Nicaragua is a country filled with towering volcanoes, alluring colonial towns, heart pumping adventure, and classic Central American charm! We only had four days in Nicaragua so we are far from experts on the country. However, most of these suggestions come from our amazing local tour guide Franklin from Vamos Travel Nicaragua. With over 16 years of tour guide experience, we were excited to experience Nicaragua with him. Whether you only have a few days or a few weeks, hopefully this post will be a great place to start on some of the best things to do in Nicaragua!
1. Volcano Boarding
If you’re in Nicaragua, you have to go volcano boarding! Ever since I heard about sledding down a volcano, I have wanted to experience it. When I started researching things to do in Nicaragua and saw that Cerro Negro, the famous volcano boarding location, was close to León – I knew we had to do it!
Sledding down the 2,300 foot volcano at up to a 55% incline definitely did not disappoint! I’m not exactly sure how fast we went, but it felt like I was flying! (Actually, it felt like I was hanging onto a thin piece of wood for dear life!) Although it looks intimidating, it was extremely fun. I even wiped out about ⅔ of the way down the volcano and was barely even scratched. We were very thankful for Vamos Travel Nicaragua and the gear they gave us to keep us safe!
*If you’re thinking of going volcano boarding in Nicaragua, read our full blog post!
2. Masaya Volcano
Before visiting Nicaragua, I didn’t know it was possible to visit an active volcano and peer into a crater full of boiling magma. But that is exactly what we did at the top of Masaya Volcano! There is a paved road all the way to the edge of the crater, making it accessible for everyone! We were far enough away to feel completely safe, but close enough to feel humbled by the incredible power of the volcano. The pictures don’t do it justice of what it feels like standing on the edge and looking into what feels like the earth’s core!
The best time to see the magma is in the dark. Usually there is a long line and wait because you have to access the top of the volcano in allotted 30 minute time slots. So be sure to plan ahead to see this spectacular sight!
3. Granada
Nicaragua is full of 18th century spanish colonial history. The two cities that demonstrate this the best are Granada and León. Our first glimpse of Granada was from Mirador de Catarina. It is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Apoyo Lagoon, volcanos, and historic city of Granada. From there, we drove into the city and hopped on a horse and carriage tour. It was a fun way to experience the historic city! The best view from downtown is on top of Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, located in the city’s main square. It is amazing getting to climb the bell tower and envision what the city looked like more than 200 years ago!
4. León
Like Granada in the south, León is a beautiful colonial city that was founded by the Spanish in the 18th century. It is definitely much smaller than Managua, Nicaragua’s capital city, but is packed with history and culture.
The most iconic landmark of the city is the beautiful white León Cathedral in the center of the city. Walking around the white domes on the roof of the cathedral gave us an amazing view of the city and the surrounding volcanoes. León is home to much of Nicaragua’s history. Franklin did a great job of literally walking us through the city and country’s history. He explained the country’s struggles and thriving moments in an easy to understand way. If you only have limited time in Nicaragua, Franklin suggests visiting León and Granada for their beauty and history.
5. Lake Nicaragua and Other Nicaraguan Highlights
With only four days in Nicaragua, there were so many things that we would love to come back someday to see. (I guess that just gives us something to look forward to!) One area that we would love to explore more of is around Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. We got to see the lake as we were driving from Costa Rica to Granada, but there are a number of things to see and do on the lake. Isla Ometepe is an island with not one but two volcanos, located in the center of Lake Nicaragua. Islets of Granada are hundreds of small islands that were formed by eruptions from the Mombacho Volcano. The Mombacho Volcano Nature Preserve is 2,500 acres full of animals like monkeys and the rare quetzal bird!
Other things to see are San Juan del Sur, an expat surf town that is less than an hour from the Costa Rican border. The largest and capital city of Nicaragua is Managua. And the Corn Islands are Nicaragua’s Caribbean getaway with white sand and blue waters. These are just a few of the many places that we still want to see in Nicaragua.
How We Planned Our Trip
Vamos Travel Nicaragua
I can’t write about our visit to Nicaragua without mentioning our guide Franklin, founder of Vamos Travel Nicaragua. From history, transportation, volcano boarding, and everything else in between, Franklin made sure we got the most out of our short time in Nicaragua. With more than 16 years of experience as a certified tour guide, Franklin is an expert at creating custom trips through Nicaragua.
*Read our full post about our experience with this amazing local Nicaragua travel agent!
Where We Stayed
Hotel Flor de Sarta
We only spent three nights, four days in Nicaragua. Each night, we stayed in León. (Granada and Managua are also popular cities to stay.) León is home to several hostels and boutique hotels. Tired and ready for a rest day, Em and I splurged and booked our time at a hotel we found online: Hotel Flor de Sarta. This was more expensive than many of the hostels in the area, but it was clean, plus had good wifi and AC! It also included a free hot breakfast. The hotel was about three blocks away from the main square and the staff was really nice. It wasn’t anything special, but was a safe and convenient option.
