Day 423 (28 Feb 2024) - Managua, Nicaragua to Xiloa Lagoon, Managua, Nicaragua
DAY 423 (28 FEB 2024) – In the morning, I headed to the Xiloa Lagoon, which was just 40 minutes (20 km) from Managua.
Situated in the Chiltepe Peninsula near Managua, the beautiful lagoon is a dormant volcanic crater lake that apparently was formed a long time ago from one of the largest explosions known in history.
It is now a popular weekend retreat for people living in the area. There are many tourist infrastructures and many interesting activities that can be undertaken, including swimming in the clear alkaline waters of the lagoon, sunbathing in the open area at the shore, as well as windsurfing and kitesurfing due to good wind conditions.
With many aquatic species to be discovered in the lagoon, scuba diving is another interesting activity. Divers can feel the heat at certain parts of the lagoon due to the presence of geothermal vents where water is heated by these vents.
There are also several restaurants and bars located at the southern shore of Xiloa, as well as a tourist center.
One can also get a beautiful view of Lake Managua and its surrounding mountains from the lagoon.
On my way back to my hostel, I decided to explore some interesting places in Managua. Located on the shores of Lake Managua, Managua was founded in 1819 and became the national capital of Nicaragua in 1852. Today, it is the largest city in the country, and is a major economic, commerce and cultural hub for both the country and Central America.
I visited the Parque Central (Central Park), located in the Capital district, in the historic center of Managua.
This neoclassical style park was inaugurated in 1899 and houses several historic buildings, including the old cathedral of Managua, the National Palace of Culture and “The Orange House” / “The Presidential House”, also known as “The House of the People”. There is also a National Heroes Monument.
I also visited the Managua Seawall, an upbeat paved lakeside plaza. It was a hot weather at a temperature of 28 C, but the winds were strong. The main attractions here are the “Trees of Life” (“Arboles De La Vida”), a public art installed in 2013.
The 140 abstract, brightly coloured 17-meter tall tree sculptures are scattered throughout the city, dominating the city’s landscape. Each sculpture is made of metal and decorated by 2.5 million tiny light bulbs that illuminate the streets at night.
I stayed 2 nights at the “Managua Backpackers Inn” at aprice of USD 29 (RM 138) for both nights.
MY NICARAGUA JOURNEY MAP
POLARSTEPS | GOOGLE MY MAPS (below) |
(Click + to zoom or [ ] to expand for full info)
INSTA 360 CAMERA RIDING VIDEOS
COMING SOON.
Comments