The South Caribbean Autonomous Region (RACCS) is located in the southeast of Nicaragua and covers 21.1% of the national territory. Its municipalities are: Bluefields, Corn Island, Kukra Hill, El Ayote, Nueva Guinea, Laguna de Perlas, La Cruz del Río Grande, Rama, Muelle de los Bueyes, Bocana de Paiwas, El Tortuguero and the Mouth of the Río Grande.

The RACCS is a rainy area with a uniform temperature. Its multicultural and multilingual population is descended from indigenous peoples, Afro-Caribbean immigrants, and is mainly composed of Mestizos (81%), Creoles (8.5%), Miskitus (6.5%), Uwas (2%), Garifunas (1.5%) and Ramas (0.5%).

On September 12, 1502, Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua at the point of Cabo Gracias a Dios. The English began occupying La Mosquitia under pressure from the Spanish Crown in 1633, when the English captain Sussex Cammock, following the instructions of the governor of Providencia Island, Phillip Bell, founded a commercial colony among the Miskitus at Cabo Gracias a Dios, named Natividad in 1644.

The first English colonies arose especially in Bluefields and Cabo Gracias a Dios, composed of a few whites, mostly Indians and blacks. The English settlers dedicated themselves to commerce and agriculture, on the banks of the Coco and Escondido Rivers, planting sugar cane and indigo. They depended on the labor of black slaves.

The last Miskitu King during the colony was Stephen I who ruled between 1816-1820.
Miskitu Kings Post Colonia

• King George III (1822-1823), a pure black man elected by the English to replace Robert I.
• Robert II between 1823 and 1841.
• George IV in 1847.

bluefields

It is a tourist and cultural city 320 kilometers from the capital Managua, it is a gateway to other destinations on the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast, made up of six ethnic groups: Creoles, Garifunas, Misquitus, Ulwas, Ramas and Mestizos who offer their own cultures.

Its origins date back to the invasion of the Caribbean coast by European pirates, who used the Escondido River to rest, repair damage and stock up on supplies. Soldiers of fortune took the bay of Bluefields as a tactical center for war operations; the name of the city is derived from the Dutch visitor Blauveldt or Bleeveldt in the year 1602.

The presence of African blacks dates back to 1641, when a Portuguese ship carrying slaves was shipwrecked in the Miskitu Cays. From 1666, English subjects were organized into colonies, and in 1730 the colony of Bluefields became dependent on the British government of Jamaica.

In 1860, the Mosquitia Reserve was created by agreement between the governments of England and North America, and Bluefields was declared the capital of the Reserve.
By 1880, Bluefields was already a cosmopolitan city with intense commercial activity and great economic growth that marked social differentiation. The white population represented the interests of foreign companies; mulattoes and zambos worked as artisans and laborers; blacks worked in forced trades, and indigenous ethnic groups were used as servants or minor jobs.

Bluff Beach

The Bluff Bay

Bluff Port is located 11 km from Bluefields, a port city on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. It has a beach located 10 or 20 minutes walk away or you can take a boat from Bluff Port. This beach has similar characteristics to the Pacific beaches, its sand is brown and it has stronger waves than most. It has 18 ranches that offer food and drink services during the Holy Week, but there are two permanent ranches.

Kukra Hill

It is located 12 miles from the city of Bluefields, a municipality that has exotic flora and fauna in its surroundings. Kukra is comfortable, with a highly mixed population, the religion they profess is Catholic; their patron saint is San Juan Bautista de La Salle, with an agricultural-livestock culture; where they grow sugar cane, African palm cultivation and with a gastronomy related to that of the Pacific.

Kukra Hill was originally inhabited by the Kukra ethnic population of the Ulúa group in the 1796th century. There was interbreeding with African natives of slave origin, but their numbers ceased to predominate due to the expansion of the Miskitu ethnic group, who, in alliance with English pirates, dominated them from XNUMX.

Corn island

It is an archipelago made up of two islands, Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island, and they constitute some of the greatest natural beauties of our country, located 70 kilometers from the coast and in front of the port of Bluefields.

Corn Island was inhabited from the 400s by the Kukra ethnic group, inhabitants of the Laguna de Perlas basin. In the mid-XNUMXth century, the Kukra ethnic group was enslaved until its extinction by the Miskita ethnic group with its allies, the English pirates.

The majority of the population is Creole, therefore Creole English predominates; the economy of these islands is based on artisanal or industrial seafood fishing and its processing and export, as well as tourism.

The multi-ethnic population of the two islands that make up the municipality are dedicated to fishing for lobsters in the surrounding areas, either by hand or by trapping or diving. The predominant rhythms are reggae and Jamaican music.

Great Corn Island or Big Corn Island

It is surrounded by coral reefs with a variety of fish and white sand beaches, turquoise waters, is the result of volcanic eruptions of the Tertiary era, has a diversity of marine and coastal ecosystems, has extensive white sand beaches and crystal clear waters and two large reef banks called Seal Cay located between the two islands and Blowing Rock located south of the big island, these two banks are used for fishing and diving, its exuberance is linked as a unique beauty in the Caribbean Sea of ​​Nicaragua. Its main celebration is the emancipation from slavery known by many as "Crab Soup" whose nutritious food is made from coconut, breadfruit, quequisque, yuca and crab. This festival takes place every year at the end of August in commemoration of the abolition of slavery in 1841.

Beaches to Visit

  • Broad Bay Beach

White sand beach, suitable for diving and snorkeling; beach activities are also possible. Located in the southwest part of Great Corn Island.

  • North End Beach

White sand beach, suitable for snorkeling and diving. Located in the northern part of the island.

  • Sally Peachie Beach

White sand beach with turquoise waters, it has a wetland ecosystem and coral reefs suitable for snorkeling, swimming and taking pictures. It is located in the northeast part of the island.

  •  Silver Sand Beach

White sand beach, crystal clear waters and wetland ecosystem. The site is suitable for snorkeling and diving. It is located in the southern part of the island.

  • Long Bay Beach   

One of the longest beaches on the entire island, suitable for beach games, moon parties, bonfires and water sports such as Kite Surfing and Belly Boarding.

  • South West Bay Beach

This is the busiest beach on Corn Island, with a length of 1.8 km and approximately 40 m wide; with white sand and crystal-clear waters, it is mainly characterized by having calm waters throughout the year. It has tourist facilities such as hotels, restaurants, and golf cart and motorcycle rentals. It has excellent conditions for swimming, kayaking and water sports; in addition, it is an excellent place to watch the sunset.

  • Shallow Water Beach   

White sand beach with crystal-clear waters, ideal for snorkeling and diving. Located on the eastern side of the island.

  • Sand Fly Bay Beach    

White sand beach with crystal-clear waters, ideal for snorkeling and diving. Located in the northern part of the island.

  • Brig Bay Beach

White sand beach, crystal clear waters and wetland ecosystem. The site is suitable for snorkeling and diving. It is located on the western part of Great Corn Island.

Little Corn Island

Corn Island---Long Bay

Small island located 15 kilometers northwest of Big Corn Island. This is an ideal place to relax and rest while enjoying the natural and exotic beauties that the island offers while being away from the noise of the big cities.

Beaches to Visit

  • Cocal Beach

It is the longest beach on Little Corn Island. In front of its coasts there is an extensive coral reef barrier ideal for diving and snorkelling, as you can see a variety of colorful fish, turtles and sharks. It offers a wide range of tourist attractions to visitors and offers options for moonlighting, bonfires, among other beach activities. It is located east of Little Corn Island.

  • Majagua Beach

Golden sand beach with calm waters for swimming. Located southwest of Little Corn Island.

  • Pelican Beach

It is the second largest beach on the island, with golden sand and calm waters where you can swim or simply relax on the beach and watch the sunset. It offers a wide range of tourist attractions to visitors such as: diving centers, restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes. It is located in the southwest of the island.

  • Jimmy Lever Beach

A white sand beach with clear waters where you can go snorkelling. It is located at the southern end of the island.

  •  Kelly Gully Beach

A white sand beach with clear waters and good conditions for kite surfing and windsurfing. It is located in the east of the island.

  • Otto Beach

Beach with golden sand and calm waters with good options for diving and exploring its coral reefs with rich marine life. It is located north of Little Corn Island.

  •  Goat Beach

Small beach with white sand and clear waters located west of Little Corn Island.

  • Water Hole Beach

A beach with crystal-clear waters and white sand, ideal for snorkelling. Pirate ship galleons were shipwrecked in the area. It is located west of the smaller island.

Pearl Lagoon

Located 40 kilometers north of Bluefields and considered the second capital city of the kingdom of the Mosquita Reserve during the colony, it was here where the last Mosquita king retired in 1894. Currently inhabited by 4 ethnic groups, generally one in each community being: Mestizos, Criollos, Miskitus and Garífunas,

It is a very picturesque community and its inhabitants are characterized by being very cordial, here you can go hiking, bird watching, fishing or simply tour the area by boat, because along the riverbank there are other towns worth exploring to learn more about ethnic cultures, you can also take a tour to the Awas de Orinoco spa, a community that was founded in 1912, there is also the community of Tasbapauni and its name of Misquitu origin means "Red Land" and you cannot fail to mention Hallover as another municipality of Laguna de Perlas and that is also worth visiting.

The Garifuna or Miskitu culture is the most traditional. Transportation is mainly by sea; however, within the city there are cement sidewalks which are ideal for a walk along Laguna de Perlas. Most of the population are fishermen which makes it a good place to enjoy a good plate of fish, lobster or traditional cuisine.

Awas Community

It is located minutes from the community Laguna de Perlas is a Miskitu community, very popular among the population for having a lagoon beach that becomes a resort in the summer season, due to its calm, shallow waters. It is possible to walk or take a taxi to reach this community from Laguna de Perlas, passing through the Miskitu community of Raitipura.

Orinoco

Located in the Laguna de Perlas Basin populated by Garifuna ethnic groups, a hybrid culture of Arawak, African, and European traditions.

Orinoco Community: Garífuna, a people full of culture made up of Arawak, African and European traditions, which they represent in their Punta and Wanaragua dances, their sacred drums, the Anancy fables, ancestor worship, banana foods, beliefs and practices regarding their ancestors. Their traditional belief for healing the sick is walagallo (dugu, shugu), as a traditional medicine to support the terminally ill.

The community is a place full of movement, where you will get to know its culture, its unique crafts made of tortoiseshell, rosewood and coral wood, dance and music. It is possible to take tours of the community observing wetlands and the nature associated with this ecosystem.

On November 19th of each year the inhabitants celebrate the National Garifuna Day, where sporting, cultural and religious activities take place. The community is reached by boat or panga from Bluefields or Laguna de Perlas. It is recommended to ask carefully about the boat departure times and days.

The culture of the Afro-descendants is influenced by the English and Afro-Caribbean culture, two mixed cultures that give rise to the particular Creole culture due to its customs, way of speaking, dressing, beliefs and gastronomy. The predominant religions are Moravian and Catholic. The houses have characteristics of English constructions.

The food of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua is a variety of very delicious dishes although little known in other regions of the country, although each ethnic group has its own cuisine, the creole cuisine has predominated whose base is coconut and chili de cabro (the spiciest of all species), ingredients that give a very peculiar flavor to the dishes and among which the rondón of fish or turtle meat, beef or pork, oyster soup and seafood soups predominate and one cannot fail to mention the culinary art of that area without complementing it with gallo pinto with coconut, patí, quequisque cake, yuca, banana, and coconut bread.

Among its traditions are:

The festivities in honor of San Jerónimo with its colorful popular demonstration of “Las Viejas Nalgonas” on September 30, the Gritería to the Virgin Mary on December 7, the Virgin of Fátima on October 7, likewise the celebration of Autonomy on October 30 and the anniversary of the city on October 11.

The Maypole

Maypole Dance

The Palo de Mayo (Maypole) dates back to the early nineteenth century and is the most important festival in the region. It is a cultural display that has survived over the years and was introduced by English pirates or other Europeans in San Juan del Norte, formerly Greytown, from there to Laguna de Perlas, Corn Island and Bluefields, where it has reached its maximum expression. The black population of the area, who are immigrants from the English colonies in the Antilles, especially from Jamaica, adopted the European custom and mixed it with their rhythms and dances, giving rise to a cultural expression full of energy and color.

This festival is derived from the old English custom of holding a party on the first day of May to celebrate the arrival of spring, the end of the drought and the beginning of the rainy season when there was water to produce; from there the Maypole dance became a tribute to fertility.

In the Palo de Mayo dance, the woman predominates with her movements and where the man limits himself only to accompanying the woman, originally they themselves sang with instruments of their own making: the banjo, the donkey's jawbone and the tina downwards, a tree is still symbolically planted which is decorated with tropical fruits and colored ribbons, its trunk represents male fertility and the fruits female fertility.