Bienvenidos a Nicaragua!
In this post, we’ll go over the absolute best things to do in Nicaragua – and trust us, there are tons! Nicaragua boasts everything from massive active volcanoes to serene beaches to beautiful tropical islands. Nicaragua is paradise, simply put. It has extremely kind people, great tourism infrastructure, and is incredibly cheap, making it a top travel destination. So whether you’re traveling with family, backpacking, or a luxury traveler, Nicaragua has something for you! Nicaragua is a rapidly up and coming tourist destination, so make sure to come before prices and amount of visitors shoot up! Now, let’s get into the best things to do in Nicaragua!
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The 20 Best Things to do in Nicaragua
1. Volcano Boarding
I know everyone says this is the best thing to do in Nicaragua, though some say it’s too touristy and not authentic whatsoever. But who gives a crap?! When else are you going to go speeding down an active volcano on a rickety toboggan while all your new friends cheer you on? This was one of the most chaotic and entertaining adventure activities in Nicaragua, and we don’t regret doing it one bit!
2. Surf at Playa Maderas (or San Juan del Sur)
While San Juan del Sur may be more popular, Playa Maderas is widely known as the best place to surf in Nicaragua. The beach is free from crowds, stretches almost a mile, and has a plenty of amazing homestays and surf camps in the surrounding area. You can rent a board for $10/day or do a 1.5 hour surf lesson (which includes a board rental for the rest of the day) for $25. If you prefer a more happening place, you can stay in San Juan del Sur!
3. Walk the Streets of Granada
Granada has the most charming colonial style streets lined with vintage churches, colorful houses, and various businesses with beautiful courtyards. You may forget you’re in Central America with Granada’s heavily European-style architecture! Do a walking tour to get a glimpse into Granada’s history or just carelessly wander the hidden streets; whatever your style, Granada is sure to impress!
4. Dive on the Corn Islands
While there are many activities here, diving is THE thing to do on the Corn Islands. There are around 20 dive sites a short boat ride away, many of which have vibrant marine life waiting to be visited. If you’ve never dived before, you can get your certification here, which will give you an amazing experience in addition to a certification that will let you dive in the future!
5. Hike and Camp on El Hoyo Volcano
Hiking enthusiasts travel from all around the world to visit this marvelous Nicaraguan gem. Many summit El Hoyo with the intention of camping there to enjoy the beautiful sunset AND sunrise over the chain of other nearby volcanoes. The hike takes around 4 hours and has spectacular views all around, so don’t miss out!
6. Take a Boat Tour of the Granada Islets
Touring the 365 Granada Islets by boat was one of the most underrated things to do in Nicaragua. Not only are they beautiful, but you get to see massive houses of the rich and famous of Nicaragua (and other countries). There is a monkey island where you see and feed monkeys (make sure to come prepared with coconut – they don’t like bananas!), an island where an old Spanish fort was used to fight off pirates, and the villa of the owners of Flor de Caña!
7. Float through Somoto Canyon
Often skipped on travelers Nicaragua itineraries, Somoto Canyon is an amazing experience. This is the perfect place to escape the heat of Nicaragua while swimming, hiking, and cliff-jumping your way through the canyon’s narrow corridors. If you’re looking for a more relaxing vibe, you can go horseback riding or just walk through the canyon!
8. Hang Out at Lake Apoyo
This crater lake is the perfect place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of Granada. You can rent a boat, swim, kayak and even scuba and free dive here! We recommend staying the night at Paradiso Hostel, which is a digital nomad hotspot. Paradiso is trendy, very hospitable, and provides all sorts of activities such as pottery classes, free kayaks, free yoga classes, movie nights, massages, beer pong tournaments and more!
9. Visit the Museo de la Revolución
This museum provides a deep dive into Nicaragua’s extremely rich recent history. As the name suggests, you’ll learn about the Nicaraguan Revolution, which luckily is taught via an English-speaking guide. While this was interesting, one of the best parts of the Museo de la Revolución is getting to go up to the roof. Here you can see miraculous views of the León Cathedral, the volcanoes, and all of León!
10. Scooter the Island of Ometepe
Ometepe is a beautiful island on Lake Nicaragua, largely covered by two massive volcanoes. While hiking Ometepe volcanoes are some of the top attractions in Nicaragua, simply renting a moped and driving around the beautiful island is a magical way to spend a few hours in Ometepe! Stop at the various viewpoints, cool off in the Ojo de Agua, and enjoy zooming through the jungle-beach climate!
11. Tour Nicaragua’s Coffee Region
Nicaragua has arguably the best coffee in Central America. Why not tour its coffee region? Matagalpa, Jinotega, Selva Negra and smaller towns in between make up Nicaragua’s coffee region. Here you can tour coffee farms and even stay at them!
12. Horseback Ride Through Miraflor Cloud Forest
Tour the luscious green cloud forest complemented by farmland via horseback – you won’t regret it! Here you can go horseback riding through the farmland and learn about the interesting birds, farms, and the jungle! We recommend organizing your horseback riding through Finca Lindos Ojos (and staying there), as they treat their horses very well!
13. Release Turtles in Las Peñitas
Las Peñitas is the best beach destination in the north of Nicaragua. Escape the heat of León and participate in a life-changing, ethical turtle release, which is best between October and January. You may have to spend a few days here because the turtles don’t always hatch the day you plan to do a turtle release. This is definitely one of the most wholesome things to do in Nicaragua!
14. Cool Down in El Ojo de Agua
El Ojo de Agua is a natural cool spring on Ometepe Island where locals and foreigners come to cool off from the Nicaraguan heat. It has two giant springs with crystal-clear water, a rope swing and various in-water seating. There is also a restaurant and bar here, and your $10 ticket gets you a $5 voucher for food and drinks. This is definitely somewhere to spend the whole day while on Ometepe! Make sure to get there early if you want the springs to yourself!
15. See Lava at Volcan Masaya
Have you ever seen lava? If not, definitely head over to Granada and take a trip to Volcan Masaya. As the sun sets you’ll catch a glimpse of the lava lake in the crater below. While this isn’t as impressive as the Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala, this is still worth doing. Before the sun sets you can hike the other nearby volcano, whose crater is completely covered by dense jungle.
16. Tour the Flor de Caña Rum Factory
The Flor de Caña tour, which includes a tour of León, is a great way to see how rum plays such a good role in Nicaragua’s economy, culture, and every day lives. Nicaraguans definitely love their rum and are big partiers! Flor de Caña also owns the unofficial national beer, Toña, which I’m sure you’ll have a few of on your trip to Nicaragua!
17. Discover the Beautiful Beaches on Big Corn
Picnic and Arenas beaches are the best places to go and have a drink. They are the most popular beaches on Big Corn, and from here you can go have a few drinks at the floating Tiki bars! The Long Bay and Silver Sand Beaches are great places to snorkel when the water isn’t too choppy. These beaches are usually vacant, and are extremely peaceful!
18. Climb up the León Cathedral
León’s cathedral is super impressive; it’s the largest in Central America. While the inside is interesting, the highlight of the cathedral is that you can climb up to the top and walk around and on top of the roof! While this is no Santorini, it is definitely impressive! Aim to visit the cathedral as early as possible to avoid crowds!
19. Hike Up Mombacho
Mombacho, is yet another impressive, massive volcano near Granada that many people summit. The hike is difficult but only takes 2 hours. Hiking through the beautiful cloud forest to get to the massive crater is a great way to spend your time in Nicaragua! If you’re worried about the heat, know that Mombacho is much cooler than the Nicaraguan cities due to the altitude and forested climate.
20. Tour a Cigar Factory in Estelí
Estelí is the tobacco capital of Nicaragua, and the entire north side of the city is covered in tobacco farms and factories. Even if you aren’t into cigars, this is a great place to learn about the history of tobacco in Nicaragua, the cigar-making process, and how tobacco continues to be a great source of economic prosperity for Estelí and Nicaragua in general. Book your cigar factory tours here!
Best Time to Visit Nicaragua
The best time to visit Nicaragua is during the country’s dry season from November to May. This time of year is ideal for warm weather, perfect for exploring cities, volcanoes, and beaches! November through January tend to be a bit cooler than February through May, so if you’re sensitive to hot weather you may want to plan for those months. However, it’s always going to be hot in Nicaragua (especially in the cities), no matter when you visit!
Nicaragua FAQs
Is Nicaragua safe?
Nicaragua is fairly safe. There parts of Nicaragua, like Managua, that you shouldn’t go to alone at night. In addition, there may be pickpockets in heavily touristy areas, so make sure to keep an eye on your belongings. If you’re traveling as a solo female, you may get catcalled, which in Central American countries is unfortunately common. However, we felt extremely safe and have nothing to say but nice things about the locals. Nicaragua is also safe for Americans to visit, contrary to what various media sources might say.
Is it worth going to Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is 100% worth going to. It is very similar to Costa Rica but with less crowds, cheaper prices, and more hidden gems.
What is Nicaragua known for?
Nicaragua is known for its massive volcanoes, beautiful beaches, and various hiking spots. It also has beautiful colonial towns like León and especially Granada. Nicaragua also has the tropical Corn Islands which are great vacation destinations and much, much more!
Is Nicaragua tourist friendly?
Nicaragua is very tourist friendly, especially in the north. Many people love that travelers come and support local (emphasis on local) families through tourism, dining, and more.
Where is Nicaragua located?
Nicaragua is located in Central America and is bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. It touches both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean sea.
Keep Exploring Nicaragua….
- The Absolute Best Places to go in Nicaragua
- Your Amazing Nicaragua Travel Itinerary: 1,2,3, or 4 weeks
- Wonderful Things to do in Ometepe
- Amazing Things to do in Granada
- Best Things to do on the Corn Islands: A Complete Travel Guide
- Somoto Canyon Day Trip: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting
- Miraflor Cloud Forest: Nicaragua’s Emerald Jewel
- The Best Things to do in Estelí, Nicaragua
- The Best Things to do in Stunning León
- El Salvador to Nicaragua by Boat: Your Ultimate Guide
- How to Get to the Corn Islands
- How to Get From Nicaragua to Costa Rica by Bus
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
