Things you have to see and do when teaching English in Nicaragua
Teaching English in Nicaragua promises to be the adventure of a lifetime. Okay, so wages aren’t going to be the same as in the UAE or Japan, but there’s lots to balance that out. We’re talking wild rides on some of the best surf breaks in the Americas, enchanting colonial cities with pastel-painted churches that date back 500 years, and smoking volcanos ringed by hiking paths. Wow.
San Juan del Sur
Wax down the board and ditch the classroom for a couple of days – San Juan is where the surf of Nicaragua roars in from the Pacific. It’s pretty epic stuff. The bays just to the north are the place to go for those trademark glassy waves. Playa Maderas is arguably the best of the lot, but there are countless to pick from. Once you’re done practicing your pop up, head back to San Juan del Sur itself to hit the backpacker beer bars and pool parties.
Granada
Hugging the banks of Lake Nicaragua (more on that one later), this UNESCO-tagged town is hailed for its jaw-dropping patchwork of colonial-era architecture. The whole place looks like it could have been plucked off the sierras of Andalusia. There are red-tiled roofs and daffodil-tinged churches. Wander and enjoy the street’s – it’s the perfect tonic for stressful days of teaching English in Nicaragua. The blue-tinted Convento San Francisco is the must-see. It’s one of the oldest Christian religious sites in the whole of the New World!
Lake Nicaragua
More than 8,264 square kilometers in size, Lake Nicaragua is more like an inland sea than a body of freshwater. It’s certainly one of the great wonders of Central America, especially when you factor in the dramatic Volcán Concepción that rises in a halo of smoke and cloud from the eight-shaped island of Ometepe at its heart. Most travelers will come here to explore the Islets of Granada. There’s a whopping 365 of them, all formed from the ash deposits of an ancient volcanic eruption. They’ll be a wonderful escape from the classroom if you’re teaching English in Nicaragua near Granada or Managua, because lots now host eco lodges and stilt hotels right on the water.
Isla Ometepe
We’ve already mentioned the sheer amazements that await on the waters of Lake Nicaragua. Well…that’s not quite where it ends. The Isla Ometepe shoulders up from lake itself to rise 1,610 meters above sea level. It’s formed from two huge, cone-shaped volcanoes. Both of them have navigable hiking routes to their summits, so they’re perfect if you’re craving a real Central American adventure while teaching English in Nicaragua. We’d say the best trek is up Maderas Volcano, through misty, macaque-filled forests and past the roaring San Ramon Waterfall.
Leon
You might be able to bag a job teaching English in Nicaragua in the city of Leon. It’s the cultural and learning capital of the nation, where the prestigious National University draws in the best students Nica can muster. It’s also a stunning place. Leon Cathedral really steals the show. Its mix of Gothic and Baroque styles rises above the cobbled streets. And there’s even deeper history to be found at the Leon Viejo – another UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s considered to be among the earliest European towns in the Americas.
Cerro Negro
The Cerro Negro is the youngest volcano in the whole of Central America. It peaks above the Cordillera de los Maribios just west of Leon city. There’s a challenging trek to the top that will offer sweeping views of the lush valleys below. But most don’t do it for the panoramas. Most come for the chance to sled back down again on makeshift volcano boards! It’s a high-octane adventure that’s for those who love to get the heart thumping.
If you’ve been teaching English in Nicaragua and have anything to add to this list, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Alternatively, check out our destinations page for more inspiration when it comes to places to travel with your 120-hour TEFL certificate.