Mar 20, 2013 - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

March 20, 2013 San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua Nicaragua is second to Haiti as the poorest country in the Americas. The average wage is $380/month, half of which goes toward food. We were up early the catch the 6:45 am tender to port for our tour to the volcanos. The port dock can only handle one tender at a time; with 1500 people wanting to go ashore. Even though each tender can accommodate 100 people, it was slow getting ashore. After a 2 hour bus ride, we arrived at the only volcano that you can visit. The other 4, we took pictures from a...

Dec 12, 2012 - San Juan del Sur - country and Masaya Markets

Awoke to a public address saying a white vessel had been spotted of the starboard bow and looked suspicious. For those who hadn't noticed in the paper about this time last year, three Mexican fishermen were rescued off the Mexican coast and after they were rescued said this ship, the Star Princess passed them and took no notice of their distress. So this time the captain turned the ship around to investigate and confirmed fisherman spotted were under sail and fishing. The issue with last year I recall was the fisherman ran out of full just...

Nov 15, 2012 - San Juan del sur

San Juan del Sur Come back Antigua roads all is forgiven! We have off roaded in jeeps to see turtles, to beaches and to zip line and have completely lost all feeling in the nether regions. I'd like to think that's why both andy and i had to get a set of britches stitched up but mines probably due to a 12 burrito a day diet and Andys through over enthusiastic surfing.  San Juan del sur is a tiny cool town full of surfers and those just there to wear shades, and talk about surfing. We fitted right in obvs! Looking more like Dora the explorer...

Oct 21, 2012 - San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

In Nicaragua we took a tour of Old Town and a church full of pre-Colombian art. The pot that looks like a pregnant woman's belly is a burial pot. They would put the deceased remains into the pot to prepare them for rebirth in the next life. This is a very poor country but you'll notice that the coastline is full of corporate mansions for vacationing executives. more pictures will be coming...

Aug 11, 2012 - Surf's Up!!!

We finally managed to escape from little Morgan's but not without a few casualties! The towels we left out in the bathroom of our hut were harbouring a fugitive of a tarantula... Being silly o'clock in the morning we were not equipped to deal with this so Niall and becs were a towel down each!  Once we were back on the mainland we joined forces with an Israeli couple to share two taxis... They wanted to go to Rivas for a dollar and then a chicken bus to San juan del sur (our destination also) for another dollar. Long story short we had a...

Mar 12, 2012 - San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

We met our guide Rene Mena from va pues tours on the dock today after an exciting Tender ride in from the ship. We love to sit up top on the tenders, but today was not a good time to do that. There was a pretty stiff wind coming straight at us along with waves and lots of spray coming over the bow. I took refuge on the floor. Once off the tender, Rene loaded us in the car and we were off. Pam & Kathy stayed on the ship today. Our first stop was on the shore of Lake Nicaragua which is actually a fresh water lake with two huge volcanoes on...

Jan 4, 2012 - Caño Negro, Costa Rica & San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Today we most of us were up early for the boat trip up the river. I may have been the only one on the boat without binoculars, so clearly a novice among more serious fans. Straight away we saw a couple of small caiman (variety of alligator). Shortly thereafter - Me: “Lou, what’s that in the middle of the river?” Lou: (after checking through binoculars) “That’s a coconut.” Me: “Ok, no worries then.” Which then became a running gag about man-eating coconuts in the river, though I did redeem myself by spotting actual wildlife later. We saw...

Sep 27, 2011 - San Juan Del Surf

San Juan del sur 24th-27th Sept After thinking we'd lost the numpty Israeli guys on Ometepe Island we walk into our hostel Pacha mama's in San Juan del Sur to find them sat out front! Nico nice but dim was also there was there. It's strange how you keep bumping into people you meet along the way! San Juan del Sur is a place I could spend a few months. Very much a hippy hang out with awesome surf, free drinks for ladies pretty much every night and great beaches with no sand flies. We spent two days hanging out, drinking rum..again :) and...

Sep 24, 2011 - San Juan Del drink!!!

San juan del sur!!! We got the ferry back to Rivas, nicuargra and then a taxi to San Juan del sur, we were recommended a hostel called pacha mamma that we decided to stay in for the next few days.  San juan was a little town full off hostels, bars and restaurants. The town is full of people who want to go surfing. I decided that  i would hold the bags!!! On our first night after talking to some ofher girls in the hostel we decided to get the free bus to the naked tiger hostel  ...now this hostel is not in the lonely planet book!!!... We got...

Aug 12, 2011 - Party town for the American surf dudes!

San Juan Del Sur, 12/08/11 Party town for the American surf dudes! We left Santo Domingo early on a bus heading for the ferry. Unfortunately by the time we made it on to the ferry all of the good seats had been taken and we were left with seats by the open hatch to the engine that was very loud. After 45mins our ears were ringing. We got a taxi to take us to the bus terminal to head south for San Juan Del Sur, but he offered us a very good deal to go the rest of the way by taxi, so we stayed with him, and he dropped us off at a hostel run...

Nov 21, 2010 - San Juan del Sur - Nicaragua

November 21, 2010 The plane from Mexico City was an airbus A319. Only 23 people got on. What a waste of fuel/environment. This plane holds 124 souls. Someone lost a lot of money/we lost – a species of frog. In 2001 we, Susan and I, experienced a similar situation flying from Phnom Phen to Ho Chi Mhin City. We were on a 737 (cap 189) and there was less that 30 on board. I wonder if Royal Air Cambodge is still in business? My stay in San Juan was short. Thank Vishnu! Or another [God]. I arrived in San Juan late on the 18th – 1:00am so I...

Oct 20, 2010 - San Juan del Sur - Nicaragua

October 18, 2010 I arrived in San Juan around 12noon or so. It was hot. Very hot. It wasn’t Mexico hot but the humidity added to the unpleasant feeling. I am staying at one of the newest places in town. A/C and TV again. It’s good a really cool bar and restaurant attached to it. USD$25/night. It’s still a little rich but it is new and very nice. Just as nice as my place in Granada. I went over to see Pablo about paying our taxes this year and he wasn’t there. Apparently he has gone to the states for a vacation. Another kid named Zak was...