While the country is still poor and its infrastructure in dire need of improvement, Nicaragua offers a rich experience to travelers with a sense of adventure. Its southern neighbor, Costa Rica, draws almost double the number of visitors, even though Nicaragua is blessed with similarly beautiful, unspoiled landscapes. And like Guatemala, Nicaragua has strong craft traditions. Resorts now provide travelers with the opportunity to sample the pleasures of a pristine and undiscovered corner of Central America. Despite being repeatedly sacked and set alight over the centuries, the colonial city of Granada retains a colorful charm. Its compact center, laid out in an approximate grid, invites exploration on foot.

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