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As my journey through Nicaragua drew to a close, We spent the last few days in the town of Siuna in North Nicaragua, a hidden gem that quickly became one of my favourite places during my travels. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the warmth and hospitality that radiated from the community, and I immediately felt at home. The homemade breakfast and dinners from the family hotel we stayed at was some of the most delicious food I’d had so far, and I enjoyed being sat in the dining room next to the rest of the family as they watched TV or purchased milk from a young boy riding a horse. The sense of community in the home reminded me fondly of my time spent in a homestay in the Amazon rainforest. This communal aspect is one of the things I love most about traveling, as it provides a deeper connection to the places I visit and the people I meet.
I also loved the opportunity to stay in the same place for more than just a single night. My time in cities often felt like it was cut short, with new destinations every day and little time to truly get to know people. But in Siuna, I had the chance to settle in and become friends with the people around me. I loved getting to know our host, and found out that she knew the mother of my translator, Sumaya! One of the more amusing parts of my stay was finally learning how to eat a mango like a true Nicaraguan, and finally riding in the back of a truck. Although the bumpiness of the road made that slightly more challenging to not fall onto people – clearly I needed more practice
During my stay, we went on several hikes that took us through the breath taking landscapes surrounding Siuna. Having done my fair share of hiking in the UK, I thought I was prepared, but the scenes here were something else entirely. Each hike offered a new perspective, a different slice of Nicaraguan beauty that left me in awe.
The most technically challenging hike I undertook was La Rosa Grande trail. This hike pushed me to my limits in more ways than one. The trail was muddy, slippery, and unforgiving—conditions that resulted in me falling over and slipping more times than I’d like to admit. Luckily (and very generously), one of the boys hiking with us came to my rescue by suggesting we swap shoes. His wellington boots, which thankfully fit my big feet, were much better suited to the wet and muddy terrain. Despite my protests, he even cleaned them before giving them back to me. This is a testament to how generous and welcoming the Nicaraguan people are, and will miss them all very much after my return to England. As we hiked, we passed through rivers and rocky outcrops, with one memorable moment being when I slipped off a rock and almost completely submerged myself in the water. It was all part of the adventure, and the challenges only made the experience more rewarding. When we finally reached the viewpoint (before I was told we had to do the 4 hour hike all over again), we were greeted with a breath taking panorama that made every stumble worth it.
At the summit, we had the unique opportunity to release a native snake back into the wild—a first for me, as I had never been that close to a snake outside of an enclosure. This close encounter with nature was a moment I’ll never forget. Adding to the excitement, I also had the chance to release a turtle, a task I never imagined I’d be part of. It was incredible to be involved in such positive, impactful activities, contributing to the conservation of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.
By the time we returned back to the truck, we were all covered in mud, we were young kids again.
The next day we hiked to some caves where rare bats were found. The caves was only discovered relatively recently by the nearby farmers, so they took us inside, otherwise I would’ve surely gotten lost. This involved lots of squeezing through small holes and crawling, but was totally worth it. As usual, I was made to wear protective gear (they don’t want us soft Europeans going home injured), I was thankful for my helmet, I am taller than most Nicaraguan women and banged my head quite frequently on the roof of the caves. One of the smallest entries that we went through, I had to be pulled out through the arms as it was too small to crawl through! It was such a fun experience, and I felt totally safe with the others to guide me, It also was very special, knowing how few people probably got the opportunity to explore these caves. It is likely that the last time they were explored could’ve been prehistoric times, based on the cave markings and bones found. Despite my apprehension when we first entered, I’m so glad I did it! And cant thank everybody enough for providing me with this amazing experience. Before heading back to Richard in Managua and the flight back to England
