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Sports in Nicaragua
Diverse and Popular
Because of the warmer climate, sports in Nicaragua are as diverse as
they are popular. The national sport of Nicaragua is baseball,
whilst the extensive coastline and beautiful beaches provide the
playground for water sports of all kinds. For the more adventurous,
you can venture near to the volcanoes in Nicaragua and enjoy the
swimming baths there. Because of the proximity to these volcanoes,
the views from the baths here are quite phenomenal.
Most communities have a baseball field, and even children from the
less wealthy families learn to play by improvising with a stick for
a bat and a rolled-up sock for a ball. There are several
professional baseball teams in Nicaragua, and people follow their
progress, as well as that of Latin American and North American
leagues. The biggest baseball stadium in Nicaragua is in Managua. It
holds 40,000 people. Nicaragua's national baseball team came fourth
in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta
Many women and girls enjoy playing volleyball and basketball, and
some play soccer and baseball as well. Men and boys participate in
baseball, soccer, basketball, volleyball and boxing.
Water sports: Beaches on the Pacific coast offer safe swimming as do
those on the Caribbean, including the popular Corn Islands. Often
the better beaches have a small entrance charge. Many of the better
hotels have pools open to non-residents. In the volcanic crater
lagoons, there is also safe swimming.
Bathing is possible in the Laguna de Tiscapa. El Velero beach or
Pochomil on the Pacific coast are ideal for surfing as are a number
of other beaches along the west coast.
One of the more popular sports in Nicaragua is fishing. Sport
fishing in Nicaragua has grown in popularity in the past few years
resulting in quite a following. There are a number of companies that
are dedicated to providing sport fishing tours and activities. One
of the most popular fish to catch is the Tarpon or Silver King.
These fish flock into rivers and lagoons from the sea during April,
May and October. There are a number of good fishing spots along the
country’s waterways and seashores.
With the mountains and volcanoes in Nicaragua the options for hiking
and other adventure type sports are varied. From biking around the
mountains to sailing along its stunning coastline, sports in
Nicaragua for the fit and healthy abound.
Nicaragua has two long coastlines, the Pacific on the west and the
Caribbean on the east, and many people go to the beach for their
holidays. Most people take their holidays during the dry season,
which lasts from about December to May, depending on the region.
Beaches are especially busy during Semana Santa (Holy Week) just
before Easter, which is a popular vacation time. People also enjoy
camping in the mountains, as well as swimming in volcanic crater
lakes. Since Nicaragua is still emerging from the ravages of war,
the number of tourists is small but increasing.
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