Nicaragua is a great getaway because…
It’s still beautifully wild and highly diverse. One day you can be lounging on the beach, another you can be in a colonial city visiting markets, the next you can be visiting a volcano, a lake, etc. The possibilities are endless and the people incredibly kind.

And what we personally love about it…
Nicaraguan people make you feel at home. There is a great spirit that lives within the country and resonates throughout the culture.

Packing essentials…
Bright colored clothing to match the architecture of Granada, waterproof sunscreen for your surf lessons, a suitcase big enough to bring a hammock home, and an adventurous spirit.

During the day we recommend…
A catamaran day tour out of San Juan Del Sur with Nica Sail n’ Surf, which has you cruising the Emerald Coast and stopping at an isolated beach where you can jump ship, swim to shore and dine on the freshest ceviche made right on board.

And at night…
Dine in style at Café Espressonista in Granada where everything is sourced locally by owners Andres and Zoltan, including the beer. The ambiance is just as lovely as the food and will have you coming back to try everything on the menu.

The best beach…
Mag Rock in Popoyo.

The local eats/drinks you should try…
Tacos Locos found at Playa Maderas. Order the fish tacos with flour tortillas and the dragon fruit and rum drink.

No visit to Nicaragua is complete without…
Swimming in the healing waters of Laguna de Apoyo, a volcanic crater lake located 25 minutes from Granada.

Our insider tips to great vacation photos…
Book an El Camino trip so you can travel with your own personal photographer and remember what pure experience feels like. Live in the moment, instead of worrying about capturing that perfect moment.

El Camino Travel is…
A company that curates off-beat experiences for groups of 10 to 12 people to unique locations around the world. The trips all come with a creative photographer in tow, so that travelers can thoroughly enjoy the experiences. In addition, a percentage of profits are donated to a local social entrepreneur who is radically changing the country we are visiting. Travelers receive 20 to 30 edited images every morning from the previous day that they can download/upload to their social media so they share their adventure and candid moments.

And the inspiration behind it…
We noticed that travel has drastically changed in the past few years with the advent of mobile phones. Because it is now so easy to take photos and share, travelers seem to be more focused on capturing the perfect moment, rather than fully indulging in the experience at hand. Our views were quickly being crowded by phone screens and selfie sticks. We began to brainstorm ways where we could still provide travelers with compelling and dynamic images that they could immediately share with family and friends, but still be able to fully immerse themselves in foreign lands. The idea of having a personal photographer has proven to be a perfect solution.

Our slogan “be a traveler, not a tourist” means…
Immerse yourself in the place and culture you are visiting. See it from the inside out instead of the outside looking in.

And no matter the destination, the key to the above is to…
Be open and dive deep.