Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega last week inaugurated a $1.3 million wharf on LakeXolotlan that is expected to open up cross-lake economies and wake up the lake’s tourism potential. Ortega named the port Salvador Allende, after Chile’s former socialist president. Built by the Nicaraguan Port Authority (EPN), the port is also expected to boost tourism in San Francisco Libre, a small town on the northern side of the lake across from Managua. The EPN hopes to finish construction on a port in San Francisco Libre within three months, according to a government statement.
Nicaragua’s Tourism Institute built a small park with a basketball court in front of the port in hopes the port will attract restaurants and other businesses to the lake front.
