San Carlos is located in the southeastern part of the Republic of Nicaragua, on Lake Nicaragua and on the border with Costa Rica. It is just under 300 km from the capital, Managua, and approximately 9,500 km from Erlangen. San Carlos was founded by the Spanish in the mid-16th century as a trading post. In addition to the actual urban area of San Carlos, there are numerous villages and small settlements in the surrounding region. These are often accessible only via long, arduous land or water routes. About 80% of the total population of approximately 55,000 residents live in these outlying communities that belong to San Carlos.
The municipality is the seat of the Río San Juan administrative district. It serves as a commercial center and distribution hub for regional agricultural and livestock products, as well as the seat of state authorities. Numerous international nongovernmental organizations engaged in project work also operate out of San Carlos. With two hospitals—one public and one private (though the latter is not a significant source of care for most San Carleños)—and the health centers located on the outskirts, San Carlos provides medical services to the people of the region. Elementary and secondary schools ensure children’s education. In addition, a small university—fully recognized by the Nicaraguan government—trains the next generation of agricultural engineers and teachers needed in the region.
With the expansion of the road between Managua and San Carlos a few years ago, much has changed for the city on Lake Nicaragua. Whereas a trip to the capital, Managua, used to be long and arduous—up to 18 hours on dirt roads—the travel time by public bus has been reduced to six to eight hours. This is a great relief for the people of San Carlos. At the same time, the road is leading to a steady increase in the population. More and more people are moving to San Carlos. They often settle in unplanned neighborhoods, frequently without electricity or access to clean drinking water. Another new development for San Carlos is the rise in tourism. The city serves as an excellent starting point—for example,
- for a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Solentiname Archipelago or
- to explore the Los Guatuzos and Indio Maíz nature reserves.
In recent years, the Erlangen-San Carlos partnership has focused primarily on supporting vital projects, in which the people of Erlangen have repeatedly participated through donations. In particular, the expansion of medical care in San Carlos is a key priority. Beyond that, however, the importance of bringing people from both countries—with their different cultures and ways of thinking—together is not overlooked. Above all, the regular volunteer assignments undertaken by young people from San Carlos contribute to cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
In the meantime, the partnership has expanded to many other areas:
- Support for the ARETE women’s aid project
- Improvement of the drinking water supply and school projects
- Sustainability, climate protection, and climate adaptation
In particular, the founding of the Erlangen–San Carlos City Partnership Association (Städtepartnerschaft Erlangen – San Carlos e.V.) added an important player to the city partnership, one that actively pursues a wide range of initiatives on behalf of San Carlos.
