{"id":19292,"date":"2018-05-30T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T19:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=19292"},"modified":"2023-09-05T04:35:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T09:35:02","slug":"best-times-visit-nicaragua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/best-times-visit-nicaragua\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Times to Visit Nicaragua"},"content":{"rendered":"
For those seeking to visit Nicaragua any time in 2018, it is a good idea to go when there\u2019s a celebration or fiesta taking place, so that you can get the best possible feel for the culture. This is true whether you are simply going for a visit, or whether you\u2019re mapping out possible retirement locations for later on.<\/span><\/p>\n First, it is important to know that Nicaragua enjoys two major seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Before you decide which of the festivities below to attend, make sure you\u2019re going to be happy with the likeliest weather conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n The dry season runs roughly from November to May, and you\u2019re going to get hot and humid temperatures during this time. The dry season is Nicaragua\u2019s busiest season, and perfect for outdoor activities and beach time.<\/span><\/p>\n The wet season is just that\u2026wet and rainy. It is a shorter season, running between June and October, and tends to wash out the roads, making travel a little tougher.<\/span><\/p>\n All in all, November and then June through April are the best times to visit Nicaragua. These are the months when the weather is at its best, and it is peak season for tourists around this time. You can plan a trip to visit for any occasion, depending on how you feel about crowds and how much heat you can handle. Now, let\u2019s discuss fiestas!<\/span><\/p>\n La Gigantona<\/b><\/p>\n The La Gigantona is a giant, beautiful woman made to represent Spanish women in the time of the Spanish conquistadors in Latin America. This celebration is usually held in December, and the woman dances to drum music native to the Latin American people. Accompanying her is a much smaller portrayal of a mestizo man, and the festival is held to commemorate the tensions between race relations during colonial times. You can attend this festival in many of the bigger cities of Nicaragua, including Leon and Granada.<\/span><\/p>\n The Feast Day of St. Sebastian<\/b><\/p>\n In January, this feast day celebration is held in Nicaragua to celebrate its authentic indigenous culture. There is dancing and music, and there are costumes \u2013 all of which express traditions that predate the arrival of the Spanish by hundreds of years.<\/span><\/p>\n The celebration lasts several days and begins the day before the feast itself, when a holy mass is celebrated and the image of St. Sebastian is taken from the Basilica of Diriamba to the town of Dolores, where the images of Saint Mark and Santiago are located. This ritual is called El Tope.<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, the days-long celebration outlines a mixture of indigenous culture and also the introduction of Catholicism to that culture.<\/span><\/p>\n International Poetry Festival<\/b><\/p>\n This is the largest festival of its kind in Central America, and it\u2019s held in Granada, Nicaragua. In February, more than 100 poets gather from different nationalities to read their poems in public squares, churches, universities, and museums. It lasts for about one week and during this time, there are presentations, carnivals, book fairs, and more. There are even things for the kids! This festival has a large following both nationally and internationally, so it\u2019s worth planning a trip around it.<\/span><\/p>\n San Lazaro<\/b><\/p>\n