Granada is an exquisite city and was the setting for the pillage of pirates and filibusters that devastated the caribbean during the XVII,XVIII and XIX centuries. Founded in 1524 by captain Francisco Hernández de Cordoba, it's one of the oldest cities on the American continent still preserved in its original location.

A great way to observe the beauty of Granada´s vibrant architecture and historical churches is to rent an adorned horse drawn carriage and with a soft trot, arrive at the center of the city. Granada, besides its colonial architecture and natural beauties, offers a nightlife full of activities for all tastes and ages.

Additionally, just a few minutes from Granada , right within your reach, are some of Nicaragua´s most diverse natural attractions:

•    Islets: there is nothing more relaxing for the spirit than a journey throught the many calm canals that separate  the 365 islets are also the setting of the " viacrucis acuatico", a respresenting the stations of the cross aboard ornamented boats during Holy Week festivities.

•    Canopy Tours and Cloud Forrests: the nearby Mombacho Volcano Naturasl reserve offers the opportunity to gain a birds-eye view of the rich flora and fauna of this well-preserved cloud forrest , while skimming a top trees via canopy.

Getting to Granada from San Juan del Sur: Take a bus or taxi to Rivas and from there buses leave frequently to Granada.
Travel time: 1 hr 15 mins

Lake Nicaragua is among the top 25 largest lakes in the world. There are over three thousand square miles of Lake Nicaragua, and dozens of islands to explore and even stay overnight on. Some of the islands are close by boat, only fifteen minutes from Granada, or under one hour from Managua. Some are inhabited, such as Ometepe, and some are so small they seem like dots on the surface of this vast body of water. There are several resorts and lots of excursions in and around Lake Nicaragua. Let's explore just a few of them and you can get started on planning your Nicaragua vacation right here!
Rio San Juan flows all the way to the Caribbean Sea, and supports an amazing diversity of species. Sharks swim up the river from the Caribbean and can be found in Lake Nicaragua!
Ometepe
Ometepe is Lake Nicaragua's largest island, and hosts two towns and a total population of 35,000. You can get to Ometepe from Managua by going to the port of San Jorge and buying a ticket on the Diamante. The trip takes forty minutes. There are no longer hydrofoil services to Ometepe. Things to do on Ometepe include visiting one of two volcanoes and going to Santo Domingo Beach. There are also a lagoon, a waterfall, lots of agriculture, and miles and miles of trails to explore.

Getting to Ometepe from San Juan del Sur: Take a taxi directly to San Jorge or a cheaper but slower alternative is you can get a bus to Rivas and a taxi from there to San Jorge. From San Jorge you can get to the Ometepe's main port (Moyogalpa) by boat or ferry for about 2 USD.

Taking a boat from San Jorge is the fastest way, taking about one hour to get to the main port in Moyogalpa. Ferries are bigger than the regular boats and can also take cars. The fare is less than U$2.  This boat will take you to the north side of the island, to the city of Altagracia.

Ferry times: 7.45 am, 8.30 am, 10.30 am, 12.00 pm, 2.30 pm*, 4.00 pm, 5.45 pm
Boat times: 9.00 am*, 9.30 am, 11.30 am*, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm, 4.30 pm*
Prices: C$60 (ferry), C$28 (boat)
* excludes sundays
Travel time: 1 hr approximately

Leon is a bustling University town with a great music scene. For more than 200 years, Leon was the capital of the country.
On january 11, 1610 the inhabitants abandoned the city in exodus after the recurrence of earthquakes and the eruption of the Momotombo Volcano in 1609. Today, its original location is know as the Ruins  of Old Leon, which has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

One architectural monument that stands out among the city´s sixteen splendid churches ranging from the Baroque to the Neoclassical, its construction began in 1747 and lasted 113 years. Beneath its immaculate entrance lie the remains of Nicaragua´s most renowned literary figure, Ruben Darío.

•    Volcanoes: Nearby León, visitors can discover Nicaragua´s chain of volcanoes, whether sight seeing, climbing or for the more adventurous, skiing over volcanic sands.

•    Sun and beach: If you prefer  a  more moderate alternative, enjoy the sunny beaches of Poneloya, Las peñitas or the natural reserve of isla Juan Venado.

Getting to Leon from San Juan del Sur: Take a bus or shuttle to Managua.  From there you can get a bus to Leon from Mercado Israel C$ 40 $1.89,  1 hour 30 min.  Every 15 minutes (4 am – 8 pm) or Terminal UCA C$ 40 $ 1.89 1 hour 30 min.  Every 25 minutes (4 am – 9 pm).  You can also take a shuttle bus with the following company direct from San Juan del Sur with www.paxeos.com
Travel time: 3 hr 30 mins approximately

Masaya, called the City of Flowers, is located between Granada and Managua, It is also home to the Masaya Volcano. This area is the heart of Nicaraguan handicrafts. If you looking for unique Nicaraguan products such as hand woven hammocks, embroidered blouses, ceramics, wood carvings, and hemp weaving, the market is the place to go! The Arts and Crafts market of Masaya is also called the Indian Market.

Just outside the city is one of Nicaragua's most awesome and spectacular attractions: Masaya Volcano National Park. Its exotic and sometimes eerie ambiance was formed by old eruptions and lava flow. In the center of the park you see the two volcanoes Masaya and Nindiri, with a total of five craters. You are able to drive to the rim of the Santiago Crater which is 1,640 feet wide and 656 feet deep, and still emits wisps of steam.
By climbing to the top of one of the observation points in the park, you are able to enjoy the breathtaking sight of Managua, Lake Managua, Masaya Lagoon and the Mombacho Volcano. With authorization from the park administration, you can explore along the main trail where you will see dark and porous lava solidified since the eruption of 1772. You will also see steam vents, which are still active, and lava caves. The park also contains a Museum of Anthropology, nature trails, a restaurant and bar, and camping areas.
Apoyo Lagoon is a gigantic volcanic crater measuring four miles wide and over 656 feet deep. It is a great fishing spot, but also popular for all water sports including sailing and diving. It is also an area coveted for frequent archaeological findings.

Getting to Masaya from San Juan del Sur: Masaya is on the doorstep to Granada, so just take a bus or taxi to Rivas and from there take a bus direct to Granada and connect in Granada, either by bus, taxi or shuttle www.paxeos.com
Travel time: 1 hr 15 mins

Corn Island is located in the Caribbean Sea, 52 miles from the port city of Bluefields. Its population of approximately 2,500 is predominantly Carib. The largest of the Corn Islands is approximately four square miles in size. Little Corn Island, about nine miles northeast of the largest island, is a little over one square mile in size with a population of 250. Corn Island has almost 16,400 feet of white sand beach and crystal water which are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and other water sports.
Just 17.5 miles from Corn Island are the Pearl Keys. They are practically unexplored and their clear waters are ideal for fishing and diving.
About a mile southeast of Corn Island divers can explore the wreck of Spanish galleon which lies in 72 feet of clear water. Since this area was a favorite haunt of pirates who roamed the Caribbean, it is thought that many other ancient wrecks - some most certainly still containing their rich cargo - lie in the waters off the Corn Islands.
Most of Nicaragua's Caribbean coast is inhabited by Miskito Indians, descendants of the Caribs who were driven from the Pacific coast by the ancient Nahuas of Pipiles Indians. The Caribs spread through the dense rain forests which cover much of Nicaragua's Caribbean coastal area settling along the large rivers which run through the area. Some still reside on the Corn Islands to this day.
Tourism is just starting even though the beauty of the sea and white sand beaches is incredible. Services still are influenced by the local relaxed way. Snorkle around the islands; beautiful coral formations.
•    Coral reefs just minutes off shore surrounding the island. 10 to 12 feet deep, visibility 80 to 100 meters.
•    Beautiful unspoiled beaches, some of them totally deserted with white sand and turquoise waters. Truly an undiscovered paradise. Don't miss Little Corn Island.

Getting to The Corn Islands from San Juan del Sur: Get a shuttle or bus to Managua airport. From there, 2 (some days 3) 1:30 hr. flights are available from Managua with small aircraft operated by La Costeña and Air Alantic.
Travel time: Allow yourself the whole day to get there

The Río San Juan region in southeastern Nicaragua is one of the wildest, most remote areas in Central America. Most travelers to the area come from Granada via a sixteen-hour ferry ride across Lake Nicaragua, or from Managua on an unreliable all-day bus tour over mud-filled potholes on an unpaved road. And these travel options still bring you only to the head of the Río San Juan and the town of San Carlos, a chaotic, Indiana Jones-style portal for trade and travel bound to even more remote places.
Those who continue downriver witness a largely untouched—but increasingly threatened—lowland tropical rainforest that claims more species diversity in several square kilometers than the entire continent of Europe. A few trading centers mark some of the major confluences, but most of the population lives scattered along the vast network of primary and secondary waterways. Homes perch on the riverbanks above the water, just out of reach of the seasonal floods yet always intimately connected to the water that defines this region.

Strategically perched above a run of rapids at a turn in the river, it provides a mile-long view of the route that invading pirates once sailed, looking towards what is now the western edge of Central America’s second largest protected natural area.

Rio San Juan is the natural border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and a tourist destination itself. Visitors can take river excursions and even plan a vacation that crosses from Nicaragua into Costa Rica or vice versa, for exploration of both countries. San Carlos is an international entry point for Nicaragua so travelers will find services here. Boats from San Carlos will ferry you to any of thirty six different islands in Lake Nicaragua. Rio San Juan flows all the way to the Caribbean Sea, and supports an amazing diversity of species. Sharks swim up the river from the Caribbean and can be found in Lake Nicaragua!

Getting to Rio San Juan from San Juan del Sur: Get a shuttle or bus to Managua airport. Fly with Costena Airline direct to San Carlos
www.lacostena.com.ni less than $35 a ticket each way

There is a also a ferry from Granada and Ometepe 3 times a week, however, be prepared for a long journey.
Travel time: 2:15 hrs to Managua airport, 1 hr flight from there

Matagalpa is in the heart of the coffee-growing region of Nicaragua. It is a region of highlands and misty forests, with a temperate and moist climate. These qualities favor the cultivation of coffee. The coffees of Matagalpa are internationally renowned.
If it's all a little too overcaffeinated for you, wild nature - and lots of it - is just a short hike away. Matagalpa makes a very comfortable, even sophisticated, base for cloud-forest reserves and coffee-related tours, including one organization that will put you up in a grower's home so you can see firsthand what that few cents extra for a cup of Fair Trade coffee really buys. And when you come back to the big city, you'll appreciate the great restaurants, hotels and nightlife even more.

Getting to Matagalpa from San Juan del Sur: In Managua, the buses that head to the northern cities of Nicaragua leave from El Mercado Mayoreo (The Mayoreo Market). From this station, you can reach the cities of Matagalpa, Jinotega, Esteli, Somoto, Boaco, Chontales, Jalapa, San Carlos, Nueva Guinea, Rama and the border of  Las Manos and El Espino.

Bus times: Departure time from Managua: Hourly, from 4:00 a.m until 5:30 p.m
Estimated time: Expresos (Express service): 2 hours
Ruteados or Ordinarios (Regular service): 3 hours
Rates: Expresos:  C$ 60.00  (US $ 2.76), Ruteados: C$ 42.00 (US $ 2.20)

You can also arrange a driver to give you a ride to Matagalpa directly from any other pickup point in Managua such as airport or hotel.
 The average price for this is around U$ 75.00 dollars from the airport, U$ 85.00 from any place in Managua
Travel time: 2:15 to Managua and 2:30 from Managua to Matagalpa

The Cerro Negro is a young and unique volcano. The steep slopes of this black volcano are void of any vegetation. On and around the volcano is a thick layer of volcanic ash and rocks. It erupted in 1999 and as a result there is volcanic material all around the volcano along with two recently formed smaller craters right next Cerro Negro.
It is only 400 meters high, but when climbing up, the hike up is steep and unpaved.  There is just a lone natural path along a rim that leads to the top. It takes about one hour to get to the top, and although a tough hike, the views are very rewarding. The absence of trees and 360 degree view provides an unforgettable vista.
The crater often emits smoke and can be observed from above.  The crater rim leads to the other side where the imposing volcanic chain can be seen with several volcanoes (including the Telica and San Cristóbal) lined up one after another. the views are fantastic even from the bottom of the volcano.

One of the volcano’s slopes is too steep to climb – but consequently has been proving popular in recent years with sandboarders.  A sport which has been described as a bizarre and wonderful alternative to snowboarding.  Click here to book your sandboarding adventure.

Getting to Cerro Negro from San Juan del Sur: Take a bus or shuttle to Managua.  From there you can get a bus to Leon from Mercado Israel C$ 40 $1.89,  1 hour 30 min.  Every 15 minutes (4 am – 8 pm) or Terminal UCA C$ 40 $ 1.89 1 hour 30 min.  Every 25 minutes (4 am – 9 pm).  You can also take a shuttle bus with the following company direct from San Juan del Sur with www.paxeos.com From Leon there are buses that will take you directly to Cerro Negro.  We recommend staying in Leon the night before and departing for the volcano at the crack of dawn. It is very hot and Cerro Negro is black, so an early and cool start is the best way to visit.
Travel time: 4 hrs approximately