The Cathedral of Granada rises above the city, against the blue waters of Lake Nicaragua. Constructed over 80 years, the church was finally completed in 1972.

On the Pacific coast, some 20 miles southwest of Managua, Montelimar Beach is the site of a seaside resort situated on land that was once an estate owned by the Somoza family.

Puros, handmade cigars rolled from pure Nicaraguan tobacco, are prized for the distinctive flavors imparted by dark soils found in growing regions such as the Jalapa Valley.

Built in 1624, Granada’s Guadalupe Church was damaged during military standoff by U.S. born revolutionary William Walker in 1855 and restored in the 1960s.

The volcanic peaks of Lake Nicaragua’s Ometepe, Concepcion and Maderas are favorite destinations for hikers, who reach the island by water taxi from San Jose.