Corn Islands

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You can fly or take a boat to the Corn Islands and enjoy a bounty island in the Caribbean. The people here speak English, Spanish and/or Creole and it is a world of difference with the rest of Nicaragua. On the islands live a mix of African slaves, European immigrants and pirates and local people which means they feel closer tof or example with the people of island Jamaica than to the people in the mountains of Nicaragua itself.  

Besides the fact that you can enjoy the Caribbean life (culture, food and religion) here you will find beautiful beaches where you can laze (almost) undisturbed hours in the sand, snorkel and dive. From two higher hills you have a beautiful panorama over the beaches and for example Brigs Bay where you arrive by boat (and where the pier is situated).

Christopher Columbus set foot in the Carribean area of Nicaragua in 1502 during his fourth major trip. The Spaniards were much more interested in the Pacific coast, giving space to numerous pirates from Portugal, France, the Netherlands and England. The city Bluefields is named after the Dutch pirate Blauwfeld who stole Spanish gold from South America and hid it in the bays of Pearl Keys during the 17th century. England took it big and joined up with the local minority Miskito's who fought for the leadership with other local tribes before the arrival of the Spaniards. In 1687 even an independent Miskito empire was founded.

The English brought slaves to these shores to work on the plantations and they mingled with the local population together with stranded and fled slaves and Indian workers. When Nicaragua became independent, the Americans convinced the English to abandon their struggle on the Caribbean coast. It was not until 1894 that this area also came under the national flag even though the differences in language, culture and background remained large between the mostly English (and Creole) speaking Nicaraguan in the Caribbean and the Spanish population.

In the early 1980s, people revolted against the Spanish political “gang” in their eyes and Ortega (the Sandinists) was threatened. In 1985 he divided the immense area into two autonomous sub-areas, although the difference in prosperity remains large between this and the rest of the country. It is not surprising that drug runners have a free hand here and "reward" the poor population with schools, basketball courts and clinics.

Boat from Great Corn Islands to Bluefields: lack of clarity and chaos as it should be here; there would be boats on Saturday, Sunday and Monday evening (or better: night) but the Saturday one didn’t go. Monday was not certain but Sunday night there was definitely a boat: tickets you buy on the boat itself (250 C $) and this leaves at 23: 00-24: 00 and arrives at around half past six in the morning in Bluefields.

There is also a boat at 21:00 to El Rama (via El Bluff).  

TIPS: take a hammock with you if you have one (or buy one); come early (around 9:00 pm) on the dock so you can buy the ticket and tie your hammock already. Tie your things together and make friends around you so they know whose bags and stuff is yours.

If you do not have a hammock, take a mat or piece of cardboard with you so that you can sleep on the wooden floor. It gets chilly at night but it does not get cold.

Of course you can eat and drink (expensive) every day on the luxurious occasions on SouthWest Bay and / or Fisher's Cave in Brigs Bay. But try the small Mc Gowan, near the entrance of the pier.

You pay half of what you pay above and it's really nice. They normally have breakfast in the morning ("gallo pinto" etc.) and in the evening you can eat fried fish or lobster.

• Name: Panorama R & D hotel

Address: Big Bray (North End)

Price: 15 dollars (= 375 C $) incl. toilet and shower.

Content:

To my knowledge just renovated (and changed ownership) this hotel is just outside the center on the north side of the Big Bray. Via a sandy path to reach not far from the surf center is just away from the rocky beach which means that the wind is broken. A large open field with two blocks of apartments. One is $ 25 while the other is $ 15 per night.

Inside it is spacious, neat and clean and everything works (light, shower, toilet and fan). In addition, it is very quiet as it is not on the main road. There are also no houses, restaurants in the vicinity. There is a small reception house with some chairs and tables where you can buy beer, soft drinks and other things. They should actually hang some hammocks in front of the rooms to make it more cozy.

If you want to have a complete picture of the country Nicaragua, a visit to the Caribbean is a must. I have rarely seen such a big difference in people, culture, background, prosperity, history, prices and life in such a small country as here in Nicaragua.