Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest isthmus in Central America, facing Honduras to the northwest, the Caribbean Sea to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Managua is the capital and largest city of the country and the third largest city in Central America after Tegucigalpa and Guatemala City. The multi-ethnic population of 6 million includes indigenous peoples, European, African, and Asian heritage people. The main language is Spanish. Indigenous peoples of the Mosquito Coast speak their own language and English.

Originally inhabited by various indigenous cultures from ancient times, the area was conquered by the Spanish Empire in the 16th century. Nicaragua became independent of Spain in 1821. The Mosquito Coast followed another historic path, colonized by the British in the 17th century and later placed under British rule. It became an autonomous territory of Nicaragua in 1860, and in 1960 the northernmost tip was transferred to Honduras. Since independence, Nicaragua has experienced political instability, dictatorship, occupation and financial crisis, the Nicaraguan Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s and the Contra War in the 1980s.

Given the literary contributions of Nicaraguan poets and writers such as Ruben Dario, the mix of cultural traditions has created considerable diversity in folk traditions, cooking, music and literature, especially the latter. Known as the "Lake and Volcano Country," Nicaragua also houses the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, the second largest rainforest in the Americas. Biodiversity, a warm tropical climate and active volcanoes make Nicaragua an increasingly popular tourist destination.