What’s the climate and region like in Nicaragua?

What’s the climate and region like in Nicaragua?

A tropical climate can be observed in Nicaragua. Just as in the other Central American countries, there are two seasons: the dry and the raining season. During the dry season (January - June) there is virtually no rain and trees and plants start to dry out. Once the rains come around June, July, everything starts growing and the yellow plants and leafless trees turn green and start blossoming. In August and September it often rains once a day. Fortunately, it just rains for a short period of time and these are often spectacular, tropical downpours. In the eastern part of the country it rains more than in the west.

There are three temperature zones in Nicaragua. In the lowlands (Pacific and Atlantic coast) temperatures vary roughly between 72° F at night and 86° F at daytime (22° C - 30° C). Temperature can reach 100° F in May (38° C). The central part of the country is about 9° F (5° C) cooler, and in the mountains in the north it's about 18° F (10° C) cooler.

Nicaragua is broken into several regions based on its different climates and varying vegetation. For example, in the northern region of the country, it is known for its incredible jungle and cloud forests. Because of the lush forests of pine, mahogany, and cedar, this area is great for the growing industry known as eco-tourism. They also offer fantastic treks and hikes through the cloud forest as well as cigar tours. Should be cool to check out!

Another of Nicaragua’s impressive regions is the location of many of Nicaragua’s volcanoes, lagoons, and some of the country’s most significant towns. This region is known as the central pacific region and is made up of the area south of the border of Honduras. The historic cities such as León, offers the impressive colonial architecture, something I fell in love with in Guatemala. Hiking the surrounding volcanoes and taking a tour of a local rum distillery are on my list of must do’s. Granada is yet another historic city in this region and offers visitors the opportunity to take in a great amount of history with various tours of the antique structures and buildings. The popular Montelimar is a beautiful beach resort which makes it another popular destination in this area.

The Caribbean region is a popular spot for tourists and home to Bluefields and the Corn Islands. This area has exploded with tourism as it is known for having stunning beaches and small towns offering the local cuisine and culture. As you already know, I will fall in love here…I mean with a region name like ‘Caribbean’ it has to be my dream location…

Finally, the San Juan region includes the area where the San Juan River flows from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea. This area is packed full of natural beauty and various protected reserves. This region is completely made up of tropical rainforest and is home to very rich biodiversity.

Nicaragua’s total land area is roughly 13 million hectares of which 22% has been declared protected. This percentage is much more than the average of only 9% in other Central American countries. Of its 88 different protected areas, there are 320,000 hectares of national parks as well as nearly 600,000 hectares attributed to natural monuments and seascapes. In addition, Nicaragua is home to 8 unique wetlands of international importance and 1 biosphere reserve.

Nicaragua is also rich with flora and fauna biodiversity. There are nearly 7,600 different higher plants spread throughout the country. As far as fauna are concerned, Nicaragua also houses some 200 species of mammals, as well as 215 different bird species. Lastly, Nicaragua has within its borders nearly 500 different species of other animals including reptiles, amphibians, and fish.