It’s not without reason that Nicaragua is being described by travel writers and marketers as “the next Costa Rica,” a nod to the country’s biodiversity and pristine habitats. Get a glimpse of some of the native bird and plant species at the botanical garden in León, located on the grounds of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. A financial and scientific collaboration among Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Norway, this 12-hectare (30-acre) garden features more than three kilometers (two miles) of tranquil walking trails.