1 Month Nicaragua Itinerary: Experience the Best of Nica

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So you want to visit Nicaragua but you’re not sure where to go, how to get around or what order to visit places? This Nicaragua itinerary will answer all your questions.

Nicaragua is a diverse country that offers a taste of everything!

One day you’re exploring a charming colonial city like Granada or Leon and the next you’re traipsing up an active volcano. It has lakes and islands galore, from the tranquil Laguna de Apoyo in an extinct volcanic crater to Ometepe, a twin volcano island in Lake Nicaragua. Funky surf towns line the Pacific Coast like Popoyo and Playa Maderas but don’t forget about the Caribbean Coast, where the Corn Islands lie offshore, aka tropical paradise.

Not only are there so many great places to visit in Nicaragua, but each of these places has a lot to see and do. We think one month is the best amount of time to experience all the highlights without rushing, allowing you to soak up the unique vibe and landscape of each destination.

We actually spent 5 weeks in the country and still didn’t get around to all the places we wanted to!

Based on our experience, we’ve created this one-month Nicaragua itinerary with what we think is the perfect route through the country. Our itinerary includes the top things to do, places to eat, and where to stay in each destination, as well as comprehensive transport details on how to travel between each stop.

Nicaragua travel information

I’m sure you have lots of other questions – when is the best time to visit Nicaragua? Is it safe? What’s the currency and money situation? How do I get around? I answer all these questions and more in my Nicaragua travel guide.

If you’re wondering how much it costs to travel in Nicaragua, check out our Nicaragua travel budget post, which includes our complete budget breakdown and samples of typical travel costs.

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1 Month Nicaragua itinerary summary

Nicaragua itinerary considerations

These are a few things to take into consideration as you refine your Nicaragua itinerary…

• 🗓️ I think one month is the ideal amount of time to see these destinations without rushing. It means you can stay a decent length of time in the Corn Islands, which requires a very pricey flight or a very long bus-ferry-boat journey. It also means you can visit multiple destinations on the Pacific Coast without sacrificing other inland destinations.

• 💨 If you travel at a much quicker pace than we do and you think this is too slow, I’d recommend adding some time in the highlands (Esteli, Somoto Canyon, the Miraflor Cloud Forest and coffee country around Jinotega) between Leon and the Corn Islands. We would have loved to do this, and it’s our only regret in Nicaragua, but we chose to have a slower-paced itinerary which worked for us.

• 🌊 You might notice the absence of San Juan del Sur. We did visit this popular beach town and didn’t find any redeeming qualities. Playa Maderas is only 20 minutes up the road and I think a much nicer base. You can travel into SJDS from here, or just enjoy Maderas which is a lot more chill. If you’re more party-focused, swap Playa Maderas for San Juan del Sur, and just visit Maderas on a day trip. If you’ve got more time, or are happy to sacrifice Popoyo, you can stay in both San Juan del Sur and Playa Maderas.

• 🏝️ If you need to cut nights or cut destinations, I think it should be from your beach time. For Nicaragua, the main decision you’ve got is the Pacific vs Carribean Coast. The Pacific Coast (Popoyo, Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur) is primarily surf beaches, with a dryer, more rugged climate, a rocky coastline, and darker sand beaches. If you’re a tropical baby like me and want crystal clear waters, powdery white sand and Caribbean vibes, you’ll want to dedicate most of your beach time to the Corn Islands. I would happily eliminate the entire Pacific Coast if it meant more time in the Corn Islands, but if you want to surf, it will be the opposite. If you want a mix of both but you’re tight on time, visit the Corn Islands and then choose one Pacific surf town. They all offer similar experiences (surf, beach walks, sunsets and yoga). If I had to choose one, I think it would be Popoyo.

• ➡️ The majority of tourist destinations in Nicaragua are concentrated on the west coast (with the exception of the Corn Islands, which I recommend flying to). It’s not really a great country for a circular route. You can’t naturally start and finish at the same destination (e.g. the airport) in a tidy loop without backtracking, but the distances are quite short so it’s not really a problem to double back on yourself once or twice.

• 🇳🇮 If you’re visiting Nicaragua as part of a broader trip through Central America (e.g. in addition to El Salvador/Honduras or Costa Rica) you will naturally create a one-way route crossing land borders.

• ✈️ If you’re flying in and/or out of Nicaragua, your international flight will be from the airport in Managua. If this is the case, you might like to re-arrange the Corn Islands and visit them as soon as you land or right before you depart, so you’re not going to the airport for a third time.

• ⏮️ This Nicaragua itinerary can very easily be reversed. This would be ideal if you’re travelling north from Costa Rica. I’ve got some details on that below.

1 Month Nicaragua itinerary

Getting to Nicaragua

The first stop on this Nicaragua itinerary is Leon. So how to get there?

✈️ FLYING IN

Nicaragua only has one major international airport, the MGA – Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport in Managua.

Leon is about 2 hours northwest of the airport.

The easiest and quickest option is pre-booking an airport shuttle, either with your accommodation in Leon (private, $$$) or via Bookaway (shared, $$).

If you land at a reasonable time and are ready to brave the local buses, this is the cheapest but slowest way to get to Leon from the airport. You’ll need to get a taxi to the Interlocales Managua-León (Terminal UCA) (pronounced ‘terminal ooka’). From there, there are frequent microbuses (small vans) to Leon.

🇸🇻 BOAT FROM EL SALVADOR

If you’re on a broader trip through Central America, it’s very easy to travel from El Salvador to Leon.

There are plenty of land-based shuttles, but these routes actually pass via Honduras before crossing into Nicaragua. This isn’t a problem for the majority of travellers, but Honduras has recently introduced visa requirements for UK citizens, which makes this route a no-go if you’re a Brit and aren’t otherwise visiting Honduras.

Enter the boat. The boat travels across the Gulf of Fonesca from La Union in El Salvador to Potosi in Nicaragua, bypassing Honduras completely.

This is a much more scenic trip than being in a cramped shuttle, and the border crossing process is generally a lot quicker and smoother than at the Guasale border where the land shuttles cross. Even for non-Brits, this is a much quicker and nicer way to travel between El Salvador and Leon.

The boat trip includes a shuttle ride from your origin in El Salvador (El Tunco, El Zonte, El Cuco etc.) and then from the border in Potosi to Leon.

Gecko Trails runs the boat service, but it does not run every day, so you need to check this against your itinerary.

🇸🇻🇭🇳 LAND CROSSING FROM EL SALVADOR / HONDURAS

If you’re not a Brit, you can travel from El Salvador – Leon via land, using the shuttles that enter Honduras on the way. The most common route is from El Tunco (or surrounding beaches e.g. El Zonte) and you can book that shuttle here.

If you’re in Honduras and heading south to Nicaragua there are (long!) shuttle routes, most commonly from La Ceiba, which is the port city for the Bay Islands, Utila and Roatan, (book here), or from Lago de Yojoa (this route is not as popular so you need to contact Roneey Shuttle to book). 

The El Tunco – Leon shuttle actually starts in Guatemala, and many people board in Antigua or El Paredon. This would be a NIGHTMARE journey and I do not recommend it. Even if you’re short on time, you should stop at least a few days somewhere in El Salvador. There are so many amazing things to see there, it’s safe to visit and there are no visa requirements for most nationalities. Our trip from El Tunco – Leon already took 12 hours, it would have been more like 18 hours from Antigua. NO THANKS!

Stop 1: Leon

🌜 5 NIGHTS

Leon is one of the most fascinating and politically charged cities I’ve ever visited. It has a sad and intense history stemming back to the Nicaraguan revolution, still evident today in the city’s murals, museums and buildings punctured with bullets.

Granada might take the prize for the prettiest city in Nicaragua, but the slightly grungy Leon is where we left our hearts. With its crumbling colonial buildings, gritty, university vibe and gorgeous white cathedral, its rooftop is the perfect vantage point for sunset.

The best thing about Leon is that the city centre is only a tiny part of its appeal! The city is surrounded by volcanoes offering epic adventures like volcano boarding, and it’s just a short hop to the Pacific Coast where the ocean breeze provides a welcome respite from the city’s sweltering heat. 

Don’t undersell Leon. There is a lot to do in and around the city, so give yourself plenty of time here.

🥾 TOP THINGS TO DO IN LEON

• 🌋 Volcano boarding at Cerro Negro Volcano: sliding down the slopes of an active volcano on a wooden sled – enough said! Volcano boarding is the reason why many people go to Leon and it’s as epic as it sounds. We recommend doing the sunset tour for some stunning views and a fun party afterwards.

• ⛪️ Sunset from the rooftop of the Leon Cathedral: follow the narrow spiral staircase to the roof of Leon’s grand, white-washed cathedral, and watch the sun go down as you stroll amongst the domes. There’s a $3 entry fee, and make sure you enter before 4:45 pm when they close the ticket office.

• 👣 Free walking tour: hands down the best walking tour I’ve done anywhere in the world, this is the best way to learn about Leon’s intense political history. Do this before you do anything else! You must book online in advance via GuruWalk.

• ✨ Sunrise from Telica Volcano: an active volcano with a huge crater constantly billowing out steam and gases, seeing the Milky Way and watching the sun peek over the surrounding volcanoes from the top of Telica Volcano was our Leon highlight. 

• 🌊 Beach day at Las Peñitas: spend a day (or more!) escaping the heat and hanging on the beach in the laidback town of Las Peñitas. Just half an hour from Leon, you can surf, swim or laze in a palm-thatched beach bar with a cold beer. Bigfoot and Volcano Day run daily beach shuttles.

🌋 Read our complete guide to the best 18 things to do in Leon

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN LEON

• 🌿 Coco Calala
• 🔥 Fritangas (at night in front of the market)
• 🥐 Pan y Paz
• 🌮 El Bodegon
• 🍻 Bar El Mirador

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN LEON

• 💰 Budget: Poco a Poco Hostel
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Casa Coco Calala
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Hotel La Perla Leon

How to get from Leon to the Corn Islands

The Corn Islands are Nicaragua’s wildcard destination. They’re far from everything, more than 80 km (50 mi) off the Caribbean Coast, on the other side of the country from every other destination on this Nicaragua itinerary.

It’s totally worth the journey and these paradise islands were easily the best place we visited during our month in Nicaragua!

There are two ways to get to the Corn Islands:

• ✈️ The easy, expensive way
  • Fly from Managua – Big Corn Island with La Costeña (~1 hour, $80 – $120 one-way)
  • Panga boat from Big Corn Island – Little Corn Island (~30 minutes, $10)

• ⛴️ The slow, cheaper way
  • Bus from Managua – Bluefields (8 hours, ~$9)
  • Ferry from Bluefields – Big Corn Island (5 – 8 hours, ~$12)
  • Panga boat from Big Corn Island – Little Corn Island (~30 minutes, $10)

I’ve got more extensive instructions on both of these options in my Corn Islands Travel Guide, but I’d really recommend booking the flight. I know it’s a big cost, but for the extra time you gain on the islands, it’s so worth it!

No matter which option you choose, you’ll need to get back to Managua from Leon.

You can book a shuttle, which should drop you off at the airport or the bus terminal for Bluefields (Terminal de Buses Costa Atlantica).

Alternatively, you can take the bus from the Terminal de Buses in Leon to the Terminal UCA in Managua, and then take a taxi to the airport or the Bluefields bus terminal.

🎒 It’s a good idea to leave your bigger luggage on the mainland when you go to the Corn Islands. The luggage allowance on the flight is quite small (20 or 30 lbs / 9 kg or 13.5 kg) and you’ll need to haul it on and off small boats and carry it on Little Corn Island where there are no motorised vehicles. We found it tricky to work out where to leave our luggage without spending a night in Managua before and/or after our flight. As far as we discovered, there is no luggage storage service at the airport. Depending on your flight times, staying a night in Managua might suit you.

Stop 2: Corn Islands

🌜 8 NIGHTS

The Corn Islands are PARADISE. There’s no other way to say it, these tiny islands are tropical heaven on earth. They’re undeveloped and laidback and feel like the Caribbean of 50 years ago before resorts and cruise ships took over.

Made up of Big Corn and Little Corn, they’re more culturally similar to the Caribbean than Nicaragua. The population is primarily Afro-descendent and they speak Creole English. It’s an entirely different flavour and feel to the rest of the country and we adored it.

Life moves slowly here and days on the islands revolve around white sandy beaches, fresh coconuts from palm trees, snorkelling and scuba diving on thriving reefs and watching the sunset from a hammock.

At just 1.5 square miles (3.8 sq km), Little Corn Island is a tiny barefoot paradise. It’s a raw and authentic island, with no cars, limited electricity, and an undeniable charm. We could have stayed here forever in our little cabin on the beachfront.

Big Corn Island is the larger and more developed sibling, but still only 3.5 square miles (9 sq km). It does have cars, roads and all-day electricity though! The beaches here are excellent, and renting a scooter to explore the island is an adventure.

I know 8 nights seems like a long time, but you’ve either spent a lot of money on a flight or a lot of time on a bus and ferry to get here. Plus, I guarantee you’ll never want to leave this paradise!

With 8 nights, I’d suggest a split of either 5 on Little and 3 on Big, or 4 nights on each. Little Corn is traditionally the most popular tourist island, but we think Big Corn is so underrated and I’m so glad we dedicated time to both.

🏝️ TOP THINGS TO DO IN LITTLE CORN ISLAND

• 🏖️ Hang out on Otto Beach: the prettiest beach on the island located on the north side. It takes 30 minutes to walk from the village. 

• 🐟 Do a fishing/snorkelling combo tour: if you can’t decide between going snorkelling or going fishing, do both! We spent 3 hours on the water with a local fisherman catching barracuda and snorkelling with sharks, turtles and rays. 

• 🤿 Scuba diving: there are a handful of reputable dive shops on the island. Request to dive in the north or east for the best reef and marine life. 

• 👣 Explore the whole island: there is a maze of unmarked trails, it’s so fun seeing where they take you and exploring the hidden reaches of the island. Wander through the village and up to the lighthouse.

• 🌞 Watch the sunset from the village: the west side of the island has the best sunset views! Grab a happy hour cocktail from Tranquilo or Desideri and swing in a hammock. 

🏝️ Read our complete guide to Little Corn Island

🌽 TOP THINGS TO DO IN BIG CORN ISLAND

• 🏖️ Explore the beaches: Big Corn Island has better beaches than Little Corn Island, no doubt! Our favourite beaches were Long Beach and Southwest Bay (aka Arenas Beach, aka Pic-Nic Beach). 

• 🤿 Go snorkelling: there is rich marine life and vibrant coral reefs on both islands, but Big Corn Island is better for snorkelling from the beach. The reef is very close to the north side of the island. You can also join snorkel or scuba dive tours on a boat. 

• 🛵 Cruise around the island: Big Corn has a paved road that runs around the majority of the island. Rent a scooter, golf cart or bike to cruise around the island and explore every inch of it. 

• 🛖 Have a drink at a floating bar: the Bit Coin Island Bar is a fun floating bar in Southwest Bay. Their boat captain will come and pick you up from the beach, and you can enjoy a few drinks while bobbing on the crystal clear waters. It’s a great spot for sunset. 

• 🌿 Hike Mount Pleasant Hill: for some epic views over the island, hike the jungle trail to the top of Mount Pleasant, the highest point on Big Corn Island. 

🌽 Read our complete guide to Big Corn Island

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN LITTLE CORN ISLAND

• 🍛 El Bosque
• 🍹 Tranquilo Cafe 
• 🍞 Panaderia and Restaurante Gloria
• 🍸 Turned Turtle Bar & Restaurant
• 🥞 The Shack

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN BIG CORN ISLAND

• 🍗 Bar Victoria’s 
• 🧁 Island Bakery & Sweets
• 🍳 Restaurante Relax
• 🍕 Pizzeria Italia
• 🍛 Comedor Doña Julia

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN LITTLE CORN ISLAND

• 💰 Budget: Sunrise Paradise aka Carlito’s Place
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Troy’s Place
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Yemaya Reefs

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN BIG CORN ISLAND

• 💰 Budget: Silversands Retreat
• 💰💰 Mid-range: La Lodge at Long Bay
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Arenas Beach Hotel

How to get from the Corn Islands to Granada

Return to Managua however you’ve decided: plane or ferry + bus.

From Managua, there are a few ways to get to Granada depending on what time you arrive back and your budget. It’s less than an hour away.

The cheapest way is to take a bus from the Terminal UCA. You’ll need a taxi there from the airport or the Bluefields bus terminal (they’re not the same).

For something a bit quicker and easier, you can book a shuttle to Granada via Bookaway. They pick up from the airport, and I’m sure you could coordinate a pick-up point near the bus terminal if you’ve arrived in Managua via bus from Bluefields.

Stop 3: Granada

🌜 4 NIGHTS

If you’ve seen a marketing image of Nicaragua, chances are it was Granada’s bright yellow cathedral.

This pretty colonial city is the postcard of tourism in Nicaragua. Granada epitomises the phrase referring to Nicaragua as ‘the land of lakes and volcanoes’ – it’s surrounded by them!

Granada sits on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, with hundreds of tiny volcanic islets scattered in its estuaries, Las Isletas de Granada. Mombacho Volcano looms over the city, and lava-filled Masaya Volcano is just a short drive away.

In addition to all the outdoor adventures around the city, you can climb up narrow cathedral bell towers, admire the rainbow buildings along Calle la Calzada, explore the bustling market and people-watch in Parque Central.

I’ll admit, we didn’t love Granada. It grew on us, but there is a lot of hardship in this city, and we found it confronting at times and deeply saddening. Please skip the cruel horse and carriage rides.

💒 TOP THINGS TO DO IN GRANADA

• 🔔 Climb the bell tower at Iglesia de la Merced: for some stunning views over the city and Lake Nicaragua, climb the tight spiral staircase up to the bell tower of this crumbling colonial beauty. 

• 🌋 See lava at Volcan Masaya: perhaps one of the most sought-after experiences in all of Nicaragua, Granada is the jump-off point for evening tours to Volcan Masaya, home to a smoking crater full of glowing, red lava. 

• 🛶 Go kayaking on Las Isletas de Granada: an enormous eruption of Volcan Mombacho some 20,000 years ago created 365 islets in Lake Nicaragua. A kayaking tour to explore the jungle-clad waterways is one of the best nature experiences in the area. Expect to see monkeys and lots of birdlife. Our sunset kayak tour was the best thing we did in Granada.

• 🔅 Admire the vibrant yellow Catedral de Granada: the icon of Granada, this stunning yellow church is never far from sight, looming over the leafy Parque Central and popular pedestrian street, Calle La Calzada. You can climb inside the bell tower for some aerial city views. 

• ☁️ Hike through the cloud forests of Volcan Mombacho: dominating Granada’s skyline, Mombacho Volcano is an entirely contrasting experience from Masaya. The majority of this volcano is covered in dense cloud forest. 

🌋 Read our complete guide to the best 12 things to do in Granada

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN GRANADA

• ☕️ La Sultana y el Cafe
• 🍔 Tostometro
• 🪴 Garden Cafe
• 🌯 Burrocks
• 👂🏼 Cafe de las Sonrisas

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN GRANADA

• 💰 Budget: Hostel Oasis
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Los Patios Hotel
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Casa Bubu Guest House

How to get from Granada to Laguna de Apoyo

Although you can use a combination of bus/walking/taxi to get to Laguna de Apoyo from Granada if you’re really pinching pennies, I’d recommend using the shuttle run by Hostel Oasis.

It’s $3 one-way or $5 return and they drop off at Hostel Paradiso (the best place to stay at the lake, but quite close to other accommodations if you want to walk from there).

The trip takes less than half an hour.

Stop 4: Laguna de Apoyo

🌜 2 NIGHTS

Most people just visit Laguna de Apoyo for a day trip from Granada, but we’re so glad we decided to spend a couple of nights here!

A stunning volcanic crater lake surrounded by forest, Laguna de Apoyo is one of the best places in Nicaragua to relax and enjoy nature. 

There’s not a whole lot to do, but the handful of lakeside accommodations have floating pontoons to swim in the clean, calm waters and kayaks and paddleboards to explore the lake further. Choose a comfy lounge or hammock to while away an afternoon with a book.

Laguna de Apoyo is the perfect place to slow down for a few days and enjoy the stunning lake, volcano views and vibrant blue waters. You’ll be thankful for the rest at this point of your Nicaragua itinerary.

🌺 TOP THINGS TO DO IN LAGUNA DE APOYO

• 👙 Swim: Laguna de Apoyo is clean and safe for swimming. The small amount of volcanic activity in the area means the water is mineral-rich and slightly warm!

• 🛶 Kayak or paddleboard: most accommodations also have free kayaks and possibly stand-up paddleboards that guests can use. The best time to get out for a paddle is first thing in the morning before the wind picks up. 

• 🌞 Sunrise: the sun rises directly in front of the popular accommodations and is worth an early alarm It was so beautiful and peaceful in the morning with no wind and just the sound of the birds. 

• 🤿 Go scuba or freediving: the freshwater Laguna de Apoyo doesn’t have too many underwater critters to see, and a scuba (Volcano Divers) or free dive (Freediving Nicaragua) here is more for the experience of diving in a freshwater volcanic crater lake. 

• 👀 Check out the views from a mirador: the land slopes down towards the lake, so as soon as you get up the hill away from the shore, you can get some epic views over the entire lake and out to Volcan Mombacho too. Most shuttles will stop on the way to the lake.

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN LAGUNA DE APOYO

Besides the handful of accommodations recommended below, there’s not a lot happening around the lake. You’ll probably eat all your meals wherever you stay. The exception is Comeder Angelito, a great local option within easy walking distance.

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN LAGUNA DE APOYO

• 💰 Budget: Hostel Paradiso
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Laguna Beach Club
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Casa Marimba

How to get from Laguna de Apoyo to Popoyo

This leg is a bit of a tricky one, but no matter where you’re coming from, Popoyo is hard to get to. There is very limited public transport to the area.

I would highly recommend booking a shuttle from Laguna de Apoyo – Popoyo. There is one company that runs the route, and it’s going to be the easiest option. It should take 1.5 hours.

Otherwise, you can organise a private driver. This sounds bougie and expensive, but it’s quite common to travel to and from Popoyo, due to the transport challenges. Yasmil Transport and Luis Popoyo Renta Cars and Tour Transportation are well-rated options.

If you’re on a really tight budget you can get the hostel shuttle back to Granada, a bus to Rivas and then organise a private driver or taxi from there to Popoyo. It will be a slower, longer journey but the expensive part (driver) is shorter. You might even get lucky and connect with one of the few buses to Las Salinas that goes to Popoyo from Rivas.

Stop 5: Popoyo

🌜 4 NIGHTS

Popoyo is a remote, rural town with dusty streets, no ATMs and the occasional pig or goat wandering around. The pace of life slows down here and the days blend together, guided by the sun and the tides. 

Popoyo has long attracted surfers from all over the world with its consistent, year-round swell, and the traveller crowd is starting to catch on too.

There’s a surf break for every level, a growing number of funky hostels, surf camps and boutique hotels, with some of the best sunsets we’ve ever seen! There’s not much to do besides surf, but that’s the beauty of it. You can take a long stroll on the beach, float in different ocean pools or join a yoga class.

The name ‘Popoyo’ is collectively used to refer to multiple different beaches, but I’d recommend basing yourself around Playa Popoyo, the cluster of development near Beginner Bay.

🏄🏽‍♀️ TOP THINGS TO DO IN POPOYO

• 🌊 Surfing: the primary reason most people come to Popoyo, there are different breaks for different levels. The gentle Beginner Bay makes Popoyo an excellent place for beginner and intermediate surfers. You can rent boards and organise lessons on the beach.

• 🌞 Watch the sunset: Popoyo had some of the most incredible sunsets we’ve ever seen. There is a huge rock formation on the beach, known as Magnific Rock, and the sun goes down right behind it.

• 💧 Float in tidal pools: there are a handful of tidal ocean pools along the rocky coastline in Popoyo. The best are the Guasacate Pools. It’s a decent walk along the beach from Playa Popoyo, but time your visit for low tide and you can float around in some magical pools.

• 🐚 Relax on the beach: outside of Beginner Bay, the beaches are pretty rough in Popoyo and not great for swimming, but it’s the perfect place for a long lazy beach walk, or to lay out your towel for some sunbaking and reading.

• 🧘🏼‍♀️ Take a yoga class: Magnific Rock runs daily yoga classes. Choose one around sunset for some epic views from their elevated location. 99 Surf Lodge also has classes.

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN POPOYO

• ☕️ Cafe con Leche
• 🦞 Soda Camping Luna
• 🍸 Popoyo Republic
• 🥥 Happy Coconut
• 🌞 Magnific Rock

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN POPOYO

• 💰 Budget: Nicawaves
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Tukasa Surfhouse
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Hide & Seek Resort

How to get from Popoyo to Ometepe

Getting away from Popoyo is just as tough as getting there, and public transport is unreliable and infrequent. Again, I think your best bet is to organise a private driver, taxi or shuttle. Chances are you’ll find some other travellers to split the cost with as this is a common route.

The nearest major transport hub is Rivas, just over an hour from Popoyo. However the ferry to Ometepe departs from the nearby town of San Jorge (just 10 minutes out of Rivas), so you may as well get dropped there.

If you’re really pinching pennies you can try and get the Las Salinas bus back to Rivas and then another bus or taxi to the port.

To get to Isla de Ometepe you need to take a ~1-hour boat from San Jorge to the town of Moyogalpa. There are 14 departures each day, some are on large ferries, some on smaller, quicker lancha boats. This is the best timetable I’ve found online.

Tickets cost between 50 – 100 Cordobas depending on the operator, and you don’t need to buy them in advance.

Stop 6: Ometepe

🌜 5 NIGHTS

Ometepe Island is one of the most hyped destinations in Nicaragua and I was worried it wouldn’t live up to expectations. It did!

Made of two volcanoes, Concepcion and Maderas, Ometepe is an island in Lake Nicaragua and a truly special place. It’s bigger than you’d expect, so renting some wheels (a scooter, ATV or motorbike) will give you the best flexibility to explore every inch of the island.

A collection of small, rural towns are spread across the island, dispersed with lush forest, sandy lake beaches, diverse wildlife and constant views of the volcanoes looming above you. The sunsets are out of this world, the food is delicious and the island is very affordable.

It’s lush and natural, with the friendliest people we encountered in Nicaragua and a very peaceful atmosphere. There’s a magic about Ometepe, you have to visit to understand it.

🌋 TOP THINGS TO DO IN OMETEPE

• 🌞 Watch the sunset from Playa Mangos or Playa El Peru: this was my favourite area on the island. Both these beaches are stunning, with incredible views of the Volcan Concepcion and a perfect sunset vantage point. 

• 🌋 Hike a volcano: if you’re up for a challenge, you can hike Volcan Concepcion or Volcan Maderas (or both!). Both options are tough, full-day treks. A guide is required for Concepcion and is highly recommended for Maderas. 

• 🛶 Kayak the Rio Istian: paddle through the calm waterways of the Rio Istian, looking for birds, monkeys, turtles and caimans. Plan your paddle for late afternoon and enjoy the golden hour on the water. Rent a kayak from Playa Mangos.

• 💧 Swim at Ojo de Agua: a natural spring fed from Volcan Maderas, it’s a lush, tropical setting with crystal clear waters. The perfect place to cool off in the Nica heat! Go early to beat the crowds and avoid weekends.

• 🏍️ Cruise around the island: my favourite thing to do in Ometepe was cruise around on our ATV and soak up the scenery. It will take you a couple of days to circumnavigate the whole island, even longer if you’re stopping for hikes and attractions along the way, but it’s so worth driving all the way around both volcanoes. 

🌋 Read our complete guide to the best 20 things to do in Ometepe

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN OMETEPE

• 🥘 Cafe Campestre
• ☕️ The Cornerhouse
• 🍕 Pizzeria Mediterranea Bar Ristorante
• 🍫 El Pital Chocolate Paradise
• 🍛 Café Comedor Isabel Traditional Nica Food

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN OMETEPE

Choosing where to stay on Ometepe is not just about the hostel or hotel. The island is very spread out, so choosing the right area for you is an important choice. We’ve got a detailed guide on where to stay in Ometepe comparing the pros and cons of the four main towns.

• 💰 Budget: La Urraca Loca
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Ometepe Casitas
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Totoco Eco Resort 

How to get from Ometepe to Playa Maderas

To depart Ometepe you’ll need to take the ferry from Moyogalpa back to San Jorge on the mainland.

From San Jorge, there are a few options to get to Playa Maderas. It’s just under an hour.

The easiest way is to book a direct shuttle from San Jorge – Playa Maderas, which eliminates the need to go via San Juan del Sur. You can also negotiate with a taxi at the port, but they may not want to take you to Playa Maderas as the roads are quite bad.

If you’re on a tighter budget, you can get a taxi (negotiate hard!) from the ferry port to the bus terminal in Rivas. Direct buses run to San Juan del Sur. Make your way to Casa Oro hostel in SJDS, who run multiple daily shuttles to Playa Maderas in their purpose-built 4×4 truck.

Stop 7: Playa Maderas

🌜 3 NIGHTS

You may have noticed a glaring omission in this Nicaragua itinerary. I didn’t include San Juan del Sur.

We had a bit more time in Nicaragua (5 weeks) and spent three nights in San Juan del Sur. We honestly can’t recommend it.

Unless you’re planning to go to the weekly Sunday Funday backpacker booze fest, there are not a lot of redeeming qualities to this seedy party town. I know it’s popular and you’ve probably heard a lot about it, so make your own decision, but just be warned it’s not as good as it’s made out to be.

Unless you shift around this itinerary, you’ve got three nights to spend in this part of the Pacific Coast, and I’d highly recommend spending them at Playa Maderas.

This is one of a few popular surf beaches around San Juan del Sur that has sprung up into a destination of its own right. If you want to surf, this is the best spot in the area, and it’s a way more relaxed place to spend a few days.

You can day trip to San Juan del Sur if you want to, it’s only 20 minutes away, but we were very happy to while away a few relaxing days at Playa Maderas, not straying too far from the beach.

🌞 TOP THINGS TO DO IN PLAYA MADERAS

• 🏄🏽‍♂️ Go surfing: considered by many to be the best break around SJDS, Maderas is suitable for all skill levels. It varies a lot with the tides, but pros can tear it up out the back, while the newbies can catch a few in the whitewash. You can rent boards and organise lessons on the beach.

• 🐚 Relax on the beach: Playa Maderas is a beautiful beach to spend the day on, even if you aren’t a surfer. There are a handful of lounges and umbrellas for rent, with a few low-key beach bars for snacks and drinks.

• 🌞 Watch the sunset: another Pacific surf town, more amazing sunsets. Playa Maderas gets stunning sunsets, made even better with the unique wave-shaped rock sitting just offshore. Grab a Toña from the aptly named Maderas Sunset Bar on the beach.

• 👙 Spend a day by the pool at Hush: one of the fancier places to stay in the area, Hush has an infinity pool overlooking the beach. It’s open to non-guests if you eat and drink in their restaurant. Taco Mondays are a good time to visit with good deals on tacos and margaritas.

• 🧘🏼‍♀️ Take a yoga class: Buena Vista Surf Club runs classes on their stunning yoga deck perched up in the hills in the jungle. They also have an ice bath so you can add on a plunge after class!

🍛 BEST PLACES TO EAT IN PLAYA MADERAS

• 🥘 Juanita’s Kitchen
• 🍻 Maderas Sunset Bar
• 🌯 Studio Cafe Bar & Grill
• 🌮 Hush
• ☕️ Machete Market Cafe

🛏️ WHERE TO STAY IN PLAYA MADERAS

• 💰 Budget: Big Drop Surf House
• 💰💰 Mid-range: Buena Vista Surf Club
• 💰💰💰 Boutique: Hostel Clandestino

Departing Nicaragua

And that’s the end of your Nicaragua itinerary. How you leave will depend on if you’re continuing your travels in the region.

✈️ FLYING OUT

If you’re finishing up in Nicaragua and flying home or onwards to another country, you’ll be flying out of Managua, MGA – Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport.

It’s less than 3 hours from Playa Maderas to the airport, so you can easily do the trip back on the day of your flight if it’s not too early.

The safest way is to book a shuttle. There are limited shuttles from Playa Maderas, but more are available from San Juan del Sur if you use the Casa Oro shuttle to get back into town.

There are direct buses from San Juan del Sur to Managua if you’ve got time and want to save some money. I believe they arrive at the Terminal de Autobuses Mercado Roberto Huembes in Managua city, and you’ll need to take a taxi to the airport. I’d factor in A LOT of time if you’re taking the bus, to be safe.

🇨🇷 LAND CROSSING TO COSTA RICA

If you’re continuing your travels in Central America, you are very close to the border with Costa Rica. You can cross via bus or tourist shuttle.

Ticabus and Nicabus are long-distance international bus companies that run between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Their route is Managua, Nicaragua – San Jose, Costa Rica but you can get on or off at various points along the way.

Including at La Virgen turn-off which is where the Panamerican Highway intersects with the road to San Juan del Sur. You can get a taxi from San Juan del Sur or Playa Maderas to the La Virgen bus stop.

If your next destination in Costa Rica isn’t anywhere along the Managua – San Jose route, you can take a tourist shuttle instead. There are routes from San Juan del Sur to destinations like Monteverde, La Fortuna and Tamarindo. Browse shuttles on Bookaway.

Even if you stay in Playa Maderas, you’ll need to travel back into San Juan del Sur to connect with the bus/shuttle. Maderas is small and remote and doesn’t have that many transport connections.

Reversing this Nicaragua itinerary

This Nicaragua itinerary can easily be reversed.

If you’re in Costa Rica, you can cross the border via land and do this route in the exact opposite direction. If you’re continuing northbound through Central America, you can cross from Leon to El Salvador or Honduras.

If you’re flying into Nicaragua from another country but you’d prefer to reverse it and start in the south, that is possible too. There’s no real advantage or disadvantage to changing the order if you have to return to the airport anyway.

I’d recommend rearranging your time in the Corn Islands to coincide with your arrival or departure flight so you’re not going to the airport for a third time.

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2 Week Nicaragua itinerary options

My approach is always to stay longer and travel slower, but I know not everyone has the luxury of one month to spend in Nicaragua.

With just two weeks you’ll need to make some sacrifices and move at a quicker pace. Here are a couple of alternative options for a 2 week Nicaragua itinerary, depending on if you’re looking for surfy, Pacific kind of trip, a tropical, island vibe or a highlights type of trip that hits what Nicaragua is best known for: volcanoes, lakes and colonial cities.

2 WEEK NICARAGUA ITINERARY: PACIFIC SURF VIBE + VOLCANOES

• 🥾 Leon: 4 nights (inc. a night or two at Las Peñitas Beach)
• 🏄🏽‍♀️ Popoyo: 3 nights
• 🌋 Ometepe: 3 nights
• 🌞 Playa Maderas and/or San Juan del Sur: 4 nights

2 WEEK NICARAGUA ITINERARY: ISLAND VIBES + LEON

• 🌽 Corn Islands: 7 nights (4 Little + 3 Big)
• 🥾 Leon: 3 nights
• 🌋 Ometepe: 4 nights

This itinerary doesn’t make the most logical sense in terms of the locations, but if I had to pick my three favourite destinations in Nicaragua, it would definitely be these!

2 WEEK NICARAGUA ITINERARY: VOLCANOES, LAKES & CITIES

• 🥾 Leon: 5 nights (inc. a night or two at Las Peñitas Beach)
• 💒 Granada: 4 nights
• 🌺 Laguna de Apoyo: 1 night
• 🌋 Ometepe: 4 nights

Final thoughts: Nicaragua itinerary

I hope this Nicaragua itinerary has helped you plan your ideal trip to this diverse country.

Nicaragua is a pretty easy country to travel through, given most destinations are clustered on the west coast and distances aren’t too long.

Whether you’re flying in and out for a solely Nicaragua trip, or combining this itinerary as part of a broader trip through Central America, I hope you love Nicaragua!

Don’t forget to check out our other Nicaragua articles too for a ton more helpful information to plan your perfect trip.

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