Things To Do
Granada
Granada is a colonial city located about an hour away from Managua. Some highlights are the central square for souvenir shopping, a tour down las Isletas de Granada, zip-linning or hiking in the Mombacho Volcano, or visiting one of the many museums or cafes.
Volcan Mombacho
Volcan Mombacho is a dormant volcano and natural reserve located about 1 hour from Managua and about 20 minutes from downtown Granada. It is home to a cloud forest which makes it a great place for wildlife sightings, hiking, and zip lining.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a beach town 2 hours south of Managua. SJDS is know for its lively atmosphere and proximity to beautiful beaches, some of which are famous for surfing. Some of the nearby beaches include Majagual, Maderas, Playa Hermosa, El Coco, among others.
Apoyo Lagoon
The Apoyo Lagoon is a volcanic origin lagoon located about 45 minutes from Managua. It has lots of beach clubs and restaurants where you can go relax by the water, swim, kayak, and listen to the wildlife while sipping tropical coctails and trying Nicaraguan cuisine. p.s. This is where we got engaged!
León
León is a colonial city located about 2 hours away from Managua. It is known for having the largest cathedral in Nicaragua. It is close to many volcanoes and beaches, thus it serves as a good base for exploring places such as Volcán Cerro Negro and Telica, as well as beaches such as Las Peñitas.
Volcán Cerro Negro and Volcán Telica
Volcán Cerro Negro is Nicaragua's youngest volcano (among the youngest in the whole world!). It is located about 3 hours from Managua and it is famous for volcano sand boarding. Volcán Telica is another active volcano located near León. It is a great spot to do a sunset hike with a panoramic view of other volcanoes in the region. If conditions allow, you can also peak down to the crater's rim and see the lava! ***Guided tours for both of these volcanoes depart from downtown León.
Ometepe
Ometepe is an island comprised of two volcanoes located on Lake Cocibolca. Visiting Ometepe is a great option for a longer trip as it requires a ferry to go to and from the island. There are tons of things to do in Ometepe such as or summiting one of the two volcanoes, going on a wildlife sighting Kayak tour, laying in one of the beaches (see picture above), seeing petroglyphs and pre-columbian artifacts, exploring coffee and plantain farms among many others. Fun fact: Besides being the largest lake in Central America, Lake Cocibolca is one of the only lakes in the world to have recorded a population of freshwater bull sharks. However these sharks have not been seen in ages so no need to worry.