Escaping the heat of the lakeside lowlands is as easy as a 40-minute bus ride to the Pueblos Blancos and Carazo. A dozen curious towns cluster together in the coolness of the hills just south of Managua. The "White Villages" are named for the purity and color of their churches, each of which, when placed against an azure sky, makes for a photograph you can brag about. The towns are spread throughout the Meseta de los Pueblos, a cool plateau 500 meters above sea level that stays green all year long and is surrounded on the north by the Sierras de Managua, the east by the slopes of Volcán Masaya, the south by the Laguna de Apoyo and Volcán Mombacho, and to the west, by the dry, desolate decline toward the Pacific Ocean.

The names of the different villages sound best when sung out consecutively by bus ayudantes hanging out the open doors as they trawl the terminal at Huembes: "Masatepe!Catarina!Niquinohomo!Nandasmo!Piodoce!Masatepe!" Each town proudly claims some unique treasure to set it apart from the rest--bamboo craftwork, black magic, folk dances, Sandino's birthplace, crater lakes, wicker chairs, beaches, and renowned festivals. The area was a little shaken by an earthquake in June, 2000, but such is life on the ring of fire.

Visiting the pueblos makes an easy day trip, but to really take advantage, book a room in San Marcos, Catarina, or Jinotepe, and take some time. Whether you are touring furniture workshops, coffee plantations, or hiking down for a dip in the Laguna de Apoyo, there's plenty to do.

Excerpted with Author's permission from Moon Handbooks Nicaragua