Find places in Nicaragua

Must-Haves

• Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (Plaza de la Revolución)
  The old parliament building now houses the national museum, with pre-Columbian statues and pottery.

Off the Beaten Path

• Catedral Metropolitana de Managua (Carretera a Masaya)
  A striking modern cathedral with dozens of small concrete domes, completely unlike the colonial churches elsewhere.
• Museo Huellas de Acahualinca (Acahualinca)
  Footprints left in volcanic mud thousands of years ago, preserved in a small museum near the lake.

Great for Date Night

• Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío (Malecón)
  The national theatre stages concerts, folk ballet and plays in a landmark that survived the 1972 earthquake.

Must-Haves

• Loma de Tiscapa (Tiscapa)
  A hilltop park above a crater lagoon with sweeping views across the capital and a canopy line over the water.

Fun for Everyone

• Puerto Salvador Allende (Malecón)
  The lakeshore promenade fills with families, food stalls and boat rides at weekends.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Roberto Huembes (Huembes)
  The easiest Managua market for visitors, with a large section of crafts, hammocks and pottery from across the country.

Fun for Everyone

• Galerías Santo Domingo (Carretera a Masaya)
  A large, air conditioned mall with restaurants, a cinema and shops, handy on hot afternoons.

Fun for Everyone

• Laguna de Xiloá (Mateare)
  A crater lake on the edge of the city where Managua families swim and eat fried fish at weekends.

Off the Beaten Path

• Reserva Natural El Chocoyero (Ticuantepe)
  A forest reserve where hundreds of green parakeets nest in a cliff beside a waterfall.

Must-Haves

• La Cocina de Doña Haydée (Los Robles)
  A long running favourite for classic Nicaraguan dishes such as indio viejo, nacatamales and gallo pinto.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Quesillos at Nagarote (Nagarote)
  Roadside stalls on the way to León serve quesillos, warm tortillas wrapped around soft cheese and pickled onion.

Must-Haves

• Café Las Flores (Galerías Santo Domingo)
  A Nicaraguan coffee chain serving beans from the northern highlands, a reliable stop between errands.

Must-Haves

• Real InterContinental Metrocentro Managua (Carretera a Masaya)
  A large business hotel next to the Metrocentro mall, convenient for a first or last night.

Must-Haves

• Catedral de Granada (Parque Central)
  The yellow and white cathedral is the symbol of the city and the backdrop to every evening in the park.
• Convento San Francisco (Calle Cervantes)
  One of the oldest churches in the Americas, now a museum with carved stone statues from Zapatera island.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fortaleza San Pablo (Las Isletas)
  A small Spanish fort on its own islet, built to defend Granada from pirates.
• Mi Museo (Calle Atravesada)
  A private collection of thousands of pieces of pre-Columbian pottery, free to visit.

Must-Haves

• Iglesia La Merced bell tower (Calle Real Xalteva)
  Climb the tower for the classic view over red roofs to the cathedral, the lake and Mombacho volcano.

Fun for Everyone

• Calle La Calzada (Centro)
  The pedestrian street from the cathedral to the lake comes alive every evening with restaurants and music.
• ChocoMuseo Granada (Calle Libertad)
  Hands on bean to bar chocolate workshops that suit children and adults alike.

Must-Haves

• Las Isletas (Lake Nicaragua)
  Boat trips weave through hundreds of small volcanic islands with birds, fishing families and island homes.
• Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho (Mombacho)
  Cloud forest trails around the craters of Mombacho, with howler monkeys, orchids and steaming fumaroles.
• Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya (Masaya)
  Drive to the rim of an active crater and, when conditions allow, look down at a glowing lava lake.

Fun for Everyone

• Laguna de Apoyo (Apoyo)
  A warm, clear crater lake for swimming, kayaking and lazy days on a dock.

Great for Date Night

• Mirador de Catarina (Catarina)
  A lookout over the Laguna de Apoyo crater, best at sunset with a drink and a plate of food.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Municipal de Granada (Centro)
  A busy, everyday market for fruit, cheese, cheap eats and a look at local life.

Must-Haves

• Mercado de Artesanías de Masaya (Masaya)
  The old walled craft market in Masaya is the best place for hammocks, pottery and leatherwork.

Off the Beaten Path

• Pottery workshops of San Juan de Oriente (San Juan de Oriente)
  Family workshops in a village famed for its fine carved and painted ceramics.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Plaza Colón (Parque Central)
  A colonial hotel right on the main square with balconies over the cathedral.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Darío (Calle La Calzada)
  A restored early twentieth century building with a courtyard pool, steps from the cathedral.
• Mansión de Chocolate (Calle Real Xalteva)
  A grand colonial mansion with a chocolate themed spa and a big pool.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Hotel Con Corazón (Calle Santa Lucía)
  A friendly social enterprise hotel that reinvests in local education projects.

Must-Haves

• The Garden Café (Calle Libertad)
  A leafy courtyard café with good coffee, a lending library and fair trade crafts.

Fun for Everyone

• Kathy's Waffle House (Calle El Caimito)
  A long standing breakfast spot facing the Convento San Francisco, famous with travellers.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Vigorón stalls at Parque Central (Parque Central)
  Granada's signature street dish of yuca, chicharrón and cabbage salad, served on a banana leaf.

Fun for Everyone

• Fiestas de Agosto (Centro)
  Granada's August celebrations bring parades, horse processions and music to the streets.

Must-Haves

• Catedral de León (Parque Central)
  Central America's largest cathedral, with a white rooftop walk and the tomb of Rubén Darío.
• Museo de Arte Fundación Ortiz Gurdián (Centro)
  One of the region's finest art collections, spread through beautiful colonial houses.
• Museo Archivo Rubén Darío (Centro)
  The childhood home of Nicaragua's great poet, with his books and belongings.

Fun for Everyone

• Museo de Leyendas y Tradiciones (Centro)
  Giant folklore figures in a former prison, with murals that tell the story of its prisoners.

Off the Beaten Path

• Iglesia de la Recolección (Centro)
  A bright yellow baroque facade, one of the most photographed churches in the city.

Must-Haves

• Cerro Negro volcano boarding (Cerro Negro)
  Hike up a bare black cone and slide down its gravel slope on a board.

Off the Beaten Path

• Quetzaltrekkers León (Centro)
  A volunteer run guiding group whose volcano treks support local children's projects.

Off the Beaten Path

• Volcán Telica (Telica)
  A sunset hike to the rim of an active crater, with a chance to see the glow below.
• Reserva Natural Isla Juan Venado (Las Peñitas)
  Mangrove boat trips through a barrier island reserve, with turtle nesting in season.

Fun for Everyone

• Las Peñitas (Las Peñitas)
  A relaxed surf beach with seafood, hammocks and some of the best sunsets on the coast.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Playa Poneloya (Poneloya)
  A local favourite beach for León families, with simple seafood spots.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Central de León (Centro)
  The market behind the cathedral for fruit, juices and quick local lunches.

Fun for Everyone

• Vía Vía León (Centro)
  A bar, café and guesthouse with a courtyard, music and a sociable crowd.

Fun for Everyone

• Bigfoot Hostel León (Centro)
  The hostel that popularised volcano boarding, with a pool and an easy, social feel.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel El Convento (Centro)
  A peaceful hotel built around a former convent garden, with antiques and a pool.

Must-Haves

• Hotel La Perla (Centro)
  A restored nineteenth century mansion close to the cathedral.

Must-Haves

• El Sesteo (Parque Central)
  A classic café restaurant on the main square, ideal for people watching.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fritangas around Parque Central (Centro)
  Evening street grills selling meat, gallo pinto, fried cheese and plantain.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pan y Paz (Centro)
  A bakery serving real bread, pastries and coffee, a good breakfast stop.

Must-Haves

• La Gritería (Citywide)
  On the eve of the Immaculate Conception in December, families open altars and hand out sweets to singers.

Must-Haves

• Cristo de la Misericordia (Northern headland)
  A giant statue of Christ above the bay with the best view over town.

Must-Haves

• Playa Maderas (North of town)
  The most popular surf beach, with consistent waves and surf schools.

Great for Date Night

• Playa Marsella (North of town)
  A calm, quiet beach for swimming and sunsets.
• Playa Hermosa (South of town)
  A wide, beautiful private beach with a day entry and a relaxed restaurant.

Off the Beaten Path

• Playa Majagual (North of town)
  A sheltered cove at the end of a dirt road, peaceful for a swim.

Fun for Everyone

• Playa Remanso (South of town)
  Gentle waves make this the classic beach for first surf lessons.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mercado Municipal de San Juan del Sur (Centro)
  Cheap, filling local lunches and fruit a block from the beach.

Great for Date Night

• El Timón (Beachfront)
  A beachfront seafood restaurant, a classic for whole fried fish at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Gato Negro (Centro)
  A café and bookshop with good coffee and breakfasts, popular with travellers.

Must-Haves

• Pelican Eyes Resort (Hillside)
  Hillside villas and pools with views over the bay.

Great for Date Night

• Morgan's Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge (Playa Ocotal)
  A secluded eco-lodge on a private beach and forest reserve north of town.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Casa Oro Hostel (Centro)
  A sociable hostel that also runs surf shuttles to the beaches.

Fun for Everyone

• Sunday Funday (Town and hillside)
  The famous pool party crawl that draws backpackers every Sunday.

Must-Haves

• Ojo de Agua (Santo Domingo)
  A clear natural spring pool shaded by trees, perfect after a hike.
• Volcán Concepción (Moyogalpa)
  A long, steep climb up a near perfect active cone with huge views over the lake.
• Volcán Maderas (Balgüe)
  A muddy cloud forest climb to a small crater lake on the island's older volcano.

Fun for Everyone

• Cascada San Ramón (San Ramón)
  A forest waterfall reached by a hike up the flank of Maderas.

Great for Date Night

• Punta Jesús María (Moyogalpa)
  A long sand spit reaching into the lake, a favourite sunset spot.

Off the Beaten Path

• Río Istián kayaking (Mérida)
  Paddle through wetlands between the volcanoes, watching for caimans and birds.

Fun for Everyone

• El Pital Chocolate Paradise (Balgüe)
  A chocolate farm with tastings and lake views.

Off the Beaten Path

• El Porvenir petroglyphs (Santa Cruz)
  Ancient rock carvings in the fields of a hillside farm.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Museo El Ceibo (El Ceibo)
  A collection of pre-Columbian pottery and old coins in a rural setting.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Finca Magdalena (Balgüe)
  A cooperative coffee farm with simple rooms and petroglyphs on its land.

Fun for Everyone

• Hacienda Mérida (Mérida)
  A lakeside hostel with a long dock, kayaks and access to Maderas.

Great for Date Night

• Totoco Eco Lodge (Balgüe)
  Hillside eco-lodge with views of Concepción and a farm to table kitchen.

Must-Haves

• Villa Paraíso (Santo Domingo)
  A long running beachfront hotel close to Ojo de Agua.

Great for Date Night

• Café Campestre (Balgüe)
  Farm grown salads, curries and coffee in a garden setting.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Comedores of Moyogalpa (Moyogalpa)
  Simple eateries near the ferry serving lake fish and plates of the day.

Must-Haves

• Picnic Centre Beach (Big Corn)
  A long white sand beach with calm water and simple restaurants.
• Otto Beach (Little Corn)
  A remote north shore beach, reached through the forest on foot.

Fun for Everyone

• Long Bay (Big Corn)
  A sweeping curve of sand on the island's east side.

Great for Date Night

• Southwest Bay (Big Corn)
  A quiet beach for swimming and sunsets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sally Peaches snorkelling (Big Corn)
  A rocky shoreline with reef close enough to snorkel straight from the beach.

Must-Haves

• Dive Little Corn (Little Corn village)
  A long established dive shop running reef trips and beginner courses.

Great for Date Night

• Yemaya Island Hideaway (Little Corn)
  A secluded beachfront hideaway on the island's north end.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Derek's Place (Little Corn)
  Simple wooden cabins on the east coast with a relaxed, barefoot feel.

Fun for Everyone

• Little Corn Beach and Bungalow (Little Corn)
  Beachfront bungalows on the windward side with a lively restaurant.

Must-Haves

• Arenas Beach Hotel (Big Corn)
  A beachfront hotel on Big Corn's calmest bay.

Must-Haves

• Crab Festival and Emancipation Day (Big Corn)
  Late August celebrations of freedom from slavery with parades, music and crab dishes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Rundown at local kitchens (Big Corn)
  Try rundown, a coconut stew with seafood, plantain and cassava, in small family kitchens.