24 Hours in Managua
Managua is both the capital and largest city of Nicaragua and the second most populous city in all of Central America. This city has been through no shortage of struggles — a destructive earthquake in 1972, and revolution in 1979, and a civil war in the 1980s — but what remains is strong, thriving, and blossoming into something travelers to Nicaragua should not miss.
It’s important to recognize the multi-faceted and, at times, difficult history of Nicaragua, and paying a visit to the Sandino Memorial Museum is a good start to understanding the time leading to and following the revolution of 1979. This museum was a space once occupied by the Samoza Family, and Sandino was a leader of the revolution that was killed during the Samoza reign in the 1930s. Sandino and his supporters fought against mistreatment of the poor and for more freedom in the nation, and to this day he is honored throughout Nicaragua and is emblemized as a tall, proud statue near the lookout point that is part of the Loma de Tiscapa National Park. This park has stunning panoramic vistas of Lake Managua and Momotombo Volcano.
The experience of eating like a local is paramount to an authentic Managua day trip. Snack on fresh fruit like papaya and mango, sip on some sweet chicha, and fall in love with quesillo, a fresh cheese served with onions and wrapped in a corn tortilla. While walking around and getting a feel for the city, take a stroll past the Managua Cathedral which survived several earthquakes and now exists at a beautifully delicate frame to admire from afar. If you’d like to compare and contrast, take a drive to the New Cathedral built in 1993, a unique and certainly modern church unlike any you’ve seen before.
Are you into the arts and entertainment? Explore the Rubén Dario National Theater, a large white columned building with plush red velvet seats and named after Nicaragua’s most famous poet. This theater showcases Modern art exhibitions as well as traditional Nicaraguan dance and classical music
Before you return to Pacaya Lodge and Spa, be sure to check out Mercado Roberto Huembes where you can find some authentic and unique souvenirs to bring home to your friends and family!
