LITTLE CORN ISLAND, NICARAGUA

OVERVIEW

• When: 25 March – 29 March, 2026
• Where (accommodations): Yemaya Reefs, Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World
• Transportation: American Airlines flight from Miami (MIA) to Managua, Nicaragua (MGA). La Costeña Airlines from Managua to Big Corn Island (RNI), boat ride to Little Corn Island arranged through the hotel
• Sights/attractions: Snorkeling excursion, Yoga, Cacao Ceremony, enjoy the island and the hotel
• Food/drinks: Tranquilo Cafe, Turned Turtle Restaurant, Derek’s Place

What a week it has been! To those who haven’t read my previous post about Grenada, I will do a little recap. We finished our seven weeks in Miami as we usually do in winter and were very excited to have a week-long vacation in Nicaragua. The plan was detailed and full of activities. First, we planned to spend a couple of nights in Granada (Nicaragua) and check out the city and the nearby lake and volcano. Then, we had a driver who would take us to the beautiful town of Leon. We would go volcano boarding down the Cerro Negro- yes, that was also booked and arranged in advance. Well, as they say, “people plan, and God laughs”. The day before, we were checking in for our American Airlines flight, and Sean got his boarding pass without any issues. I, on the other hand, was getting a message that I needed to see an agent for a document check. I was not overly concerned because it occasionally happens that they need to see my Permanent Resident card. Sean was not worried either, figured we’ll just go to the airport earlier, and it will be fine. But something didn’t sit right with me.

We went to Saint Lucia a month ago on American Airlines, and I was able to get my boarding pass without any issues, so why would they need to see my documents now? So I googled. And AI told me a variety of reasons, one being a visa requirement for the country you are going to. Visa to Nicaragua? No way! The first thing I do before booking any trip is check visa requirements. It’s been ingrained in me since I used to work at On Call- an emergency assistance company for travel insurance. Also, since I have a Lithuanian passport and Sean has an American passport, I always check both, because entry requirements differ. I did my homework, I promise. Also, I know some Lithuanians who went to Nicaragua not long ago, and no visa was needed, so I was 100% sure of that. And yet. A few articles down, I found one reporting that Nicaragua is implementing new, stricter entry rules for over 60 countries. Even there, it said- European Union countries and the USA are still able to enjoy visa-free entry, with the exception of a few countries. And then there is the list of countries now needing a visa. With Lithuania and Estonia smack in the middle. European Union countries, just like neighboring Latvia, but for whatever reason, since mid-February of 2026, a consular visa is now required! I could not believe my eyes. This requirement was implemented a month before our trip (booked about 6 months earlier), and I did not receive a single email from the airline, did not see it in the news, and therefore had absolutely no idea until Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before our flight.

Well, let’s see what we can do if anything at the last minute. Online, it said that the Nicaraguan Consulate in Miami is closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but I called anyway. The guy answered, and my Spanish lessons really paid off. He spoke absolutely no English, yet I was able to communicate my situation and to get the info from him on how to apply for the consular visa. Luckily, it can be done online, but unfortunately, it takes up to 6 days to process! My pleading that the flight is tomorrow fell on deaf ears. It was my responsibility to know that I need a visa and ‘it’s a process, you have to apply and wait’. So I did that. The website was once again all in Spanish, but I completed the application and got the reference number. I then called the number listed on the website for the Ministry of the Interior, and they confirmed my application was received, but I got the same answer- now you wait, and it might take up to 6 days…

We confirmed with American Airlines that I will not be allowed to board if I need a visa, so we changed the flight to Wednesday (from Saturday) in hopes that by then I will receive the visa and will be able to catch up to the second part of the Nicaragua trip- The Corn Islands. To avoid wasting the first few days of vacation, we quickly booked a trip to Grenada and had an amazing time there! And miracle of miracles, the Nicaraguan visa got approved on Sunday! Since there are no flights from Grenada to Managua, we had to return to Miami on Tuesday and spend a night at the airport hotel. Wednesday morning, we flew to Managua, where we had a couple of hours of connection time before boarding the La Costeña plane that took us to Big Corn Island.

We made it to country #83 (for me)! Corn Islands is a municipality of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua. A little paradise about 70 km from the mainland might as well be a world apart. It is not even Spanish-speaking territory, but mostly English Creole, so there goes my Spanish practice, which I was looking forward to having…But we made it! Through hell and high water, against all odds, I got the visa, and we managed to catch up to our trip. All La Costeña flights were sold out for the rest of the week, so if we didn’t make this flight, we could not have gotten to the islands. The hotel was VERY expensive and fully paid up front, with no chance to cancel and get a refund. To say that we are happy to be here is an understatement.

Yemaya Reefs Boutique Resort

This boutique hotel is located on the Little Corn Island, 30 min by boat from the Big Corn Island, where La Costeña flights land. The hotel arranged the transportation, and we were lucky to have calm seas on the day of our arrival. We spoke to the guests who arrived a few days earlier, and they said half the boat was seasick and throwing up the whole way there because of the big waves.

The hotel itself is very nice- no doubt the nicest accommodations on this island. How do I know? Because we walked literally across the entire island and saw other properties. Nothing came even close.

There is a shared pool, bungalows without pools, and a few with a personal pool in front, which we got, and hence it was a premium price point. We really enjoyed having our pool, though the water in the main one was by far warmer, probably because it got a lot more direct sun.

This resort has a restaurant where we enjoyed breakfast every morning and dinner every night.

Food in the cafes in ‘town’ is cheaper, but it’s about 20 min walk, which we did twice, but never in the dark. Not because it would be unsafe- the islands are extremely safe, but because there are no roads or lights. The path is mud and gravel, so the only time we felt we could go without risking a twisted ankle was during the day.

Yemaya Reefs also has a spa (great massages), outdoor gym, and daily yoga classes. We took one class, and since nobody showed up, it ended up being like a personal yoga with just us and the teacher. The same teacher also offers cacao ceremony- no mind altering substances, only amazing local Nicaraguan cacao, so we did that as well.

It was our first-ever ‘cacao ceremony,’ and we really enjoyed it. There were 7 guests, and we all shared delicious cacao prepared by the facilitator, who also told us about cacao and its importance to Central American countries, how sacred this drink is, and prompted some meaningful questions to think about and discuss in couples or share as a group. It was a beautiful experience without any pressure to share if you don’t want to.

And of course, there are island doggies! One did yoga with us, the other one I played with at the beach- very friendly and happy to be pet.

Overall, Yemaya Reefs felt like an oasis in a little paradise. Beautiful grounds, nice white sand beach in front, leaning palm trees- who knew Nicaragua would be so beautiful!?

Of course I would not pass up the opportunity for a photoshoot near the leaning palm tree, would you?

Even Sean could not resist!

We got a couple of incredible sunsets and talked to a lot of very nice people. Something about being on this little island, but everyone was so relaxed, chatty, and just friendly.

If we ever went back to the Little Corn Island, this would for sure be a resort we’d stay at again.

Island Life

We are never the type to just sit at the resort, so after a day of enjoying Yemaya Reefs, we were already itching to see what else is on the Little Corn Island. What attracted us to this island to begin with was the fact that it has no real roads, cars, mopeds, or any engine-powered vehicles. Everyone walks; some use a bicycle in town, but that is about it.

After about 20 minutes of a sweaty walk, we came across the sign pointing to the Lighthouse and the viewpoint. So we figured we’ll check it out. After another 10 or so minutes of hot walking, we reach this metal structure with the ladder.

THAT is the lighthouse! Granted, we did not dare to climb it, and the only thing resembling ‘the view’ was a little glimpse of the sea, partially obscured by the palm trees.

The town itself seemed cute and the beach was super calm and beautiful.

We had lunch at Tranquilo Cafe, petted more puppies, took a quick dip in the water, and jumped on a boat back to the hotel. The walk back in the heat did not seem that fun, especially since there isn’t anything to see along the way.

Another time, we walked across the island, we wandered around the east side of it- with nobody around, we felt like true explorers!

We had a great lunch at Turned Turtle Restaurant where I tried local lobster.

For a cup of coffee and a cookie, we stopped by Derek’s Place.

We walked by the empty beaches, but nothing looked as nice as Yemaya Reefs, so it was a good confirmation that we chose a right place to stay.

Now we have really seen the entire Little Corn Island! Time to relax and enjoy our accommodations.

Underwater Life

The hotel organized a snorkeling excursion, but no one else went at the time, so, like yoga, it ended up being a private tour for the two of us. And just like in Grenada, I was cursing for not bringing the underwater camera on this trip. Not even far from the hotel, pretty close to the Colombian shipwreck, there was an amazing coral garden with incredible sea life. We saw eagle rays, massive stingrays, and nurse sharks!

The guide shared some of his videos, so that we could have a memory of it. Little Corn Island really surprised us with the underwater life, beyond impressive!

Just being on a boat and seeing the bluest water around us was amazing.

One-hour excursion with our personal guide – we are feeling really spoiled!

CONCLUSION

And that is our four nights, three days in the Little Corn Island, Nicaragua. Can I say that we have been to Nicaragua? Technically, yes. Would we need to return and explore the mainland? 100%, yes! I am very happy we were able to catch up with this part of the trip, because it is the most complicated to get to. La Costeña flights are limited; we flew back on a super tiny 11-passenger plane. The weather and the waves have to be calm for the boat ride to be pleasant. Many stars have to align for the visit to the Little Corn to be possible.

Although it is unfortunate that we missed Granada and Leon on Nicaragua’s mainland, we discovered another country and have a reason to return! Little Corn Island farewelled us with a rainbow, and I always see rainbows as a good sign. Nicaragua, we shall return.