On my most recent trip to Costa Rica I stayed at Pacuare Lodge, a National Geographic “Most Unique Lodges of the World” property. Upon checkout I got a flyer for some of their other properties where I discovered Jicaro Island Lodge in Nicaragua.
“A private island getaway minutes from the colonial town of Grenada on the shores of Lake Nicaragua”.
A few more clicks told me I could do excursions to cloud forests, hot springs and a volcano. I could birdwatch and learn artisanal fishing on the traditional wooden boats that local fishermen use. I could tour a craft market, visit a rum distillery and go on a “street food” tour.
It looks like 5 or 6 days is the typical length of stay if you really want to take advantage of the activities. For me, if I’m going to travel that far I like to see at least 2 different places in a country. A little more research led me to the Corn Islands off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua – a mostly undiscovered destination for a few “do-nothing” beach days.
The outline below includes a trip to Jicaro Island Lodge with an add on of 3 or 4 days on Little Corn Island.
| When To Go | Jan-April is the dry season in Nicaragua. The rest of the year is “green season” which means more rain but better prices. |
| Getting There | Fly into Grenada, Nicaragua. Jicaro Lodge will transfer you to their island and back to airport. Fly to Big Corn Island and water taxi to Little Corn Island. |
| Days Needed | Jicaro Lodge requires a minimum of 3 days but 5-6 full days looks optimal. I’m adding 3-4 days for Little Corn Island. |
| Things To Do | Grenada is a historic colonial town that looks worth a visit. It seem reasonably safe, but I like the idea of being with a tour company for excursions into town and further afield. Birdwatching, hiking, visit a volcano, rum distillery, coffee plantation, zip line, kayak, fish, eat. Little Corn Island is all about beach, snorkeling and maybe boating. |
| Budget | Jicaro Lodge: Very pricey – starts at $680 per night which is for a private casita, airport transfers, 3 meals per day (no alcohol) and includes the fishing excursion and use of paddle boards/kayaks. All other excursions are extra. Little Corn Island – Yemaya Island Hideaway Looks very reasonable with a mid-level room being around $150/night |
If this looks like your kind of trip but Jicaro isn’t in your budget, I recommend Costa Rica. Click the image below to visit my page for destination ideas and details of how to plan that trip.
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