With an overall land area of 129,494 square kilometers, Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. Its topography is divided into three major geographic regions. The Pacific lowlands, or Western region, is marked by flat terrain broken by a line of active volcanoes between the Golfo de Fonseca and Lago de Nicaragua. To the East of volcanoes lies a long narrow rift from Golfo de Fonseca southeastward. The Caribbean lowland (or Eastern) region covers about half of the national territory, and is where El Cocal is situated. This region consists of tropical rain forest and pine savannas crossed by numerous rivers flowing into the Atlantic. Between the Pacific and Caribbean lowlands are the central highlands, dividing the country down the center and growing more extensive to the North.

Nicaragua's climate is warm, sunny and relatively humid year round with some regional variation according to altitude.