Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rights to have a say in the exploitation of its natural resources, it remains the poorest and
least developed part of the country.
Dangers & Annoyances
Nicaragua's Atlantic coast is as poor and underserved as Nicaragua gets. Expect dodgy in-
frastructure, bring a flashlight (torch) and enjoy those occasional bucket showers.
Local agents for Colombian coke impresarios have often done more to develop area in-
frastructure than the sitting government, but the cocaine traffic in Región Autónoma
Atlántico Norte (North Atlantic Autonomous Region; RAAN) and Región Autónoma
Atlántico Sur (South Atlantic Autonomous Region; RAAS) isn't bloodless. However,
tourists won't have any problems as long as they refrain from purchasing and partaking.
But, given the poverty, even in seemingly innocuous small towns sober travelers should
stick to big-city rules: stay alert, don't wander alone, take taxis at night and watch your
valuables.
Getting There & Away
You can travel overland from Managua to the Caribbean coast, but most visitors take the
frequent, inexpensive La Costeña flights. There are active commercial airstrips in Bilwi,
Waspám, Bluefields, Great Corn Island and two of the three Las Minas towns. Still, if you
have more time than cash and enjoy the (really) slow lane, there are two overland routes
into the region.
There are irregular passenger-boat services between Bluefields and Bilwi via Corn Is-
land, but don't count on it if your schedule is tight.
BILWI (PUERTO CABEZAS)- WASPÁM & RÍO COCO
We won't sugarcoat this. You're in for a grueling ride on a beat-up old school bus packed
to the gills. It begins with a 10- to 12-hour bus ride from Managua to Siuna in Las Minas,
where you can access the Reserva de Biosfera Bosawás (Bosawás Biosphere Reserve).
From Siuna it's another 10 to 12 hours on a horrendous road to Bilwi. Waspám and the
Río Coco are a smoothish six hours north from there.
JUIGALPA-EL RAMA-BLUEFIELDS- CORN ISLANDS
The (much!) preferred trip to the crystalline Caribbean Sea unfurls on the smooth, paved
road to El Rama, with rejuvenating side trips to the mountain towns of Boaco and
Juigalpa. From El Rama, you can hop on a testing five-hour bus along the rutted dirt road
