Bluefields

Bluefields is the capital of the Southern Autonomous Region on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. The people have a combined heritage of being escaped/freed slaves, part of indigenous groups, descendants of Spanish settlers, and/or mix of any of these groups. This creates a very diverse and vibrant community. The language most spoken is a Creole of English. Most people speak Spanish as a 2nd or 3rd language after Creole and/or an indigenous language. All in all there are 6 different ethnicities that can be found throughout the region: Black/Creole, Mestizo, Miskito, Rama, Suma, Garifuna. For some reason, basketball is really popular around here and numerous jerseys of NBA teams of varying quality and authenticity are sold here.

By plane

• Bluefields AirportLa Costeña flies to/from Managua. The flight is about US$80 each way. Some of the planes continue on to Big Corn Island after a short stay at the airport. There are also direct flights to/from Corn Island.

By bus

From Managua to Rama - about 6 hours. From Rama, take a speedboat called a "panga" to Bluefields. The boatride is about 2 hours.
There is now a dirt road from Rama to Bluefields, but there are no bus services. Bus service runs from Rama to Pearl Lagoon through Kukra River. From there you can take a panga to Bluefields

By boat

There is a boat leaving San Juan Del Norte every Wednesday at 8AM to Bluefields. Do check at the pier as the schedule is liable to change on a moment's notice. It is the same Boat which goes to the Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island. There are pangas from Bluefields to and from: Rama, San Juan de Nicaragua (del Norte), Pearl Laggon, Haulover, Kukra River, Tasbapouni, La Cruz de Rio Grande, Karawala, Sandy Bay and El Bluff

By taxi

C$10 (córdobas) per person anywhere you go. However coming from the airport with a lot of luggage they will charge you C$20.

• The Moravian Church, one block north of the docks.
• El Bluff, village on an island 9 km from Bluefields. Walk through the village and you end up on a very long sand beach facing the Caribbean Sea. Pangas leave from the docks as soon as there are 12 people. Last return at 5:30PM.
• Laguna de Perlas, beach up north, pangas leave in the morning

• Ask Roy at the Lobster Pot Hotel to take you to his farm.
• Enjoy a Tona Cerveza at the balcony of the Cima club while you watch the rain slam the street in July.
• Bluefields has a great local sports culture. Ask if there is anything going on in the Stadium and you may get a chance to see an electrically charged event of local athletic talent. The most popular sports locally are Baseball, Basketball and Soccer in decreasing order of popularity.
• Palo de Mayo, a month long festival culminating during the 3rd week of May that showcases the mix of English and creole cultures.
• Visit the museum of Caribbean history of culture (admission is free but they encourage you to donate)

• Basketball jerseys.

• Rondon - a coconut stew made with coconut milk yuca, platains and lobster, fish, beef, or chicken.
• Vigorón - a mid-morning snack made with yuca, chicharones (fried pork skin) or flores (fried pork meat with chicharón) and cabbage salad (cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, vinegar, salt & pepper).
• Frito - an evening meal made with tajada (fried green plantain), stewed chicken or pork, and cabbage salad.
• Order the Camarones cocktail at the Bella Vista restaurant on the water.

• Four brothers

  phone: +505 88 40 75 31

• Bacchus

• Restaurante y club Flotante

• Lobster Pot HotelIf you are there for more than a couple of nights tell Roy that you want a room for C$100 a night, he will give it to you (instead of 150).

• Hotel El DoradoVery dodgy from the beds to the showers. Funky smell in the room. One night there is probably the maximum one can stand.

• Mini hotel y Cafetin CentralGreat rooms with cable TV and your own bathroom. Various breakfast in the restaurant downstairs.

• Hotel CampelClean and friendly conditions (own bathroom and cable TV), all the taxis know where it is.

• Bluefields Indian and Caribbean University

When traveling at night always take a taxi, especially around "Four Brothers". After 8PM it is recommended you take a taxi. After 10PM, always taxi. Do not carry more money than necessary. Do not flash expensive items (such as cameras) around. Use common sense. Don't go into small alleys.

• Little Corn Island - (either by boat or by plane)
• San Juan del Norte - (by boat, once weekly, schedule liable to change)
• Pearl Lagoon - (by boat, at least once daily)