The land of Lakes and Volcanoes. The cheap alternative to Costa Rica. Whatever you think of when you think of Nicaragua, you can’t deny that there is something magical about it.
Nicaragua has had a rough couple of years. Political instability and oppression of the press meant that for a while, tourists stayed away in favour of the more stable Costa Rica. But the country has been opening back up to tourists and is once again a firm favourite among backpackers, holiday-makers and luxury travellers alike.
It can be tricky to work out how best to spend your time here. Googling Nicaragua brings up mixed results on safety and route planning. Here, I have tried to condense this beautiful country into one guide to help you plan your trip!
Contents
Routes
Nicaragua is the biggest country in Central America by area, but it’s also one of the easiest to travel around. Most of the destinations frequented by tourists are concentrated on the Pacific side, meaning most people travel in a straight line either up or down. There are exceptions, of course. Such as the Corn Islands on the Caribbean side. But for the most part, you’ll be hugging the Pacific coast. 2 weeks is the minimum amount of time you need here to get a feel for the place. But the more time you have to spare, the better!
2 weeks
León -> Granada -> Ometepe / San Juan del Sur
You’ll either enter Nicaragua by land from Honduras, by sea in Potosí, or by air in Managua. Either way, you’re going to head straight for the university city of León. Spend at least two full days here. One to explore the town with a walking tour, and another to do the activity everyone flocks to León to do; volcano boarding. You could also tack on another day and take a day trip to Las Peñitas.
Whether you’re hungover or just on an adrenaline comedown, head to Granada next. For its colonial charm and the isletas dotted around Central America’s largest freshwater lake. There is enough here to keep you busy for at least two full days, but you could use Granada as a base to explore the wider region. Finally, you have a choice on how to spend the next few days: if you like nature and hikes, choose Ometepe. If you’re more into surfing, parties and the beach-bum vibe, head to San Juan del Sur. From here, you can either head back up to Managua to fly or head south to Costa Rica and Panama.
3 Weeks
León -> Granada -> Laguna de Apoyo -> Ometepe -> San Juan del Sur
Like before, you’ll start in León. Spend a few days here before heading south to Granada. Make sure you plan enough time to do a night hike in Masaya Volcano National Park, where you can literally look into the crater of an active volcano! To unwind after this, take a trip to Laguna de Apoyo, a freshwater crater lake about 30 minutes from Granada. Then, head back south to Ometepe, where you’ll spend a lovely few days exploring the beautiful volcanic island, before hopping back over to the mainland to spend the tail end of your trip in an around San Juan del Sur. Take a surfing lesson and maybe hit up the world-famous Sunday Funday party, before leaving Nicaragua via the southern border with Costa Rica.
1 Month
León -> Granada -> Corn Islands -> Ometepe -> San Juan del Sur
The big boy. If you have time to burn, Nicaragua can help you. Again, start in León, then head to Granada like before. You’ll probably want to spend a few days in each town and really get to know them, before heading to the airport to head to the Corn Islands on the Caribbean coast. This is the place to really slooooowwwww down. If you’re a diver, this is the perfect spot to get some hours in under water and if you’re not? Little Corn is the perfect place to, quite frankly, do nothing. Fly back west (or take the bus if you’re brave enough!) and make a beeline for San Jorge port for Ometepe.
You have time to kill here, so why not dedicate two whole days to driving both loops of the island. Or climb one of the two volcanoes that make up Ometepe, Concepcion and Maderas? Whatever you do, make sure you’ve fully connected with your higher self before completely losing it again in San Juan del Sur, at Sunday Funday or one of the many beach clubs both in town and along all the beaches in the area.
Party Special
León (Bigfoot volcano boarding) -> Granada (Treehouse) -> Popoyo (Popyo’s Secret) -> Ometepe -> (Wet Wednesday) -> San Juan del Sur (Sunday Funday)
If you really love a party, Nicaragua is the place to be.
Logistically it’s a bit of a nightmare, and you can workshop the timings and order of these places as needed. But essentially, this is a list of all the regular parties in Nicaragua.
First off, we have León. It’s not a party so much, but if you decide to do the volcano boarding with Bigfoot hostel for the sunset session, you can expect the tour to turn into a party bus, usually followed by a night out in town. Alternatively, Bigfoot run a party bus to Las Peñitas twice a week, if that tickles your fancy. Then, head to Granada, where every Friday the nearby Treehouse hostel turns into a techno party in the jungle. If you’re still standing, head to the coast for Popoyo’s Secret beach party on Saturday night.
Here’s where the timings get a bit tricky. The party in Balgüe on Ometepe is on (Wet) Wednesday at Raindance Hostel, giving you a few days to recover in paradise. Before hopping back over the mainland to hit up the world famous Sunday Funday Pool Crawl in San Juan del Sur. If you’re still alive, catch the bus south to the Peñas Blancas to continue on to Costa Rica in the morning. Phew.
Where to Visit
León
A colonial university city in the north, León is the more liberal of the two famous cities in Nicaragua. If you’re doing a through north-to-south trip through Nicaragua, León will probably be your first stop, and in my opinion it is the perfect introduction to Nicaraguan chaos.
León is, of course, home to the world-famous Volcano Boarding. There are two main companies that organise this, Bigfoot Hostel and Volcano Day (conveniently, right across the street from each other) and both offer different experiences of the same thing. If you want a cool day out ending in a sunset and a fire with marshmallows, go with Volcano Day. If you want the night to end on a sweaty party bus and an afterparty that will almost definitely end in one of León’s bumping nightclubs: go with Bigfoot.
A lot of people see León as somewhere to base themselves for volcano boarding and then leave. I think that’s a damn shame. There is so much history and culture here. León is one of the former capitals of Nicaragua, the childhood home of the poet Reubén Darío and more churches and historical buildings than you can shake a stick at, there is enough to keep you occupied here for a good few days if you know what to look for.
The Ortíz Gurdían Foundation Art Centre was supposed to pass an hour between my walking tour and the sunset, but it kept me occupied for so long I almost missed the last entry to watch the sunset on the roof of León Cathedral, before we had a few beers at Bar El Mirador, and ending our evening at the salsa bar, La Fabrica, where our walking tour guide reappeared to give us an impromptu salsa lesson. And that was one day!
Most destinations to and from León connect through Managua by public bus, including to Granada. If you’re coming from or going to Potosí (for the boat to El Salvador), you’ll need to connect in Chinandenga. Most shuttle companies operate services to and from León, picking you up and dropping you off at most of the bigger hotels and hostels. Sidenote: León is one of the hottest cities I’ve ever visited. If you can get accommodation with aircon, get it. Trust me you’ll be glad you did!
León is also a fairly major international hub. Most international bus services to Tegucigalpa/San Pedro Sula and Liberia/San José stop in León. And multiple shuttle companies run services to international destinations as far away as La Ceiba in Honduras, Santa Ana in El Salvador. I even saw a shuttle connecting León to Antigua, which is an absolutely insane 685km!
Granada
Most people travelling in Nicaragua will have a preference of which city they preferred; Granada or León. They are very similar, but at the same time, they couldn’t be further apart. They’re both old colonial cities, they both have major historical significance and they’re both very popular with tourists. But where León is gritty, liberal and rough around the edges, Granada is cleaner, calmer and more historically aligned with conservative movements.
If you’re looking for a party, look no further. Granada is full to the brim with bars and clubs: Reilly’s Irish Tavern and La Iguana are firm favourites among backpackers. Most clubs close around midnight here, so if you’re looking for something more serious, look no further than the weekly Treehouse Rave. This isn’t technically in Granada, but shuttles make the 20 minute drive from Hostel de la Boca every Friday.
Granada has a much more established tourism industry than it’s northern neighbour, and this becomes clear the second you arrive. The bright yellow cathedral in the middle of the city is an iconic symbol of Nicaragua, and the famous La Calzada are both firm favourites for visitors. If you’re into nature, you can take a boat tour to the isletas in Lake Nicaragua, including the old colonial fort on San Jorge island. Also worth a visit is Lake Apoyo, a volcanic lake with beach clubs and kayak rental; and Masaya National Park, where you can get right up close to the crater of an active volcano. Both of these are only a short bus ride away and are must do activities, in my opinion.
Getting to Granada is pretty easy. Arriving from León, you’ll need to connect in Managua. If you’re heading south, buses head directly to the huge bus station in Rivas. Granada is also connected by shuttle to most destinations in Nicaragua, although these are much pricer. If you’re looking to travel onwards to Honduras or Costa Rica, companies like Tica Bus and Transnica connect in Granada.
Ometepe
It’s hard to condense Ometepe into a small passage, but I will do my best. Ometepe is an island in the southern part of Lake Nicaragua. It’s made up of two volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcíon. It’s kind of like if someone took the wishes and desires of the average backpacker and stuffed it into one small, tropical paradise.
One one hand, it’s a nature-lovers paradise. The hike up to the San Ramón Waterfall is around 8km, although if you have an ATV you can cut out the first part of the hike. If you’re after something more strenuous, you can climb Concepcíon and Maderas volcanoes (with a guide; as far as I’m aware, you legally cannot climb these unguided).
If you don’t fancy a hike, then the Chaco Verde Nature Reserve may be more up your alley. Or why not take a Cacao Tour at El Pital Chocolate Paradise, to learn about how this plant influenced the history of Mesoamerica? After a long day, head over to the Ojos de Agua, a natural spring-turned-public baths, to cool off and round up the evening watching the sunset at Playa Mango, where you can literally pick fresh mangoes from the trees by the beach as you watch the sun set behind Concepcíon.
On the other hand, if it’s a party you want, on Ometepe, a party you will get. Raindance Hostel near Balgüe hosts Wet Wednesday every week; a pool party with DJs from around the world. Another hostel, Zopilote, hosts weekly parties with homemade pizzas, DJs and fire-dancers. El Pital hosts regular sunset dance parties. While the bar and club scene on the island isn’t as wild as on the mainland, you could lose days here if you are that way inclined.
Getting around Ometepe is an activity in itself. You will need to rent a bike, moped or ATV. There is one bus service around Maderas and one around Concepcíon, but both of these only run twice a day, and taxi’s are super expensive on the island. You can spend a day just riding around both island loops, which is something i definitely recommend doing.
Getting to Ometepe is pretty straightforward. From anywhere in the country, you will need to take a bus to Rivas, then a bus or taxi to San Jorge port. From there, you can get the boat to either Moyogalpa or to San José, slightly further south. I would recommend going to Moyogalpa, as it’s bigger, better connected and a shorter ride. Ideally, try to time your crossing so you get a ferry, instead of a lancha. During the dry season, the lake can get very choppy, which makes for a very bumpy, very wet crossing. You can find the crossing times here.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is known for two things – surfing, and partying.
The beach in San Juan del Sur itself isn’t fantastic for surfing. It’s too sheltered, too polluted and too busy. But the beaches nearby, like Playa Maderas and Playa Hermoso are some of the best surfing in the region. If you’re here for a few days and really into surfing, I’d recommend renting a car or a bike and heading to each one. If not, most hostels run a shuttle service to a different beach each day. Or you can take a surf lesson, which will usually include transport to and from the beach as well as board and gear hire.
The main reason most backpackers come to San Juan del Sur is, of course, the Sunday Funday party. This is essentially a pool crawl across the town run by Panchamama hostel, where it starts every week. The route changes every week, but it always involves moving between hotels and bars with a pool, booze, and music. Each week, new DJs join the line up and the route changes, but the vibe remains the same. The great thing about Sunday Funday is that it starts early. The day kicks off at Panchamama hostel at around 1pm (ladies drink for free until 2pm, feminism win!). So if you drink at a pace like me, you’re stumbling off to bed half cut by 10:30pm!
The iconic Cristo de La Misericordia statue that overlooks the town is a pretty cool viewpoint, and many people head up there to watch the sunset. If that’s not your cup of tea, grab a Toña and watch the sunset from the beach, complete with nightly volleyball tournaments among the locals. And San Juan del Sur is home to a surprisingly international food and drink scene. Dumplings, burgers, falafel, as well as local eats in the form of comedores on street corners, all to be washed down with a Canadian craft beer or a bespoke cocktail at one of the many beachfront bars.
To get to San Juan del Sur, head to Rivas and catch the bus. It’s that straightforward. If you’re heading south to Costa Rica, catch the bus to Rivas and change at La Virgen to head south to Peñas Blancas. The buses towards Rivas and vice versa run every 30 minutes or so and should cost around C$30. Alternatively, you can get a shuttle here from pretty much anywhere in Nicaragua.
Popoyo
San Juan del Sur’s baby sister. Popoyo is like the laid back version of the big party town in the south. People come here to surf, play volleyball and that’s it.
Well, and party too.
Popoyo’s Secret is another of Nicaragua’s famous parties. It happens every 2 weeks during the high season, and slightly less frequently during the low season. Ticket’s cost $25 and include a shuttle to and from Popoyo.
To get to Popoyo by public transport, head to Rivas bus station and catch any bus towards either Las Salinas or Astillero. Get off at Playa Guasacate and grab a taxi to Popoyo. Alternatively, you can get to Popoyo by shuttle from León or Granada.
Rivas
It’s mega unlikely that you will stay in Rivas, but if you’re travelling in Nicaragua, particularly to or between Ometepe and San Juan del Sur, you will pass through Rivas at least once. In fact, there may be a time where you feel like the bus station is like your second home. But not in a comforting way. A second home like that really grimy flat you signed the lease on in your second year of uni where you got catfished by the photos and now you do whatever you can to reduce the amount of time you spend there. I’m getting off track.
The point is, there are two big transport hubs on the Pacific side of Nicaragua. Managua in the north(ish) and Rivas in the south. While there is stuff to see and do in and around Managua that may make it worth spending at least a night there, Rivas is mainly just an industrial city with a big bus station, and its proximity to San Juan del Sur means there really isn’t ever any need to stay here. That said, All Roads Lead to Rivas, apparently, so it’s worth a mention.
The main thing to do in Rivas, I’m afraid, is leave.
If you’re taking public buses around Nicaragua, you will end up here at some point. Whether it’s on your way from Granada to San Jorge port, going to San Juan del Sur from anywhere else in the country, or catching an international coach to Honduras or Costa Rica, the chances are you’ll pass through this city multiple times. It’s an overwhelming place, and not in the fun, “wow this is a real adventure” way.
You need to have your wits about you here. If you don’t speak any Spanish, you are going to get scammed here. Even if you do, you’ll probably get scammed here. I’ll get into the common scams later, but just know to keep your eyes open. Ask around before you get on the bus about how much it should cost, as they will overcharge you. Paying more than the locals as a foreigner is one thing, but getting mugged off and paying $15 for a 45 minute ride is something else.
I don’t want to put you off. It’s perfectly safe here, and you will be fine. But I want you to be prepared. If you’re nervous and you want to avoid Rivas, do it. For example, San Jorge port is 45 minutes from San Juan del Sur by car. If there’s enough of you, it may work out to be a similar price to get a taxi the whole way there.
Getting here and around
Getting to Nicaragua and Entry Requirements
Nicaragua is part of the CA-4 zone, along with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Meaning if you enter with a 90 tourist visa, you have 90 days in all these countries collectively. UK, EU and US passports can enter Nicaragua visa-free. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. You may be asked for proof of onward travel. This is usually in the form of a plane ticket but they may accept a bus ticket as well.
Leaving Nicaragua by land will cost you $3. If you’re going south, you also have to pay $1 to enter the border zone with Costa Rica. I’ve written about the border crossing at Peñas Blancas here.
If you’re leaving the country by plane, you have to pay a departure tax of $35, but this is usually factored into your ticket price.
Entering Nicaragua by land is notoriously tense. First of all, regardless of your political opinion, understand that Nicaragua is currently ruled by a dictator, and the regime has very strict rules on what and who can and can’t enter the country.
You will need to fill out a pre-clearance form at least 7 days before arriving. This is only available in Spanish. If you open it with a browser like Chrome, the auto-translate feature does a pretty good job. Do not bring your drone. It will be confiscated at customs and you probably won’t get it back. If you’re on a through trip, ship it to your next country. If you’re travelling with what could be considered expensive photography equipment (or just a lot of it), you may want to consider doing the same. There are a range of items you can’t bring into the country and there are lists online. Essentially, if you’re unsure, don’t bring it.
Nicaragua shares a land border with Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. Both of these borders are notorious for being very strict, so you can expect to spend around two hours here at minimum on both entry and exit.
There are multiple crossing points along the Honduran border, and which one you use depends on where you are going in either country. Which one you choose/end up at doesn’t really matter, as you’ll be there for ages regardless. Most people do this journey either by shuttle or by international coach (such as Tica Bus).
There is one major crossing point with Costa Rica, at Peñas Blancas. You will be here for ages. The sooner you make peace with this, the better. If you’re crossing into Costa Rica, try to get here as early as possible as once the coaches start arriving it’s game over. There is a second border crossing, at Los Guatuzos, on the other side of Lake Nicaragua. This post is much smaller and closes much earlier in the day, so unless you’re already on that side of the lake, you’re better off heading to Peñas Blancas.
There is only one international airport, Augusto C. Sandino International Airport in Managua, and it has flights to the US, Canada, Cuba and the other major Central American airports. If you’re flying from Europe, you’ll likely need to connect either through the US or Mexico City, San José or Bogota.
You can also enter Nicaragua from El Salvador, by taking a boat across the Gulf of Fonesca from La Union to Potosí. If you’re a UK passport holder doing a through trip of Central America, this may be your only option. I’ve written more about my experience doing this journey here. The immigration and customs process here seems to be a bit more lax than the land border crossings, but the same caveats still apply.
When to visit
The high season for tourists in Nicaragua coincides with the dry season. From November to April, the weather is drier and a bit milder. It is also the most expensive time of year to visit. Accommodation and activities book out weeks in advance and you may find it a bit harder to do things off the cuff.
The wet season is from May to October. Prices are lower during this period, but equally certain activities may not run. Tour operators may not run certain hikes, and volcano boarding trips can be cancelled at the last minute due to poor weather. It’s a trade-off either way.
Getting around
The public buses in Nicaragua are pretty safe and straightforward to use, especially if you were travelling by public buses in Guatemala. The main thing to remember is that most buses between cities aren’t direct, and you will likely need to connect in either Managua (if travelling between León and Granada) or Rivas (for Ometepe, San Juan del Sur, any destination on the south end of the Pacific coast). It’s usually very clear where the buses are going, but you can ask around and someone will usually point you in the right direction.
You can take shuttles between the major tourist destinations. Companies like Gekko allow you to book online. Bigfoot hostel in León also run shuttles between most places, and so do most hostels on the mainland. This is a very convenient way to travel around the country, at the cost of eating away at your budget.
If you are planning on visiting the Corn Islands, you’ll likely have to fly. The Caribbean side of Nicaragua is much less developed than the Pacific side, so you’ll have to take a tiny propeller plane to get there. You can do the journey by bus, but the journey can be rough and can take multiple days.
Driving in Nicaragua is doable, especially around San Juan del Sur and along the Intra-Americana. You may want to rent a car to get to the other beaches in the region anyway. Driving in the cities like León, Granada and Managua is less appealing, but not unheard of. Make sure your insurance is airtight and that you are comfortable driving, shall we say, defensively.
Tips
Money
The official currency of Nicaragua is the Cordoba. As of Spring 2026, $1 is about C$36 and £1 is about C$50. The Cordoba is a closed currency, meaning you cannot buy it outside the country, and once in country you can only exchange Cordoba for USD. Your Pounds and Euros are useless here, I’m afraid.
A lot of places will accept USD. Especially in San Juan del Sur, which has a big US and Canadian immigrant presence. And a lot of restaurants and stores in Granada will have two prices listed. Almost every cash point in the country will usually offer you a better rate to withdraw cash in USD. There will usually be a guy outside the bank offering to exchange your fresh USD to Cordoba. His exchange rate is sometimes better than whatever the bank is offering.
At land border crossings, the entry and exit fees are only payable in USD, and change is not usually offered.
Language
The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish, and outside of places like Granada and San Juan del Sur, English is not widely spoken.
English literacy in Nicaragua outside of the cities and the Rivas region is quite low. Most people working in the tourism sector will have some level of English but the rest of the time you will need to be able to speak at least some Spanish.
A few basic words and phrases you could commit to memory include:
- Buenos Dias/Tardes/Noches – Good morning/afternoon/evening (you can also use Buenas as a casual greeting)
- Por favor – Please
- Gracias/Muchas gracias – Thank you/Thank you very much
- Disculpe/Perdon – Excuse me/Sorry
- Donde esta… – Where is…
The exception is all along the Caribbean coast, where many people speak Miskito, English and Creole. The reason is a long historical answer, like much of the Caribbean, about colonialism, plantations and the Atlantic Slave Trade. The short answer is the British Empire.
Food
In my humble opinion, Nicaraguan food is some of the best in Central America. After spending 8 weeks in Guatemala, where a lot of the traditional food is a bit on the blander side (it’s still yummy I promise!) and El Salvador where I ate pupusas for breakfast lunch and dinner (no regrets though) I was a bit blown away by the sheer flavour of the food when I arrived in León.
I had some incredible meals here, varying from cheap street eats to international meals. And I’m sorry to Costa Rica, but I think Nicaraguan gallo pinto is superior to the Tico recipe south of the border. It is what it is, what can I say?
Nicaraguans, like a lot of Latin American countries, tend to eat hearty breakfasts and bigger meals at lunch, with a lighter meal at dinner. If your hostel offers a free breakfast, it will likely be some variant of the desayuno tipico, a typical breakfast, consisting of gallo pinto, fried plantain, scrambled eggs and queso fresco, a light crumbly cheese that is slightly reminiscent of a less tangy feta. Sometimes you get a tortilla, and you always get a coffee. Nicaraguans love coffee, and the coffee in Nicaragua is soooo good!
For cheap eats, you’ll be hard pressed to do better than the markets. You only need to step inside for the smells to smack you in the face. Stewed meat, bubbling stews and fresh fruit juices presented in plastic bags. If you’re nervous about eating street food but you still want to sample what this wonderland has to offer, join a tour! Lots of hostels offer dedicated street food tours, but to be honest most walking tours will include a visit the central market. You give your guide about 5 dollars each, he goes away and comes back with a selection of traditional food to try from his favourite stalls. And it’s in his best interest to not make you sick so you tell your friends to go on their tour. It works, because here I am telling you to join these tours!
Some of the best meals I ate in Nicaragua were in comedores. This literally translates to ‘dining room’, and it’s a pretty accurate name, as on many occasions you’re literally eating a meal in someone’s dining room. At one comedor I visited on Ometepe, we were literally seated on a singular plastic table in the front garden of the family home with kids and dogs running around. At one point the power went out and they were cooking with head torches. The whole meal and an ice cold beer cost less than $5. And it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.
Side note to this; at many comedores, I was served a dish that was basically chicken in a creamy jalapeño sauce. I have not been able to find this anywhere online. If anyone knows what I’m talking about please please please get in touch with me because I have been going through withdrawals from this since May 2025.
If you’re all gallo pinto’d out, fear not! Nicaragua has a thriving international food scene. Granada especially is home to the world famous La Calzada, a street lined with bars and restaurants that attracts foodies from all corners of the globe, as well as a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants dotted around the city. San Juan del Sur is also a foodie heaven; I can’t really think of anywhere else in Nicaragua where you could get cold rice noodles, falafel and Canadian draught beer all within a 5 minute radius.
All this is to be washed down with an ice cold Toña, the national beer of Nicaragua. Alternatively, a Cuba Libre or Mojito, preferably made with Flor de Caña rum, which is world famous and produced near Granada. Nicaragua is famous for its rum, so definitely take advantage while you’re here.
WiFi, Mobile Data and Communication
WiFi is pretty widely available in most tourist hotpots and cities, but it can be very patchy. Nicaragua is quite prone to power cuts so if you’re looking to work remotely here you might struggle to get a decent and consistent connection. Most cafes in León, Granada and San Juan del Sur offer WiFi, as do most hotels and hostels. However in some hostels you may only be able to access the WiFi in the common areas.
Some people say you should get an eSIM in Nicaragua. I disagree. In some countries it can be worth it, but they are quite expensive and you don’t get a local number or the ability to make calls. I would instead recommend getting a local SIM card from any Claro or Tigo store. You can preload them with a data package and top them up as and when needed. However, an eSim will work just fine if that’s what you prefer.
If I was to recommend only one app to download for your trip, it would be WhatsApp. Literally everything you can think of in Nicaragua is bookable through WhatsApp. Looking to take some surf lessons? WhatsApp. Renting a bike on Ometepe? WhatsApp. Ordering a curry? I’m not kidding, WhatsApp. WhatsApp is King here, so make sure you’re all set up before you arrive.
Common scams
Nicaragua has a long history with tourism. Combine this with high rates of poverty and unfortunately this means that scams are pretty common, especially around the tourist hotspots.
When entering and exiting Nicaragua by land, you’ll be approached by men offering to “help” you with the border and paper work for a fee, usually around $20. Don’t accept their help. The “paperwork” they want to help you with is a single form that is printed in Spanish and English. There are also people offering to exchange your dollars to Cordoba. Most of these are legit but always check the rate they’re offering. You may get better rates further along, or even once you get into the next town.
Stay alert in places like bus stations and ferry ports. People will try and offer you “help” with your bags, only to turn around and demand a steep tip. There may also be someone trying to help you with buying your ticket for a bus or ferry, under the guise that the attendant can’t speak English. They will then charge you twice what the ferry actually costs and keep the extra for themselves.
When travelling to Ometepe, you have to pay a fee to enter the port at San Jorge. This isn’t a scam, but the harbourmaster may try to get you to pay more if he thinks he can get it from you. The fee is $1, and no more. Usually just handing over the fee with confidence works. If he insists, you should ask for a receipt and he will usually drop it.
Occasionally, the people working in the port of San Jorge will try to tell you that there is no way to rent a bike in Moyogalpa, nor are there any taxis or buses to take you to any other towns. They will then try and charge you an extortionate amount for a taxi or shuttle to your hostel. This can be difficult to argue your way out of, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. I managed to get out of this by rallying the girls we had travelled to San Jorge with to split a shuttle between us and argue the cost down to about $5 each which meant we could hire a cheaper bike closer to Balgüe. Stand firm and don’t let them push you around.
In the same vein, taxi drivers in San Jorge can be very insistent and pushy. They will try to tell you that you have missed the bus to San Juan del Sur. They’re saying this to scare you into agreeing to take you all the way to San Juan del Sur themselves and charge you an obscene rate. If you walk a bit further away from the mooring, you can find taxi’s offering a more reasonable fare.
Equally, bus drivers in Rivas bus station will often try to charge you crazy prices for the 45 minute journey to San Juan del Sur. I’m not usually one to push back on this sort of thing but a friend got charged $10 for this journey. Don’t be afraid to kick off about this one. Ask around to find out what the usual fare is and insist on paying that. Usually if you kick up enough of a stink they’ll let it go. Again, it helps if you can speak some Spanish here.
Ultimately, don’t beat yourself up if you do fall for a scam. Nine times out of ten, you’ll end up parting with the equivalent of $5, which is probably inconsequential to you but could mean a lot to the person who’s won it from you. Try not to let the fear of being scammed ruin your time here!
Safety
Safety in Nicaragua seems to be a topic that really divides opinion. Some people think it’s one of the safer countries in Latin America, and others refuse to leave their accommodation after dark. I’m going to be as objective as I can but ultimately I can only really draw from my own experience. Of all the countries I’ve visited in Central America, Nicaragua is probably where I felt the least safe. Now that’s not to say I felt unsafe, but it felt markedly different here than in, say, Guatemala.
Statistically, Nicaragua is safer than some of its neighbours. Violent crime is much lower here than in Honduras and Guatemala. Your main concern is things like pickpockets and opportunistic theft. Keep an eye on your belongings, especially in bus stations, busy markets and downtown areas.
Parts of León and Granada have a reputation for being a bit sketchy, especially after dark. Take care around the malecón in Granada and in the market and bus stations in León, as both are known for pickpockets and petty crime. In León, be careful at night, especially around Bigfoot hostel. It’s not unheard of for thieves to hang around here as they know tourists will be leaving here drunk. Ask around in your hostel on where you should avoid.
Most stories you hear of people getting into trouble in Nicaragua involve either booze or drugs. Take care in bars and especially at the parties, try not to get so wasted you can’t see, especially if you’re travelling solo. San Juan del Sur, especially, can get a bit seedy on Sunday nights when the pool crawl starts to die down.
Travelling as a woman here, particularly if you’re alone, is hard. I don’t want to put you off, but it is an unfortunate reality. I got whistled at, catcalled and harassed more in Nicaragua alone than anywhere else I’ve ever been. Most of the time, they’re just whistling for the sake of whistling, but I had a few occasions where I was followed down dark streets. I found Granada to be the worst for this, especially in the side streets around the main square.
Be extra vigilant at backpacker parties like Sunday Funday. One great thing about these parties is that the locals come too, and it’s a great way to meet cool local people, but unfortunately there are also a lot of guys (local and tourist) who hang around outside the bars waiting to take advantage. Try to leave in groups where possible.
One thing that does come up when you talk to other travellers is whether or not to discuss politics. In 2018, widespread student protests against the Ortega regime led to political violence across the country. Protestors were gunned down in the streets by the police and the military. Post-2018, there are very strict restrictions on the press and free-speech in Nicaragua. As a tourist, the effect this will have on you is minimal. But keep this in mind before you start asking locals what they think about Ortega. They may just offer you their opinion without asking, but you’ll notice it’s always behind closed doors.
Remember, they have more to lose by criticising the government than you do.
Beyond personal safety, take care when out in nature. Nicaragua is home to some beautiful hikes, dramatic scenery and crazy adventure activities. Tell people where you’re going and what time you’re due back if you’re going out hiking alone. Bring lots of water with you because Nicaragua is HOT. I did the San Ramon waterfall hike in May and I had sweat dripping down through my eyebrows into my eyes, which was gross if nothing else.
Nicaragua is home to multiple active volcanoes, some of which you can climb (like Cerro Negro, Masaya and Concepcíon). Climb at your own risk, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures and consider going with a guide. Keep up to date with the latest guidance as the trails can close with very little notice. Masaya volcano was closed for a large chunk of 2024 and 2025 due to high levels of activity.
If you’re planning on visiting the coast, for the love of god learn what a riptide looks like and how to get out of one. The amount of tourists I saw get swept up in San Juan del Sur after a few beers was insane.
If you’re renting a bike or moped on Ometepe or San Juan del Sur, wear your helmet and drive with care. Accidents are super common; you won’t find a hostel in Nicaragua, El Salvador or Costa Rica without at least one person with an Ometepe tattoo.
Finally, if you’re going volcano boarding, do so at your own risk. As far as I’m aware, no one has ever died doing it, but the safety precautions are very limited, and people do get seriously hurt. You quite literally just get given a board and a five minute instructional briefing and that’s it. There’s also no way in hell your travel insurance will cover volcano boarding-related medical evacuation, something I only realised when I was halfway down.
One thing to be aware of ahead of time is that some countries, such as the UK, Ireland and Australia, don’t have an embassy in Nicaragua. If you need consular assistance for any reason at all, you’re advised to contact the British Embassy in San José, or the Irish/Australian Embassy in Mexico City.
Health and Wellbeing
You should make sure you are up to date with any vaccines before you enter Guatemala. As of the time of writing, the only vaccine requirement is a Yellow Fever certificate if you have been to a country deemed as “high risk” in the past. So, for example, if you’re doing a through trip that started in Panama you’ll probably get asked for it. You can see a list of countries deemed a risk of Yellow Fever here.
Most people recommend at least getting yourself vaccinated for Hepatits A, Tetanus and Typhoid. This is especially true if you’re planning to visit Ometepe or any of the rural regions.
There is a risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like Chikungunya and Dengue in Nicaragua. Malaria is also endemic here, especially along the Caribbean coast, though the risk is low. Use insect repellent and wear longer-sleeves at dawn and dusk. You can buy repellent in most larger stores and in pharmacies; I recommend the green OFF! Spray, particularly if you’re like me and seem to attract mosquitoes more than the average person. I got eaten alive in Ometepe and in Granada, so I’d recommend long sleeves if you’re planning on hanging around Lake Nicaragua at dusk or dawn.
Gastrointestinal issues are common among travellers to Nicaragua. Common culprits are eating spoiled or unhygienic street food, ingesting the tap water or norovirus. Fortunately, pharmacies in the bigger towns and cities are well equipped to deal with this. If you get seriously ill, you should take yourself to one of the private hospitals, if possible. The public hospitals in Nicaragua are free at the point of service, but are overcrowded and underfunded. If you can avoid them, you should.
You’re better off trying to avoid getting sick at all. Don’t avoid eating the street food, but exercise caution instead. When picking a stand, go to one with a high turnover and don’t eat food that’s been sitting out in the heat for hours.
Some parts of Lake Nicaragua are perfectly clean for swimming, but it’s not really recommended to swim near Granada as the water is a bit polluted. Some tour companies will take you out to the isletas for a swim where the water is cleaner. Swimming off Ometepe is fine except around the port at Moyagalpa.
Don’t flush anything down the toilets here. The sewage systems can’t handle toilet paper. There will be a bin next to the toilet for you to out anything. And if you use tampons, you may want to get used to the idea of using pads, as tampons are hard to come by in Nicaragua, outside of the bigger cities.
Cost
Nicaragua is, by some metrics, the poorest country in Central America, and one of the poorest in the Americas in general. Even walking around in the most gentrified touristic areas, it’s obvious how polarised the wealth gap is here. People came up to me in San Juan del Sur asking for money because they were so hungry. Our tour guide in León told us that qualified doctors were working in American call centres for twice the salary. And all along the roads leading into Granada there are people doing back breaking labour in the blistering heat, working for absolute pennies.
All this is to say, travelling to Nicaragua is cheap for you.
Why am I bringing this up? Nicaragua has a very established tourism industry, and has been a firm fixture on the backpacker trail for years. People flock to Nicaragua’s beaches and mountains, and there’s a common joke that if you can’t afford to travel in Costa Rica, go to Nicaragua instead.
But this has led to people being very blasé about the wealth inequality in the country. On too many occasions, I encountered western tourists bartering with street vendors over the equivalent of a quid. All while boasting online about how they couldn’t believe how cheap this country is. I recently saw someone post a TikTok about Granada that started with “Come with me to one of the cheapest cities in the world!”. Which, beyond being just categorically untrue, is an incredibly privileged take.
Anyway. Rant over.
As a Westerner, your money will stretch pretty far here in Nicaragua. On average I spent about £12 a night for a bed in Granada & León, staying in a bed in a mixed dorm in fairly nice hostels, almost always including breakfast. The average meal in a comedor cost around $3, and I mostly ate at these, from street food stands or cooked myself in the hostel kitchen. A local beer, such as a Toña or a Victoria was usually around $.90, except in San Juan del Sur where it could cost as much as $1.50 in some bars.
The big ticket items in Nicaragua are activities and shuttles. Volcano Boarding at Bigfoot hostel costs around $40. A ticket to Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur can cost up to $45 if you book it on the day. Equally, shuttles can drive up your cost. Unlike in Guatemala, the buses here are pretty easy to navigate so unless you’re on a tight schedule, taking them is an easy way to keep costs down.
Some places are, of course, more expensive than others. Léon and Granada are full of places to get your head down for less than $10 a night. San Juan del Sur is much more expensive, given the types of tourists that it attracts and the amount of American and Canadian expats in the area. You might find your budget doesn’t stretch as far here. Equally, Ometepe can eat into your budget a bit due to the lack of choice in some villages and towns.
