19 TOP Things to Do in Nicaragua

Nicaragua is basically made for adventure travel. You can slide down an active volcano in the morning, swim in a crater lake the next day, surf the Pacific, kayak beneath volcanoes, and somehow still squeeze in colorful colonial cities between all of it.

We spent about three weeks wandering and road tripping through Nicaragua, and these are the things to do in Nicaragua that I’d actually prioritize.

1. Volcano Board Down Cerro Negro

If you do one ridiculous thing in Nicaragua, make it volcano boarding.

From León, you’ll head out to Cerro Negro, hike roughly 45 minutes up the black volcanic slopes, throw on a jumpsuit and goggles, and slide back down on a wooden board.

It’s dusty, windy, slightly chaotic, and easily one of the most memorable things we did in Nicaragua! Read my full guide to volcano boarding Cerro Negro before you go.

2. Explore Colorful León

Don’t just use León as your launch point for Cerro Negro. Give the city itself at least a day.

Wander the old town, markets, murals, colorful churches, and streets before heading up to the rooftop of León Cathedral. The white domes and volcano views make this one of the coolest rooftops in Nicaragua.

READ MORE: Your Guide to Leon, Nicaragua

3. Escape to Las Peñitas + Isla Juan Venado

About 30 minutes from León, Las Peñitas gives you an easy dose of Pacific coast without having to completely rearrange your Nicaragua itinerary.

Come for the beach, grab a drink somewhere along the sand, and head into the mangroves around Isla Juan Venado by kayak.

If you’re short on time, I’d make the nature reserve the priority rather than spending an entire day beach hopping around here. Read my full Las Peñitas guide for day passes, where to stay, and more.

4. Wander Colonial Granada

Granada is another city worth slowing down for. Colorful colonial buildings, churches, leafy courtyards, cafés, and Lake Nicaragua are all packed into a very walkable center.

You don’t need an aggressive sightseeing itinerary here. Wander around, climb a church tower, grab some food, and save plenty of time for day trips like the next few on this list.

READ MORE: 8 BEST Things to Do in Granada, Nicaragua

5. Explore the Granada Islets

Just offshore from Granada are hundreds of tiny volcanic islands scattered across Lake Nicaragua. You can weave between them by boat or kayak, spotting birds, monkeys, homes, restaurants, and tiny islands covered in vegetation.

A boat tour is the easiest option, while kayaking lets you explore at a much slower pace. Read my full guide to the best day trips from Granada for more ideas.

6. Stay on Your Own Private Island

Instead of only touring the Granada Islets, we actually spent the night on one.

Isla Mirabel is basically your own tiny island with a glass-walled cabin, hammocks, kayaks, paddleboards, resident cats, and mangroves all around you.

We paddled around the neighboring islands, spotted monkeys and birds, watched the sunset, and woke up surrounded by Lake Nicaragua.

This was easily one of the most unique stays of our Nicaragua trip. Read my full Isla Mirabel guide to see what staying on your own private island is actually like.

7. Swim in Laguna de Apoyo

Laguna de Apoyo is a huge volcanic crater lake between Granada and Masaya, and it’s ridiculously easy to add to your trip.

We stayed overnight, but you can easily come from Granada for the day. Most of the lake access is through hotels and beach clubs where you can swim, float, kayak, eat, drink, and stare across the crater.

Read my full Laguna de Apoyo guide for day passes, where to stay, and how lake access works.

8. Peer Into Masaya Volcano

Masaya is one of the easiest volcano experiences you’ll ever have because you can basically drive straight up to the crater.

We visited during the day and could look directly into the smoking crater, hear movement below, and actually see the different colors and layers inside.

Don’t expect the giant glowing lava lake you may have seen in older photos. Conditions have changed, but standing on the rim of an active volcanic crater is still pretty damn cool.

Read my full guide to visiting Masaya Volcano during the day vs at night.

9. Explore Ometepe by ATV

Ometepe deserves more than a rushed day trip, and the best way to see it is on your own wheels.

The island sits in Lake Nicaragua beneath two huge volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, with waterfalls, beaches, natural springs, farms, and petroglyphs scattered all over it. It’s also way bigger than it looks on a map.

We rented an ATV for our five nights and I’d absolutely do it again. The main roads are fine, but the access roads to waterfalls, beaches, and hotels get sandy and rough, and the ATV handled all of it. We even rode it to the ferry with our luggage.

Scooters work too if you’re a confident rider. Read my full guide to where to stay on Ometepe to pick the right base.

10. Swim at Ojo de Agua

Ojo de Agua is a huge natural spring pool surrounded by tropical greenery on Ometepe.

The water is cold enough to feel amazing after baking in the Nicaraguan sun, and there are chairs, food, drinks, a rope swing, and plenty of space to hang out for a few hours. Yes, it’s one of Ometepe’s more touristy stops. We still really enjoyed it.

READ MORE: 10 Most WORTH-IT Things to Do in Ometepe, Nicaragua

11. Hike to Cascada de San Ramón

San Ramón Waterfall tumbles down the slopes of Maderas Volcano and makes for one of the best shorter hikes on Ometepe.

The trail itself isn’t particularly difficult. Getting to the upper trailhead can be the bigger adventure because the access road gets rough. Our ATV made that part much easier.

We visited during dry season and the waterfall was thinner, but there was still enough water to swim beneath it. Wet season should make it considerably more impressive.

READ MORE: Cascada de San Ramón: Ometepe’s Best Waterfall Hike

12. Catch an Ometepe Volcano Sunset

You haven’t properly done Ometepe until you’ve sat beside Lake Nicaragua watching the sun drop behind the island with a volcano filling the background.

Playa Mangos is the famous sunset spot and the view really is excellent, although it gets busy. We also found much quieter little lakefront restaurants and kayak spots nearby with essentially the same volcano views.

Kayaking is another great way to get out onto the lake and see Ometepe from a completely different angle. The kayak launch spot is where you’ll want to catch sunset anyway! Read my Ometepe tips before you go so you know how to get around the island.

13. Beach Hop Around San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur gets all the attention, but some of my favorite beaches were outside town.

We rented a car and bounced between Playa El Coco, Escameca, El Yankee, Hermosa, Remanso, Marsella, Maderas, and a few tiny beaches in between. Some have restaurants, surf rentals, and beach bars. Others have basically nothing.

If you have the time, spend a couple of days exploring instead of planting yourself on one beach.

READ MORE: 7 Beaches of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua: Which to Visit?

14. Learn to Surf in Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Pacific coast is packed with surf breaks, and you definitely don’t need to be an expert to get out there.

We found plenty of beginner-friendly waves around San Juan del Sur. Remanso is particularly easy because the road is paved, rentals are right on the beach, and there are restaurants and bars where you can hang out between sessions.

Read my full San Juan del Sur guide for where to stay and what else to do in town.

15. Surf Popoyo

If surfing is a major reason you’re coming to Nicaragua, keep heading north to Popoyo.

There are several breaks in the area, including an easy Beginner Bay, plus plenty for much more experienced surfers. We rented boards, surfed, wandered the beaches, and checked out the tide pools while we were here.

But I’ll be straight with you: I’d really only add Popoyo to your itinerary if you want to surf. Everything is quite spread out and there isn’t much of a town or loads to do beyond the beach. For surfers, that’s kind of the point.

READ MORE: Your Mini Popoyo, Nicaragua Guide

16. Road Trip Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast

One of my favorite parts of Nicaragua wasn’t a single attraction. It was having our own wheels.

We could bounce between León, Granada, crater lakes, beaches, volcanoes, and random roadside stops without building our days around shuttles and buses.

You don’t need a rental car for the entire country, but if you want to beach hop or build a bigger Nicaragua road trip, it gives you a lot more freedom. Read my full Nicaragua itinerary to see how I’d piece the route together.

Three Places I Wish I’d Had More Time For

Three weeks sounds like plenty until you actually start traveling around Nicaragua. I didn’t make it to these final three, but they’re the places I’d add if I had more time.

17. Adventure Through Somoto Canyon

Way up in northern Nicaragua, Somoto Canyon is the glaring omission from my trip.

This dramatic river canyon near the Honduran border is all about getting into the landscape rather than staring at it from a viewpoint. It’s one of Nicaragua’s major adventure and nature destinations, and exactly the type of place I would have added with a few extra days.

18. Explore Matagalpa + Coffee Country

I’d also head north into the mountains around Matagalpa for a completely different side of Nicaragua.

Matagalpa sits along Nicaragua’s Coffee Route and is surrounded by coffee farms, mountains, waterfalls, and protected natural areas. It’s cooler, greener, and a nice contrast to the hot Pacific coast.

19. Escape to the Corn Islands

And finally, I’d make time for Nicaragua’s Caribbean side.

Big Corn and Little Corn are known for white sand, clear turquoise water, snorkeling, diving, and coral reefs. They’re much more of a mission to reach than Nicaragua’s Pacific beaches, which is exactly why they didn’t fit into this trip.

If I had another week? This is probably where I’d spend it.

How Long Do You Need in Nicaragua?

You could hit León, Granada, Ometepe, and San Juan del Sur in around two weeks, but I’d give Nicaragua closer to three weeks if you want some actual breathing room.

We spent about three weeks traveling through the country and still didn’t make it to Somoto Canyon, Matagalpa, or the Corn Islands. I have a whole Nicaragua itinerary for you to check out.

If you’re short on time, pick a few regions instead of trying to collect every stop. Nicaragua is much better when you have time to actually hike the volcano, jump in the lake, surf for a few hours, and have absolutely nowhere else you need to be that afternoon.

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