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Published: August 10th 2011
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BIG CORN
If possible, spend all of your time at Little Corn. Stay on Big Corn only if you have late or early flights, and stay at Club Paraiso. The rooms are good, but not great (built for a dry climate and not the islands, so they smell like mold and don't let the air through), but I really enjoyed my time there. The owner is extremely knowledgeable about all the affairs of both islands and can take you on a wonderful snorkeling tour of Little Corn. He is expensive but he knows what he is doing. The restaurant has some excellent meals and some good ones and the beach by the hotel has more texture and variety than others on the island. I ran along the beaches for a few miles, and though some are better beaches, the one at Paraiso is more secluded and has two shipwrecks and good swimming. It is also close to Brig Bay, the main town, and the port that you'll use to get to Little Corn.
LITTLE CORN
Incredible. Spend as much time here as possible. I was there during the rainy season (during the lull in rain between July 15
Snorkeling Barco
Everything is better on Little Corn. and Aug 15) and it was sunny the whole time (rain would have actually been a nice relief) -- we were lucky.
Casa Iguana looked very cool, but it isn't right on the beach. It sounds like a great scene, but my girlfriend and I stayed at Little Corn Beach and Bungalow and absolutely loved it. The location is ideal -- right on an exquisite km-long beach on the far side of the island (where you should definitely stay). While some neighboring places are more open and have better views of the beach from the bungalows themselves, B&B's design provides ample shade and seclusion. Besides, there are dinner tables right on the water, and the sounds of the miniature waves are audible in the bungalows. We stayed in the Swiss Robinson bungalow, which is basically exactly what I would design if I had an island and know-how. It is built for the climate and the ambiance -- the air flows freely and it works in harmony with the wind and the bugs, not against them. The overall tone of the owners is eco-aware and pet-friendly, providing a positive and happy atmosphere. The food is superb and the drinks are
sublime. Both days and both evenings I asked my girlfriend if she wanted to walk to other parts of the island and was relieved when she had little interest -- there is no reason to leave. The beach is excellent for running and is easy to get in 3-4 miles without much repetition or obstacles. The water is brilliantly blue and the swimming is absolutely perfect. I only had two minor issues with the place -- first, that there was significant garbage down the beach. This isn't B&B's fault, and it was much better than on Big Corn, but take a garbage bag with you and do some cleanup. It's sickening to see bottles and bags along the beaches in some areas. The only other thing that could be better is the checkout time -- 9:30. This is typical for places on the island because of the early arrival of the boat from Big Corn, but I felt rushed and didn't have anywhere to shower after being in the water and on the beach. They should favor the guests who have been there -- not the ones just arriving. I'm being picky, though -- it's worth the extra money, and
you should note that their prices include the absurd 15% Nica sales tax!
If you google the islands, you are likely to stumble upon warnings as to the safety of the islands. I recommend ignoring these stories. Though undoubtedly true, and in some cases terrifying, these seem to be issues from (Narco-trafficking crimes) 5-6 years ago that have improved because of more tourism. Like anywhere in Nicaragua, you need to use common sense, and like anywhere in the world, something can go terribly wrong, but you shouldn't be concerned about it. I spent 5 days there and felt safe the whole time.
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