#1 - Soccer is not the national sport
The country’s official sport is baseball. On Sundays you will find grown men pitching softballs for their recreational team.
#2: The Mayans and Aztecs were Nicaragua's first inhabitants.
You can visit their indigenous stone carvings on the beautiful island of Ometepe.
#3: After decades of war and political strife, tourism is now booming.
Tourism is rapidly growing Nicaragua’s economy, at an annual rate of 10%. With beaches, architecture, great music, and nature, it’s easy to see why. In Granada, climb a church bell tower to view the lake and the entire city below.
#4: Nicaragua is home to over 800 species of orchids.
A beautiful place to go orchid hunting is Volcano Mombacho, 15 km from downtown Granada.
#5: Half of Nicaraguans live below the poverty line, with 75% living on $2 a day or less.
ViVerde Eco-Lodge and Farm is proud to support six amazing staff members and their families, totaling close to 30 people.
#6: Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America.
The lake has 365 islands formed when nearby Volcano Mombacho blew its top. Take an evening boat tour to see some of these islands with their charming residences, monkeys, and thousands of birds. Freshwater bull sharks swim up the San Juan River from the Caribbean Sea. Amazing!
#7: There are over 19 active volcanoes in Nicaragua.
Volcano hikes, night-time viewing, and even ashy volcano boarding is possible on Nicaragua’s active peaks.
#8: In 1990, Nicaraguan Violeta Chamorro became the first female president in Central America.
She is known for ending the Contra War and bringing peace to the country. When she was sworn into office, it was the first time that one elected president had given way to another. She inherited a hyperinflated, war-torn economy, but she ended the war and established lasting peace.
#9: Nicaragua is one of the "youngest" countries in the world.
The median age of Nicaraguans is 21 years old.
#10: Nicaragua's main airport is one of the safest in Latin America.
Augusta C. Sandino International Airport in Managua is highly rated by the Organization of International Civil Aviation for safety and convenience. Even better, the ViVerde Eco-Lodge and Farm is only a one hour taxi ride from the airport.