Plan Your Trip

In general, destinations south of Managua are more developed for travelers, especially Granada and San Juan del Sur, whose exploding number of colonial hotels, upscale surf camps, and convenient shuttle services have drastically altered the tourism landscape. The rest of the country–north and east of Managua, and the Río San Juan in the southeast–is a different story. In these places, with some basic Spanish, patience, and persistence, you can pueblo-hop on public buses till the Chontales cattle come home. Basic room and board are found in even small pueblos, as are community homestay and rural tourism programs. Fancier hotels and restaurants are found in most department capitals, usually on or near the central plaza.

Most travelers begin in Granada and with good reason. It is smaller and more manageable than Managua and you can get a shuttle directly to Granada from the airport (under one hour). Granada is a beautiful, tranquil place to get acclimated to the heat and pace of things, and provides access to numerous day trips.

Nicaragua’s scenic beauty can be found in the forest, at the seaside, along its rivers and lakes. It is without a doubt one of the most tranquil and relaxing countries you will ever visit. But if adventure is what you crave, your opportunities for excitement are only limited by your imagination. Activities in Nicaragua range from the moderate to the extreme, from soaking up sun on the beach, watching sea turtles lay eggs, kayaking, sport fishing, surfing, sailing, diving, hiking, to sand-boarding on an active volcano.

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A visit to Nicaragua allows you to live a fascinating experience of adventure and personal contact with nature. Enjoy day and evening activities. See the most beautiful and important cities of Spanish colonial time. Amazing volcanoes, beaches, lagoons, and picturesque towns are all waiting for you.

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With 24 volcanoes and countless lakes, rivers, and lagoons, Nicaragua is known as the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes.” Only in Nicaragua can you navigate through rivers and lakes from the Caribbean to the Pacific, because here the waters of the Río San Juan meet Lake Nicaragua. Nicaragua is also proud of its tremendous ecological variety with more than 70 different eco-systems. In Nicaragua you will discover 7% of the world’s bio-diversity and learn why Nicaragua is considered “the second lung of the Americas.”

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