Colonization and Independence

The history of Nicaragua is characterized by turbulence and struggles for power. It began in the 1500s with the Spanish Empire colonizing the area, in less then 30 years the indigenous population was dramatically reduced and only a few thousand were left. The Atlantic coast became British territory in the 17^th century . It wasn’t until 1821 that Nicaragua gained independence from Spain. After its independence, there was widespread civil war. William Walker annexed Nicaragua and wanted to grow his territory further. When Walker was finally defeated, there were 30 years of peace.

Under United States Control

The early 1900s are defined by the United States dominating Nicaraguan politics. The United States, the occupation was filled with brutalities. Somoza took over control in 1937 and launched a dictatorship; his eldest son, who was the first to call for honest elections, succeeded him. During these elections, Schick was elected, but this did not sit well with Somoza’s other son who had wanted control.

The Sandistas

What followed was Somoza’s son creating the Sandinista movement to go up against Shick. In December 1972, a 6.3 earthquake shook the country. This disaster allowed for the Sandinistas to gain power, which many Nicaraguans supported. This revolution left over 50,000 people dead and over 150,000 refugees. Those fighting against the Sandinistas were known as Contras. During the 1980s President Reagan of the United States committed to helping the Contras by arming them, sending troops, and placing an embargo on the country.

Poverty and Modern Changes

During this civil war between the Contra and the Sandistas approximately over 60,000 soldiers were killed and over 50,000 civilians. The war had destroyed Nicaragua’s economy making it one of the poorest countries in the world. The civil war ended when Costa Rica’s President Oscar Arias asked the five Central American presidents to sign a peace plan. Because of Arias’ plan all of Central America was at peace in 1993, the first time in generations. Still troubled with a corrupt government but over time it has been dedicated to bringing the country out of poverty. The government has also taken great strides to enrich the country economically and increase healthcare and education.

European and African influence

The Nicaraguan culture is influenced by the colonization of Spain and Britain as well as influences from Africa, primarily on the Caribbean coast. Spanish is the official language of Nicaragua but on the eastern coast, creole-English can be found along with other indigenous languages. Nicaraguan people are known for their hospitality and friendliness and travelers will enjoy getting to know them and the country. Nicaragua is also known as the land of poets, the famous writer who helped create the Spanish-American literary movement, Rubén Darío, is from Nicaragua.

Religion

Religion plays an important role in the culture here, as well as music and dance. Religious celebrations are important affairs and are well attended with dances and music. For many Nicaraguans saints are inspirations, and their lives and causes are celebrated. Each city has their Patron Saint that has been designated since colonial times. Festivals honoring the cities Patron Saints are called Fiestas Patronales. These festivals have celebrations that last for several days in a row and are very colorful and filled with the culture of Nicaragua.

Music and Dance

Nicaraguan music and dances are a mixture of different cultures, born from different heritages such as the indigenous tribes, European conquerors, and African slaves. Dances from the Caribbean coast have a lot of influences from Africa but are also danced near the pacific and other parts of Nicaragua. The different regions have their traditions. However, Nicaraguans consider themselves to share one cultural identity.

Spanish and Creole Roots

The cuisine is a mixture of indigenous, Spanish, and Creole cuisine. Over the years these three cuisines have influenced each other and blended into what the cuisine is today. The traditional cuisine usually varies on the Pacific and Caribbean coast; the main difference is the cuisine of the Caribbean coast predominately uses seafood and coconut.

Signature Foods

One of the most staple foods is corn; it has been the base in the cuisine of Nicaragua since pre-Colombian times. It is used widely in a variety of dishes, such as drinks, main dishes, snacks, and sweets. Rice and beans are also a staple in Nicaraguans diet. A common dish made with these two items is Gallo Pinto; this dish is eaten for breakfast and usually served with eggs.

Traditional Dishes

Vigorón is a traditional Nicaraguan dish and is very delicious. A plantain leaf is usually placed on a plate followed by yucca, chicharrón, then a salad made out of cabbage and tomato.

Indio Viejo is a soup consisting of shredded meat, onions, sweet peppers, and tomatoes. Tortillas are placed in water and ground until forming a dough; then the dough is fried with the meat and vegetables, at the end a broth is added.

Nacatamal is corn dough filled with pieces of pork or chicken, rice, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and sweet peppers. The mixture is then placed in plantain leaves, which is folded tight and tied with thread then boiled.

Tres Leches is a common dessert in the cuisine of Nicaragua. It is a delicious cake made with three types of milk. Then a layer of icing is placed on the top. This is the perfect end to a delicious Nicaraguan dinner!

The Executive Ranch

The Republic of Nicaragua is a democratic republic comprised of four branches of government. The government of Nicaragua follows the 1987 constitution. The Executive branch of the government includes the President, the Vice President and the Cabinet, whose members are appointed by the President. In Nicaragua the President and Vice President are elected on the same ticket by popular vote and serve a five-year term. The President is the Head of the State and the Commander in Chief of the nation’s Defense and Security Forces.

The Legislative end Electoral Branch

The Legislative branch in Nicaragua’s government is the National Assembly and is composed of 92 seats, 90 of the representatives are elected by universal vote for five-year terms. The other two seats are reserved for the previous president and the runner-up in the previous presidential election. The Electoral branch is made up of judges appointed by the National Assembly, these judges are responsible for organizing national, regional, and municipal elections.

The Judicial Branch

The last branch in the government of Nicaragua is the Judicial branch. This branch is the Supreme Court and is the highest judiciary power. There are 16 judges who are nominated by the National Assembly; these judges have administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers. The Supreme Court judges serve staggered five-year terms.

The Códoba

The national currency of Nicaragua is called the Córdoba; it was introduced on March 20, 1912, replacing the peso moneda corriente. The Córdoba is named after Nicaragua’s founder, Francisco Hernandez de Córdoba. While in visiting the country you will most likely hear Nicaraguans refer to the Córdoba as a ‘peso’ or ‘real.’ The Córdoba’s prices are distinguished by the letter ‘C’ and a dollar sign, for example C$25.

Banknotes and Coins

Córdoba’s have both banknotes and coins. The values of banknotes are C$500, C$100, C$50, C$20, and C$10. Sometimes you will see notes with values for 25¢, 10¢, 5¢, and 1¢, but these are rarely used. Value for the Córdoba coins are C$5 and C$1 and 50¢, 25¢, 10¢, and 5¢. Many places in Nicaragua have ATMs available and banks where you can exchange your money. If visiting Nicaragua the US Dollar is the easiest to use and exchange.

An Interesting Designation

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and is commonly known as the nation of lakes and volcanoes. It is bordered on the north by Honduras and Costa Rica on the south. On the western side is the Pacific Ocean and to the east lies the Caribbean Sea. It is characterized by three different types of natural regions, the Pacific lowlands, central highlands, and Caribbean lowlands. Nicaragua is divided into 15 departments and two autonomous regions these two are the Atlantico Norte and Atlantico Sur. The other 15 are Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, and Rivas.

Coastlines to Volcanoes

Nicaragua has a stunning amount of coastline, with 350km of coastline on the Pacific coast and 450km on the Caribbean coast. It has 25 volcanic formations and more than 10,000 square km of lakes, lagoons, and rivers. The nation also has three Biosphere Reserves declared by the Organization Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO; they are, Ometepe Island, Bosawas Reserve and the  San Juan River.

From Pacific to the Caribbean

The Pacific lowlands are famous for Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America measuring over 150 km long and 75 km wide. Also located in this area is Nicaragua’s capital city Managua. The central highlands are characterized by rugged mountainous terrain. The western slopes are predominantly used for farming and the wetter eastern slopes for timber. The Caribbean lowlands make up approximately 50% of Nicaragua’s land. In this area, there are tropical rainforests and savannas.

Climate

When visiting Nicaragua, you will be able to experience a range of microclimates. The different regions in Nicaragua have varied climates and change during the dry season and the green season. The average year round temperature of Nicaragua is 27 C or 80 F degrees. In the central highlands there are many mountains, and on these, the temperature can be considerably cooler. Humidity averages around 65% giving a ‘sticky’ feel to most places.

The Green Season

The green season in Nicaragua runs from about mid-May to November. Rain during the green season is usually characterized by short but powerful downpours and longer showers at night. The rainiest months in Nicaragua are September and October; these are also the two months when sea turtles nest on the beaches. The green season is also referred to as the winter season because the temperatures are usually a little cooler.

The Dry Season

This season is also known as summer and runs from November to April. This time in Nicaragua is hotter and the hottest months are at the end of the season starting in March and starting to cool down in May. During the dry season is also the height of the tourist season, primarily because this is the best time for hiking and camping. The temperatures during the dry season soar into the mid-30s C or 90s F sometimes even higher. It is important to note that even during the dry season on the Caribbean coast there is still rain and along the Rio San Juan is considered to be one of the wettest places on earth no matter the season.