Disclaimer: These are our personal thoughts and opinions; they do not represent the beliefs of the United States government or those of the Peace Corps

Friday, May 25, 2012

Canyoning

A few weeks ago, a few friends and I gathered together for a quick trip to the Somoto Canyon. I figured I’d wait to write about it until I’d gathered a few of the photos my friends took.

It was very late in the season to attempt a visit: during the dry, summer season, the river in the canyon is relatively calm and clear. It is a popular Semana Santa destination for local Nicaraguans, because it offers miles of swimming, floating, and sunbathing spots. However, by this point the rains had started, and the canyon was beginning to fill and transform. When the winter rains begin in earnest, the river becomes treacherous; swift, deep, and muddy, with rapids that could easy damage a boat or human body.

Still, we all craved a bit of adventure, and couldn’t bear the thought of having to wait another six or seven months to have an opportunity to explore. So we hired a local guide with a good reputation and connections to one of our host families, packed up our supplies (including some amazing homemade carrot ayote bread, which made me really miss having an oven), and headed out.

The trip took four hours, beginning with a one hour descent into the canyon. The surrounding land is rocky, scrubby, and wild. There is only a small, foot-worn path that meanders to the river’s edge, hardly noticeable unless one is looking for it. Once we reached the river, the fun began. We put our shoes and clothes in waterproof sacks, donned lifejackets, and hopped into the water. We spent the next four hours splashing, swimming, and floating through the river. We slipped over small rapids, attempted miniature cliff dives (20-25 foot drops, as opposed to the 50-70 foot drops that the local children preferred. I admired their utter lack of fear, but I’m not crazy. I stuck with the minimum), and let the current carry us as we floated on our backs, staring up at the sheer cliff walls, speckled with plant growth and small waterfalls. If you have ever taken a trip to Zion National Park, you will have a pretty good idea of our surroundings. However, here are a few photographs to help all those who haven’t had the good fortune to visit one of the United States’ more interesting national parks.

The Somoto Canyon is beautiful, and by all accounts should be mobbed by tourists from beginning to end of the season. However, we found it to be completely devoid of all visitors, with the exception of four preteen boys that were clearly from a nearby town. While I can’t say I didn’t enjoy not having to share this incredible place with hundreds of other extranjeros, it makes me a bit sad to realize how little outsiders know of all that Nicaragua has to offer as a tourist destination. The geography itself should be enough to bring hoards of outdoor enthusiasts: mountains, forests (tropical and deciduous), two expansive coast lines, tropical islands, volcanoes (active and dormant), and freshwater lakes. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to seek out, including some breathtaking examples of nature’s most colorful creations. If life outdoors isn’t what you crave, you will still find plenty to enjoy in the cities of Granada and Leon, with their old-world colonial Spanish charm, in a lazy beach town like Corinto, or in a fun port city like Bluefields, which provides a unique cultural experience owing to its mix of Caribbean, Spanish, and indigenous Nicaraguan inhabitants (I’ve been told it feels somewhat like New Orleans, and the food incorporates a lot of coconut).

I suppose I sound a bit right now like I’m working for the Nicaraguan Tourist Board. I assure you (and Peace Corps – don’t worry, I’m not breaking rules and working a salaried position out up here in Madriz) that I’m not. I’m just beginning to see how amazing this country is – how much potential it has – and hoping to inspire a few of you to experience it for yourselves.

Word of the Week: Huella – footprint, track, trace





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