Nicaragua Itinerary: Ideas For 1 Or 2 Weeks

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This Nicaragua itinerary will show you the best things to do during a 1 or 2-week trip. You should check out the colonial cities of Leon and Nicaragua, go volcano boarding down Cerro Negro Volcano, stay in a jungle Treehouse hostel, see lava bubbling at the bottom of Volcan Masaya, immerse yourself in wildlife at Charco Verde ecological reserve and chill in popular surf town San Juan del Sur.

Below I will explain what to do in each of these places having been to all of them myself, so I will let you know exactly what you’re getting yourself in for. Nicaragua is one of the best countries in Central America and one of my favourites in the world. I will share why you should visit this underrated gem.

Nicaragua 2-Week Itinerary

• Days 1-3: Leon
• Day 4: Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro Volcano (Day trip from Leon)
• Day 5: Granada
• Day 6: Volcan Masaya (Half day trip from Granada)
• Day 7: Treehouse Hostel
• Days 8-11: Ometepe Island (Charco Verde and volcano adventures)
• Days 12-14: San Juan del Sur

Nicaragua 1-Week Itinerary

• Day 1: Leon
• Day 2: Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro Volcano (Day trip from Leon)
• Day 3: Granada + Volcan Masaya (Half day trip from Granada)
• Days 4-5: Ometepe Island (Charco Verde)
• Days 6-7: San Juan del Sur

Below I will be sharing suggestions primarily for the 2 week Nicaragua itinerary, since the 1 week itinerary is essentially the same, with a few things left out. If you only have a week, then pick and choose your preferred activities from the suggestions below.

Days 1-3: Leon

Your number one stop in Nicaragua should be the beautiful colonial city of Leon. Of the three primary routes into the country, the former capital is just about the easiest beginning point for two of them.

It’s the first major city you will reach whilst arriving overland from Honduras. It’s also only a 1-2 hour drive from capital Managua which is home to the country’s largest airport, making it your most likely start point if flying into the country.

Skip Managua and head straight to Leon if you arrive via air.

The third route into the country is overland from Costa Rica. It will take several hours to reach Leon from here (maybe 4-5 but this is hard to calculate given the state of the roads and reliability of buses). Therefore you may want to consider doing this itinerary in reverse if coming from Costa Rica.

Anyway, what should you consider doing in Leon?

• Do a free walking tour. My number one tip in any city in any country. But the tour in Leon is incredible. The guide is very informative, deep dives into the history, and even took us to sample some treats in the local market. You will learn about key aspects of Nicaraguan history ranging from the ruling socialist Sandinistas to revered poet Ruben Dario.
• Watch the sunset at Leon Cathedral. It costs £2 (US$3) to access the roof of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and no amount of superlatives can possibly describe how stunning the sunsets are here. Looking straight ahead at the bright orange clouds was a sight to behold. Simply incredible.
• Check out the colourful buildings. There are many brightly-coloured structures across the city. From red-and-white church Iglesia el Calvario to sandy-yellow Church of La Recoleccion, there are no shortage of photogenic buildings dotted across the city – and not just churches!
• Explore the local markets. Markets are the lifeblood of any city you pass through on your travels. They gave you a better glimpse than anything else into how locals live their lives, what they buy, what they eat and so on. Mercado Central is the place to do this.
• Visit Museo Historico de la Revolucion: History is written by the winners, and this museum on Nicaragua’s successful revolutionary movement who have run the country for most of the past 45 years is no different. For just £2 (US$3) you can enjoy learning about what happened with the help of surviving revolutionaries. Just remember that you’ll only be hearing one sides’ version of events here… Open daily from 9am-5pm.
• View the socialist artwork. All over Leon you will find colourful murals paying tribute to the current regime. It’s an interesting thing to see, particularly if you come from a country where political propaganda isn’t rammed down your throat on every street corner. Not the US then…
• Get stuck into the local nightlife. Nicaragua is famous for producing Flor de Caña rum, and it’s super cheap. Likewise Toña beer can be found all over Leon for little more than £1-2 (US$1.25-2.50) per bottle. This university city isn’t short of bars, and gringo favourites Bigfoot Hostel and Via Via Leon are generally the most popular start points for travellers.

Day 4: Volcano Boarding Down Cerro Negro Volcano

Going to keep this short and sweet, because I wrote a whole article on everything you need to know about volcano boarding in Nicaragua.

But basically you can ride a board, in a similar manner to a sandboard, and whizz down the side of a volcano at up to 70 km/h.

Nicaragua is the only country in the world where you can do this on a tour, so don’t miss out on this unique bucket list experience.

Tours run from Leon costing upwards of £24/US$30 and take anything from half a day to a whole day, depending on which tour you choose.

Day 5: Granada

Another gem of a colonial city.

Some people spend a few days here, but as good as it is, there are better places in Nicaragua, so I’d recommend spending just one night here unless you’re staying in the country for more than two weeks.

• Stay in Oasis Hostel. Probably the best hostel (from maybe 150+) that I’ve ever stayed in. Oasis offers free rum-based drinks during happy hour early in the evening. They have free breakfast including delicious pancakes, there are plenty of tours which staff can help you arrange, there’s a pool, places to chill, private rooms… Oasis has it all. They even arrange regular activities in the evening such as trivia nights and much more. They really care about their guests too. Unlike most hostels, they will respond to negative reviews online, and in many cases make changes to improve the experience for future guests.
• Attend a magic show. Yes really. This may not sound like the usual sort of activity for a Nicaragua travel itinerary, given that this is a land for adventures, but it’s actually pretty fun! The Magician Lounge offers shows for £6 (US$8) per person and you can grab a drink from the bar whilst watching the magician perform. I won’t spoil the surprise, but this is a great evening activity in Granada.
• Do a free walking tour. Once again, this is a great way to get to know the city and learn all about the history. I must admit that Leon is better than Granada for sightseeing and importance in Nicaraguan history, but Granada still has some cool buildings and great scenery with volcanos in the background.
• Check out sunset from Iglesia la Merced. For around £0.80 (US$1) you can walk up the stairs to the top of the bell tower and you have great views of the city from above. It’s a lovely spot to get some great pictures.
• Take a boat tour of the Granada Islets. You can hire a boat to take you around Lake Nicaragua for around £16 (US$20) for one hour. It gets cheaper per hour for longer tours. There are 365 islets used for a variety of different purposes with some being inhabited, others catered towards tourists and some housing cool wildlife such as monkeys.

Day 6: Volcan Masaya

One of the highlights when backpacking in Nicaragua. You can do it as a half-day trip from Granada just before sunset, and this is serious bucket list stuff.

Spend the morning in Granada doing things you didn’t have time for yesterday, or just chilling in this relaxing city.

Then in the afternoon, you’re ready for a bucket list experience that helps put Nicaragua firmly towards the top of Central America’s best countries.

If Leon is the place to be for volcano boarding, then it’s Granada you come to if you wish to see actual lava.

Many places around the city, including Oasis Hostel, offer tours to Volcan Masaya. Take one of these and you’ll do a tiny (and I really do mean tiny) bit of trekking before coming back down to peer into the caldera filled with lava.

You can spend time here taking photos until the sun fully sets and only the lava illuminates the sky.

Trust me when I say you do not want to skip this one. Even for a 3 day Nicaragua itinerary, Volcan Masaya needs to be on there.

It isn’t even necessary for a day trip. The volcano is just 23km from Granada so you can do this activity in around 3-4 hours depending on traffic and how quickly you walk.

Even when you head to the volcano independently without a tour, it costs around £1 (US$1.25) for a one-way ticket.

Day 7: The Treehouse

For your seventh day in the country, prepare to wind down and immerse yourself in nature with a night in the jungle.

On a 1-week Nicaragua itinerary you can skip this and get your wildlife fix at Charco Verde instead.

The Treehouse, or “Treehouse Nicaragua” as it is colloquially known, is… well, a treehouse in the jungle.

I wrote a more complete guide on whether Treehouse Nicaragua is worth visiting (although by the fact I’m including it in this itinerary, you can already guess the answer). Therefore you should check it out for more detailed information.

But to give a brief overview, you can spend a night looking out at the birds and monkeys in this jungle at the base of Volcan Mombacho. The hostel offers many events such as local community tours, chocolate making and a big party every Friday.

It’s a cool experience that you won’t be used to if coming from the US or Western Europe.

Don’t miss out!

Days 8-11: Ometepe Island

No matter whether you’re backpacking Nicaragua on the cheap, or travelling in luxury, Ometepe is not a place to be missed. This figure-of-eight-shaped island is easily accessible via ferry from San Jorge on the western shore of Lake Nicaragua. Ferries run every half an hour throughout the day from 7am until 5:45pm (albeit with a reduced service on Sundays) so it’s pretty easy to reach Ometepe. Most ferries will drop you off in Moyogalpa. This small town is the best place on the island to book tours and transport as it is where most tourists arrive to start their Ometepe adventures.

The island is most famous for the two volcanos (Maderas and Concepcion) poking out of each loop of the “8” shape. But what can you do to fill four days here?

Day 1: Charco Verde Ecological Reserve

Take the ferry across in the morning. Then make your way to Charco Verde for the afternoon, one of Nicaragua’s most underrated gems.

I absolutely love this place. Charco Verde is one of my favorite places not just on Ometepe, but in Nicaragua overall. Boa constrictors can be found here, although I wasn’t able to find one unfortunately. On the plus side, loud and cheeky howler monkeys are easy to find, as are the incredible dung beetles which live amongst the dirt. There are also wild horses, many birds and a whole garden dedicated to colourful butterflies. Check out my Charco Verde guide for more information.

If you’re following the 1 week Nicaragua itinerary, Charco Verde is the better wildlife experience compared to Treehouse Hostel. Both are awesome, but if you’re tight for time and only have the opportunity to visit one, make it this one.

Day 2: Hike Volcan Concepcion

You will need to be fit for this one. It takes 7-9 hours to hike up and down, and this is certainly more taxing than Cerro Negro Volcano. The hike costs £14 (US$18) which is split between £2/US$3 for the entry fee and £12/US$15 for a compulsory guide. The guide will take you through some rugged grassland up towards the notoriously cloudy summit. Watch out for wildlife along the way. The deadly coral snake lives in the grass here.

Needless to say, this will be your only activity on day two, you will be pretty shattered by the end of it.

Day 3: Ojo de Agua, San Ramon Waterfall and Punta Jesus Maria

Make your penultimate day on the island a relaxing one. Head to Ojo de Agua at the base of Concepcion to chill in the natural springs. As with most minor activities in Nicaragua it costs £2/US$3 to enter.

Then visit San Ramon waterfall which is located near Volcan Maderas. It takes around 30-40 minutes to reach whilst hiking up, so be sure to take this into consideration.

Continue your day of (relative) rest with a trip to the beach. Namely Punta Jesus Maria which is just south of Moyogalpa. It has a spit with water coming in from both sides. The spit costs around £0.80 (US$1) to enter. Stay here until sunset and prepare for one final big adventure on Ometepe before you return to the mainland.

Day 4: Hike Volcan Maderas

Concepcion’s little brother really isn’t so little after all. It takes a similar amount of time to hike up and back down (around 7-9 hours) and you traverse through cloud forests to reach the top.

A guide isn’t necessary for this one, but I’d strongly recommend one. Even experienced adventurers failed to make it back alive after going without a guide. With a guide however, the hike is very safe. Easy? Not at all, but certainly safe.

Once you’ve made it to the top, you can safely say that you’ve conquered both of Ometepe’s famous peaks.

Days 12-14: San Juan Del Sur

After several days of volcano adventures, it’s understandable that you’ll be a little shattered. You will spend the morning of day 12 travelling, firstly via ferry to reach the Nicaraguan mainland once again, then by bus or taxi to San Juan del Sur.

You have two options. The direct taxi is the fastest costing £16/US$20. This should take just over 30 minutes. Perhaps up to an hour if you’re unlucky with traffic.

The cheap option is an £0.80-1.60/US$1-2 taxi from Santa Jorge to nearby Rivas and then a bus to San Juan del Sur for around £2/US$3. If you’re backpacking Nicaragua on a budget, then this is the choice for you.

Day 12: Relax On The Beach

Once you’ve made it over from Ometepe, it’s time for some well-deserved downtime. Just sit back, watch the waves come in, and enjoy the absolutely beautiful bright-orange sunsets. In fact, SJDS, as the town is often known, has some of the best sunsets I have ever seen.

Grab yourself a rum or Toña (or the less impressive Victoria beer) and enjoy this Central American spectacle before calling it a night.

Day 13: Give Surfing A Go In Nicaragua’s Primary Surf Spot

SJDS is like Mecca for surfers. The wet season has the biggest waves although the dry season may be more beginner-friendly with better weather and smaller waves to contend with.

If you’re a surfing newbie, lessons cost around £20-24 (US$25-30) per hour, often with the option to keep the board for the rest of the day thrown in. The pros will tell you that surfing for an hour or two can be pretty exhausting, so you may well be looking at another quiet evening to recharge your batteries.

Playa San Juan del Sur has plenty of restaurants overlooking the bay, so you can grab a bit of seafood for the evening and enjoy a quiet stroll along the beach for another splendid sunset.

Day 14: Short Cristo De La Misericordia Hike And Wild Parties

After Ometepe’s two challenging volcano treks, you can reward yourself with a shorter hike in SJDS. It takes around 35-45 minutes to walk from the beach up to a statue of Jesus, known as “Christ of the Mercy” in English. The statue costs £1.50 (US$2) to visit and you are rewarded with views of San Juan del Sur Bay from above.

You can enter the statue of Jesus to find… another statue of Jesus. This one is much smaller (duh, it wouldn’t fit inside the big statue if it was bigger) and is surrounded by lots of information boards talking about Jesus and his links to SJDS.

For the sake of clarity, that’s information about the Jesus statue rather than Jesus himself. The real Jesus wasn’t riding gnarly waves before cracking open the Flor de Caña. At least I don’t think he was…

Anyway, the Jesus-meets-bay-views vibes make SJDS feel like a mini Rio de Janeiro, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.

In the evening, you can go full gringo backpacker by joining one of many wild parties in the area. Find any popular hostel and you will be able to start your night and find out where to go, regardless of whether you are a guest or not. I stayed at Surf Town Hostel which has a big bar, a swimming pool and other activities such as a pool table. A perfect spot to get ready for the nightlife.

Now if you’re in SJDS on a Sunday, then you’re lucky enough to be there in time for Sunday Funday, a wild pool/bar crawl that takes you to four locations with a free shot at each. You will also receive free shuttle rides between each location. Tickets are a little steep, costing £30/US$38 once taxes and a booking fee are added to the ticket price.

Now Sunday Funday may not be an authentic Nicaraguan experience, but if you like letting your hair down every once in a while, this is the place to do it. Teens and early 20-somethings absolutely love this event. For us oldies on the wrong side of thirty, it really depends on whether or not you’re still into the whole bar/nightclub/party scene or not.

Is There Anything Else Worth Seeing In Nicaragua?

Oh yes! If you’re looking for a 3 week Nicaragua itinerary, then the obvious addition would be the Corn Islands. The larger of the two is called Big Corn Island. Now it must have taken a while to come up with a name for the smaller one, but they eventually settled on Little Corn Island. The Corn Islands are the place to be in Nicaragua if you’re into diving and snorkelling. They’re a little out of the way, but worth visiting if you’re into nice beaches and water activities. They also attract smaller crowds than SJDS so they may be a better option for just chilling on the beach.

If coming down from Honduras, then Esteli as about as close to Honduran capital Tegucigalpa as Leon. This city is best known for tobacco production. It makes a lot of cigars and has strong links to Cuba, a country famed for cigar-loving ex-leader Fidel Castro. Tourists can visit a cigar factory and go hiking in the surrounding countryside here.

Now Nicaragua is known as “the land of lakes and volcanos” so guess what else is worth visiting here? That’s right, more lakes and volcanos! I’ve already covered the main ones, but if you are backpacking Nicaragua for a longer time period, or you have an extended holiday here, then there are many others to be seen. Apoyo is the pick of the remaining lakes. It’s an easy short trip from Granada, taking little over 30 minutes to reach by car. Lake Asososca is another one worth seeing. You can easily combine this with a volcano boarding tour with Volcano Day in Leon.

As for volcanos, San Cristobal Volcano is both the highest and the hardest hike in the country. One for adrenaline junkies only in all honesty. Meanwhile, Mombacho which rises above The Treehouse Hostel is an easier trek, and home to cloud forests where lots of wildlife can be found including awesome sloths!

Other Things You Need To Know About Visiting Nicaragua

Is Nicaragua Cheap?

Nicaragua is cheap. In fact it is one of the cheapest countries in Latin America. You’re looking at spending around £16 (US$20) per day here before taking activities into account. And the activities aren’t expensive either given how awesome this country is and how much it has to offer. It costs around £2.50 (US$3) for many cheaper activities, and around £20-30 (US$25-38) for anything major. Of course you can find activities costing more than this, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

What Is The Weather Like In Nicaragua?

Nicaragua is a tropical country with warm weather remaining at a consistent 26-29 degrees Celcius (79-84 degrees Farenheit) on any average day throughout the year. It has a wet season from May-October, with the dry season lasting from November-April.

Is Nicaragua Safe?

Yes. Nicaragua is very safe in terms of crime. The only place to be a bit wary is capital city Managua. There is little of interest to tourists here, and it has a reputation for being a little dodgy at times. I met tourists who were scammed here and have heard a fair few horror stories whilst travelling across Central America. With a bit of common sense (travelling only in daytime, not flashing valuables etc.) you shouldn’t have any issues here, but really there’s no good reason to visit Managua.

Also, don’t be dissuaded from visiting this beautiful country by government travel advisories, which always err on the side of caution and exaggerate safety in other countries. From my experience travelling to 68 countries at the time of writing, government websites are often slow to update safety advice (often by weeks) and are an unreliable source of information for this. They are however great to find a country’s latest entry policies and visa requirements (if you’re from the country whose website you’re looking at).

Is Nicaragua Easy To Get Around?

Yes. There are regular chicken buses connecting pretty much every major destination within the country for little more than a dollar or two per journey. You don’t need a travel guide to get around in Nicaragua, although basic knowledge of the Spanish language goes a long way here. Most medium-to-large-sized cities and towns have a small, often chaotic bus station. You should go here and ask when the next bus to your chosen destination leaves. If you feel you may struggle with this due to a lack of Spanish, speak to staff at your accommodation who will provide you with all the information you need.

Bus schedules in Nicaragua are generally rough guides rather than reliable information. This is not Japan. I would recommend taking taxis if you need to be somewhere at a specific time (for example, the airport to leave the country).

A taxi between cities in Nicaragua will cost less than a bus or train in the UK. You’re looking at around £20-80 (US$25-100) as a rough guide to get between two cities of any distance. Obviously the higher end of the price range covers trips spanning the entire length of the country, whereas the lower end connects cities or towns which are relatively close to each other.

Trips to Nicaragua are pretty easy to arrange independently without relying on local guides.

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