If you’re travelling to Nicaragua, you’re most likely going to end up in San Juan del Sur at some point, whether it is your original landing spot by airplane, or you ride in on the bus from some other destination as you make your way across Central America. San Juan del Sur is a cove city that sits on a crescent-shaped bay and its beaches give tourists the same weather, sands and natural beauty as the expensive and overcrowded beaches of Costa Rica, just an hour away. San Juan del Sur and its beaches may have upscale spots popping up all over the place, but in general, the city and its luxuries are for the budget tourist, who just wants to camp on the beach at night and sample the local fare. There is also a library and a book exchange, though most of the books will be in Spanish, and you’ll also find ATMs and banks, as well as a post office for sending those great post cards you bought in the hotel’s gift shop.

Getting there
San Juan del Sur is connected to the surrounding cove cities on a rough dirt road that you can traverse by bus, or if you have extreme motion sickness, by private 4WD car.