Nicaragua: the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes! This Central American nation contains stunning natural beauty; and, of course, there are cycle touring routes!

Some are especially designed for the beginner at touring; and feature easy grades; clear directions; and manageable distances. These tours are good for families and seniors, as well as beginners.

At the other end of the scale are tours for advanced riders. They present riders with more challenging terrain; longer distances; and less support.

Or you might want to tackle this 15-day, 3-country tour. You’ll ride through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The fully-guided tour takes you through both towns and rainforests; and is suited to novice riders. 

As to lakes and volcanoes, there are three active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Sensibly enough, visitors are advised not to try visiting them without an expert guide. When I was a kid, I used to think it would be great to watch an erupting volcano — from a safe distance. I know much better now. There’s no such thing as a “safe distance” from an erupting volcano. Pyroclastic flows can reach miles beyond the slopes of a “fire mountain”! Ergo I think I’ll stay away.

The best time to visit Nicaragua is from November to May, when the weather is drier. Not surprisingly, the country’s climate is tropical. I expect you’d need a lot of sunblock!

How about safety? That seems to be the snag about travel to many countries nowadays. I guess the best thing is to stay in a group; and don’t try to “wing it”.

But if you can arrange that, the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes sounds like a great place to visit!