Bluefields

Bluefields is a city on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

Understand
Bluefields is the capital of the Southern Autonomous Region on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. The people have a combined heritage of being escaped/freed slaves, part of indigenous groups, descendants of Spanish settlers, and/or mix of any of these groups. This creates a very diverse and vibrant community. The language most spoken is a Creole of English. Most people speak Spanish as a 2nd or 3rd language after Creole and/or an indigenous language. All in all there are 6 different ethnicities that can be found throughout the region: Black/Creole, Mestizo, Miskito, Rama, Suma, Garifuna. For some reason, basketball is really popular around here and numerous jerseys of NBA teams of varying quality and authenticity are sold here.

By plane

 * Limited baggage, so travel light and take essentials in hand bags or pockets.

By bus
From Managua direct to Bluefields about 7 hours on a road completed in 2019. Taxi from the bus station (3km west of the town) into Bluefields centre.

By boat
There is a boat leaving San Juan Del Norte every Wednesday at 8AM to Bluefields. Do check at the pier as the schedule is liable to change on a moment's notice. It is the same Boat which goes to the Big Corn Island and Little Corn Island. There are pangas from Bluefields to and from: Rama, San Juan de Nicaragua (del Norte), Pearl Lagoon, Haulover, Kukra River, Tasbapouni, La Cruz de Rio Grande, Karawala, Sandy Bay and El Bluff

By taxi
C$14 (córdobas) per person (in 2020) anywhere you go, sharing a cab. However coming from the airport or bus station with a lot of luggage they will charge you C$20.

Do

 * Enjoy a Tona Cerveza at the balcony of the Cima club while you watch the rain slam the street in July.
 * Bluefields has a great local sports culture. Ask if there is anything going on in the Stadium and you may get a chance to see an electrically charged event of local athletic talent. The most popular sports locally are Baseball, Basketball and Soccer in decreasing order of popularity.
 * Palo de Mayo, a month long festival culminating during the 3rd week of May that showcases the mix of English and creole cultures.
 * Visit the museum of Caribbean history of culture (admission is free but they encourage you to donate)

Buy

 * Basketball jerseys.

Eat

 * Rondon - a coconut stew made with coconut milk yuca, plantains and lobster, fish, beef, or chicken.
 * Vigorón - a mid-morning snack made with yuca, chicharones (fried pork skin) or flores (fried pork meat with chicharón) and cabbage salad (cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, vinegar, salt & pepper).
 * Frito - an evening meal made with tajada (fried green plantain), stewed chicken or pork, and cabbage salad.
 * Order the Camarones cocktail at the Bella Vista restaurant on the water.

Stay safe
When traveling at night always take a taxi, especially around "Four Brothers". After 8PM it is recommended you take a taxi. After 10PM, always taxi. Do not carry more money than necessary. Do not flash expensive items (such as cameras) around. Use common sense. Don't go into small alleys. Wear lifejacket when using pangas.

Go next

 * Little Corn Island - (either by boat or by plane)
 * San Juan del Norte - (by boat, once weekly, schedule liable to change)
 * Pearl Lagoon - (by boat, at least once daily)