Literature
Poetry is one of Nicaragua’s favourite forms of art. Rubén Darío (1867-1916), known as the “Prince of Spanish-American literature,” helped inspire the modernist literary movement in South America. Generations of Nicaraguan poets, fiction writers, and essayists have followed his example and are popular across the country.

Art
Earthquakes and war have obliterated much tangible evidence of Nicaragua’s cultural heritage, especially its colonial architecture. However, the city of León retains many fine, old buildings from this period and is also famous for street murals. The Archipelago de Solentiname, a collection of tiny islands found in the south of Lake Nicaragua, are a haven for artists, poets and craftspeople.

Music
Many Nicaraguans favour Mexican styles of music, often characterized by guitars and marimbas – a type of xylophone. Tonada music – a type of traditional poetic folk song, which captures the spirit of traditional South American rural life, is also popular. In Bluefields, the largely English-speaking town on the Caribbean coast, music has been heavily influenced by the rest of the Caribbean, so you’ll find reggae is popular here.

Language
The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish. However, Nicaraguans on the Caribbean coast speak indigenous languages and also English. Spanish: Buenos dias (Good morning), Dios le bendiga (God bless you), Hola (Hello), ¿Cómo está? (How are you?), Bien (Fine)

Sports and Games
Baseball is the most popular sport in Nicaragua. Younger children also enjoy a game of tag.

Typical Foods
A traditional Nicaraguan meal consists of eggs or meat, beans and rice, salads of cabbage and tomatoes, tortillas and fruit. Also common is gallo pinto, a blend of rice and beans. Other typical dishes include bajo, a combination of beef, greens, ripe plantains, and yucca; and vigorón, which is yucca served with fried pork skins and coleslaw.