¡Bienvenidos! Welcome to the land of lakes and volcanoes—Nicaragua, the largest country in the Central American isthmus. There are around 7 million people living here, and the capital is Managua, located on the southern shores of Lake Managua. The official language is Spanish, though English and indigenous languages like Miskito are spoken along the Caribbean coast.

Nicaragua covers about 130,373 square kilometers (50,337 square miles). It’s roughly the same size as the state of New York in the U.S., or about the same size as Greece. It is unique for having two massive freshwater lakes—Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua—and a “volcanic chain” that runs through the western part of the country.

The most popular sport is Baseball, making Nicaragua one of the few Latin American countries where football isn’t the primary obsession. Their national animal is the Turquoise-browed Motmot (Guardabarranco), a stunning bird with a distinctive racket-shaped tail.

The flag consists of two blue horizontal stripes with a white stripe in the middle and the national coat of arms in the center, where the blue represents the two oceans that border the country and the white symbolizes peace.

The food is flavorful and deeply rooted in corn and beans. You must try Gallo Pinto, the national dish of fried rice and beans that is served at almost every meal. Another favorite is Nacatamal, a large tamale filled with meat, vegetables, and rice, wrapped in a plantain leaf and steamed. For a snack, try Vigorón, which consists of boiled yucca, topped with a cabbage salad and crispy pork rinds (chicharrón).

Nicaragua is home to Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and the only freshwater lake in the world to contain freshwater sharks. In the middle of this lake lies Ometepe Island, formed by two majestic volcanoes rising out of the water. You can also visit Granada, one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas, famous for its bright, multi-colored buildings. For thrill-seekers, the Cerro Negro volcano offers “volcano boarding,” where you can slide down the side of an active volcano on a wooden board.

From the surf breaks of San Juan del Sur to the cloud forests of the north, Nicaragua is a land of raw natural beauty and poetic spirit. ¡Gracias! That means “Thank you!”