Tourism in Nicaragua has seen a lot of growth in the last ten years, and many tourists visit the country for ecotourism and surfing. Although Granada is currently the most popular tourist destination in Nicaragua, another well known place is the Corn Islands. They are located around 70 km off the Caribbean coast of the country near Bluefields. The islands are revered by many as a “tropical paradise”. Cruise ships began docking in San Juan del Sur in January of 2000, and they average around 50,000 tourists every year. Many who visit go on tours to nearby Lake Cocibolca and the colonial city of Granada.
A fact that may be surprising to some is that Nicaragua has recently been ranked with the lowest crime rate in Latin America by Interpol and other sources. Stats show that there are only twelve crimes for every 100,000 citizens. Nicaragua also is home to the largest lake in Central America, 700 bird species, and unspoiled natural beauty. In light of all this, it is a surprising fact that Nicaragua is still the least visited country in the area. The low number of tourists has been instrumental in causing the country to keep their prices low and preventing it from having a touristy atmosphere.
CECOFAFEN is a Nicaraguan organization of coffee processors that run a rural tourism project. It was founded in 1997 and became a project in 2003 after the prices of coffee dropped. CECOCAFEN gives visitors the chance to visit a coffee farm, learn about making coffee, and stay the night on the farm and go exploring with a guide.