AMANDA BLAKLEY
Mother of two boys. Writer for some of North America’s most dominant publications. Family Travel Expert at The Adventures of Atticus. Founder of Petits Genoux, handcrafted heirloom baby garments
FEATURED DESTINATION
NICARAGUA, CENTRAL AMERICA
“With so many beautiful and varied landscapes plus all the heritage to explore, we could easily have spent months travelling instead of just two weeks!” Amanda Blakley
We have been to some magnificent destinations over the years. But one of our most memorable trips was to Nicaragua, Central America last March. Like most Latin American countries, the people are warm and inviting. The culture is so welcoming for families, especially small children.
Shop keepers and locals will even go so far as to take your little ones off your hands while you eat or just need a break! Nicaraguan cuisine is fresh and delicious, the beaches are rugged and relatively un-touched by development, the towns we visited felt alive and authentic.
Where to stay
We loved checking into Los Patios Hotel in Granada. It’s a close walk from all the amazing little restaurants, markets and attractions in the old town, but it still feels slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of the hot and dusty streets. Plus the serene rooms and courtyard plunge pool are exactly what you need to refresh and cool off after a hot morning exploring.
What we loved about Nicaragua and most of our accommodation there was how simple yet elegant it was. If you plan on heading down to the beaches of San Juan del Sur (and you should), we also enjoyed our stay at Pelican Eyes. It has an air of humble exclusivity thanks to its perch above town.
Living up to its name, guests get a beautiful birds-eye view of the cove below. The refreshing infinity pool is where we spent the majority of our mornings and after a siesta we would wander into San Juan del Sur for smoothies, sunset beach walks and dinner.
Amanda’s must-dos!
Be sure to add Laguna de Apoyo to your Nicaragua itinerary. Spend a refreshing afternoon splashing and swimming in the crater of the Apoyo volcano. Make black sand body masks, eat fresh seafood and beat the intense heat by floating in her turquoise waters. At 200 meters deep this Laguna is the lowest point in Central America.
Also just a short drive from Granada (and not too far from the Laguna) is the Masaya Artisan Market. Full of colourful crafts and every manner of jewellery, hand-made straw things, textiles, woven goods, wooden toys and hammocks – truly something for every family member – little and big!! The perfect place to do all your souvenir shopping – visit in the morning if possible, before the heat of the day.
Images supplied by Amanda Blakley and via @amandablakley @petitsgenoux
