Grenada, Nicaragua: ‘80s don’t-go spot goes boom

Boomtown fever is often followed by nostalgia for the way of life that just disappeared. Rapid change usually means rapid loss of charm.

Tourism boomtowns are, of course, no exception, and the world brims with overbuilt locations where it’s now impossible to find what led folks to flock there in the first place. (Cabo, can you hear me?)

Nicaragua’s colonial gem of Granada, and its lakeside cobblestone streets, has thankfully not yet lost its character, but it doesn’t take long here to see that nearly every block features a new hotel or a building for sale. If you weren’t familiar with American real estate, you could easily presume that the countless signs around town heralded an upcoming election between two candidates: Re/Max and Coldwell Banker.

In short, come here now -- this instant, no delay -- before it’s too late.

Astonishingly, it wasn’t that long ago that the travel world considered Central America’s largest country either too dangerous or too underdeveloped to include on any must-see list.

Now, after 20 years of relative stability, it’s hard to find any “hot destinations” guide that omits Nicaragua’s two coasts, volcanoes and lush jungles.

Yet everyone’s first question still remains: Just how safe is it?

Similar to the assessments of other guidebooks, Lonely Planet asserts that Nicaragua “has the lowest crime rate in Central America,” even though it’s the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti. Such a statement could be correct, but there don’t seem to be truly reliable numbers to back it up. In truth, safety in Nicaragua, like most everywhere else, largely depends on common sense and where you travel.

Like most tourists I began my eight-day trip in Managua, the nation’s capital, which contains about 30 percent of Nicaragua’s estimated 5.7 million people and accounts for the lion’s share of the country’s crime. Deep poverty, street gangs and lingering problems from the 1972 earthquake, which destroyed much of the city, make Managua dicey after dark, and potentially unsafe during the day in several spots.

Saying that, tourists often skip Managua anyway and rarely witness much of the city except when exiting the airport for points beyond. It’s often said that the best thing about Managua is leaving it, and it’s a conclusion I came to agree with after spending a couple days there with a local guide. Apart from a handful of decent restaurants, the crumbling (closed) cathedral and the parrots and iguanas you can buy -- primarily as pets -- at intersections, it held little appeal.

Once outside of Managua I headed toward Leon, about 90 minutes away, and thankfully found there what I hoped Nicaragua would be. Leon’s central square features everything you imagine a former colonial capital would contain: strolling families, shaded benches, food vendors and a stunning church, in this case the Basilica de la Asuncion, Central America’s largest cathedral and one of its most beautiful.

Its white exterior is a bit grimy -- but, hey, don’t be too judgmental; consider that construction began when George Washington was just a teenager.

The basilica is only one of a half-dozen or so awe-inspiring churches in Leon. And even in the city’s notorious heat -- Leon is usually the hottest and driest major Nicaraguan city -- the time spent on a self-guided walking tour from church to church proves rewarding and relaxing.

For those not that into nave gazing, check out the nearby beaches to the west or volcanoes to the east. The swimming spots at the Pacific beaches vary, but some surfers consider the rides the best until you reach Hawaii. Anyone interested in surfing without the waves can take one of several area tours that allow you to slide down one of the volcanoes on a piece of plastic or metal at about 30 mph -- or what feels closer to Mach 3.

Finding an English speaker in Leon is a bit of a challenge, so if you’re without even basic Spanish skills, then Granada, my third stop, might be easier to navigate. It, too, brims with authentic experiences and raw vigor -- Granada nightclubs are Nicaragua’s most jumping -- and for better or worse it is certainly more tourist friendly than its rival Leon, about two hours away.

Once you arrive in Granada you’ll see that the city seemingly revolves around liquids, whether it’s the water lapping the adjacent shore of Lake Nicaragua or the numerous drinks idling on tables across town. There’s pinol and chicha, both corn-based and beloved or despised, depending on one’s taste. (Find them for sale in the central square.) There’s also the country’s refreshing Pilseners and smooth Flor de Cana rum, enjoyed with cola, limes and ice -- servicio completo -- and local cigars.

I recommend trying all of them at least once, and the rum many times over. (A bottle of Flor de Cana is the only item I brought back from the country.)

Unfortunately, Nicaraguans have few local dishes to match the flare of their drinks, a point many locals not only admit but bemoan. Frankly, the country features some of the blandest, least inspiring food on the planet -- just imagine Mexican cuisine prepared in the spiceless England of yesteryear.

In fact the best meals I had in the entire country were prepared by the American chef at Pelican Eyes Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort in San Juan del Sur, on the Pacific Coast, my last stop. The meal wasn’t complicated, but the hotel, one of the most popular in the country, figured out how to combine fresh local ingredients with seasoning and spice to create rich flavors.

San Juan itself contains a mix of fishermen, American retirees and backpackers, and the prices of hotel rooms -- from $5 to $300 a night -- reflect the range of traveler than can be found here. Although it’s a world away, visitors say the same about Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast (which I didn’t visit), whose people, culture and language are more Caribbean and English influenced.

No matter the differences in the regions, both the Pacific Coast and the Atlantic Coast represent the places in Nicaragua most changed by recent American and Canadian development, and the sound of construction rumbles and roars from sundown to sunset.

Still, the charm of these places -- as well as Nicaragua as a whole -- awaits.

For now.

Getting around:

Rent a car in town or at the Managua airport (MGA), or take a cab to the city’s two bus stations, where minibuses run all day in every direction. There’s also the option of hiring a cab to take you to nearby destinations, although this requires a bit of negotiation and tolerance for Nicaraguan ballads blaring through busted speakers. Consider, though, that this option removes the worry about driving the notoriously unlabeled and bumpy roads -- this is a vacation after all -- and the rough price of $25-$40 an hour seems a steal when you realize how short most Nicaraguan journeys are.

Where to stay:

Nicaragua remains one of the few places you can feasibly eat and sleep as a tourist for less than $10 a day -- not that we’re recommending that. There is a range of options to suit every budget; and singles, couples and families shouldn’t have any problems finding a room in tourist areas.

Managua is filled with typical chain hotels, for business travelers, but outside of the capital the lodging greatly improves.

We reported on San Juan del Sur’s Pelican Eyes/Piedras y Olas Hotel & Resort (866-350-0555; piedrasyolas.com), where double rooms start at $120, but other good options remain there.

They include the Hotel Villa Isabella (doubles from $65; sanjuandelsur.org.ni/Isabella) or Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge (doubles from $195; morgansrock.com), depending on your budget.

In Granada, try the restaurant and rooms at La Gran Francia (doubles from $105; lagranfrancia.com). The Hotel Colonial (doubles from $75; nicaragua-vacations.com) is also popular.

The best bet in Leon seems to be Hotel Austria (doubles from $55; hotelaustria.com.ni), which is close to the square.

What to eat:

Most meals in Nicaragua include rice and beans, so for some variety try: vigaron, a Granada favorite, is a bed of cabbage salad and yucca topped with fried pork skin, and it’s amazingly tasty.

People line the blocks in the tiny town of La Paz Centro, near Leon, to get their hands on what’s considered the country’s best quesillos, made with white cheese, corn tortilla, an onion chutney and sour cream. Unfortunately, they sound tastier than they are.

About money:

ATMs exist in all major cities.

One dollar converts to about 18 cordoba (subject to change), although U.S. currency is used widely.

Information:

The Nicaragua Tourism Board Web site exists, but only in Spanish (intur.gob.ni). Information in English can be found on the for-profit site: nicaragua.com.

Visitors from the United States do not need a visa to enter Nicaragua.