Managua to Leon
Door: Joanne and Geert
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Joanne
26 Mei 2013 | Nicaragua, León
At the Managua airport, having flown back from the Corn Islands, we decided to cross another thing off of Geert's bucket list.. rent a car and drive around. It is apparently cheapest in Nicaragua and would be a nice change to the many bus rides we've endured. Most roads between the cities are decent and relatively safe but few road names are visible causing us to quickly became very reliant on Google Maps.
After a night in Managua we drove our Nissan Tiida through the National Park and up to the crater of Volcano Masaya. With the last eruption having occurred in April 2012 and it being the most easily accessible active volcano, the rules are strict: compulsory use of construction hats and parking the car in reverse for a quick get-away should an eruption occur. Surrounded by a strong smell of sulphur and large clouds of smoke, the view of the inside of the large crater and the beautiful countryside was an impressive sight.
We later headed north west, following the shorter looking road of the 2 main routes from Managua to Leon. Many people had told us about the 'safe road' to Leon. Only after reaching about halfway did we realise that they meant the northern route which was actually called (when translated) 'New Road to Leon'! Instead we had taken the southern route: dodging the numerous potholes; carefully driving over the gravel where the road no longer exists and sliding from left to ride in big pools of mud. On arrival in Leon the car was filthy but luckily with no new scratches on it.
We had planned to meet up with our German friends from the San Blas boat trip but first had a day to ourselves to experience the main highlight of Leon- volcano boarding. To get to the top of Cerro Negro, one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas, we hiked up the hot black gravel slopes for 45 minutes. While admiring the craters, putting on our protective gear, hundreds of bugs flew around us thinking that the smell of sulphur meant food. One could choose how to get down, either sitting on a toboggan or standing on a sand board. With his experience in snow boarding, Geert chose the standing option which turned out to be more difficult than it looked. Normally in snow boarding one would turn from heel-side to toe-side, but on the volcano one can only go down on toe-side, meaning that you have to change direction by doing a fakey (ie. going down with the other foot in front than what you are used to). I had chosen the 'safer' option of sitting and went down at a controlled pace, not reaching the speeds of 70km/hr which some people do.
Leon reminded us of Granada with its cobblestoned streets, colourful buildings and, to Geert's delight, ridiculously cheap rum. After 3 days there we drove further into Nicaragua, a 2 hour trip to Matagalpa.
After a night in Managua we drove our Nissan Tiida through the National Park and up to the crater of Volcano Masaya. With the last eruption having occurred in April 2012 and it being the most easily accessible active volcano, the rules are strict: compulsory use of construction hats and parking the car in reverse for a quick get-away should an eruption occur. Surrounded by a strong smell of sulphur and large clouds of smoke, the view of the inside of the large crater and the beautiful countryside was an impressive sight.
We later headed north west, following the shorter looking road of the 2 main routes from Managua to Leon. Many people had told us about the 'safe road' to Leon. Only after reaching about halfway did we realise that they meant the northern route which was actually called (when translated) 'New Road to Leon'! Instead we had taken the southern route: dodging the numerous potholes; carefully driving over the gravel where the road no longer exists and sliding from left to ride in big pools of mud. On arrival in Leon the car was filthy but luckily with no new scratches on it.
We had planned to meet up with our German friends from the San Blas boat trip but first had a day to ourselves to experience the main highlight of Leon- volcano boarding. To get to the top of Cerro Negro, one of the most active volcanoes in the Americas, we hiked up the hot black gravel slopes for 45 minutes. While admiring the craters, putting on our protective gear, hundreds of bugs flew around us thinking that the smell of sulphur meant food. One could choose how to get down, either sitting on a toboggan or standing on a sand board. With his experience in snow boarding, Geert chose the standing option which turned out to be more difficult than it looked. Normally in snow boarding one would turn from heel-side to toe-side, but on the volcano one can only go down on toe-side, meaning that you have to change direction by doing a fakey (ie. going down with the other foot in front than what you are used to). I had chosen the 'safer' option of sitting and went down at a controlled pace, not reaching the speeds of 70km/hr which some people do.
Leon reminded us of Granada with its cobblestoned streets, colourful buildings and, to Geert's delight, ridiculously cheap rum. After 3 days there we drove further into Nicaragua, a 2 hour trip to Matagalpa.
Reageer op dit reisverslag
Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
