You could easily spend months in Nicaragua. These are our favourite things to do from our two months travelling around the country in 2017.
Nicaragua was one of the best places we visited on our six-month trip up through Central America. While you’re here, make sure you stop over on Ometepe Island.
Updated October 2026: before you go
- Official advice: the US rates Nicaragua Level 3 (reconsider travel), mainly because of the risk of wrongful detention and arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Ireland’s DFA and Australia’s Smartraveller say exercise a high degree of caution. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel, but there is no British embassy in Nicaragua; help comes from San José in Costa Rica.
- Politics: it is illegal for foreigners to take part in any political activity, including protests or using the blue and white national colours for campaigning. You can be arrested or deported. Authorities are reported to check travellers’ social media, so think about what you post.
- Entry can be refused: Nicaragua has turned away and expelled foreigners without giving a reason, including journalists, NGO and church workers and people who had visited before without problems.
- Entry (Irish, UK and Australian passports): no visa for up to 90 days. You pay a USD 10 tourist card on arrival, need a passport valid for 6 months and must show an onward ticket. Your airline or bus company may ask for extra details, such as your address in Nicaragua, before you travel. The 90 days are shared with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras (the CA-4).
- Some EU passports need a visa now: since February 2026 Nicaragua requires visas from 128 nationalities, including Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Check your own passport with the nearest Nicaraguan embassy.
- Also note: e-cigarettes and vapes are banned. The USD 35 departure tax is normally included in your air ticket.
- Money: the currency is the córdoba, and US dollars are widely accepted. ATMs give dollars or córdobas; use them in daylight and don’t change money on the street.
- Getting around: use radio-dispatched or authorised taxis (red plates). Only hike volcanoes with an experienced guide.
Prices below are what we paid in 2017. Expect most of them to be higher now.
Our top 20 things to do in Nicaragua
1. Surf Playa El Remanso near San Juan del Sur
Jump on one of the many shuttles from San Juan del Sur to Playa El Remanso. After a short 20-minute drive on a bumpy road, you arrive at a small but beautiful beach.
When we were there it had two restaurants with friendly staff and, apparently, the best tacos in town.
No need to rent a board in advance: you can hire one at the beach. It cost us about $10 for the whole day.
It’s a great beginner spot, as the waves are usually fat and slow.
For more challenging waves, try Maderas or Hermosa beaches. They’re 30 to 45 minutes away and have more places to eat.
2. Hike up to the Christ of the Mercy statue
The view from the top.
You can see the Christ of the Mercy statue from San Juan del Sur beach. Get there by walking along the beach and crossing the river at low tide, or over the bridge.
It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the top. It’s a pleasant walk, but the last 10 minutes are steep. The view from the top is breathtaking.
You can also take a taxi most of the way and walk the last 3 to 5 minutes. There’s a small entry fee at the gate (we paid $2).
3. Join a Sunday Funday
San Juan del Sur is home to Sunday Funday.
Every Sunday, crowds of backpackers flood into town for the pool crawl.
When we went, $35 got you a wristband, a vest top and a shuttle between the venues.
Trust us, it’s crazy, and you’re lucky if you survive the day!
4. Eat seafood at El Timón
Best lobster ever!
This beach restaurant is one of the most famous in town, and also one of the most expensive.
It’s a popular dinner spot with live music.
We had the craziest seafood platter you can imagine for about 1,100 córdobas.
In our opinion, El Timón serves some of the best fresh snapper in Nicaragua. Worth a try.
5. Go zip-lining
There are quite a few zip lines in Nicaragua.
Our favourites were Da Flying Frog near San Juan del Sur, the canopy tour on Mombacho volcano, and Ometepe, where you zip line with views of both volcanoes.
The views on all of them are breathtaking, so it’s hard to pick the best.
6. See olive ridley turtles
Imagine watching turtles hatching in front of your eyes.
The La Flor Wildlife Refuge south of San Juan del Sur is one of the beaches where olive ridley turtles come ashore in huge numbers to nest. The season runs roughly from July to January, and you visit with a guide at night.
Olive ridleys are listed as vulnerable, and their numbers are falling, so follow your guide’s rules: no torches or flash photos.
7. Go on a fishing trip
You can go fishing just off Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.
Your chances of catching a big fish are good, even with zero experience. In season, you may also spot whales and dolphins.
8. Go island-hopping on Lake Nicaragua
Just one of the many islands.
Right next to Granada lies Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America.
Las Isletas, a cluster of well over 300 small islands, sits just off the city, and you can visit some of them.
Tour offices in the town centre run boat trips throughout the day. When we went, they cost about $10 to 15 per person.
Our guided tour took 3 to 4 hours around some incredible tiny islands.
9. Do yoga on a stand-up paddleboard
San Juan del Sur is popular with expats and travellers for its beach life and relaxed, laid-back culture.
The town has a few great yoga spots, and our favourite was yoga on the water.
Classes are seasonal, so check before you go.
10. Take a horse and carriage ride in Granada
A great way to see the town.
You’ll find horse-drawn carriages for hire around Granada’s Central Park.
We paid about 300 córdobas (for two) for an hour-long ride around Granada.
The drivers double as friendly guides and tell you the history of the town as you go.
11. Explore Granada’s colonial streets
Granada has hidden treasures around every corner.
It’s packed with shops, bars and restaurants, and it’s also home to several art galleries. By far the best way to explore is on foot.
There’s so much to see. Take your time on the cobblestone streets, and don’t forget your camera.
12. Climb the bell tower of La Merced
The views are amazing.
You can’t actually ring the bell, but the tower of the Iglesia La Merced has one of the best views over Granada.
It cost us just $1 to climb, the best-spent dollar for watching the sunset. You can take pictures of the bell, too. The tower closes in the late afternoon, so don’t leave it too late.
13. See the glow of Masaya volcano
Masaya’s lava lake was most impressive in the evening on a clear day.
When we visited, tours from Granada cost $20 to 35, depending on the company. You could also drive there yourself and pay at the gate: USD 10 per foreign tourist for the evening visit.
Get there before 4:30pm, as cars queue early. It gets crowded and you only get a few minutes at the rim for pictures.
Things have changed since our visit. Landslides inside the crater in 2024 partly covered the lava lake and closed the crater for a time. It reopened in 2025, and the glow can often be seen again at night, though less than before. Access can close at short notice because of volcanic activity, so check on the day. A Masaya volcano night tour from Granada is the easiest way to go.
14. Try traditional food in Granada’s Central Park
Nicaraguan food is packed with flavour.
Vigorón (cabbage salad, yuca and pork crackling) is the classic dish here. The food stalls around Central Park are always busy with locals and tourists.
If you want to try traditional local food, this is the place.
15. Spend a few days on Ometepe
Ometepe, the volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua, is one of our favourite places in the country.
We spent a few nights on this stunning island and loved it. There’s lots to do, and we cover it all in our guide to things to do on Ometepe Island.
It was the highlight of our trip and our favourite of all 20 things to do in Nicaragua.
16. Spend the day at Laguna de Apoyo
Stay for the sunset.
Only about 20 minutes from Granada, this is one of the cleanest lagoons we’ve ever seen.
The deep blue colour of the crater lake and its water temperature are perfect.
You can spend a day or two at Laguna de Apoyo enjoying water activities.
At Laguna Beach Club, for example, we paid $6 for a day’s use of their water equipment.
If you stay the night, listen out for the many birds and monkeys around the lagoon.
17. Hike Mombacho volcano
Scary eyes 🙂
Go in the afternoon: it’s less crowded and there’s a good chance of clear skies.
The hike is even better towards evening. We saw a red-eyed tree frog, snakes and different kinds of monkeys within an hour.
There are several trails, from 1.5 to 4 hours.
When we went, a guided tour from Granada cost about USD 35 to 50, depending on the company.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light jacket, as it can get chilly at the top.
18. Enjoy the views from Magnific Rock
Magnific Rock is one of the best-known spots in Popoyo.
Whether you want a place to stay, surf lessons or a bite to eat, it has it all.
Sip a cocktail while you watch the surfers, or take a dip in the pool. You’re on holiday, after all.
19. Take a surf lesson in Popoyo
Popoyo, on the Pacific coast, is one of Nicaragua’s most famous surf spots.
The waves here are some of the best in the country, with breaks for beginners and advanced surfers.
The village itself is tiny and relaxed, a perfect laid-back spot.
There are plenty of surf schools if you want lessons, or you can rent a board from one of the shops (about $10 a day when we were there) and enjoy the waves.
20. Go volcano boarding in León
Volcano boarding is one of the top things you have to experience in Nicaragua, and there aren’t many places in the world where you can do it.
You ride a board down the black slopes of Cerro Negro, a young, active volcano on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Prices vary depending on where you start. When we went, tours cost anything from USD 45 to 100 per person; park entry is often extra.
We recommend paying a bit more for a better suit and board and, hopefully, a smaller group. You can book a Cerro Negro volcano boarding tour from León in advance.
If you have more time, visit the Corn Islands on the Caribbean side. We didn’t make it there, but everyone told us they were amazing!
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list
There’s so much to do in Nicaragua, and we certainly didn’t see it all. It’s a magical place, and one we’re sure you won’t forget.
These 20 things are what we enjoyed most. We hope you love the country as much as we did. Leave a comment if you’re planning your Nicaraguan adventure or have tips to share.
Planning your Nicaragua trip?
- Our guide to Ometepe Island
- Booking.com: hotels and hostels in Granada, San Juan del Sur and León
- Masaya volcano night tour and Cerro Negro volcano boarding
- Airalo: an eSIM so you have data when you arrive
- True Traveller: the travel insurance we use (make sure it covers volcano boarding and surfing)
- Fast Cover: travel insurance for Australian residents
- Our El Salvador travel guide, if you’re heading north
Thanks for stopping by,
Steve and Sabina
Planning your trip? Pin this guide to your Pinterest board for later.
Some links are affiliate links. If you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Posting from Central America? Grab a line from our 100+ Central America captions.