- American Airlines has direct flights from Mexico, Miami and New York. Miami is the hub for connecting flights from other countries.

      - The international airport is Augusto Cesar Sandino, located at 12 kilometers from Managua.

      - By boat:

      - The main ports are Puerto Sandino, Corintos, El Bluff and Puerto Cabezas, where ships come from other countries of America and Europe

      - You can navigate through Lake Nicaragua, there is a daily service between Granada and San Carlos and you can visit the islands of the lake.

      - By road:

      - The Pan American Highway goes through Nicaragua by Estelí and Managua.

      - There are buses that connect the country with the rest of the Central American cities and link the major cities of the country with each other.

      - The road network has more than 18.000 kilometers of which 1750 are paved.

COMMUNICATIONS:

      - Nicaragua has two major newspapers and eight television stations

      - There are also several private and government radio stations.

      - Cable television is available in most of the country.

      - Newspapers are published in Spanish; there are several Internet cafes in Managua and in the rest of the departments.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

      - Managua, Estelí, San Juan del Sur, Masaya, Omepete Island, the islets of Granada and Leon.

GASTRONOMY:

      - Corn is the basis of many Nicaraguan dishes.

      - It is also typical hash, bagels, rice, beef soup or rice and beans and vigorón.

FESTIVALS:

      - July 19, Revolution Day.

      - August 1, Fiesta de Santo Domingo.

      - September 14, Commemoration of the Battle of San Jacinto.

      - September 15, Independence Day.

PRODUCTS AND TOURIST DESTINATIONS:

      - Colonial cities like Granada very close to the capital, Managua, known as La Gran Sultana.Maintains the colonial atmosphere in their houses and buildings. The city is full of buildings with history. The best place to start the tour is the central Parque Colon. On one of its sides is the City Hall and very near there the Cathedral. On the outskirts of Granada is the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve, and also the Muerto Island, where there are some stone statues.

      - Nature and adventure: in places like the VOLCANO MASAYA NATIONAL PARK, also known as Poppogatepe, which means in Indian language "burning mountain" was established as the first national park in Nicaragua in 1979.This volcanic complex covers an area of 54 kilometers and is comprised of two volcanoes and five craters, one of which is active. Masaya volcano erupted in 1670 and two centuries after the Santiago crater came out, which is active and in which one can appreciate the constant fumaroles. This place also has great historical value, since in pre-Columbian times the Indians believed that the eruptions were signs of anger of the gods, making human sacrifices to please them. The park counts with an exhibition of various pre-Columbian items.

ACTIVITIES:

      - Diving and Snorkeling: Either snorkeling in the warm and clear Caribbean waters by Maiz Island in the Pacific deep blue water near San Juan del Sur, or in the freshwater lake on the volcano Apoyo's crater, Nicaragua offers a variety of places for snorkeling and diving. The waters around Corn Island and Little Corn Island, off the eastern coast of the country's coral reefs, are home to vast marine life diversity. Several tour operators and hotels offer excursions. (Visit www.divelittlecorn.com for information on diving in the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua). Diving in the Pacific, offers a variety of larger species, such as Moray eels, and depending on the season, dolphins.

      - Canopy Tours: Nicaragua's tropical forests account for 7% of the planet's biodiversity. A great way to observe this abundant flora and fauna is through canopy tours. Go through the forest between platforms, at a height ranging from 10 to 100 feet using special techniques and equipment. Escape the "real world" over the tops of trees surrounded by views of the majestic volcanoes of Nicaragua and a melodious symphony of birds native to the jungle. Mombotour offers such trip to the Mombacho volcano (located 9 miles south of Granada), culminating in a 70 feet rappel descent from a 250 year old Ceiobon Tree. These canopy adventures can be experienced around the country in a variety of environments, either through rain forests, sailing over the lakes, rivers, lakes or flying over coffee plantations. On every trip, either observing the fauna or on adrenaline-filled adventure, safety is always a priority. The guides are trained and the equipment meets stringent standards.

      - Surfing: The beaches of Nicaragua, especially those in the Pacific coast, are known for their stunning beauty and for surfing. The most popular destination for surfers around the world is a beach 37 miles of San Juan del Sur. This region located on the southwest coast of the country was a stop on "Quicksilver's The Crossing in 2003, a worldwide search" "in search of the perfect wave. " Madera’s a secluded beach, is one of the best-kept secrets in the surfing community.

      - Sport Fishing: Sport fishing is truly in the greatest wealths of Nicaragua. With two oceans, gigantic lakes, numerous rivers, and lakes Nicaragua has something different to offer every fishing enthusiast. The International Sport Fishing Tournament is held every September in the San Juan river and in the island of Ometepe, recognized as the 10th largest island in the world to be located in a freshwater lake. In addition, the First International Fishing Tournament was held in May 2005 in the archipelago of Solentiname near the region of Rio San Juan. Still undiscovered, overfishing has not reached Nicaragua as in other nations, so that most water bodies in and around the country still are abundant with marine life. Lake Nicaragua (the second largest lake in Latin America) is considered one of the most exciting freshwater fishing points in the world with bull sharks, among others.

      - Hiking: Exploring the natural beauty of Nicaragua is something that should not be done quickly, so walking provides a perfect way to enjoy each landscape, sound, and smell. The Mombacho's Volcano Nature Reserve has multiple trails with trained guides to help you identify the native vegetation, including hundreds of species of orchids genuine to the country. For the more adventurous, Nicaragua also has five active volcanoes that can be climbed or skied. Located in the northern region of the country is Black Forest, where one can explore the rainforest while learning about the coffee plantations in the area. For a more rigorous hike, but more impressive you can visit the two great volcanoes of Ometepe Island: Concepción and Maderas. Maderas offers petroglifitos, waterfalls and a beautiful lagoon in the crater of the volcano. Momotombo, one of the most challenging climbs in the country, provides spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding area.

      - Soft and Extreme Adventure: If flying at low altitude over volcanoes, rainforests and lakes sounds interesting, try a Balloon ride with Globo Adventures (www.globoaventuras.com). These tours offer breathtaking views of several natural and architectural attractions. After rising gently in the sky, the most daring adventurers can completely change the pace going down at high speeds on the flanks of an active volcano. A recent trend, and more risky in the extreme adventure, is mountain biking or skiing on one side of the volcano Cerro Negro, another active volcano just east of León. (Cerro Negro is one of the youngest volcanoes in the world.) While these extreme sports can take some risks, to the audacious, adrenaline is part of the adventure.