Karl WP Beyer The port city of Puerto Corinto is located in northwest Nicaragua on the Pacific Ocean. The Republic of Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America with 129.779 square kilometers. The state area corresponds to about a third of Germany. Compared to Germany, Nicaragua is sparsely populated. Almost six million people live in the country.
Puerto Corinto - the port
To the west, Nicaragua borders the Pacific Ocean; to the east the Caribbean Sea forms a natural border. The country has breathtaking landscapes with tropical jungles and a few dozen partly active volcanoes. Nicaragua, the former agricultural land, today protects almost 20 percent of its area through nature parks and reserves.
Apart from this abundant natural wealth, Nicaragua is economically the second poorest country in Latin America after Haiti. The per capita income of citizens in 2017 was halfway around 2.200 US dollars. From this it follows: More than 50% of the population of Nicaragua live in poverty.
Puerto Corinto - past and present
Before Puerto Corinto was founded in 1863, the port city of Puerto El Realejo existed in the vicinity. The founding of this port dates back to 1532. Puerto El Realejo was Nicaragua's most important port in the 16th and 17th centuries. After constant and momentous pirate attacks, the Spanish colonial rulers were forced to give up the location.
Puerto Corinto - the berth for cruise ships
The renewed and ultimately successful attempt to set up a port on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua started with Puerto Corinto. The deep-water port located on an island was named after the Greek Corinth. The distance to the state capital Managua is 160 kilometers. Reliable information on the number of inhabitants is not available. Depending on the source, the numbers vary between 12.000 and 20.000 inhabitants.
Puerto Corinto - the port - behind it the volcano San Cristóbal
Puerto Corinto was once the terminus of a railway line. A museum locomotive bears witness to that time as a historical legacy. Nowadays, freight traffic has shifted to the road. Puerto Corinto's main industries are port operations and fishing. Puerto Corinto is Nicaragua's most important port for freight and container traffic. Every now and then cruise ships also stop in Puerto Corinto.
Puerto Corinto - the fishermen's quarter
Puerto Corinto from a tourist point of view
How do tourists see the place? Puerto Corinto is located in the middle of a lush, green tropical landscape. In the hinterland, mighty volcanoes tower up to make matters worse. The city as such, on the other hand, appears insignificant and poor. Mainly simple low-rise buildings, many of them in need of renovation, dominate the cityscape; there is a lack of sights.
What is there to see anyway? - There are many small shops, pubs and a few restaurants. There are also the Mercado Municipal, the theater, the Parque Central and the Church of Santo Tomas Apostól. The wide beach is built with stone barriers to protect the shore zone.
The poverty is visible everywhere. Even so, Puerto Corinto is a safe place and the locals are welcoming and welcoming. To receive the MS Rotterdam In December 2019, a group of school children, it was holiday season in Nicaragua, was called up as a receptionist. The children were later entertained and given small gifts on board the ship.
Puerto Corinto - School children receive a cruise ship
It is noteworthy that there is a city partnership between Puerto Corinto and Cologne. The Circo Colorinto, a youth circus founded in 2005 and financially supported by the City of Cologne and the Federal Youth Ministry, is a special sign of solidarity.
Puerto Corinto for crusaders
Although the range of excursion tours is rather limited, we know that Holland America Line and Princess Cruises describe the destination Puerto Corinto benevolently. Mainly:
- Excursions to the city of León, 60 kilometers away;
- Excursions to the nearby towns of El Viejo and Chinandega or the Cerro Negro volcano;
- Boat tours to the El Cardón island off Puerto Corinto.
Isla el Cardón - lighthouse and statue of the poet Rubén Darío
What do individual travelers who do not book an organized tour do?
- Rides with one of the many cycle rickshaws - the rickshaws are the preferred and inexpensive means of inner-city transport. Within an hour, guests receive extensive impressions of Puerto Corinto;
- The city is a fishing port; Anglers book fishing trips on one of the fishing boats;
- Fish lovers will find decent fish restaurants near the quay;
- Drive to Playa Corinto or Playa Paso Caballos.
A stretch of beach in Puerto Corinto
The following photo galleries show our impressions from December 2019.
The hour-long rickshaw rides through the city can be booked directly at the port. To be on the safe side, the rickshaws are registered there with their numbers before starting the journey. The tour requires $ 20. US $ 10 is charged in front of the port gate and the tour prices are US $ 5 away from the port area.
The bicycle rickshaw, the main means of transport in Puerto Corinto
Puerto Corinto encourages thinking about poverty in the world. You don't have to see the port city. It is not clear to us why cruise ships stop at this poor and unattractive place.
Update - February 2020
