Corn Islands: Nicaragua’s Caribbean Paradise

Jess on Arenas beach outside Picnic Centre, Big Corn Island

​OK, so it was a rough ride here but thankfully it was worth it. We are entrenched, entranced with the big island, where we were only meant to stay one night.

​At around 3 km long calling it big is pushing it but compared to its neighbour, it is twice the size and it has a road, with taxis too! We're staying at Eileen’s place (Alal's suites) which has three upstairs rooms to let. It's five steps from the water and gets a refreshing sea breeze. But the biggest draw is the family who own this enchanting place, Eileen and Frank and Dennis who are all wonderful. This side of Big island, Sally Peachy, is about the most friendly place I've ever been. Walking down the road to the bakery you must wave and say Mornin’ in your best Creole accent to about a dozen people even at 7am. The bakery, incidentally, does a great line in tasty, spicey meat patties, sumptuous soda cakes (aka ginger bread cookies), and moorish chocolate cakes so I'm there most mornings.

Stormy sharks at the natural aquarium just north of Long Bay, Big Corn Island

​We've also started running again. After a two month break, spurred on by all those friends completing the GNR, plus the early nights leading to waking at 5:30am, we've dug the trainers out and put them to good use.

There's next to no internet here, which makes it incredibly relaxing. Days have been spent visiting the incongruously sized play park which is just opening (well before today when they have employed a security guard who stopped us going on as it's not yet finished), riding bikes around with the kids perched stood on the crossbar (no such thing as child bike seats here), and swimming/snorkelling/pier jumping off the white sand, picture perfect beaches. Jess & Otto have made friends with just about everyone on the island and are loving playing with the island kids. Mikes and I are just wondering how long we can feasibly stay here and still get through another five countries before the end of November.

In short, it's great. We love it and we may just stay put (for a while!)

Making friends with local kids, Big Corn Island