Northern Pacific Coast (Nicaragua)

• & Poneloya are Pacific beaches near León popular with the locals during semana santa
• Leon Viejo, one of two Nicaraguan UNESCO world heritage sites
• Playa Jiquilillo
• Volcan Cosigüina

The Northern Pacific Coast of Nicaragua is made of the Chinandega Department to the north and the Leon Department to the south. The area has a total population of 830,900 as of the 2005 Census, though given Nicaraguan population trends the current figures are likely significantly higher.
The Chinandega Department is located on the border with Honduras, It is largely agricultural, it produces rum from sugar cane; other products are bananas, peanuts, shrimps and salt. The capital city of the department is Chinandega. Other major towns in the department are Chichigalpa (headquarters of Flor de Caña) and Corinto, a major port.
The Leon Department is located just south of the Chinandega Department. It is the fourth most populous in the country with a total population of 389,600. Its capital is Leon. About 20 minutes from Leon lies the beach communities of Poneloya and Las Peñitas. Other towns in the department include El Sauce, Larreynaga (which is primarily known as Malpaisillo), and Nagarote.

Spanish

• by boat via Corinto (regular ferry-service from La Union , El Salvador)
• by bus from Managua or the Northern Highlands
• from Honduras via the border crossing at Guasaule or Las Manos

• Murals and revolutionary culture in León

• hike up Volcan Cosigüina in the very northwesternmost corner of the country
• swim in the Pacific beaches of Poneloya and las Peñitas or party with the locas during año nuevo (new year's) or semana santa (easter week)

Temperatures can rise well above 35°C (100°F) in the dry season (verano), so make sure to stay hydrated. Although some say that tab-water in León is safe, stick to bottled water to make sure you don't catch travelers' diarrhea from bacteria your body isn't accustomed to, as it will make you lose water even faster.

The current of the Pacific coast can be very strong and even trained swimmers in their best health have died there. If there are warning signs, they are usually there for a reason. Don't go to far out and stick to official beaches where people can see and - if need be - rescue you.