during tropical storm Aletta, back in 1982. The ship floundered in the nearby shores of the Chiltepe Peninsula. La Chocoya was towed back to San Francisco Libre, where she was scrapped. This ended the era of cargo boats navigating Lake Managua.
Today, Lake Managua has become a tourism attraction. The government of Nicaragua has built a nice board walk and port facility called Puerto Salvador Allende. The port is within the shores of Lake Managua near downtown Managua. Infrastructure was been built in other communities around the lake. Such as the case of Port Carlos Fonseca Amador in the town of San Francisco Libre. The passenger boat, “La Novia del Xolotlan” offers tours departing from Puerto Salvador Allende in Managua. Sailing though the lake, you can easily imagine the days when steamship travel was the way to travel between Leon and Managua. Life certainly had a slower more relaxed pace back in those days.
