Jun – Sep 2017

Central America

A 86-day adventure by Adventures of Dr Nik Read more

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Trip start
June 20, 2017
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- Monday, June 19, 2017
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Nicaragua Bahía Marsella 11.29268, -85.9096911°17’34” N 85°54’35” W
Maderas, Nicaragua
June 19, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Waking up to a beautiful sunrise and pumping waves below at Playa Maderas. What a great way to wake up after 24+hours intransit. After breakfast we went for a surf at Playa Hermosa then later sunset beers at Playa Maderas!
Welcome to Nicaragua!Read more
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- Day 2
- Wednesday, June 21, 2017
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Nicaragua Punta Sucia 11.22075, -85.8487711°13’15” N 85°50’56” W
Playa Remanso
June 21, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
My favourite place to surf in the south of Nicaragua. Good when the swell is too big elsewhere, nice left off the point. Great days with a great crew from Rapture Surf Camp.
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- Day 6
- Sunday, June 25, 2017
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Nicaragua Bahía Marsella 11.29271, -85.9096211°17’34” N 85°54’35” W
My kind of Sunday Funday in Maderas!
June 25, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Uncrowded waves, beers on the beach then cocktails by the pool while watching a beautiful sunset. All with a great crew - way better than a $30 pool crawl with pissed gringos in San Juan!

Perfect way to cap off a week at Rapture Surf Camp!Read more
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- Day 8
- Tuesday, June 27, 2017
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 47 m
- Nicaragua Balque 11.4903, -85.5131411°29’25” N 85°30’47” W
Isla de Ometepe y Volcán Maderas
June 27, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
4 days exploring Ometepe - lovely place to hike, cycle and chill in a hammock!

Ate at a lovely restaurant called Cafe Campestre - delish curries, smoothies and home-made pasta all with fresh ingredients grown on the island! Not very typical Nicaraguan food but delish!Read more
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- Day 12
- Saturday, July 1, 2017
- 🌬 26 °C
- Altitude: 54 m
- Nicaragua Granada 11.93473, -85.9587811°56’5” N 85°57’32” W
Granada
July 1, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌬 26 °C
The pretty Spanish Colonial city of Granada. (Very touristy and hot as well!)
Don't think I was very inspired to take photos at the time!
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- Day 14
- Monday, July 3, 2017
- ⛅ 24 °C
- Altitude: 1,042 m
- Nicaragua Volcán Mombacho 11.83018, -85.968811°49’49” N 85°58’8” W
Volcán Mombacho
July 3, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Another day, another volcano in Central America!
Exploring the cloud forest at the peak of Mombacho - an active volcano near Granada
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- Day 15
- Tuesday, July 4, 2017
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Nicaragua El Tránsito 12.05507, -86.7066912°3’18” N 86°42’24” W
El Transito
July 4, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Where do I start?
This lovely fishing village on the beach in the north of Nicaragua became my home for 3 weeks of surfing, slack lining, yoga, casual Spanish lessons with hostel staff and locals in the surf, rock hoping, hammock napping, amazing sunset's and of course drinking beers with a great crew who I hope to one day surf with again!

This place was such a big part of my experience in Nicaragua and the more tranquilo, holiday portion of my trip! My surfing improved a lot here too, thanks to mi hermanos de españa - Jaime y Eric! Also thanks to the lovely locals who joked with me and called me onto waves. 'Dale Dale dale!!'

I still remember that feeling after riding my first wave on a shortboard, the first one I paddled for too! That feeling last for days! I think because of this and of course the people this place will always be special to me!
(And truly worthy of a few posts!)Read more
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- Day 17
- Thursday, July 6, 2017
- 🌬 13 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Nicaragua El Tránsito 12.05507, -86.7066912°3’18” N 86°42’24” W
Rock pools or Wave pools?
July 6, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
When the surf is closing out, we went and played in the tidal pools - pretty fun watching waves crash up against the rocks and have to duck and hold onto rocks as the bigger waves crashed over us!

Oh and another incredible sunset!Read more
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- Day 20
- Sunday, July 9, 2017
- 🌬 13 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Nicaragua El Tránsito 12.05507, -86.7066912°3’18” N 86°42’24” W
El Tránsito - la gente
July 9, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
It's often the people that really make a place...
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- Day 24
- Thursday, July 13, 2017
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Nicaragua El Tránsito 12.05507, -86.706712°3’18” N 86°42’24” W
El Tránsito - la gente local
July 13, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Friendly locals in this tiny fishing village
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- Day 27
- Sunday, July 16, 2017
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Nicaragua El Tránsito 12.05507, -86.7066912°3’18” N 86°42’24” W
El Transito - una mas!
July 16, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Couldn't resist one more post...I did spend 3 weeks here!
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- Day 32
- Friday, July 21, 2017
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Altitude: 94 m
- Nicaragua León 12.43454, -86.8773412°26’4” N 86°52’38” W
Leon
July 21, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
A weekend exploring this colonial city in the north of Nicaragua. Enjoyed checking out the political street art, telling the story of this country's violent past. Sad that every country I've visited in Latin America seems to have a similar story of internal conflict.Read more
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- Day 36
- Tuesday, July 25, 2017
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Nicaragua Ensenada de Amarillo 11.38863, -86.0327211°23’19” N 86°1’58” W
Playa Gigante
July 25, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Spanish school, beautiful sunsets at Gigante Bay and Playa Amarilla, boat trip to Playa Santana, watching people riding 6ft barrells at Playa Colorado (while drinking beers on someone's balcony). It was a tough three weeks!Read more
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- Day 42
- Monday, July 31, 2017
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Nicaragua Ensenada de Amarillo 11.38863, -86.0327211°23’19” N 86°1’58” W
Pie Gigante look-out
July 31, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Hiked up to the look out rock with the Spanish school crew at Playa Gigante. The rock is called 'Pie Gigante' or Giants foot as apparently the rock looks like a big foot. Stunning views including a full rainbow (Arco iris). We also got to watch whales swimming along the bay (humpbacks we think).

Finished it off at Gigante Bay Hostel for a fiery sunset. Life's tough.Read more
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- Day 47
- Saturday, August 5, 2017
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Nicaragua Ensenada de Amarillo 11.38863, -86.0327211°23’19” N 86°1’58” W
Playa Gigante - Homestay
August 5, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
An incredible experience staying with a local family in Gigante. Not only got to practice my Spanish but had an amazing cultural experience including seeing how to make all the maiz-based products after the corn was harvested - bread, cakes, nacatamales, chicken soup with maiz-dumplings...y más!

They had three kids - the two younger boys loved playing and called me "chica Nicole". They had two pigs which ate all their scraps, some chickens and am incredible hyperactive dog! I had a lot of fun living brutal Nica life!Read more
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- Day 53
- Friday, August 11, 2017
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- Nicaragua La Albina 11.47121, -86.1224811°28’16” N 86°7’21” W
Popoyo
August 11, 2017 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Spent a few days checking out one of the more famous breaks in Nicaragua. Was a bit sick (how did I get a cold in the tropics??) so actually spent two days sleeping in a hammock.

Surfed at Playa Guasacate and 'beginners bay's'. Getting better on that shortboard! SPectated Popoyo - pretty impressive to watch!Read more
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- Day 57
- Tuesday, August 15, 2017
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 56 m
- Australia Wentworth -33.494, 143.210433°29’38” S 143°12’37” E
Las Flores - right point break of dreams
August 15, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
I may be goofy foot but this break was pretty sweet. Staying in a place right on the beach wasn't too bad either.

Spent a few days hanging out with my English buddy Richard from the Spanish school who I randomly ran into on the bus from Leon. Lots more surfs, hammock hangs and the best grilled fish fresh straight from the ocean! El Salvador know how to marinade that's for sure!

El Salvador captured my heart from the day I arrived; so beautiful and green, amazingly lovely and helpful locals and some pretty nice surf too!Read more
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- Day 61
- Saturday, August 19, 2017
- ☀️ 33 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- El Salvador Playa El Tunco 13.4925, -89.3813313°29’33” N 89°22’53” W
El Tunco, El Salvador
August 19, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Beach town número dos un el Salvador. Bit more of a party town with locals flocking from San Salvador, the capital, for the weekend. Didn't get a whole lot of surfing in, the waves were pretty heavy for me, did enjoy watching the locals shred on one of the heavier breaks - including one of two female el salvadoreña surfers I met. So glad to see some local girls out there...there were zero in Nicaragua. Had some fun nights out though....you learn to love the Reggaeton!Read more
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- Day 62
- Sunday, August 20, 2017
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 595 m
- El Salvador Tamanique 13.59656, -89.4181613°35’48” N 89°25’5” W
Taminique, El Salvador
August 20, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Took a day trip to Taminique waterfalls just north of El Tunco. Incredible hike through beautiful forest. Did some cliff jumping at the 'local swimming hole' - the beauty of it being Sunday was it was full of el salvadoreños which was lots of fun! More impromptu Spanish lessons, a couple even gave us a lift to Santa Tecla, 1hr away, where we needed to get the bus to Santa Ana - that is El Salvadoreño hospitality for you!Read more
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- Day 63
- Monday, August 21, 2017
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 656 m
- El Salvador Santa Ana 13.99419, -89.5613113°59’39” N 89°33’41” W
Santa Ana - the city
August 21, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Santa Ana - the regional centre of the north west department of El Salvador, a city full of lovely people and hire possibly one of the best hostels in the world (Hostel Casa Verde- Carlos knows exactly what backpackers need, including a kitchen kitted out with a full spice rack!). Great base for exploring the region!Read more
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- Day 64
- Tuesday, August 22, 2017
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 2,174 m
- El Salvador Santa Ana Volcano 13.85142, -89.6290213°51’5” N 89°37’44” W
Santa Ana - the volcano!
August 22, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Got a ride with some Slovenian guys who live in New Zealand to hike up to Volcan Santa Ana. Unfortunately lots of clouds meant no great views on the way up but the clouds managed to clear for us to see into the crater lake full of boiling water, made green by the sulfur. Checked out the beautiful Lago de Coatepeque on the way back. Volcanoes certainly make for some stunning landscape!Read more
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- Day 65
- Wednesday, August 23, 2017
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 668 m
- El Salvador Santa Ana 13.98974, -89.5628613°59’23” N 89°33’46” W
Santa Ana - The old art school
August 23, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Spent the afternoon visiting the old art school in the town of Santa Ana - severely damaged by an earthquake, the ruins are now a site in themselves. Great place to practice some photo composition.
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- Day 65
- Wednesday, August 23, 2017
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 718 m
- El Salvador Laguna Cuscachapa 13.97991, -89.6743213°58’48” N 89°40’28” W
Tazumal
August 23, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Mayan ruins in El Salvador - Never realised the Mayans reached this far south. Unfortunately the ruins were damaged by earthquakes and bad weather, so much so that somewhere covered with cement to "preserve" them. Others have been left unexcavated. Undoubtedly not as impressive as those in Mexico. Obviously the Mayan figured out it was not a good idea to build very tall structures in this region!Read more
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- Day 66
- Thursday, August 24, 2017
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 938 m
- El Salvador Río Santo 13.83703, -89.7335213°50’13” N 89°44’1” W
Los Chorros Cascades (waterfalls)
August 24, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Seven waterfalls a short walk from Juayua. A little underwhelming as far as waterfalls go but a lovely walk nonetheless!
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- Day 66
- Thursday, August 24, 2017
- ⛅ 24 °C
- Altitude: 1,252 m
- El Salvador Concepción de Ataco 13.86952, -89.8499413°52’10” N 89°50’60” W
Ruta de las Flores - Atacó
August 24, 2017 in El Salvador ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Exploring this cute little town on a rainy day. Known for its colourful painted buildings. Nice for a little stroll. Unfortunately the rain meant I was only brave enough to take photos on my phone.
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