In love with Nicaragua

Whilst studying International Studies at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Jan decided to do an internship at the Sandinista newspaper Barricada. That was his first encounter with Nicaragua. He returned for a second time whilst pursuing his postgraduate studies, this time to study at the University of Managua. “When I’d finished my studies, it turned out that my love for Nicaragua ran deeper than I’d realised. In 2002, I returned on a whim. I’d just see what the country had in store for me.” He now runs a successful local agency there. “It hasn’t always been easy. When I arrived, I’d already made contact with a Dutch travel organisation for which I occasionally led tours. At one point, it became clear that the local organisation hadn’t got its act together. My Dutch contact was looking for an alternative. So I decided to draw up a quote myself. To my utter amazement, it was approved. I was able to get started.”

Idyllic coastlines

According to Jan, the reason tourism is only just starting to pick up is that Nicaragua was regarded as an unsafe country for many years. These days, however, it is actually one of the safest countries in Central America. The infrastructure is excellent and driving a rental car here is a breeze. It boasts the same natural beauty as its neighbour, Costa Rica. Nicaragua is rich in stunning volcanoes, cloud forests and lowland jungle. It has idyllic coastlines along both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. What’s more, you’ll find two of the most beautiful historic cities on the Latin American continent here: Granada and León. Jan: “I did briefly consider offering trips to other countries as well, but I decided to focus on Nicaragua and to explore it in greater depth. I’m glad I made that decision.”