Granada, Nicaragua

Dubbed Nicaragua's "tourism capital," the handsome Spanish colonial city of Granada on the shores of vast Lake Nicaragua has become increasingly popular among travelers during recent years. Great pains have been taken to protect Granada's historical buildings and to preserve its colonial charm by ensuring that all new buildings blend in with existing colonial architecture. With its dignified churches, elegant plazas, colorful facades, and ubiquitous horse-drawn carriages, Granada promises to remain one of the most photogenic cities in Latin America.

Move cursor over the images to view captions.


Granada, Nicaragua - Images by John Mitchell

Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

Big Corn Island is the kind of place you hesitate to tell people about. There are no unsightly high-rise hotels, no crowded beaches, and very few cars. In short, this idyllic patch of white sand and greenery languishing in crystalline waters some 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the east coast of Nicaragua is everything a Caribbean hideaway should be: uncomplicated, laid-back, and affordable. But perhaps the best thing about Big Corn Island is that the locals seem intent on keeping commercialism and mass tourism at bay, so the chances of this authentic tropical getaway becoming the next Cancun are remote.

Move the cursor over images to view captions.   


Big Corn Island, Nicaragua - Images by John Mitchell