NeilandKirst

Finally managed to get a shuttle transfer arranged, at one point we thought it was going to be a day long series of buses so quite a relief to have a 4 hour shuttle instead. Easiest of journeys down through Punteranas with brief stops in Caldera and a sighting of the Crocs as we passed over one of the rivers. Our choice for our last four days is Hermosa. Just 4 miles down the road from Jaco on the Central American coast this is a short boarders favourite and somewhere previously that we have only ever gone for a beer! Found a lovely guest house called the Hermosa Beach Guest House and as seemed to be typical of the trip we were the only ones staying bar one other couple. Fantastic pool and right on the ... read more

Last night was our trip out to the remote Nicuraguan coastal area to hopefully view the turtles. The season runs from July to Dec so we knew we were pretty much at the end of it but reports said they were still arriving. Before we could leave we had to stop at the local police station to pick up our armed guard, weird but somehow very reassuring knowing we were off into the middle of nowhere! Our trip was out on an open truck and as only four of us two had to volunteer to ride outside so we jumped at the chance. Well it was an experience for sure as of course no one here drives slowly and soon we were on an unmade road whizzing side to side and holding on for dear life! ... read more

We spent our final morning in Granada going out to see some of the work of Enpowerment International who primarily work with bringing education to young Nicaraguans. The town we visited was on the outskirts of town and was a pretty humbling experience. No proper roads and the houses are basically shacks that house upto 5 families. No electricity, running water or sewage so the challenges obvious. No school either so the volunteers we met had set up a school and were basically trying to get as many kids as they could interested in education and through their grades. Sadly most parents don´t sent their kids to school anyway as they can´t afford the paper and pens etc so this groups work was brilliant. We saw the kids doing crafts, playing on some of the precious ... read more

Arrived in our final new country of the trip. Nicuragua has been through so much historically and after reading about this I´ve been quite shocked at how much the US interferred in this and other Central American countries. Thankfully now this country has been relatively peaceful for the last 15 years but it clearly takes a lot longer to recover from the years of wars. The first thing that strikes us on the drive from Manugua their capital to the town of Granada is the poverty, noticeably worse than the other countries. Our taxi driver points out sights along the way and we are treated to Vulcan Masaya spouting smoke as we drive past. One of the more active volcanos are quite dangerous for walking around so a view from the distance is enough for us! ... read more

Had a fantastic couple of days down the coast at The Punta Roca Surf Resort. San Blas. Even quieter than El Tunco Beach if that was possible and actually a little eerie when you first turn up and there is nothing but the resort and only one other person staying! Actually the pets out numbered us with the cutest pair of dogs and resident parrots, frogs et al! One dog we took a particular shine to as he was a heinz 57 who had white feet so we named him White socks and he seemed happy to answer to that! Half an hour in and we were settled but it is probably the hardest part of travelling around, it takes a bit to get settled again but we are practising! Within 5 minutes a guy introduces ... read more