I have traveled all over Costa Rica, and various places in Nicaragua and honestly did not feel much of a difference in people. I do notice that the Nicaraguans tend to be more guarded, but i think that comes from the unfortunate situations most find themselves in when it becomes hard to provide for your family. I have had the pleasure of visiting some of my husbands family there and I was welcomed, while travelling i found that people were friendly and hospitable. I think Nicaraguan has some places that are equal in beauty to Costa Rica. However when it comes to lush beautiful rainforest it does not match up. There are still gems and many in the rough.

I also think attitudes are chaning now. Maybe i just don;t see the deep seated resentment. I do know that Nicaraguans aren’t treated all that well some times, but i think it matters less and less as the years go by. I do also agree witht he comment that Costa Rica should be more thankful for the jobs filled by Nicas, as they are one of the reasons the economy has become stable.

Thank you for your blog, i love your writing style, your humor and honesty about Costa Rica. Both my husband and I get a kick out of following this!

You talk about Rubén Darío, there is no point in mentioning one person from one country and assume they represent the “people” / “culture” of the country. And worst, saying they are “better” compared to their neighbors (because they don’t have a poet). If this is the case, I must have to mention Clodomiro Picado, who discovered Penicillin even before Alexander Fleming!! And Franklin Chang, who is currently building the plasma-based rocket in Guanacaste that will take the men to Mars (I don’t think Clorito and Franklin were/are a nica!).

About this: “…gross human rights abuses towards Nicaraguan immigrants there now…”. You probably need to visit a place like La Carpio (where there are more than 130.000 immigrants from Nicaragua), where not even the police and Red Cross dares to enter due to the hostility of it’s habitants (probably this is what Tim refers to when talking about “no warmth and hospitality”). This people comes to CR with post war scars and serous psychological problems to create gans (I hope not yet like the Maras) and you expect the government not to take any action trying to stop more immigrants to come here???

Think about it, why the nicas don’t want armed police officers watching over the border using the Rio San Juan?? The answer is simple, they don’t want to have them in Nicaragua and it is easier for them to come here with no guards trying to catch them!!! They prefer to pass this problem to Costa Rica because they cannot rule their own people; and, after all they want to take Guanacaste “back” (what for? to create unemployment there too)!!!

Regarding the CR economy if there were no nicas, I don’t think it will crumble, instead we could have a more even distribution of the money across the country because the rich people will need to pay more in order to keep the workers and the middle class will grow because of it.

And yes, I am a Tico and have 24 year living in this country with increasing violence problems due to immigrants!!

Nicaragua has all the assets necessary to attraction tourism, but your ten year prediction is I think, a bit too optimistic.

With HUGE unemployment and the resulting crime, most tourists will not feel safe their.

It has a great cultural heritage for sure, and that may form a basis for future success, BUT when you say “…and the warmth and hospitality of its people…” I have never seen it. I am NOT well traveled in that country but the times I have gone, I felt no warmth and the hospitality was limited to hotels and tourist spots. I saw no such friendliness from the PEOPLE I chatted with who were not in the tourism business.

I do not know if that was because I am North American or if they treat all tourists that way.

I also have NEVER seen a country ruled by communism that has succeeded in attracting much tourist trade. Those countries beyond the (old) iron curtain did not attract tourism until after the fall of communism.

Anyway.. let’s talk again in ten years!

I think the country has a great future if they can rid themselves of their communist president, though I can understand exactly why he was elected with 50% unemployment. Even communism look great if those kinds of economic conditions exist.

My own opinion is that Nicaragua has been living under dictators and violence for many decades. The people have no idea how to live in peace and I am SURE have fond memories of the Iran-contra affair.

It is not an unsafe country to visit, but for me, there are just too many other Latin countries that make me feel more welcome and secure.

As for its natural state?

Maybe as it was 2,000 years ago. Sure. But after the past 200 years, I think it’s natural state is agressive, militant, warlike, paranoid, and unwelcoming… not surprising as they have lived under numerous dictators. the contras, etc. and a semi constant warlike state for decades.