The South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), bordering the Caribbean Sea, is one of two autonomous regions in Nicaragua, along with its northern neighbor (RAAN). The capital is Bluefields and it is divided into 12 municipalities: Bluefields, the Corn Islands, El Ayote, El Rama, El Tortuguero, Karawala, Kukra Hill, La Cruz de Río Grande, Muelle de los Bueyes, Nueva Guinea, Paiwas, and Pearl Lagoon.

The region is surrounded by numerous rivers and small lagoons that were once used by pirates as a refuge. This is an area full of interesting ethnic groups of Garifunas, Creoles, Miskitos, Sumos and Ramas. Eight languages are spoken in the region, with English Creole and Spanish being dominant. Most of the inhabitants live from fishing, farming and a growing commerce.

Getting to the region is made easy by domestic flights operated by La Costeña, which fly into Bluefields and the Corn Islands. You can also make the trip by land, through a new road to Bluefields, the first road connecting the Pacific to the Atlantic.