As of March 2003, Nicaragua counts with a total of 76 official protected areas. They cover more or less 17% of the continental territory. Most of them are natural reserves but there're also national parks, wildlife refuges, biological and biosphere reserves, and other types. The largest of them all is Bosawás Biosphere Reserve with 730,000 ha., located in the central region of the country.

During my recent trips, I visited a few of these protected areas and have taken some pictures. Some of the ones I have visited turned out to be a lot of fun. Keep surfing and check out these very entertaining protected areas.

HINT: click on the images to enlarge them and close them. The full size images can be moved.

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(1) "La Máquina" Private Ecological Reserve. This place, in addition to providing all the benefits of an ecological reserve, it also teaches a bit about our country's past.

(2) "El Chocoyero-El Brujo" Natural Reserve This is definitely the place for those people who enjoy nature, like exercising and want to get away from the city.

(3) "Laguna de Apoyo" Natural Reserve People are finally finding out, like myself, what this beautiful lake had always had to offer: an scenic view, an excellent choice to practice aquatic sports, a very pleasant place to pastime and not to forget its natural reserve.

(4) "Volcán Masaya" National Park The country's most visited volcano and certainly the one with the richest history where visitors can contemplate some of Mother Nature's most spectacular sceneries.