Costa Rica? Nah. . ..Nicaragua!

School has been out for a few weeks now, and the other ministries in which we are involved (AMOS Clinic, Tesoros de Dios) also closed for the holidays. Many missionaries and expats head "home" to the USA for a few weeks to be with family for Christmas, but we stayed around in Nicaragua. . .both to avoid paying for five plane tickets and also to enjoy some free time exploring this beautiful country. Ruth's parents and our nephew are spending time with us over the break, so we've enjoyed seeing some of Nicaragua with our guests that we've not seen before. It's hard to believe sometimes that a) we actually live here and aren't just tourists! and b) it is Christmas time and we are enjoying places like the rainforest and the ocean! Nicaragua is a beautiful country. Yes, Nicaragua is poor and developing and the roads aren't always great and there are many needs here, but there is amazing natural and cultural beauty in this place that is only beginning to be discovered by outsiders. So. . .planning a trip? Skip Costa Rica--everyone goes there! Head on down to Nicaragua, spend some much needed tourism dollars here, and the Ippels will help plan your itinerary and give you a free place to stay! Here are some places we've tested out for you this Christmas break--much thanks to our guests and Christmas gift money for helping to pay for some of our explorations!


1. Los Cordones Surf Lodge--Driving time from Ippel house--1.25 hours

Relax under palm cabanas while watching the beautiful waves on the Pacific ocean. Take surfing lessons or just enjoy body surfing in the warm waters. Find great shells and abundant sand dollars. Eat local, healthy food--don't miss the ceviche, Henry's favorite. Get a massage. Try out the slackline, ping pong table, or hammocks.

2. Masaya Volcano Night Tour--Driving time from Ippel house--50 minutes (Steve's pick)

Enjoy a guided tour of a nearby active volcano, exploring dark lava tunnels, inhaling dangerous gases from the billowing smoke, and watching large bats fly out of caves for their nighttime feeding! Mae and Charlotte don't recommend the part in the caves where the guides make everyone turn off the flashlights.

3. Redondo Bay (San Juan del Sur region)--Driving time from Ippel house--2.5 hours (Andrew's pick)

Rent a house or hotel room in this region known for beautiful rocky bays and sandy beaches. Enjoy the water, snorkeling, sunbathing, kayaking, and exploring rocks for sea creatures! Look for monkeys hanging out in the trees near the beach between 10-11am. Of course, you can't miss the sunsets.

4. Mombacho Zip-lining and Cloud Forest Hiking--Driving time from Ippel house--1.25 hours (Micah and Henry's pick)

Swing through the trees on 14 zip-lines, going from platform to platform . Ages 2-70 are okay--even Charlotte had a great time, strapped to a guide. The guides are funny, knowledgeable,  and make you feel safer than you probably are:) Then board a large truck to ascend Mobacaho volcano, stopping by a coffee plantation on the way for a cup of hot or cold locally grown coffee (Café Las Flores). As you head up to the top of the volcano, watch out for the eminent rain and prepare for cloudy, cold weather. Bring a sweatshirt! Enjoy hiking around the cloud forest, lush with plant and animal life, before heading down in the truck again.

5. Masaya Artesianal Market--Driving time from Ippel house--1 hour

Nicaragua's finest tourist market, enjoy pursing incredible handmade arts and crafts to remember your journey with. From pine needle and wooden bowls, brightly colored paintings and jewelry, to hammocks and slingshots, there is something for everyone.  Listen to loud mariachi bands play, drink fresh fruit smoothies on chairs 20 feet in the air, and enjoy a snapshot of life in a busy Nicaraguan town.

6. Managua Explorations--Driving time from Ippel house--Varies

We have malls, movie theaters, McDonalds and Pizza Huts with play places, and modern grocery stores. We also have local fritangas (roadside food stands), boat tours of Lake Managua, zip-lining over crater lakes right downtown, and plenty of cultural and historical things to explore. Don't forget the zoo, where you can get so close to the monkeys and tigers that they can pee on you. A good quarter of Nicaragua's population live in or near Managua, so it is busy, but the roads are good and you can find pretty much anything you need. You'll fly in and out of this city, too. . .the airport is about 45 minutes from our home.

We are grateful for these few weeks to relax, rejuvenate for ministry, and enjoy time with family even while we are away from so many we love. I hope this post inspires a few visits; Nicaragua really is a great place to explore and enjoy and we'd love to show you our "backyard" and introduce you to some wonderful people as well. Service opportunities abound as well--it is very feasible to do some short-term projects at NCA, Tesoros de Dios, AMOS, and many other ministries around Managua.

Book tickets today; we'll see you soon!