San Carlos is located on the southeastern shores of Lake Nicaragua. Two rivers converge at this point, the Rio Frio flowing from Costa Rica enters the lake at the same point as the Rio San Juan leaves on its way to the Caribbean coast. Its location made it an important site for defence as well as for trade. Its fort, like the one downstream in El Castillo was built by the Spanish to prevent pirates sailing up the river from the Caribbean to Granada. Nowadays there is not much left to see of the fort although the site does provide good views over the estuaries.The town itself is small with a number of small restaurants and hospedajes situated along the seafront. At the dock there is a small but helpful tourism office, with information on boat schedules as well as local sights. Boats from San Carlos sail to many destinations including Isla Ometepe and Solentiname Archipelagio in Lake Nicaragua, and El Castillo and San Juan del Norte down the Rio San Juan. There is a bank in San Carlos near the main square, but no atms. They only change hard cash. There is internet on the main square (C$10 per hour) and another one block down on the corner at the Hospedaje Luis Fillipe Moncada (C$12 per hour). Sights El Castillo the small town of El Castillo is located in Rio San Juan and was established in the 1700â €™s. Accommodation There are quite a few Hospedajes between the waterfront and the main square, all between C$100 and C$250. Hospedaje Peña Single: C$ 50 Double: C$ 100 Near main square, rooms have shared bathrooms. Hospedaje Luis Fillipe Moncada Single: C$100 Double: C$180 Opposite corner from Hospedaje Peña, rooms have shared bathrooms. Transport Buses Managua Buses leave a few times a day. The journey takes 9 hours and costs US$ 9. Juigalpa The same bus as the one to Managua 6 hours and US$ 6. |
Boats Isla de Ometepe and Granada Boats leave for the Isla de Ometepe every tuesday and friday at 2 pm. The journey takes 9 hours to Altagracia. Prices: C$ 75 (upper deck) US$4, C$ 38 (lower deck) US$ 2.The same boat continues on from the Altagracia to Granada, another 4 hours and C$ 38 US$ 2. San Carlos - Altagracia Tue 2.00 pm San Carlos - Altagracia Fri 2.00 pm Archipelago de Solentiname Boats leave every tuesday and friday at 1pm for the main island. The journey takes 3 hours and costs around C$70. El Castillo Boats leave up the Rio San Juan several times a day. there are fast boats and slow boats. The fast boats take 1 hour and costs C$ 120. The collectivo, or slow boat takes around 4 hours and costs C$ 75. Los Chiles (Costa Rican border) Small boats travel up the Rio Frio to the Costa Rican border every day. The journey takes 1 hour and costs US$10. |
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| Nicaragua San Carlos |
