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Trip Report
Nicaragua One Week Itinerary
Explore my Nicaragua Itinerary. One week of backpacking in Nicaragua - Ometepe Island and the beautiful colonial city of Granada.
+ 5
North AmericaNicaragua6 days / January - February 2023
Highs & Lows
Admire a panoramic sunset over Granada, and drive a motorcycle between volcanos and heavenly beaches.
In Ometepe, drive carefully! Roads are in very poor condition in some parts of the island, and accidents are very frequent.
Itinerary Overview
Nicaragua remains a pretty underrated destination for tourists and backpackers in Central America. After spending a month and a half in this amazing country, I decided to make a small itinarery of the two spots that I enjoyed the most: Granada and Ometepe.
In Granada, the colonial architecture is breathtaking and the colorful buildings and streets are a delight to explore. The town has a lively central square with plenty of restaurants, bars, and street performers, making it a fun place to spend a couple of days. There are also several nearby natural attractions, such as the Masaya Volcano and Lake Apoyo, which offer stunning views and outdoor activities.
Ometepe is an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, and is famous for its two towering volcanoes and laid-back island vibe. The island is perfect for hiking, swimming, and relaxing in natural hot springs. The local communities are friendly and welcoming, and there are plenty of affordable accommodations and restaurants to choose from.
Overall, Nicaragua is a great destination for travelers who want to experience a mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. While it may not be as well-known as some of its Central American neighbours, it has a lot to offer and is definitely worth a visit.
Granada Culture, colonial architecture, parties, volcano, mangrove.
1+With it’s impressive and beautiful cathedrals and churches, it’s streets lined with colorful colonial houses and the numerous activities available within and nearby it’s area, Granada is undisputedly the most beautiful and vibrant colonial city of Nicaragua, and one of the best destinations for backpackers in Central America. Lose yourself in its charming streets, eat street food in Parque Central and visit the wonderful Catedral Inmaculada Concepción. Before dark, climb on the top of the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes to admire a panoramic sunset over the city (entrance fee is around 2€). Go learn more about chocolate making and have a delicious degustation in the Chocolate Museo, or simply have lunch with a good coffee at the Garden Coffee. If you are in Granada on a Friday, go to the TreeHouse, an electro/techno party located in the middle of the rainforest and above the canopy (book at least a week in advance). If you are missing nature, have a boat tour around the Isletas, a mangrove forest located on the lake that borders the city. Finally, go admire molten lava in one the main attractions available around the city: the Masaya volcano. A truly mesmerizing experience!
Ometepe Amazing sunsets, relaxing environment, volcano hikes and great food.
1+Ometepe is certainly the top 1 attraction for people visiting Nicaragua. You should try to stay at El Pital or El Zopilote hostels, they both offer an beautiful and relaxing environment, and most of nice restaurants are located next to them. El Pital is renowned for its home made chocolate classes and the food there is to die for! El Zopilote is located in the middle of the forest, the environment is amazing and parties are organized every Tuesday and Saterday (don’t miss the pizza nights!). If you decide to rent a scooter, have a tour around both island, take the time to chill in Moyogalpa or Altagracia, go to the Playa Fernando beach and have a beer while watching the sunset at Playa Mango, a spectacle absolutely astonishing. You can also rent kayaks and discover the luxurious mangrove forest located between the two islands (Rio Istian). For those who like hiking, both volcanos can be hiked. Maderas is the easiest one, and on good weather days the view from the top is amazing. Conception is harder and most the time the top is covered in clouds. Enjoy your stay!
Q & A
What would you have changed?
In Ometepe, book a hostel near Santa Cruz: this is where the nicest cafes and restaurants are! Avoid the south of the eastern island, .roads are bad and everything is far away.
Anything go wrong during the trip?
If you decide to rent a scooter, verify that the headlights are working properly! Roads are not enlightened so it can become very dangerous to drive after sunset.
Restaurant recommendations?
In Granada: Garden Coffee. In Ometepe: El Pital
Packing tips?
Shorts, t-shirts and swim clothes are the best suited as the weather is mostly dry and hot. Don’t forget sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
Transportation Tips?
To reach Granada, simply take the public bus from Managua (from Mercado Mayoreo). From Granada to Ometepe, you will need to take a public bus that will take you to Rivas. Once in Rivas, take a cab to reach the port (ask for the fair price before leaving Granada as you will most probably be asked to pay way more than you should). Ferries leave on a regular basis to reach the island of Ometepe. You will arrive in Moyogalpa, from which you will either need to walk, take the public bus (only 3 per day) or rent a motorcycle (most convenient as everything is pretty far away and public transports are rare) depending on your hostel location. Private buses are also an option, but these are usually way more expensive than the public options.
Any surprises?
Ometepe is big and ATMs are rare (the only one we found was in Moyogalpa). Take cash with you to avoid having to drive back to Moyogalpa in the middle of your stay.
Booking details?
Directly via booking.
Lodging
Book 3 nights in hostel Boca en Boca, a great mix between comfort, perfect location and amazing atmosphere for backpackers who want to make new friends and meet people from all over the world.
El Pital or El Zopilote hostel. Great location, next to some of the best restaurants of the islands, amazing vues, in the middle of nature, great food.