Julian Hatfield Author | Don't Forget To Move

Budget Backpacking in Cuba: Debunking the Myths

Updated January 2017 after our second four week trip to Cuba in mid-2016 and sending writers to Cuba in late 2016. All information is based on our own personal travel experiences and investigations to provide you with the most up-to-date Cuba information.

Backpacking in Cuba Doesn’t Have to Be Difficult

Cuba, the land of misguided myths and unreasonable rumors. Before we traveled to Cuba we’d already developed a distorted view of what to expect. Stories and information we’d come across told tales of money drama, illegal tourist activities, high priced living and danger.

We’ve now traveled to Cuba twice! Both times for four weeks, once in late 2013 and also in mid-2016. During our trips to this classic Caribbean country we found that these misconceptions couldn’t be further from the truth. Here are some of our favorite myths that we’ve managed to crack wide open!

Cost of Travel in Cuba is Expensive

Wow did we hear this one frequently from fellow travelers, forums and all kinds of mismatched information. This myth is partly true, but mostly fiction. What we found out early is that Cuba has a very evident class system when it comes to the tourists and the locals. The disproportion of costs between local prices (in Cuban Pesos) and the tourist prices (in CUC) is the biggest we’d ever come across. But it doesn’t have to be expensive if you travel and live like a local in Cuba.

With a little investigation we found that Cuba was the cheapest country we’d traveled through in all of Latin America. The first time we visited in 2013 we were on a bit more of a budget. With accommodation, transport, activities, the odd liter of rum, nights out and food we were spending about $100 a week each, (which isn’t hard when you can eat like a boss with incredibly cheap street food.).

We were traveling light and tight, but we didn’t miss out on any of the action. Sometimes we needed to work a little harder to keep the spending down, but it gave us a great insight into the country.

We traveled Cuba as authentic as we could and we were rewarded with a rich understanding of the country. That’s one of the best things about traveling like a local, you really get to see and experience the country as they do and not from the inside of a hotel and organized tour.

{ Not $3 for 700ml, try 3 Cuban pesos! Equal to 12 cents! Try finding the local brewery trucks for the cheapest beer in the world }

Public Transport in Cuba in Illegal for Tourists

Before we traveled to Cuba we’d heard it was illegal for tourists to take public transport. Once again it’s another myth busted. In fact, not only is public transport a convenient and a great way to engage local life, but it’s INCREDIBLY cheap. I mean practically free. A ride around a local bus cost between 0.20MN-0.40MN or the equivalent of ONE USD PENNY. That’s right, one penny to take public transport. Now all you need to do is work out which bus to get on? How’s that for authentic Cuba!

The network of buses in Havana that buzz around can be daunting, but wrestle your way onto the bus (literally wrestle because the buses get super crowded) and eagerly await the mad rush at each stop. As well as buses there are also a number of transport options to see this amazing country.

{ Take local taxis and buses to experience authentic Cuban life }

Viazul Buses Are The Only Long Distance Transport

Another completely erroneous rumor that is trying to encourage your use of the Viazul bus company around Cuba. While you may not think it’s much to pay $20 to ride to Trinidad, when you can do it for $3 you have to wonder what you’re paying for. Granted the Viazul ride is a lot smoother, less hassle and gets you there faster, but where is the excitement and adventure in that?

Cuba is an intricate labyrinth of transport methods all waiting for you to explore. And not only that, but it’s real Cuba! You get to travel like the locals and experience authentic Cuban life. The only difficult part is negotiating the trips and finding which particular truck, car, combi, van, camioneta, bus or wah-wah will take you there. Or you could take the train in Cuba, an authentic experience like no other!

{ Why take Viazul when you can ride in this luxury fitted truck? }

Is Cuba Dangerous?!

Like a lot of weary Western travelers it’s easy to understand why there may be a perception that Communist Cuba might be full of menacing dictators and ruthless regimes. However, contrary to the thought, Cuba is by far the safest country we have traveled in throughout all our time on the road. With less guns on the street and harsher sentences for crimes, it’s no surprise that Cuba has a lower crime rate against tourists compared to other parts of Latin America.

Due to the US embargo on Cuba, the Cuban government relies heavily on tourism as a source of income. In fact it’s their number 1 export, and an area that they put a lot of work into protecting. Because of this, street violence and thefts are dealt with by the full force of the government.

One night we were hanging out with some locals down at the Malecon in Havana when a couple of police officers came down and started hassling the locals for IDs and telling them to leave us alone. Worried that we might get taken for a ride or robbed they almost locked our new buddies up. After numerous explanation they eventually understood that we were now friends and they left us alone, although not without keeping a keen eye on us.

While there’s always going to be the exception from an opportunist thief, Cuba is so safe that we were walking around the back streets of Havana at 12am with our DSLRs around our necks. As always treat all situations with a bit of street wit and common sense, but across the board we couldn’t have found Cuba safer. Especially after almost 2 years backpacking in Mexico, South and Central America it was a refreshing way to end a long trip without constantly being on guard. Cubans are also super friendly and are always interested in having a chat. They’ll tell you all the secrets of the city if you give them the time.

Cuban Currency is Hard to Get

Once again we’re not sure why this rumor was getting around, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Any time you take your foreign currency into a cadeca (money exchange house) you’ll exchange your foreign money for Cuban Covertible Pesos (CUC). The exchange rate is based off the US dollar, so it’s one for one.

Once you’ve received your CUC currency just ask the cashier to exchange a little bit into Moneda Nacional (Cuban Pesos). Here the exchange rate can change, but is generally around 25 Cuban Peso for every Cuban Convertible (XE.com is the best way to check). If you’re planning on budget travel they’re the only currency you want to have stocked. Street food, local transport, Cuban restaurants and everything else you’ll need to keep the costs down and the experiences genuine.

{ With some Cuban pesos you can buy delicious egg rolls for 10 cents. Something we ate almost every morning! }

These debunked myths are just a few of the things we learned through our Cuba travels, but there is still so much we can help share with you. Throughout the rest of our Cuba articles we hope to show you just how much of an amazing country Cuba is and to help encourage you to strip back those preconceived ideas and get yourself to this incredible country. If you are looking for an authentic experience like no other than we highly recommend you check out The Authentic Cuba Travel Guide below. A resource that we’ve put together to make you travels to Cuba exciting, memorable and as authentic as they get!

Hiking Ometepe Island: Volcanoes, Mineral Baths and Clean Living

Hiking volcanoes, medicinal baths and plenty of clean living are the undeniable highlights of Ometepe Island. Whether it’s pushing your body to the limit, giving it a rest or simply enjoying the scenic nature of the island, Ometepe has it all.

Sitting in the middle of Lago Nicaragua, the stunning island of Ometepe was created from the formation of two giant lake volcanoes, Vulcan Concepción and Vulcan Maderas, standing 1600m and 1400m respectively. These colossal volcanoes make Ometepe the tallest lake volcano site in the world and a phenomenal site in itself.

For the keen hikers this allows for an adrenaline filled and muscle aching adventure. Those looking for a serious challenge take on the monstrous Concepción. Not only is it higher in attitude, but the hike is a steep climb, with little protection from the harsh sun that shines bright during the day.

If you’re looking for a lesser challenge, but still want to enjoy a tough hike, then Maderas is the one for you. Starting at Finca Magdalena, it’s a 6km track through lush jungle overgrowth and slippery rocks. On route you can hear the boisterous calls of Howler monkeys, and keep an eye out for the odd snake or mountain crab.

While it may not boast the high altitude view of Concepción, (in fact there is no view at all from the top) instead you’ll be greeted with a spectacular lake in the crater filled with all kinds of rich healing minerals. It’s a refreshing end to a tough hike and provides a nice break before you need to tackle the downhill. If it’s been raining then the treacherously slippery rocks and masses of mud definitely keep you on your toes, or if you’re unlucky, or your butt!

Although it doesn’t have a huge view, there is a lookout you can stop by on the way down to take in the island and surrounding lake. It’s also a nice spot to stop for a break on the way up or down, or both.

To Guide or Not to Guide?

Simple answer. No. Hostels and travel shops will offer guided hiking ranging anywhere between $10-20, just for some dude to walk you up a volcano. While some tours are worth the extra splash out, this one can be easily done for free. And while we wouldn’t advise hiking alone, this is a pretty straight forward trail and would be hard to get lost.

{ The cloudy crater lake of Maderas }

Medicinal Remedies

If you’re not in the best shape, or push yourself particularly hard, chances are you’re going to be a little stiff the next morning. What better way to relax those tired old muscles than a relaxing swim in the healing mineral waters of Ojo de Agua. The water streams down from natural water reserves and passes through the mineral rich earth. After a brief chat with the security man on the front gate he swore to us that the water will make you feel ten years younger. And whether you believe in the hype or not, at $2 an entry it’s a great way to spend a lazy afternoon if the sun is out.

General Hiking Tips

1. Don’t hike alone. If anything were to happen, at least one of you can go call for help. Plus it’s always more enjoyable to have company.

2. Leave as early as possible. You don’t want to be navigating through a maze of growth in the dark.

3. Always bring a flashlight. You never know what could delay you. A headlamp or flashlight is extremely valuable if you get caught out at night.

4. Bring enough water and snacks. Worst case scenario you get a little lost or it takes you longer than expected. Bananas, nuts, grains and raisins are good trail mix food to give you slow release energy. You don’t want high sugar food that’ll burn through you.

Ancient Nazca: Much More Than Just Flying Over The Nazca Lines

The plane’s shaking, I’m shaking even more and that’s all I hear before we start to go down! I wake up with a sudden gasp of air and realise I’m securely in the same shitty hostel that I fell asleep in the night before. A 24hr stomach bug is taking its toll and leaving me with sweaty night terrors about flying the Nazca lines in the morning.

That’s right, I forked out for the Nazca lines to check out all the fuss. But isn’t that expensive? Hell yeah it was, and I knew it was going to be, but if we don’t check these things out, how else could we write about them? Besides, I was in the area, and I knew that there was a lot more to Nazca than meets the lines.

As well as flying over the expensive lines there are also a number of budget activities that will intrigue your sense of travel (and go easy on your wallet). Two of the better ones include a visit to the pre-Hispanic mummy cemetery of Chauchilla and the ancient fresh spring water Aguaducts de Cantalloc.

When I first heard about the Nazca lines in Peru I was drawn to the mystery and intrigue of these age old inscriptions etched into the rocky desert. I’d decided to tackle the lines from the sky, which meant cashing out a little more than I’d planned on a tight budget. Luckily with a few well known haggling techniques I managed a flight for $70USD, which wasn’t too bad compared to prices of up to $100USD, but if you’re on a budget it still hits the account pretty hard.

After being rushed onto the plane by a busy pilot, (not exactly the thing you want with a flimsy looking 4 seated Cessna plane) we were up in the sky and our plane was shaking on route to the lines. After 10 minutes you reach the lines and commence a very short aerial tour. First the right side passengers fly over a dozen lines and shapes, before the pilot does a U-turn and shows the left side passengers the same route.

{ I would’ve put up more lines pictures, but it’s pretty hard to see – can you spot the monkey? }

You have a little map to help you make out the vague patterns in the desolate desert, but by the time you’ve made out the shapes you’re already onto the next one. Granted, the bird’s eye approach is the only true way to grasp their enormity, but within 10 minutes you’re done, dusted and flying back to the airport for a total flight time of 30 minutes in the sky.

Is it worth it? In my opinion it’s an individual call, which depends on a number of personal factors. Do you have the money? Is it something you really want to see? Do you have a fascination with pre-Hispanic civilizations? If you didn’t answer ‘yes’ to all three of those questions, I’d probably reconsider paying that much for a half hour activity.

Luckily Nazca isn’t just about the lines, and if you’re on a tight budget you can easily find some cheap activities and sights while visiting. Just outside of town is the pre-Incan cemetery of Chauchilla that contains an impressive display of underground tombs and real life mummies still intact. Encased in the dry desert conditions for centuries, the tombs were first discovered by thieves in the 70s and ransacked, before restoration efforts helped restore the tombs to their former glory. Well worth a trip out there to see the petrified smiles on their faces and long dreadlocked hair that would make the Caribbean jealous.

After the afternoons excitement head back into town and pop past the fresh spring water Aguaducts de Cantalloc. They’re an awesome collection of ancient stone wells that spiral down into fresh natural spring water pools. In a country where tap water is a no-no it’s a little scary to be assured that you can literally scope safe drinking water from the ground. But it’s all good, and by that stage it’s a refreshing end to a busy day.

After walking back to the center I was well and truly ready for a nap. A day of uncertainty turned into a lot of fun and I was glad I had the opportunity to check out Nazca. Whether you take the lines or not is your call, but if Nazca is on your way remember there’s always a lot more a town has to offer. You just need to be willing to find it.

Friday Faces: Wilfredo of Havana Cuba

Meet Wilfredo! Friendly neighbourhood newspaper salesman, rum connoisseur and all round good guy. We met Wilfredo on our first day in Cuba while we were walking around absorbing all the cultural delights of Old Havana. He approached us with a couple of newspapers for sale, we sparked up a conversation and became immediate buddies.

Wilfredo is like many older citizens of Cuba. Too far set back in their old ways to really change, but desperately trying to embrace modern developments and the recent influx of tourism that has taken Cuba by storm. Everyday he hits the streets with his multilingual versions of Cuba’s daily news, trying to make the odd peso from the intrigued tourist. Be it French, German, Spanish or English, he has a paper to cover all the main tourist languages that make their way through Cuba.

What’s interesting about Cuba’s media is that there are only a handful of newspapers (all government owned) and it only comes in print. There’s no easily available or affordable internet, so there’s no ‘in the moment’ digital news to tap into with fancy iPads or Macbooks. Cuban’s rely solely on the few government ran radio channels, TV stations and print newspaper to get their news. As a result, they get a very different perspective from our Western media sources.

Picking up a local copy of Granma or Juventud Rebelde is the perfect way to understand how Cuban’s perceive the world and what news they’re delivered. It also gives you insight into Cuba and what’s happening around the country. Over the weeks in Cuba, speaking to the locals and reading the news, we really started to development an understanding of Cuban life.

Whenever we were in Havana we made sure to pop past Wilfredo’s corner, drop in for a chat and talk about what’s in the news. He’d offer us a sneaky hip-flask of rum, which we’d thankfully decline at 10am in the morning, and then we’d keep chatting. In a city like Havana, where tourists are mostly viewed as a walking ATM, it was refreshing to meet Wilfredo, who was more interested in a friendly exchange of conversation.

Free Coconuts in the Caribbean: How to Live Off The Land

A short instructional video on the very precise technique of collecting free coconuts in the Caribbean.

Actually there isn’t much science or skill to it at all, mostly just patience and perseverance. I mean, what else is there to do when you’re living on a small Caribbean island for a few weeks with no Internet and barely any electricity?

Coconut collecting became a fun hobby whenever we went to the beach. Miles of untouched Caribbean coast, all lined with overhanging coconut trees fresh for the plucking. I think, by the end of the trip, I’d become quite the expert, collecting dozens of coconuts and using their water and flesh for all kinds of recipes and cocktails.

First there was the fresh coconut bread that we’d bake daily using the drained water and some shaved coconut flesh. For dinner we’d get stuck into some coconut sticky rice, served up with fresh snapper from the day’s catch. Then to wash it all down, a deliciously fresh rum, pineapple and coconut cocktail.

And what’s better than free? All you have to do is find a nice quiet spot on the beach and begin the process. Assess the area, looking out for any useful tools like large rocks, long branches or old coconut husks. All it takes is perseverance and one perfectly accurate throw. As a local once explained to us, though, it is important to be careful not to damage the stems and destroy future harvests.

Then take all the coconuts to a jagged rock and start bashing in the ends like a caveman. There’s something that brings out the primal instincts in someone when they’re able to provide solely off Mother Nature. And it doesn’t get much rawer than living off the land in the Corn Islands.

Finally, after a day of coconut hunting, kick back with a fresh homemade piña colada. Enjoy!

A Day in the Life: Big Corn Island Fishing with a Local

“Hurry up boy, dem fish be gone soon!” Elton playfully shouts as we hurriedly load up his tiny two-man fiberglass canoe. Today there’s three of us, and with all the gear, it’ll be a miracle if we make it back without capsizing.

We’re going out to fish for lunch, local Caribbean style. Our destination; the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Big Corn Island, Nicaragua. No fancy motored boat, no high tech fishing gear or GPS radar. Just a couple of hand lines tied onto plastic bottles, metal scraps for sinkers, a bag of frozen sardines and a whole lot of local know-how from our friend Elton.

Elton was our next-door neighbour during our week long stay on Big Corn Island. His family has owned their beach front property for generations, back when the land was cheap and the opportunistic greed for development was low. It’s what makes his spot great. A spacious beach front property, empty of town houses or apartment buildings, on the backside of the island, looking out to a distant horizon of clear Caribbean waters.

From as long as Elton can remember this house has been home to more than your average nuclear family. He is one of 10 siblings, with more uncles and aunties than you can throw a coconut at. There are nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and just about every other relative you could spot on a family tree tossed into the mix. People come and go, but everyone plays a role. Some wash clothes, others cook, fix things around the house or work in local shops. The dad makes his own fresh coconut oil from the coconut trees on the family plot. And Elton is the fisherman.

And this is where our day in the life kicks off.

“Seriously boy, dam we gonna catch some fish todey”! His English is really good, but sometimes his thick Caribbean accent makes it hard to understand. At times there’s a mixture of Spanish, Caribbean English and even some native Creole thrown into the conversations, so when I’m not sure what he’s said I just nod my head and say ‘yeah boy’, which always gets a positive response.

Elton’s canoe is definitely a homemade job, and just about everything else we’re using follows the same handy resourcefulness. One paddle is simply two pieces of wood nailed together, and the other a salvaged kiddy paddle from a children’s canoe. But it does the job, and within a half hour we’re a few hundred meters off shore. He throws his anchor, an old car’s wheel disc tied to some thick fishing rope, and we’re settled.

I’ve got no idea where we’re fishing; it all looks the same to me, but Elton knows what we’re looking for. He says we’re 10 ‘fathoms’ deep, and I only realise later that this refers to his ‘technical measurement’ of how many arm lengths of line he drops before hitting the bottom.

Whatever the science, it seems to work and before long we’re slinging in all types of fish. Grunt and Yellow-Tailed snapper are hungry today, and we pull up a bucket load of them within the first 20 minutes. There’s also the exotic Parrot fish, something called an Old Wife and a big old barracuda that keeps cutting our catch in half with it’s razor sharp teeth. As soon as you drop your hand line over the edge you’ve got to be on guard to yank up and snag a fish once you feel it biting. Wait too long and you’ve lost your bait.

Elton starts to tell us all about his fishing experiences and handy tips that have been passed down from generation and generation. As we rock around, and try not to capsize our minuscule vessel, Elton launches into a story about how the ocean used to be full of aggressive Tiger sharks. Just what we need!

“Oh boy, you’d fish dem wit rope and massive hooks, but be careful not to throw dem en de boat! Dem still bite ya”. But that was before his time, and he assures us you don’t see them that often now.

Either way it’s a scary thought, and when I hook something that gives a decent fight I start to get a little nervous pulling it in. It’s still fighting right up until the surface before I see an unmistakable fin pop out, followed by a fat shark’s head.

“What the hell! I’ve hooked a shark!” I scream, half with excitement and half with fear. My first thought is, what the heck do I do with this? Before I have too long to worry Elton yells over, “give me dat boy, don’t put dat en de boat!”

I pass over the line and he takes care of it with ease. It’s a nurse shark, 2-3ft and not particularly dangerous, but try thinking that while it’s all but jumping into your lap. Needless to say it was a definite highlight and an encounter Elton retells at least a dozen times throughout the day.

After a mammoth haul of fish, something like 35, we decide to call it a day.

Once back on the shore we’re starving, but the job isn’t done yet. Like a one man machine, Elton one by one scales, cuts and prepares the 35 odd fish we brought in. I’d offer to assist, but he has a routine that sees the work done within the hour, so I provide conversation. Elton describes the preparation and cooking steps.

Once gutted, the fish get washed out with clean water and then stuffed with a combination of salt, black pepper, garlic and lime juice. Dabbed with a bit of flour on the sides, they’re then placed into a bubbling pan of 100% freshly made coconut oil to deep fry. The same fresh coconut oil his father prepared that day. They’re cooked until golden brown, with some sliced up plantain chips.

And the taste. Wow. Deep fried crispy skin, yet scrumptiously succulent on the inside, with a hint of special seasoning. We cook up for everyone in the house, and suddenly people from all around come out of the woodwork for a delicious lunch. A whole massive dish of food and we all eat until we can’t eat anymore. Laughing and retelling the stories of today’s catch.

After dinner it’s time to relax. Elton drags out a 5ft speaker from inside the house, noticeably proud of how big this thing is. We’re expecting the brutally obnoxious beats of reggaeton music, but are surprised but the subtlety smooth sounds of country music. From Spanish country ballads, to Kenny Rogers, Elton is in his element sitting around with friends, drinking some rum and listening to guitars twang about broken hearts and broken hands.

As he explains, Big Corn, in the past, was without any real radio station of it’s own. The only thing they could pick up was a country music station from the mainland. Whole generations grew up on nothing but country music, and like a big barracuda, they’re hooked. So this is what gets played most of the night.

The night continues on for a few hours and we get through some cheap sugar cane spirits. A couple of dollars for 2 litres sees that we’re done and dusted by 10pm. One last drink to top off the night, a sneaky pick at some remaining fish, a massive hug and we call it a night. After all, the early fisherman gets the fish!

Friday Faces: Josefina of Trinidad Cuba

Meet Josefina! Born in 1910, it’s fair to say she’s witnessed her fair share of changes in Cuba. Having lived almost exactly half her long life in both pre and post revolution times.

We met Josefina while cruising the back streets of Trinidad, Cuba one breezy Sunday evening, while everyone was out on the street enjoying their time off before the rigorous work routine restarted the following day. Playing chess or dominoes, drinking homebrew beer from a truck for 25c a litre and arguing about the latest sports results.

At 103, Josefina no longer partakes in the drinking and gaming, instead opting for a more relaxed day of rocking in her chair on the porch and watching the activities from afar. We stopped briefly to chat and were immediately offered an invitation to come sit with her.

“La vida es dura” (life is hard), seemed to be her main summary. While a lot of her public services are supplied by the state, she still lacks some basic items to help improve her quality of life. She, like many older Cuban women, asked us if we’d brought any soap. A strange request, but in a country with rations and severe trade restrictions, it’s often the little things we take for granted.

After a short conversation about life in Cuba, we said goodbye to Josefina and left her standing in her doorway, quietly watching the slow evolution of Cuba.

If you’re planning a trip to Trinidad, don’t forget to check out our Cuba Travel Itinerary for 1-2 weeks, or for the longer term traveler check out our 3-4 week Cuba itinerary. It’s full of amazing places to visit, such as Vinales, Varadero, Havana and many more exciting places!

Friday Faces: Pedro of Antigua Guatemala

Meet Pedro of Antigua Guatemala, a sweet old man we met in the plaza one day while taking some snaps. After a small chat the conversation quickly turned to all sorts of random facts about the city and the history of Guatemala. Pedro was proud of his country and more than happy to share his expertise with us for a half hour. And we were more than happy to listen. Apart from being a great way to practice your Spanish, it’s a really fun activity for cultural exchange and learning along the road.

After our history lesson Pedro was intent on learning about our own countries. While knowing a bit about the United States, he was pretty shocked when it came to Australia. He couldn’t get over the idea that it was more than 12 hours away in a plane. …“es muy lejos, muy muy lejos”.

Before leaving he was happy to pose for a few snaps and a friendly handshake. Gracias Pedro!

The Little Corn Island Backpacking Guide

Little Corn Island Backpacking: Everything You Need to Know

So you’ve made it to Little Corn Island, Nicaragua! And like us, you’ve quickly realized it’s heaven on earth. You look out towards the horizon and see the sun shinning on bright turquoise waters. As the water approaches the shore it fades away to crystal clear, before splashing upon glistening sands. Coconut trees are so close to the shore that they hang out into the water and create natural shade along the miles of untouched beach.

You do a full 360 turn and realize you’re the only person. Paradise!

After 2 weeks on Little Corn Island we were pretty tempted to drop off the bags and take up residency, but we knew it was only a matter of time before we got called back to the road.

It’s a tough life relaxing on secluded beaches, hanging in hammocks, cooking dinner on beach bonfires and eating fresh fish, so we decided to create the ultimate Little Corn Island Backpacking Guide for the budget traveler to help you along the way. Just in case you need any more incentive to book your ticket and head to our favorite beaches in Nicaragua.

Accommodation on Little Corn Island

Little Corn offers all kinds of accommodation for the budget traveler and holiday goer. Isolated beach camping, rustic cabanas, dorm bed hostels and low range hotels. Whatever you’re looking for, the island has it covered. We posted up in the hostel Three Brothers for the whole time, and it was just what we needed. It’s centrally located, has $10 a night rooms for couples and a great kitchen to use. One of the few decent kitchens you’ll find in budget accommodation. You might need to walk an extra 10mins to get to the nicer beaches, but you’ll appreciate them more when you plan to make a proper day of it. And seriously, what else are you going to do with your day? It’s nice to wander through the town and say hello to the people leisurely going about their day.

Restaurants on Little Corn Island

There are a few bars on the sunset side that offer food, but if you’ve got a kitchen you’ll save a LOT of money by cooking. There’s also locally ran restaurants where you’ll find an assortment of food; rice and beans, fried fish, grilled conch, reasonably priced lobster and the famous ‘ron don‘, a seafood soup that contains a bit of everything. It’s a speciality of the island so you’ve got to try it at least once. Think of it like a seafood medley of all sorts.

In our experience, like always, cooking is still the way to go. Groceries and fresh produce may cost more on the island compared to the mainland, but they’re still a lot cheaper than buying food in the restaurants everyday. Especially if you throw in fresh fish caught that day by the local fisherman. After a couple of weeks we worked out some amazing recipes from the island that are cheap and bloody delicious. Homemade coconut bread (from collecting your own coconuts), vegetarian bean burgers, freshly grilled snapper and lots more. You’ve got the time, so get creative.

TIP: Bulk up on staple items before you head to the island, like rice, beans, pasta, tomato paste, oats, powdered milk, onion, garlic, spices and any luxury items like chocolate or rum. You can buy this stuff on the island from the assorted shops, but do your research. To get the best bargains you’ll need to jump around to different shops. Some sell oats cheaper, others onions, others potatoes, etc. Heading to a supermarket before you take a bus and boat to the Corn Islands is recommended.

Nightlife on Little Corn Island

It’s a small island, so you’re not going to find pumping club life or fancy live events. But when there is a party to be had, don’t expect the locals to take it lightly. We just happened to arrive on August 29^th, the commemorative day on Little Corn for the abolition of slavery in 1841. As the story goes, the true date is officially recognized as August 27^th, when the message arrived in Big Corn, but it took 2 whole days to get the announcement across the 7 mile sea separation, because the locals were too busy celebrating and were too drunk to paddle their canoes. We celebrated with the traditional Crab Soup Fesitval and they put on a massive free lunch for the whole island and it’s visitors.

A 10min walk out of the main street you’ll find the local baseball field. On Sundays you can cruise down with some lunch and settle in for an entertaining afternoon of fun. Just like a scene out of the Sandlot, nobody really keeps score or cares about winning. There’s lots of shouting and screaming at each other, but the kids have a blast and play until it’s too dark to see the ball.

To wind down from a tough day of sunbathing, grab a beer and watch the sunset at Tranquilo. One of the only bars on the island, this place gets filled at night with locals and travelers enjoying the drinks and laidback island tunes. They offer happy hour beers for 30C ($1.20) between 5pm-7pm and all day Wednesday and Saturday. They’ve also got one of the few access points to free internet if you’re feeling detached from the world.

For after hours there’s a very elusive bar called Happy Hut that has random opening hours. It could be shut, or it could be open till sunrise pumping out reggae hits like we found out one night.

Best Beaches in Nicaragua

The beaches! They are incredible. Seriously they’re the best beaches I’ve ever seen. Apart from being postcard perfect, they’re totally secluded and private. Everyday we’d walk out to a new spot and have it completely to ourselves. Swim, snorkel, enjoy a picnic or just relax. You’ll hear about Otto’s beach being one of the better ones, and it really is. There’s also hidden beaches and private coves, but you’ll have to go exploring to find them. One pro tip would be to invest in a decent hammock. We had our Eno Double Hammock, which was one of the best things we bought to the islands. There’s nothing like having a super comfortable hammock for some serious relax time.

Be sure to explore the beaches of Little Corn. One night we went down to the private coves to cook a bonfire dinner and stumbled across a HUGE sea turtle laying her eggs. We were careful to only observe from a distance and let her do her thing, only once in a while creeping a little closer to get a glimpse of this magnificent animal. After a couple of hours of digging, laying and hiding she finally waddled off the the ocean and swam away into the night. According to locals this was an extremely rare sight, but they are around.

Activities on the Corn Islands

For the more adventurous type the island also offers some amazing snorkeling and diving. You can get your open water certificate at a number of schools for just under $300, or take some of the more advanced courses/dives. If you’re not qualified, or short on money, there’s also fishing trips or snorkeling to the reefs that start at $20. If you’re even poorer, like us, you can rent a snorkel mask and flippers for $2.50 for 6 hours at some of the dive shops. Or if you want an authentic experience make friends with a local fisherman who will take you out fishing in exchange for a buddy to share a bottle of rum with.

Getting Around

Here’s one of the best things about the island. There’s no cars! Not even motorbikes! No noise, no smog, no hassling, just bikes and foot traffic. There’s one concrete footpath that runs along the dock side with a couple of side paths, but otherwise it’s just simple dirt tracks. This just adds to the incredibly peaceful serenity of the island.

Is Little Corn Island Safe?

You’re on an island of less than 2000 people, so there’s not much that stays a secret. People are respectful and expect the same, so don’t get caught breaking the rules or being a tool. Because the island is small it also means people won’t hassle you and it’s safe to walk about at night. As always, exercise caution and have your wits about you.

Also be aware of the territorial dogs. I stumbled into the wrong area one day and ended up with a decent bite on the ankle. A few worried minutes later I was relieved to discover that Little Corn has been rabies free since 2003, but it still freaks you out a bit when you’re waiting out that first week to see if you’re the one exception. There’s no need to be nervous, but a decent travel insurance goes a long way to ease the mind.

Other than that it’s all happy days and relaxing nights ahead on your travel to Little Corn Island!

Secluded beaches means tanning that white butt!