Places To Go In Nicaragua
Most of the best tourist locations in Nicaragua are an hour or less drive from Managua: the national park of Masaya and its active volcano, the markets and their wide variety of native handcraft, the old colonial city of Granada, Lake Nicaragua and its small islands, gorgeous blue lagoons, the Pacific Ocean and much more.
The Masaya Area
You can visit the breathtaking active volcano crater at Masaya Active Volcano & National Park. You can hike up to the extinct San Fernando volcano which has very impressive views from the edge of the crater. There is a small museum dedicated to the volcano's history.
You can visit the city of Masaya and its handicraft market, where you can find unique pieces made by the locals for very reasonable prices. There are more than 150 shops offering all the items made in the area: wood, hammocks, leathers, ceramics, painting and much more.
After lunch you can stop at Catarina Lookout and see its impressive views, then visit the village "San Juan de Oriente" home of ceramic manufacturers making typical ceramics which are available for purchase.
Granada and the Islets
Founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistadors, the tour of Granada transports you back to the colonial times, with its classical and neo-classical buildings, old churches and horse-drawn carriages. To end your tour, a boat ride in Lake Nicaragua will let you discover some of the 365 small islands "isletas", as well as their fauna, flora and inhabitants named the "Isleños".
The Mombacho Natural Reserve and Canopy Tour
The Mombacho Natural Reserve and its tropical cloud forest is a paradise for nature lovers. Walking the trail around one of the craters reveals amazing biological diversity, with incredible views of Granada, Lake Nicaragua and the Islands.
After lunch you can take a thrilling trip through the trees over carefully built seventeen platforms and bridges to get an unrepeatable view of the coffee plantations. It takes around 2 hours to experience this unique activity
The Cerro Negro Active Volcano
With activity first recorded in 1850, this is one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua. Cerro Negro, "Black Mountain", is the most recent of a group of four very young volcanoes in the central Maribios.
Laguna de Apoyo
Feel like having a break in a hidden paradise a few steps away from noisy Managua? Twenty miles away from the capital, a beautiful small exclusive resort located in front of the waters of the Apoyo Lagoon awaits you. Here you can swim in the warm waters of this crater lake or just relax, you'll love it!
Leon City
Discover this historical city, located 60 miles north of Managua. For more than 200 years Leon was the capital of Nicaragua and is still considered as the intellectual capital.
It also features one of the oldest monuments in Central America, The Metropolitan Cathedral, built in 1747 and the most beautiful art gallery in Central America, The Galeria Ortiz Gurdian.
Managua City
Destroyed in 1972 by an earthquake, the capital has still not been totally rebuilt to its previous glory. You can visit what remains of Old Managua where, from the historical Loma de Tiscapa, you can see the ruins of Somoza's Palace, an exhibition of pictures corresponding to the years 1925-1972, or visit the National Palace and its natural history museum.
In addition to this you should visit the National Theater, the old cathedral and central Park, as well as the new Presidential House. The Mercado Huembes market a huge, popular market offering all kind of goods as well as handcrafts.
You can explore the new downtown which is being built a few miles away from Lake Managua and becoming the new Nicaraguan business center with major companies, banks, restaurants, shopping centers and other attractions.
