Nicaragua is the Safest Country in Central America. Visit Nicaragua Now!

Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America with the lowest crime rate. And, its all thanks to our wonderful police force (see picture on right; courtesy of Jorge Mejia Peralta).

Aside from being the safest country in Central America Nicaragua's capital city, Managua has the honor of being the safest capital in Central America.

Yes, most of you have a hard time believing this because of the propaganda the U.S. created for Nicaragua during the 1970s and 1980s. Another group of people that might have a hard time believing this are those tourist who head to Costa Rica. At least 99.9% of them have been lied to by their travel agent who wanted to squeeze every last dime out of them. However, i don't blame them as much as i blame the Costa Rican government. The Costa Rican government tends to blame EVERY crime committed in their country on Nicaraguans, its called xenophobia. Their government tries to downplay all crime in Costa Rica in order to have their tourism industry growing. This creates a false representation of their country. They worry that if news gets out the Americans won't head down to San Jose's hotels to pay woman to have sex with them. Sex tourism is very popular and is legal in Costa Rica, its a shame young girls under 14 get into this "profession". Yes, crime in Costa Rica is lower compared to the U.S., but not as low as Nicaraguas.

On to the facts:
Nicaragua has been rated the safest country in Central America by various sources. Statistics and surveys by INTERPOL, the United Nations, INCAE, the Inter-American Human Rights Institute and the Police Forces in the Americas show that statistically, Nicaragua has the lowest crime rate in Central America and one of the lowest in Latin America.[1][2][3]

In 2002 the homicide rate in Nicaragua was 9.8 for every 100,000 people, compared to 20.3 in Costa Rica , 30.3 in Guatemala , and 54.5 in El Salvador.[4]

Managua is the safest capital city in Latin America, with 2.3 intentional homicides for every 100,000 people (compared to 3.9 in San José, Costa Rica ), according to statistics collected by the Harvard-affiliated Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE).[5]

Neither Nicaragua or the city of Managua have major gang problems, in comparison to other countries in Central America.[6] The number of gang members was estimated at 4,500 all throughout the country, lower than all of its Northern neighbors in the region (excluding Belize; but Belize's population is only about 300,000).[7] In 2003, the Policía Nacional de Nicaragua (National Police of Nicaragua) recognized gangs committed only 0.51% of all crimes. In 1991, there were 110 gangs in Managua, in 2001 the number of gangs reduced to 96 gangs with a total of 1,725 members. Over the next 3-4 years the number of gangs and gang members both decreased and increased. In late 2005 the number of gangs and members decreased significantly to 34 gangs and their 706 members in Managua, these represented 38% and 32% of the national total of gangs and its members.[8]

Nicaragua is the second safest country in all of Latin America (behind Uruguay) and has a lower reported crime rate that than France, Germany and the United States, according to a United Nations/Interpol study.[9]

Travel Now!

So, if your looking to travel to Latin America and want to feel safe, head to Nicaragua! Home of the 2nd largest lake in Latin America, largest rainforest north of the Amazon in Brazil and the oldest colonial city in America.[10] (Granada was founded in 1524)[11] Ometepe island (located in Lake Nicaragua) is the largest volcanic island in a freshwater lake in the world. You can reach it by taking a 30-50 cordoba ($1.30-$3) ferry in Granada.[12] Also available near Granada on Lake Nicaragua is the archipelago called "Isletas de Granada" (Islets of Granada). There are over 265 little islets with some of the most amazing houses. (see a video of the islets here) It is a small community of the very wealthy Nicaraguans, average fisherman, and wealthy international people.[13]

So leave, go now! Visit!

How to Make Gallopinto - Nicaraguan Style- Step by Step

Click Here to see my Flickr set and click on each image there to get the instructions on how to make Gallopinto.

History
Gallopinto originated in Nicaragua and then when Nicaraguans emigrated to Costa Rica (which first happened in the 18th century) they brought with them their Gallopinto which Costa Ricans now claim as their own (how greedy right?).

Nicaraguans in the Pacific coast and the Caribbean coast cook their Gallopinto differently. In the Caribbean coast they use coconut oil and/or grated coconut. In the Pacific coast they use regular oil (such as vegetable oil) and traditionally add onions.

As of 2007, Nicaragua holds the record for most Gallopinto cooked and served. The proceeds went to a charity in Managua, Nicaragua.

Help Our Friends // Ayuden a Nuestros Amigos

www.SplitBeanCoffee.com


Help SplitBeanCoffee Help The Children in Nicaragua

Please help SplitBeanCoffee help others by purchasing a medal of Our Lady of Rocio. All proceeds will be donated to the children of The Mariano Dubon Pre-Escolar in Leon, Nicaragua. They will be providing school supplies and books for these children on a continuous basis to combat illiteracy. If you would like to make a monetary or goods donation aside from purchasing a medal please contact them at elrocio@elrocio.net. This is their first outreach effort, and they hope to be able to do many more.

Ayudeno a SplitBeanCoffee combatir el analfabetismo comprando una medalla de La Virgen del Rocío. Todas las ganancias seran donadas a los niños del Pre-Escolar Mariano Dubon en León, Nicaragua. Con solo $3.00 podemos compras los materiales necesarios para un semestre de instrucción. Si desea hacer alguna otra contribucion monetaria o de materiales educativos favor de ponerse en contacto con ellos al - elrocio@elrocio.net. Esta la primera campaña de SplitBeanCoffee de caridad y esperan poder organizar muchas más.

ElRocio.net

Also Split Bean Coffee - www.splitbeancoffee.com is donating one dollar of each order placed online to this cause. --||-- Por cada compra echa por www.SplitBeanCoffee.com ellos donaran $1 por este causo.

El Macua

El Macuá, Nicaragua's National drink. Named after a bird tropical to our beautiful country.

El Macuá

* 1 1/2 oz of Rum Flor de Caña White Extra Dry
* 1 oz of guava juice
* 1 oz of orange juice
* 1/2 oz of lemon juice
* A slice of orange
* Sugar and ice

Optional:
* A green stemmed lime - cherry

Taste what Nicaragua's world renowned rum has to offer, make yourself one.

For more information check out:
Macuá, Trago nacional -- Offical website
Ney York Times review on 'El Macuá
Macuá on wikipedia
Flor de Caña on wikipedia

Lake Nicaragua and its 3 wonders.

Photo: Lake Nicaragua.
Beautiful Lake Nicaragua (also known as Lake Cocibolca, Mar Dulce)is a massive fresh water lake with an area of 8264 km and an elevation of 32 f. making is the 3rd largest lake in the Americas and 21st largest in the world. Despite being a freshwater lake it contains sharks, including the Lake Nicaragua Shark (Carcharhinus nicaraguensis), which is fully adapted to freshwater life. Nicaraguans call it Lago Cocibolca or Mar Dulce (literally, Sweet Sea). In fact, it has everything it needs to be a sea except that the water is not salty. Lake Nicaragua is also home to the amazing Ometepe Volcano Island.

(click on image to see it full size)

Photo: Ometepe.
The Island of Ometepe was formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua. The Volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, are joined by a low isthmus to form one island, giving it the form of an hourglass. The island has a population of 35,000, and an economy based on livestock, agriculture, and tourism. Plantains are the major crop. The most important villages on the island are Moyogalpa, with its harbour, and Altagracia on the eastern side of the island. Many traditions are kept alive. They celebrate more religious and folk festivals than anywhere in Nicaragua. Today, Ometepe is developing tourism and ecotourism, with the archaeological past and the bounty of its nature sanctuary, the exotic vegetation, animal and bird life as trump cards. Lake Nicaragua is not home to only Ometepe but also Solentiname Islands

(click on image to see it full size)

Photo: Solentiname Islands in Nicaragua
The Solentiname Islands are located towards the southern end of Lake Nicaragua in the Nicaraguan department of Río San Juan. They are made up of four larger islands, Mancarroncito, Mancarrón, San Fernando and La Venada, along with some 32 smaller islands numerous aquatic birds. The islands’ origins are volcanic. The highest point in the islands is found on Mancarrón; it is 257 m above sea level. They are covered in tropical tree species, transitional between wet and dry tropical, and are home to various colourful bird species, including various kinds of parrot and toucans; there are 76 species in all. The waters about the islands contain plentiful fish. There are about 46 species, including tarpon, freshwater sharks, sawfish, and swordfish. The island of La Venada is known for its deer, and also named for them. The islands’ tranquillity and colourfulness are likely what has attracted artists to their shores. Painters and woodcarvers share the islands with farmers and fishermen. The archipelago's population is less than 1000, and its land area is about 38 km. Last but not least Lake Nicaragua is also home to Zapatera Island.


Photo: View of Zapatera Island from Mombacho
Zapatera Island is located in the nothern part of Lake Nicaragua. Indigenous people from times past left behind royal tombs, sacrificial stone altars, and gigantic statuary idols on this enormous island, offering clues into their curious history. Based on independent written accounts kept by mid-nineteenth century travelers Carl Bovalius of Sweden and Ephraim George Squier of the United States, this island was the site of pilgrimages where the ancient Chorotegas built altars, made religious images and offered sacrifices. Isla Zapatera, about an hour away by boat, is now protected as a national park. The statues have been removed for safe-keeping in museums near and far “Granada’s Convent-Church of San Francisco”, but other fascinating structures, many hidden in lush vegetation, remain and can be viewed by visiting this open-air archaeological treasure trove.

Long awaited return of Daniel Ortega (FSLN).

Photo: Fidel Castro & Daniel Ortega
(1/10/07) The long awaited return of Daniel Ortega is finally here for us Nicaraguans. Ortega takes office today in a ceremony attended by more than a dozen world leaders, many Latin leftists celebrating their latest ally in the region. Leaders like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales (an ally of Chavez and ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro). Sadly Fidel Castro won't attend because of his health, but Ortega has already sought close ties with the communist island, attending Castro's 80th birthday celebrations in Havana.

Ortega will be sworn in at the Omar Torrijos Nonaligned Plaza, which he constructed as president in the 1980s. It is the same plaza where he conceded defeat to Violeta Chamorro after the Feb. 25, 1990, election. He plans to use a former convention center near Congress as his office, instead of the presidential palace. In an interview with The Associated Press, outgoing President Enrique Bolanos predicted that Ortega's government would be "as strong as it was in the 1980s."

“We will go to the sun of freedom or to the death; if we die, our cause will continue living.” - Augusto Sandino.

Nicaragua's Flag & Early History

The National Flag was created on September 5, 1908 with the blue and white stripes which the Central American Federation had agreed upon and the National shield in the center.

Nicaragua takes its name from Nicarao, chief of the indigenous tribe that lived around present-day Lake Nicaragua. Nicaragua was first settled by the Spanish in 1522. In 1524, Hernandez de Cordoba founded the first Spanish permanent settlements in the region, including two of Nicaragua's principal towns: Granada on Lake Nicaragua, and Leon east of Lake Managua. Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821. In 1838, Nicaragua became an independent republic.

Las Isletas of Granada & Mombacho

Granada, Nicaragua is home to an extraordinary 365 islands which were formed when Volcán Mombacho erupted some 20,000 years ago. Today, the islands are inhabited by a few hundred local Nicoyas and an ever-increasing number of wealthy Nicaraguans and foreigners who continue to buy up the isletas for their garish vacation homes. Apart from the absolute lavish and natural beauty of the isletas, the Fortín de San Pablo is a Spanish fort that was largely unsuccessful in preventing pirate attacks on Granada. The islanders themselves are interesting and friendly, maintaining a rural life unique in Nicaragua. The children paddle dugout canoes or rowboats to school from an early age, and their folks get along by fishing and subsistence farming. Las Isletas are also (in my opinion) a MUST SEE when visiting Nicaragua, or for any Nicaraguan in general.

(click on image to see it full size)

It's been extinct for many years now, and it is totally covered with vegetation. This has created a rich ecosystem where within it live 50 species of mammals,174 species of birds, 30 of reptiles and 750 species of flora. Maintaining the forest canopy is a crucial objective of Fundación Cocibolca, since this is where more than 90 percent of Mombacho’s 1,000 howler monkeys reside. The Canopy Tour is 600 meters and one slides through the rich foliage hanging onto steel cables or walking across suspended bridges, its accually really cheap and really fun! It costs less than $10-15 american dollars, so if your ever near granada, head over to Volcan Mombacho in Granada and take a canopy tour to get the best views of Laguna Apoyo, and Lake Colcibolca.