Absolutely - while not as good in my opinion as Guatemala, Nicaragua will not disappoint. Ometepe Island is a great place to visit - flanked by the two volcanos Concepcion and Maderas, you will have a wonderful time. Granada is also a beautiful city.

To be honest, I think the best part of Nicaragua is its people. True, there isn't much in Nicaragua that you can not see in other countries, but because the tourist infrastructure is so lacking in the country (with some exceptions), your interaction with the people is essential. I think the best volcanoes are actually in Nicaragua, the scenery is more striking and unspoiled, the beaches are beautiful and desolate, and the food is delicious. Best of all, it is also a relatively inexpensive country. In response to some of the other comments, Ralph is correct about the cigars, D.G. about the mix of nature and culture. I know this question is old, but if you have not been there yet, you should.

I've been living and working in Nicaragua for one year now and I love it!! You should check out Leon, Granada, Masaya, San Juan del Sur (if you want to party and surf), island of ometepe.. for some carribean flair CORN ISLAND!!!; as I heard Rio San Juan is amazing.. but I've not been there yet.. Give it a chance.. it's cheap and people are really nice! And you should try Flor de Cana - the best rum! :-)

Ok. So, what are the top things to see when I land there? minimum time needed to see everything??

I have been to all the countries in Central America except Nicaragua. What is there to see in Nicaragua that you cant see in the other countries? My research shows, the best volcanos are in Costa Rica. Best Beaches in Honduras, Roatan.... Can any help with this??

If you'd like to experience culture in Nicaragua, make friends with locals ... you can strike up a friendship with a guide (kayaking on Lake Nicaragua or climbing Volcan Maderas on Isla de Ometepe) or with the owner of a small restaurant (perhaps on Little Corn Island).... or arrange a homestay with a local family!

Actually, I'm not too thrilled about Nicaragua. But I got sick and couldn't get any vegetarian food other than salads, so I was probably in a grumpy mood :). Parts of Granada is really beautiful but from what I saw it's quite segregated. I found it harder to get in touch with Nicas than other Central american people. Ometepe Island is really worth a visit though. The culture there is quite different from the rest of the country and they have their own dance traditions etc.

I love going to Nicaragua. While there be sure to see the Masayan Volcano and the inactive Mombacho Volcano. Granada is a laid back city that is a lot of fun. I'm going there in December and I can't wait! :)

well, they've got the best cigars at unbeatable prices - if that's one thing you'd like to try. an old college pal raved about the volcanoes and the beaches. Cuban cigars are overpriced compared to nicaraguan ones, but imho, they're equal if not better quality. have fun :)

Charlene - Nicaragua is my fave country in Central America. It does have a nice mix of nature and culture. If you can be in a city like Granada for a festival or carnival, you'll love it. Ometepe Island in the middle of Nicaragua has a different vibe than the rest of the country too, the residents there have actually wanted to seperate from Nicaragua in the past. If you head up to the Caribbean coast near Honduras, it's called the Mosquito Coast and would probably offer some of the best remote cultural experiences with different native groups.