Laguna de Apoyo

It has been decided:  we are lake people.

Yes, the ocean is gorgeous.  I love the sound of the waves, enjoying lolling about in the movement of the water, and can’t deny the beauty of a pristine white sand beach.  It’s quite lovely.  But for the most part, I think John and I would choose a lake over the ocean most days of the week.

There’s just something more interesting about lakes than beaches.  Lakes are usually surrounded (or created) by mountains or volcanoes, and in the tropics they have lush greenery all the way up to their shores, giving you that nice secluded feeling.  You can sit at the waterfront of a lake and read a book in the shade of a nice tree, rather than having to swelter in the direct sun or lug in your own shade (ie an umbrella.)  Compared to the bustle of a beach, the energy around a lake feels peaceful and serene.

So it came to no surprise that Laguna de Apoyo agreed with us.  We spent the day here, paddling around in kayaks, floating in inner tubes, and swimming in the warm, clear water.  The lake is only a 40 minute drive out of Granada, but it feels like an isolated oasis.

A lake in the crater of an extinct volcano, Laguna de Apoyo is nearly 700 feet deep and over 3.5 miles wide.  The water is clear and clean, and the area is vastly undeveloped.   At the moment there are only two small hostels and several dozen private homes on the lake, all tucked into the lush greenery so you can barely see them.  When you paddle out toward the middle of the lake, you feel like you have the whole thing to yourself.

I doubt this undeveloped state will last long – we witnessed a filming of Househunters International while we were enjoying the scenery.  (If you see the episode, we are the loud people in the background while the couple is supposedly “making their decision.”  This is our second run in with this show already, and I am confident we didn’t interrupt any authentic deliberation.  At best the show is simply inexact reenactment.)  With its easily accessible location close to the major cities of Granada and Managua, I’m sure all the pristine lakefront property will be snatched up in no time.

Despite the film crew’s temporary invasion of our peaceful lakeside haunt, we thoroughly enjoyed our little day trip.  We can now add Laguna de Apoyo to our long list of lovable lakes.