The Corn Islands of Nicaragua

There are various methods one can choose to arrive to Big Corn Island. You can drive, or take some form of ground transportation, to the town of Rama (which is about a three to four hour drive east from Managua). Then you will take some sort of boat transporation to Bluefields and from there, transportation by either boat or plane to Big Corn. That's the hard way and definitely for the more adventurous. The way I recommend is to simply hop a "puddle-jumper" from the International Airport in Managua direct to Big Corn. You will have about an 1.5 hour flight and you will arrive, hopefully, safe and sound in paradise. The cost of a round-trip ticket is around $160. The Rama-Bluefields alternative will take a full day, or more. Of course, if you want to experience the reggae roots of Bluefields, then by all means go for it. But get ready for a very, very long haul!

I am going to focus here on Big Corn. I definitely recommend a visit to Little Corn as well, but I did not have the experience of actually staying overnight there. I was told that electricity was very spotty, as well as other creature comforts. Unless you just have to experience a level of peace and solitude only rivaled by, say, Mars, then I recommend staying on Big Corn and doing a day trip to Little Corn, as the options for accommodation are much more plentiful. Here are two that come highly recommended....

Arenas Beach Hotel



We stayed here during our visit. The rooms were spacious and very comfortable, with all the amenities of A/C, television, refrigerator, etc. The view out to the sea was nice. The restaurant was good, especially for breakfast. The service was great! They were in the process of installing internet in the hotel, but the owner's son, who was acting as general manager, was kind enough to allow me to take care of business using the internet in his office. All in all, I would highly recommend Arenas Beach as a great place to stay on Big Corn. The beach right in front of the hotel is fantastic!

Casa Canada



We didn't actually stay here, but did pay a visit for a drink (or two) in the bar. The place was really top notch, however, also a bit pricey. It sits on a rocky beach area, so the accessibility to "white sand" is not as good as Arenas Beach, which definitely lives up to its namesake (Sand Beach). Casa Canada is, however, the most upscale accommodation you will find on the island. So if luxury is your thing, then Casa Canada is probably your best ticket in Corn Island.

You can click on either of the hotels' names above and be transported to their official web sites for more information.

Diving and Snorkeling



Obviously with the sea being almost as crystal clear as a glass of tap water, the diving and snorkeling are going to be fantastic. I didn't get a chance to dive, but did go snorkeling off the deck at Anastasia's, a restaurant and bar that is at the end of a pier that juts a good 50 meters, or so, out into the Caribbean. You can rent quality snorkeling gear right there in the restaurant. There are a series of large coral outcroppings just off the dock and the marine life abounds. The day we took a day trip over to Little Corn I noticed a dive boat (see photo above) and I could only imagine the quality of diving off either Little or Big Corn. In short, these islands are a diver's paradise and this is one activity that you should not miss out on in the Corn Islands.

Day Trip to Little Corn



The Corn Islands actually consist of two islands, Big Corn and Little Corn. Little Corn is just that.....small. It is much too small to have an airstrip, so if you want to visit there, you either swim (not recommended), or take a "water taxi." The water taxi is dirt cheap and you will be riding with an interesting assortment of locals, tourists and contraband. The ride from Big to Little Corn takes about 45 minutes. Little Corn Island is about as remote as you can get, but the water is so tranquil and clear and the place so laid back, that is almost like walking into a dream. We were dropped by the water taxi on a rocky side of the island and had to take a short walk to the other side where there were pristine white sand beaches. A local who spoke perfect English, as most do on these islands, served as our private tour guide and escorted us to a tranquil area with a nice beach, hammocks and a few little huts where they served lobster cooked to order an ice cold Victoria (Nicaragua's very good beer). The day we spent on Little Corn was one of the most relaxing of the entire trip. I highly recommend a visit to Little Corn as a "must-do" in the Corn Islands.

Circumnavigate the Island



Another worthwhile activity is to actually circumnavigate the entire island of Big Corn. You can do so by taxi, walking or rent a bike. As soon as we landed we hopped into a taxi and told him to take us around the island. And he did. It took less than an hour to go around the entire circumference of the island, even with frequent stops. Oh and a word about taxis. There are a number of cars on the island and I would say that 99.99% of them operate as taxis. It has to be the finest example of "free market capitalism" that exists on the planet....and right under the nose of Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua's Sandinista President) to boot. You can get from any Point A to any Point B in an island taxi for about $1.00. However, I really recommend renting a bicyce and riding around the island. It is a great way to explore. One thing not to miss is to go to the highest point, which involves some hiking as well as bike riding. There you will find a tower that offers a spectacular 365 degree view of the entire island.

Other than the above activities, I recommend just sitting back with a cold one (Victoria or Flor de Caña) and enjoying the sun and the beach. That is R & R at its very best!