del-Moon Handbooks Nicaragua

I used to use the Lonely Planet Guidebooks for my travels in Central America. As good as they are, Josh Berman and Randy Wood's "Moon Handbooks: Nicaragua" is the class of the field. The two have done an excellent job of researching, exploring almost every nook and cranny of this amazing country. It is very thorough and factually correct. Beyond that, it is written with great respect for the land and its people, giving them the respect they deserve. They tell of the heroic struggle the Nicaraguans pass through every day, just to survive--and survive they do. The authors give the reader ample information the civic self-help organizations the people have created for themselves and their neighbors--and how to volunteer to help. If you want to know the real Nicaragua, buy this book.

If you're going to Nicaragua then you have to bring this book. That's the simple truth --read the other reviews if you aren't yet convinced. The book is really well done, fun to read, interesting, much deeper and more insightful than any other guide book I've ever seen. I found myself reading it cover-to-cover, and I am not some kind of Guidebook Reading Guy. Thanks Joshua and Randy for putting together this fantastic resource. P.S. To whom it may concern: Go to Nicaragua and take a Spanish class. It is absolutely THE way to see this fantastic country. You'll learn Spanish, you'll get to know really interesting people (which really are the best part of Nicaragua), you'll have anm experience you cherish the rest of your life.

We recently got back from a vacation to Nicaragua and we would have been absolutely lost without this excellent guidebook. Not only is the book a great resource for all your standard travel needs - hotels, restaurants, transportation and special sites, etc. - the book has a nearly overwhelming amount of history of Nicaragua, which was incredibly helpful in understanding what we were seeing during our travels. Wood and Bermon's writing style makes the guide readable, like any nonfiction history book. Another thing that distinguishes this guidebook from most of the others that cover Central America is that Wood and Bermon recommend hotels and restaurants for all price ranges and types of travelers. These guys are pretty much the first to recognize that Central America is becoming/has become a destination for tourists of all ages and means.

Until this book came along, solid guidebook options on Nicaragua were limited at best. You've basically got three choices: Lonely Planet Central America, Moon Handbooks Nicaragua, and the Footprints guide. For anyone planning on staying more than a few days in Nicaragua, there is no question that this book will enhance your trip significantly. I recently spent three months travelling through Nicaragua and ended up ditching the other two guides b/c they lacked up to date material and were severely limited and outdated in their descriptions of where to stay, eat, and visit (basically the things that you really need to know). For those of you looking for a more local experience, or at least a way to get off the beaten path, this book will be a lifesaver. It is clear that these guys have lived in Nicaragua for a decent chunk of time. I'm tired of bashing on the other guidebooks, but there are many parts of the country that the other books fail to cover in any relevant detail or even mention at times. As far as writing style goes, these guys are actually hilarious. I'm not looking for comedy in a guidebook (just solid info which they've provided in full), but it's a bonus to find a book which provides what you need and presents it in a way that's intelligent and amusing. Their list of fiestas patronales is a must have for those who have the time to stick around the country and check them out. I would also suggest picking up a copy of Waves (a free magazine published in Nicaragua for tourists) for more on what is going on in Nicaragua during a specific month. There's no question that Nicaragua has some amazing sites and incredibly friendly people, so it's nice to finally have a guidebook that allows people to enjoy the experience more fully. If you're heading to Nicaragua, this is your book.

i have lived in nicaragua for 3 years working at The Bearded Monkey in Granada and have waited for a decent guidebook to come out. i am waiting no longer. this is the best guide by far. the attention to detail is second to none. it goes beyond the hot spots where every backpacker goes. any book will tell you where to stay in san juan del sur or leon, but this book will give you accurate details on places farther afield such as greytown and san juan del norte. it's obvious that these guys have been everywhere they have written about and they don't pull any punches. buy it and check out this incredible country.