Even though Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America, years of political and civil unrest coupled with hugely destructive earthquakes have meant that it is one of the least visited countries in the region. However, after years of slumber, this country is now the “it” spot for travelers. Expats are even moving in and buying the property. This is a beautiful, wonderful country, and it’s better to get there now before it catches on and prices skyrocket! I spent a lot of time here traveling the country and was shocked how few tourists leave the main southern cities but get a little off the tourist trail and you’ll find warm, friendly people willing to show you around, have a beer, and open up their homes to you.
Nicaragua
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Nicaragua
1. Hike Miraflores
2. Relax in San Juan del Sur
3. Admire Colonial Granada
4. Visit “old” Leon
5. Visit Ometepe Island
Other Things to See and Do
(Click the title to expand the text)
1. Kayak around Las Isletas
Las Isletas is a chain of small islands on a lake near Granada. Kayaking tours give travelers a chance to experience some nature in a calm and relaxing setting. A two-hour trip generally costs $33 USD.
2. Go fishing
Both the Caribbean and the Pacific border the shores of Nicaragua and fishing here is pretty popular. Off the coast, you’ll find a myriad of fish – some up to about 200lbs There are also chartered trips around the volcanic islands within the Lago.
3. Learn to surf
Nicaragua may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of surfing, but it’s a huge pastime here due to the year-round waves and warm water. There are plenty of surf schools that offer tuition and equipment hire around the towns of Rivas and San Juan del Sur. Expect to pay around $10 USD per day for board rental and $25 USD per hour for lessons.
4. Explore the Masaya markets
The main attractions in the city of Masaya are two craft markets, the Mercado Municipal and the Mercado de Artesanias. Every Thursday night at the Mercado de Artesanias is the “Night of Revelry” featuring folkloric dancing, local food, and music.
5. Attend the San Sebastian Festival
Every year near the end of January, people in Diriamba have a huge celebration in honor of San Sebastian, the city’s patron saint. Festivities officially run the 17th to the 27th and include colorful parades, a huge feast, and plenty of traditional music.
6. Enjoy the Corn Islands
On the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands are a gorgeous place for a vacation retreat. Most people come here to snorkel, scuba dive, to fish, and to relax. Small boats will take you between the different islands. It’s the best chill out spot in the whole country and is less crowded than San Juan del Sur (though still pretty popular!).
7. Hike up a volcano
There are a lot of volcanoes in the country, and hiking them is a popular activity. It was the main reason why I headed to Nicaragua, and I ended up hiking three. The two volcanoes on Ometepe are popular day hikes. They’re a lot more challenging than you’ll be led to believe, but worth it (look out for monkeys!). León is probably the best place to do some hiking, though, since there are a lot of volcanoes there. If you’re looking to get your hiking fix, this is where to do it! The most popular volcanoes are Cerro Negro (volcano boarding), Telica (where you go for sunset hikes), San Cristóbal (the longest and hardest), and Momotombo (second hardest).
8. Make friends with the Stone Man
Alberto Gutiérrez has been carving animals and symbols into the stones outside Esteli for decades. He had a vision of angels who told him to carve, and in an effort to end his alcoholism, began carving every time he craved a drink. He’s not easy to get to, but when you find him, Alberto will welcome you into his home, give you fresh fruit, and show you all his stone carvings, which he says were inspired by God. He doesn’t speak any English, so if you don’t speak Spanish, just nod and enjoy the carvings. He won’t ask for money, but donations are welcome.
9. Enjoy the history of León
This city was Nicaragua’s capital until 1857. To this day León remains the country’s “intellectual” capital and it is home to the National University. Remnants of the political war between the Somozas and Sandinistas can be seen in the graffiti and murals around the city. There are a lot of cathedrals in this city (it’s famous for them) and once you have had enough of those, be sure to visit the Museum of the Revolution. It’s an interesting take on the Sandinista movement. You get your own guide too (who was probably a Sandinista too).
10. Explore Managua
If you have time, visit Managua. It’s the capital and home to many beautiful buildings and museums. The recently renovated Plaza de la Republica is home to the Palacio Nacional, which is still a government building but also houses an art gallery and museum. Next to the Palacio is the Catedral Viejo, a dilapidated ruin of a once wonderful cathedral destroyed in the earthquake. However, if you only have a few days in Nicaragua, skip this city and head straight to a volcano or lake!
11. Hang out at Lake Apoyo
Lake Apoyo is a 48-square mile lake that actually lies on the Apoyo volcano crater. It’s a beautiful setting with very clear water for swimming. Consider renting a kayak, fishing, sailing, or going on a hike. This is a nice place for a relaxing getaway for a couple of days.
Typical Costs
Accommodation – Hostel dorm rooms average from $8-18 USD throughout the country. Hostel private rooms and cheap budget hotels cost around $18 USD per night. The most popular kind of lodgings in Nicaragua are hospedajes – small family run hotels costing from $19-24 USD per night. Hammocks can also be rented in many places for $5 USD per night. Airbnb is available in Nicaragua and you can find a shared room for around $10 USD per night and an entire home starting around $30 USD. My suggested place is:
- The Naked Tiger (San Juan del Sur)
Food – By eating from street stalls, it’s possible to eat for less than $1.75 USD per meal. Most sit-down Nicaraguan restaurants are between $2.50-5 USD per dish. You’ll get the staple dish: gallo pinto (rice and beans), a meat (usually chicken), and plantains. For western food such as burgers, salads, or pizza, prices are usually around $6.50-10 USD per dish. One of the best local dishes in the country is Vigoron (yuca, pork rinds, and cabbage). It’s delicious! If you cook your own food, expect to pay $27-35 USD per week for groceries that will include pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foods. You can buy local beers at a grocery store for about $1 USD each and expect to pay about double that at a bar or restaurant.
Transportation – Within the cities, buses are efficient and extremely inexpensive at just $0.25 USD – but beware, they are fiercely crowded and pickpocketing is rife. Taxis usually cost around $0.75-2 USD per person for a short trip. Intercity bus ride costs vary depending on if you get the expreso (no stops) or ordinario (aka the chicken buses, which constantly stop to pick up people). Generally, bus rides never cost more than $4 USD between destinations, with expreso buses about 30% more expensive than ordinario buses. (A bus ride from Managua to San Juan del Sur costs $6 USD and takes about 5 hours.) If you’re looking to get to Costa Rica by bus it’ll cost you about $80-90 USD, and to Guatemala, It’ll cost about $160 USD. If you’re on a quick trip, you can also fly to different areas. While it’s more expensive ($165 USD round trip), it only takes 1.5 hours to get to the Corn Islands as opposed to a full day overland!
Activities – Generally, activities are quite cheap in Nicaragua. There are lots of markets to explore, beaches to relax on and cities to wander through for free. Most day trips and activities (think hiking, surfing, kayaking) cost between $10-30 USD. A volcano boarding day trip will cost about $30 USD. Museum entrance fees are approximately $0.75-2 USD.
Suggested daily budget
$30-40 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out at the more local restaurants and markets, cooking some of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation, drink a ton, or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
Money Saving Tips
- Take the local “Chicken Bus” – Local buses (called Chicken Buses) are the cheapest way to get around the country. There are a lot of tourist buses that will take you around the country but if you’re looking to criss-cross Nicaragua for just a few dollars, take these buses!
- Do a homestay/learn Spanish – Want to stay longer? Take part in a homestay. There are a lot of opportunities to stay longer, volunteer, learn Spanish, and farm. If this interests you, hostels and tourist offices in any big city can help organize this for you. Esteli, Ometepe, and León are popular destinations for this.
- Binge on gallo pinto – I’ll be honest: I found Nicaraguan food pretty bland. Be prepared to eat a lot of gallo pinto (rice and beans), meat, and fried plantains. It’s not the most exciting food, but it was delicious (and super economical).
- Couchsurf – Nothing’s cheaper than sleeping for free. Couchsurfing connects you with locals who will give you not only a free place to stay, but also a local tour guide who can introduce you to all the great places to see. There’s a lot of hosts in the country.
- Refill your water – Most hostels and hotels will refill your water bottle for $0.25 USD. Save money and the environment by avoiding too many plastic bottles.
- Eat at the fritanga – These buffet style restaurants offer amazing value for your money. A typical meal will include rice, meat, cheese and cabbage salad. An entire table of food can cost just $5 USD.
- Avoid the Western food – Western food costs over double the local food. (Plus, did you really come all this way to have some really bad burgers and pizza? I doubt it!)
- Haggle – Don’t be embarrassed to haggle when buying things in the markets. It’ll save you money and get to connect with locals!
My Must Have Guides For Traveling to Nicaragua
How to Get Free Flights
This book shows you how to take money out of the travel equation and and master the points and miles game. It will show you how to easily collect and redeem travel points for free airfare and accommodation so you can get you out of your house faster, cheaper, and in comfort.
Conquering Mountains: The Guide to Solo Female Travel
Kristin Addis writes the solo female travel column for this website and her detailed guide addresses all the concerns women have about traveling and gives the specific advice and tips you need to conquer the world and stay safe.
How to Teach English Overseas
This book will teach you everything you need to know about landing your dream job and features interviews with dozens of teachers, recruiters, detailed information on the top teaching destinations, sample resumes, advice on nailing your interview, and much more.
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day
My New York Times best-selling paperback guide to world travel will teach how to master the art of travel so that, no matter how long you want to travel for, you’ll save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience.
Articles About Nicaragua
Booking Resources
Photo credits: 2