The city of Managua, Nicaragua's capital, is the perfect introduction to this Central American paradise and an ideal starting point for exploring the country, situated as it is on the banks of Lake Managua and midway between the colonial cities of Leon and Granada. The city's name is derived from the indigenous Nahuatl language, meaning 'town surrounded by water'.  Besides being the capital city and administrative center of the country, the department of Managua has many attractions and visitors will be delighted by the city's combination of old and new, and its natural beauty, surrounded as it is by volcanoes, lakes, mountains and lagoons.  Managua boasts a number of tourist attractions, including the National Museum, National Palace and the old and damaged Managua Cathedral. There are wonderful and quaint markets where visitors can buy everything from ethnic mementos and souvenirs to colorful hammocks and paintings.  Visitors to Nicaragua will be charmed by its capital city and enthralled by the country's natural beauty and scenic surroundings.

Managua's territory has coasts on the Pacific Ocean and also goes through the 'Sierras de Managua' (low mountains) and continues on the wide plains that surround most of Lake Xolotlan (also known as Lake Managua).   There are famous beaches that are easily reachable and include luxurious or rustic tourist infrastructures.  There are also three important natural reserves: the Chiltepe Peninsula with two volcanic lagoons, the El Chocoyero - El Brujo natural reserve and the Montibelli Natural Reserve, famous for being a birdwatching destination.  The region was home to many indigenous tribes, all of them absorbed by the cultural and ethnic mix of colonial times.  Visitors can see artifacts and even prehistorical traces of these ancient inhabitants in local museums.   Managua has a tropical savannah climate which gives the area mostly warm temperatures throughout the year. The only exception to this characteristic is the area of the 'Sierras de Managua'. 

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