hopefulist

Hi - I'm considering 2-3 weeks at a Spanish school in Nicaragua next summer (probably late July/early August) and would like opinions about the weather and places you've loved in the area. Normally weather doesn't concern me too much, but when I stay in one spot for weeks studying Spanish, no break from high heat gets old fast. Thanks in advance for any information you can send my way. Happy trails...

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Nicaragua is warm year-round. Expect temps in the mid to high 80s during the day that time of year, and probably down to the low 70s at night. July and August are the rainy season so you should see a couple of hours of rain in the afternoon, which really helps cool things off and freshen the air. Unless you simply cannot tolerate heat, I think it's manageable.

The nice thing about southern Nicaragua is that everything is very close and easy to get to. Public transportation is good. You are near Granada, which is a lovely restored colonial city. Masaya and several villages around it are nearby and nice for souvenir shopping. San Juan del Sur is the nearest beach town, about an hour away.

hopefulist

Thanks for the response, Jeff. Last summer I studied in La Ceiba and was lucky if my room cooled into the high 80's at night. Temps were in the high 90's most days and I think being in a city amplified that. I was thrilled with my host family, the school, my teacher, and my language progress, but the heat got really old. Do you have opinions about that area compared to the Orosí area of Costa Rica? I realize Orosí is cooler, but how might they compare as a good base for language studies and exploration for 2-3 weeks? Dialect differences I should know about? Thanks again!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I like La Ceiba, but you're right. It swelters and part of that is being in a city. Laguna de Apoyo isn't going to seem that hot because of where it's located.

Orosi is at a higher elevation, so it is cooler. It's a beautiful area. (But so is Laguna de Apoyo.) You'd be about an hour or so from San Jose, and you almost need to backtack there to get anywhere, although you can get to the Caribbean coast from the nearby small city of Cartago. Getting around Costa Rica isn't quite as easy as Nicaragua. The center of the country is mountainous and the roads are generally in worse shape. Nicaragua is pretty flat and they are much better at constructing roads than Costa Rica.

I've been in Costa Rica for so long that I don't hear the accent anymore, but it's a different accent than is spoken in Nicaragua. But I always say, so what? to those things. You'll still be studying Spanish no matter where it is and you'll still be able to take what you learn and make yourself understood and understand people when you go to other countries.

hopefulist

Thanks again for your input!

nonstop

hopeful list: can you give me some info on your school in La Cieba? I am condsidering going to Nica for school but don't know anything about any of the schools there. I had been looking at Granada unless there is a better place. I only have a week to attend so need to make max. use of my time. Where did you fly into? thanks

hopefulist

nonstop - Here's a link to my trip story from last summer, Central American Spanish School is linked there (if the whole link isn't blue, you might have to cut and paste):

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/me...d=0&from=1

Unless you have your heart set on beachy places, consider the Ixbalanque school in Copán Ruinas - excellent school and a lovely town to practice in. I studied for 2 weeks in 2005 and my son for 3 weeks in August 2006; we have always flown into San Pedro Sula for our Honduras trips. Here's the school link and a trip story link:

www.ixbalanque.com
http://sidewalkmystic.com/CopanRuinas.htm

The school I'm considering in Honduras is the Apoyo Intensive Spanish School:

http://www.gaianicaragua.org/index.html

I'm also considering schools in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. If you haven't already, check out www.123teachme.com .

Keep us posted! I'd love to know what you decide and how you liked it. Happy trails...

nonstop

Hopeful list: thanks for the info. I will check it all out. I have done Mexico (2x), CR, Guatemala, and Ecuador and always looking for the next great place. appreciate the links.

hopefulist

de nada

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Hopefulist, if you ever come to Costa Rica to study Spanish, you'll change that "De nada" to "Con mucho gusto" (with much pleasure). That's what Costa Ricans say for "You're welcome." It's one of those little country-by-coutry differences you encounter.

hopefulist

"Con mucho gusto" is great - I'll remember that - thanks!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

It's gotten so that whenever I travel to another country and someone says "De nada" in reply to my "Gracias," it sounds so abrupt. It isn't, obviously, but I really love the Costa Rican "Con much gusto."