Belleville, N.J.: My wife and I are BIG wine drinkers. So much so, in fact, that we try to schedule our vacations around visiting new regions to try the local wines. After hitting several different regions on the West Coast and multiple wine festivals, we're eager to branch out a bit. My wife especially loves non-American wine. Does Nicaragua have a wine industry to make a trip there worthwhile?

Joshua Berman: Nicaraguan wine? Sorry. Some towns produce sweet "wine" from papaya or cashew fruit, but I doubt it's what you're looking for. That said, Nicaraguan-produced Flor de Caña is the best rum in all of Central America. No joke, so if you're willing to expand your beverage base, then by all means, come on down! Nicaragua also produces some of the best coffee in the world, and a trip to Matagalpa or Esteli for "café-turismo" is a must.

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Lawrence, Kans.: Is a trip from our cruise boat to Leon and the mud pots worth making? Is it safe?

Joshua Berman: To Leon from San Juan del Sur and back in a single day? Sounds like a very long day. I'd stick closer to San Juan, maybe do a trip to the pottery town of San Juan d'Oriente if that interests you. Is it safe? YES!

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Waukesha, Wis.: Our cruise gets in at 8am in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua Nov. 21, 07. Can I hire a taxi or bus tour at the port to sightsee instead of taking the cruise's tours? Is it expensive?

Joshua Berman: I always recommend hiring local services over the cruise ship's more expensive options. The only way cruise ships are beneficial for Nicaragua is if passengers leave a little cash in the local community--otherwise, the only thing San Juan residents receive is a loud convoy of exhaust-spewing buses through their otherwise peaceful village and little else. Just walking the streets and beaches of San Juan del Sur should be an exotic enough of an experience--why spend hours in a vehicle, when you're already in one of Nicaragua's premier destinations?

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Los Feliz, Calif.: Hi. I am traveling to Costa Rica and to Nicaragua around New Year's. I want to know which is the best crossing point from CR to Nica. In Nica, I need to end up in San Juan in the south. Thanks.

Joshua Berman: You'll cross into Nica at Pe?as Blancas, which is only about a half hour from San Juan del Sur by bus or collective taxi. The only other option is to take a boat into Nicaragua from Los Chiles, Costa Rica up the river to San Carlos, at the mouth of the Rio San Juan. This is far less common and more remote.

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