Nicaragua with children

[ATL Mom]

We are planning to travel to Nicaragua in November with two boys aged 9 and 6.  We speak Spanish fairly well and have traveled quite a bit in Central and Latin America.  We enjoy hiking, swimming, kayaking, etc. and plan to spend most of our time in the mountains (and none at the beach). We're not totally disdainful of "tourists" (or hot water for that matter) but prefer places that are a bit more challenging or out of the way.

Has anyone visited La Sombra Lodge?  How long is the drive from Managua? Any other recommendations for places to stay in that region?

Thanks,
ATL

[Joshua Berman]

Hey Mom -- La Sombra Lodge is up in Tuma La Dalia, Matagalpa and although I've never visited the lodge, the high country of Matagalpa is one of the most beautiful regions of the country (it's also where I proposed to my wife, at the Santa Emilia waterfall). I'm guessing it's a 3-hour drive from Managua to La Sombra. Other choices up there include the award-winning Finca Esperanza Verde, which you may want to check into; its office is based in San Ramon, a lovely little town to stay in as well. Here's our picks for te area: http://www.moon.com/planner/nicaragua/regions/matagalpa.html

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

[ATL Mom]

Great, thanks for the suggestion.  We have your book (it was very helpful - in fact, we didn't decide to go to Nicaragua until we had read it from cover to cover) and plan to spend most of our time in the northern mountains.   

We have found that our children are fine without running water and electricity but too much time in the car (we live in the city and aren't used to it) is the thing that can make these trips miserable.  Three hours is definitely doable....

Thanks,

ATL mom

[Randall Wood]

I've also never been to La Sombra.  One of the nice things about Moon Handbook Nicaragua is that, if it's in the book, we've been there and if we haven't been there, it's not in the book.  Too many guidebook authors try to write confidently about places they haven't been and it usually shows.

I've got Nicaraguan friends and family in La Dalia, so I know the area well, and it's very enticing.  So much of Nicaragua struggles with deforestation and this is still a nicely forested stretch of Matgalpa.  Supporting businesses that rely on the environment will help keep it that way.  Interestingly, you won't be far away from the folks that run www.contracafe.com, and La Dalia itself is home to one of the famous Contra resettlement camps from the 1990s, land given to Contras who gave up their weapons in exchange for a house and a piece of land to farm.  It's going to be a neat trip; please post your impressions when you return!