Nicaragua

Nicaragua is often called 'the next Costa Rica' for its biodiversity, but it retains a rugged, untamed edge that is all its own. It is the most affordable country in the region, allowing travelers to stretch their budget significantly. The crown jewel is Granada, a colorful colonial city sitting on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, where you can take a boat tour through hundreds of tiny islets formed by ancient volcanic activity.

Adventure is baked into the landscape. You can sandboard down the black ash of the Cerro Negro volcano or ferry across the great lake to Ometepe Island, a biosphere reserve formed by two volcanoes rising from the water. The Pacific coast, particularly around San Juan del Sur, offers consistent surf and legendary sunsets.

While politics have kept mass tourism at bay, the people remain incredibly warm and proud of their culture. Nicaragua offers a sense of discovery that is hard to find in a globalized world; it is a place for backpackers, surfers, and poets at heart.