Nicaragua is Central America unfiltered. Still affordable and bursting with personality, this is where volcanoes are climbable, lakes are swimmable, and revolution is etched into the architecture. It’s one of the last true backpacker frontiers; where adventure and authenticity haven’t yet been swallowed by crowds.

Wander the pastel colonial streets of Granada, where old-world churches contrast with gritty graffiti. Board down the black ash of Cerro Negro, then surf Pacific breaks in San Juan del Sur. Kayak through isletas on Lake Nicaragua, hike cloud forests, or sip rum with locals in smoky roadside bars.

Architecturally, Nicaragua tells a powerful story from colonial grandeur to the resilience of León’s revolutionary murals. It's a place where every building has survived something, and every traveller leaves with a story or two of their own. It’s raw, real, and ready.