Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.
The tropical paradise of Nicaragua rests in the middle of Central America. Just south of Honduras, the volcanic haven is known for its lush, tropical rainforests, active and intense volcanos, fantastic nightlife, and cultural beauty. This undiscovered gem continues to be overlooked by many and is considered remote. However, this does not mean it is not worth a visit.
Visiting Nicaragua is truly a spectacular experience. The country’s vast beauty is something completely unique to Nicaragua and will leave you in awe.
The country itself spans 130,000 square kilometers and is dotted with over 40 volcanos both active and dormant. With several different types of terrain like mountains, valleys, coasts, and lowlands, the country’s diverse landscape can make for a perfect country to explore from coast to coast.
The first expedition to Nicaragua was in 1519 when Spanish soldier Pedro Arias Davila founded the first permanent colonies in what would be considered present-day Nicaragua. By 1524, cities like Granada and Leon were permanently colonized and Spanish settlers had to begin to arrive by that point.
Once the Europeans began to settle in Nicaragua, the indigenous population began to feel the effects of colonization when most of the population died off due to European diseases however today, the population is on the rise and the indigenous traditions and culture of Nicaragua are now being showcased for the world to see.
Expanding to what it is today, Nicaragua has shaped itself to be a tropical paradise that’s good on the wallet yet exciting and off the beaten path.
The energy of Nicaragua is hard to capture in writing and is something you should experience for yourself. The architectural beauty in combination with the perfect weather, affordable prices, and immersive culture will sweep you right away and transport you to the world of wonders.
Let’s take a look at some of the two best places to visit while in Nicaragua.
Granada, Nicaragua.
Just south of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua lies the small but popular town of Granada. Founded in 1523 the city of Granada is one of the oldest cities in Nicaragua. Founded by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba it quickly established itself as a hub for the country.
Known for its colonial-style buildings, friendly locals and safe atmosphere the city itself is a perfect place for tourists to experience Nicaragua. The city is studded with beautiful colonial gems and the most famous, st mary’s cathedral in the heart of the city. You’ll be transported right back in time to Spain’s colonial era and you may learn a bit about it too.
You will be left with some of the best postcard pictures out there and since Nicaragua is relatively off the beaten path, you can be confident that crowds will be minimal. With that being said, Granada is a great place to tour while in Nicaragua and is one of the top spots in the country for travelers
Leon, Nicaragua
Located in the western portion of Nicaragua, the city of Leon is considered a haven for travelers. This is due to its west coast vibes, beautiful beaches and interesting history. Leon was first established in 1524 and the city was actually a lot closer to Managua. You’re probably wondering, how could a city possibly move.
Well in 1610 a massive hurricane hit the country leaving the city destroyed. The country’s officials at the time made the decision to move the city to where it is now. The city became the capital of Nicaragua until 1855 when Managua officially became the country’s new capital.
The city itself has come a long way since becoming a cultural hub for the country. Travelers can experience the intense but intricate history of Nicaragua by exploring the vast ruins and many cathedrals in the city.
Leon is a perfect place to tour in Nicaragua. With a balance of city life and rural beach, the life you’ll get the best of both worlds with a unique glimpse into the history and culture of Nicaragua.
Managua, Nicaragua
Managua, the capital of Nicaragua is a bustling city in the south of Nicaragua. Surrounded by small lakes and volcanos, the city is a gem in the rough. Managua is also considered the warmest central American capital and this is due to the city being roughly 50 meters above sea level.
Managua is also the largest city in the country with an overall population of 1.52 million. Often seen as the second cultural hub, the city is known for its strong colonial roots and intricate history.
With all of that information, it may be hard to pick a place to visit within Nicaragua. Or perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed as you want to see it all but don’t know how to start in terms of planning or organizing something like this.
Rest assured, there are plenty of solutions to this and one of which is taking an organized multiday tour. Taking an organized tour can leave you feeling a lot less stressed as you will be in the company of an official tour guide as well as everything is planned for you and most things are completely included in the cost of the tour.
It is highly recommended to see Nicaragua on an organized tour so you see the best of the country and everything there is to see and do. Here is a breakdown of the best tours in Nicaragua!
Page Contents
Classic Nicaragua – 5 days
Receptivo Aborigen Tours
Are you ready to witness the magic of Nicaragua? More often than not, Nicaragua is considered off the beaten path or very exotic to some. The capital of the country is Managua and that’s where this tour begins. You’ll get a chance to see the class spots and perfect attractions on this class five-day tour.
You’ll get a chance to see some once-in-a-lifetime or unique experiences too. Visit the Flor De Caa rum factory, lake Nicaragua, Masaya volcano, Catarina handicraft market, the city of Granada, and much more.
This 5-day tour will take you through 3 cities in Nicaragua and your tour includes lodging, meals, transportation, and other amenities. Here is a look at your day-to-day itinerary and why this tour is considered one of the best tours in Nicaragua.
Day One: Airport – Managua – Leon
Day Two: City Tour León and walking tour
Day Three: Flor de Caña Rum Factory – Masaya Volcano and Handicraft Market with Catarina Viewpoint
Day Four: Granada City Tour and Lake Nicaragua
Day Five: San Juan de Oriente – Mirador de Catarina – Airport
On this 5-day tour across Nicaragua, you will get a chance to explore this hidden gem and a mix of both hidden gems and popular attractions around Nicaragua. This is a perfect tour for those who have limited time but want to explore the country and see as much as they can within 5 days. Thi sis a perfect tour for couples, solo travelers, groups, or holiday vacations.
The tour itself is offered by Receptivo Aborigen Tours, an Argentinian company that strives to give travelers the ultimate experience whenever they travel. The operator has an overall rating of 4.1 out of five stars and the tour itself has a rating of 4.1 out of five stars as well. With that being said, we can confidently recommend this tour as it is not only jam-packed but highly rated and well-organized.
Nicaragua – Land of Lakes and Volcanoes
Explore!
Nicaragua is most often called the land of lakes and volcanos. We can say this is certainly true. With some of the most spectacular volcanos, beautiful, pristine lakes that are safe for swimming, and untouched natural reservoirs and forests Nicaragua is a truly undiscovered gem just waiting to be explored.
On this Nicaragua highlights tour you will discover 3 of the best cities in Nicaragua as well as learn about their history, and culture and get the chance to experience them to the fullest. You’ll get a chance to see two colonial towns, visit the volcanic island of Ometepe, learn about wildlife in Selva Negra and take a boat ride across lake Nicaragua and visit the famous Masaya volcano.
Your tour will start and end in the capital of Managua. You’ll have 13 days to explore the country while visiting 8 different destinations in the country. Your tour includes hotel stays, an expert guide, meals, transportation, and much more. Here is a chance to visualize your day-to-day itinerary
Day One: Arrive in Managua, and meet your guide.
Day Two: Tour of Managua and Leon’s highlights
Day Three: Free time to explore Leon or the optional Cerro Negro hike
Day Four: Visit San Jacinto en route to San Ramon homestay
Day Five: Search for wildlife in the Selva Negra Cloudforest
Day Six: Discover Granada, an optional boat trip on Lake Nicaragua
Day Seven: Visit the Masaya Volcano and artisan market
Day Eight: Travel to Ometepe Island
Day Nine: Free day for optional walks or cooking class at a women’s co-operative
Day Ten: Travel to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Coast
Day Eleven: Optional surfing lesson or turtle nesting tour (in season)
This enchanting 11-day tour through the beautiful country of Nicaragua is perfect for almost all travelers and will give those with the travel bug, the ultimate experience within the country. You can travel at ease knowing the travel operator is rated very highly as well as the tour itself. Travelers that have taken this tour recommend it and it is one of the best tours in Nicaragua
GIVE – Nicaragua
Growth International Volunteer Excursions
Get the chance to see Nicaragua in detail. From the pacific Rim Volcanos to the beaches of the Pacific Coast, you will get a chance to volunteer in Nicaragua and truly give back to the community. You’ll get a chance to go fishing in the remote village of Jiquilillo as well as construct homes, repair the mangrove forests, and teach English.
This is a chance to not only see the culture of Nicaragua but experience it with the locals too. You’ll get some free time where you can surf, paddle board, learn Spanish or just explore the town and the wonderful people who live here. You will start and end your tour in Managua.
With a chance to completely experience Nicaragua to the fullest your 13-day tour with include 2 cities and you can count on almost everything being included in the price of your tour. This includes hotel stays, an expert guide, transportation, meals, and more. It is recommended to obtain travel insurance before departure as this is not included in the price of your tour.
To give you an idea as to what you’d be doing, let’s take a look at the 13-day itinerary that would be in store for you!
Day One: Your GIVE Team Leaders will pick you up at the Managua airport and take you to your beachfront residence within the fishing community.
Day Two: You’ll start by meeting with your team leaders about the community and you’ll get a chance to start working on the mangrove forests.
Day Three – Day Nine: You’ll get a chance to work on our English education and eco-friendly projects. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to relax on the beach or do as you, please. In the afternoon you will return to the site until later in the afternoon before ending work for the day and spending time immersing yourself in the town and the friendly locals.
Day Ten: Get a chance to climb to the top of Cerro Negro the most active volcano in all of Central America. In the afternoon learn some salsa moves with the GIVE family.
Day Eleven – Day Twelve: Take an overnight trek to the Telica volcano where you’ll hike through the forests and enjoy dinner overlooking the sunset on the pacific ocean.
Day Thirteen: Departure Day
Getting a once in a lifetime chance to volunteer and give back to the community is always something completely special and something you won’t forget. Not only is this tour unique but it is refreshing in the sense that it is for a cause and it is meaningful.
Being able to help the community to which you’re traveling too is an extremely rewarding experience and something that needs to be done more frequently. You can also travel at ease knowing the tour operator, Growth International Volunteer Excursions is well known for its exceptional tours and volunteer opportunities around the world.
This immersive tour of Nicaragua offered by Growth International Volunteer Excursions is also highly rated among travelers and is rated a total of 4.9 out of five stars.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to not only give back to the locals and the community but also travel and experience Nicaragua as well, this is the best option for you.
Granada Spanish-Colonial City 4 days
Receptivo Aborigen Tours
Experiencing the wonderful city of Granada will leave you speechless, the stunning architecture paired with friendly people will make you want to stay forever. Youll will be perhaps transported back in time to Spain in the 1700s with the old colonial buildings and horses & carriages on every street.
Taking a tour of Granada allows you to learn about the city and experience everything in detail. You’ll start and end your tour in Granada with a chance to see popular sites like Lake Nicaragua, Masaya Volcano, a Spanish Colonial city tour, and much more. Travel at ease knowing everything from transportation, meals, lodging, and excursions. Here is a look at your detailed itinerary for this tour.
Day One: Arrive at the airport in Managua where you will be picked up and transported to your hotel.
Day Two: Granada City Tour and Lake Nicaragua
Day Three: Masaya Volcano & Handicraft Market with Catarina
Day Four: Departure from Granada to the airport.
This Spanish colonial tour will give you the chance to experience and learn all about the intense Spanish history and colonization of Nicaragua. This four-day tour will give you the chance to learn about Nicaragua in detail in just a few days. Although if you have more time it is recommended to stay for longer and travel the country in greater detail.
This will give you the ultimate perspective into Nicaraguan history. Although, this is a great option for family travels or couples, solos, or groups. Offered by the popular tour operator of Receptivo Aborigen Tours, you can also guarantee that this tour will be fantastic and completely immersive as this operator is known for its immersive and authentic excursions.
In conclusion, if you don’t have a lot of time and would like to see Nicaragua, this is definitely the best option for you.
Nicaragua Essential
Vive Travels
Looking to see the top sites and attractions within Nicaragua? For lovers of adventure or exotic destinations, this is the perfect tour for you! With a chance to experience the essential sites in Nicaragua over 7 days, you’ll get the opportunity to experience Lake Nicaragua, the island of Ometepe, visit the Madera Volcano as well as take surfing lessons on the exotic, pristine beaches off the pacific coast.
This immersive 7-day tour includes the basics like meals, transportation, an expert guide, accommodations, and more. You’ll start your journey in Managua and end in Managua as well. With a chance to visit a total of 9 different cities in Nicaragua, you will be kept busy with this intense and jam-packed itinerary. Let’s take a look at what your day-to-day would like with this itinerary.
Day One: Arriving in Nicaragua
Day Two: Visit Masaya, Granada, and Catarina
Day Three: Visit the Isletas de Granada.
Day Four: Visit the island of Ometepe and explore the beaches as well as the rest of the island.
Day Five: Visit the Madera Volcanos in Ometepe.
Day Six: Visit San Juan Del Sur.
Day Seven: Departure at any time.
This seven-day essentials tour will give you a glimpse into the beauty of Nicaragua and show you some of the best sites and attractions within the country. The mix of relaxing experiences vas adrenaline pumping adventure is balanced giving you the best of both worlds in terms of travel. This is a great tour for couples or even solo travelers.
You can also travel with less stress knowing that the tour is operated by a very popular tour operator with an exceptional rating for its quality, expert guides, and fantastic tours. With a rating of 4 out of five stars, you can be confident you’ll have a good time and enjoy the tour to the fullest.
Nicaragua is a breathtaking country that is worth the visit. Some consider it off the beaten path or perhaps not worthy of a visit but I can assure you that this is simply not true.
In Nicaragua, you will see some of the most pristine, exotic beaches with minimal crowds and some fantastic and intense nightlife that will leave you partying until the early hours of the morning. You’ll get a chance to make many new friends as well as open yourself up to a completely new culture and way of life.
Seeing Nicaragua should be on everyone’s bucket list, as it is often considered paradise by locals and those who have visited the country. Visit Nicaragua – I Love You As You Are.
If none of these tours work for you in Nicaragua, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.
Take a look at all the group tours in Nicaragua now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.
