Nicaragua has a population of over 6 million people and is Central America’s largest country by land area. The landscape is a beautiful spectrum of mountainous regions, lowlands, and sprawling coastlines. Most Nicaraguan cities are of moderate size, while large swathes of unsettled parts of the country are covered by rainforest.

Managua, Nicaragua’s capital, is easily the largest city in the country. With a metropolitan population of nearly 2.5 million people, it is also the second largest urban area in all of Central America. While Managua has been settled on for as far back as 6,000 years, the modern city itself was not founded until the early 20th century. Today Managua is a major economic hub for the continent and also serves as Nicaragua’s cultural capital with a bevy of great restaurants, theaters, museums, and exciting festivals.

After Managua, no other Nicaraguan city tops 200,000 people in population. If you want this sort of smaller scale study abroad experience than you might try checking out high school programs in Leon, Masaya, or Matagalpa. These small Nicaraguan cities can offer a less overwhelming environment for many students than does Managua. Many high school programs can place you living in rural areas as well, for an immersion into Nicaraguan village life.