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Head to Lake Nicaragua to immerse yourself in a private island paradise at Jicaro Island Lodge.
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World-class waves draw surfers to the Emerald Coast, where accommodations are elevating luxury travel in Nicaragua like never before.
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Located in the heart of colonial Granada, NM highlights local ingredients and farm-fresh cuisine at what is one of the country’s most innovative kitchens.
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Biodiverse cloud forests near Matagalpa and remote nature reserves along the Rio San Juan welcome jungle adventures and wildlife encounters.
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Crystal-clear waters lap at powdery sands in the Corn Islands, considered some of the last truly untouched islands in the Caribbean.
For decades, travelers seeking sun, sand, and the supreme biodiversity of the most pristine ecosystems in the Americas have passed over Nicaragua for neighboring Costa Rica. However, that finally seems poised to change.
“Many parts of Costa Rica have become busy, built-up, and expensive over the years,” says John Kendall, who has experience on the cutting edge of Nicaragua’s nascent travel industry as the owner of the boutique hotel Yemaya Reefs. “Meanwhile, Nicaragua still has a raw, real magic to it that travelers are only now starting to see.”
With construction underway for a coastal highway set to connect hundreds of miles of beachfront along the Emerald Coast, it will be easier than ever to experience destinations in Nicaragua once reserved only for the most adventurous visitors. Amid a growing demand from both luxury-minded travelers and the intrepid backpackers who first told tales of the country’s incomparable beauty, Nicaragua now stakes its claim among its neighbors as a destination worth traveling for.
Best Hotels & Resorts
Courtesy of Jicaro Island Lodge
Aerial view of Jicaro Island Lodge
Jicaro Island Lodge
Part of the Cayuga Collection of sustainable luxury hotels in Central America, Jicaro Island Lodge is a luxe, private island hideaway surrounded by the serene waters of Lake Nicaragua. Among volcano-studded landscapes coated in forests, the island’s nine casitas just as easily welcome adrenaline seekers eyeing water sports and hiking trails as they do those looking to spend long, lazy days floating in the infinity pool or balancing in a hammock, book in hand.
Yemaya Reefs
Feel the stress melt away instantly at Yemaya Reefs, the gem of Nicaragua’s Corn Islands in the heart of the Caribbean. The boutique property, named for the colorful corals that sit just offshore, features 20 oceanfront casitas, each perfectly secluded amid lush jungle foliage that opens onto golden sands. Yemaya Reefs also features an intimate spa, a yoga shala, and an Afro-Caribbean-inspired dining concept. It’s part of the Colibri Boutique Hotels collection with three stunning sibling properties in Tulum.
Related: Top 25 Stunning Destinations Across the Caribbean Islands
Rancho Santana
A sprawling 2,700-acre resort and residential community nestled among sea and sand, Rancho Santana is the star of the surf-obsessed Emerald Coast. However, there’s much more to Rancho Santana than just catching waves, with an expansive spa and impressive wellness program, five distinct beaches, a turtle sanctuary, and more than 20 miles of hiking trails to keep guests busy. The property even maintains its own 80-acre working farm, from which it sources most of the ingredients used across numerous dining concepts that range from fine dining to casual taco spots.
Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge
Located just north of San Juan del Sur, Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge is renowned for curating an immersive and sustainable jungle experience that feels singular in Nicaragua. The property’s 15 bungalows and three villas were designed to preserve as much old-growth foliage as possible, using natural materials and incorporating design elements like thatched roofs that provide shade for private pools. Every angle highlights views of verdant jungle canopy and frames a tranquil crescent of sand below.
Best Things to Do
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Colonial buildings in León, Nicaragua.
Explore the jungle.
Immense biodiversity and vast swaths of raw, untouched jungle make Nicaragua a dream for adventurous travelers. Take a tiny boat from Lake Nicaragua to the ultra-sustainable Guacimo Lodge for an immersive experience among tropical birds and monkeys in the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve. Up north, Matagalpa is the gateway city to cloud forests native to the Peñas Blancas Massif Nature Reserve, which is packed with hiking trails to hidden jungle waterfalls in an area known as the “Land of Eternal Spring.”
Visit historic cities.
Many of Nicaragua’s cities still bear the richly layered architectural legacy of their colonial past, lending them an undeniable and colorful charm that visitors love. Granada is one of the oldest cities in the Americas, having relatively recently celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2024. With a canary-yellow church at its center, it’s a vibrant and vivacious city. From there, head three hours northwest to León to take in the view of whitewashed domes on the roof of the city’s church, set against brilliant blue skies.
Go surfing.
Summertime swells draw surfers from far and wide to Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast. San Juan del Sur on the sunny Emerald Coast reigns supreme as a destination for surfers of all skill levels. Or, travel with Rise Up Surf, a company with years of experience curating laid-back surfing and wellness retreats in stunning spots up and down the West Coast.
Try volcano boarding.
If surfing isn’t your scene, don a jumpsuit and grab a board to slide down the black-sand slopes of Cerro Negro instead. This active volcano is considered Central America’s youngest, having first appeared in 1850 and erupted dozens of times since. Volcano boarding is better left to only the most adventurous, as speeds can get up to 40 miles per hour for the five-minute ride to the bottom of the volcano. It’s just as wild as it sounds.
Related: You Can Surf Down the Side of an Active Volcano at This Central American Destination
Best Restaurants
Courtesy of NM
Dishes from NM restaurant.
NM, Granada
“True fine-dining options in Nicaragua are still few and far between,” says Karen Emanuel, owner of Jicaro Island Lodge, with inspirational spots like NM in Granada charting a new path in local cuisine. Deeply faithful to the restaurant’s farm-to-table concept, chefs at NM curate seasonal menus featuring local ingredients. The eight-course tasting menu and craft cocktail list are highlights of the experience.
Boca Baco, Granada
Steps from historic Granada’s cathedral, Boca Baco fills a breezy, beautiful patio space with local art and draping greenery for an unpretentious spot to enjoy one of the best meals in town. Unexpected Asian fusion dishes and sushi rolls set it apart, but a menu including fan favorites like pasta and burgers caters to every palate.
La Cocina de Doña Haydée, Managua
Any no-frills restaurant in Nicaragua will serve classic local dishes like gallo pinto (rice and beans) and vaho (beef, yuca, and plantains cooked inside banana leaves), but La Cocina de Doña Haydée is where they shine. There are now three outposts of this popular eatery located around Managua.
Cervecería San Juan del Sur
Nicaragua’s first brewpub perfectly fits San Juan del Sur’s beachy, surf-town vibe. A beloved haunt dedicated to using traditional brewing methods and mindfully sourced ingredients in its beers for over a decade, Cervecería San Juan del Sur is a must for great food, live music, and a good time just a few blocks from the sand.
Magnific Rock Café, Popoyo
Head south from the breaks in Popoyo to Magnific Rock Café, a surf resort and yoga retreat with a chill cliffside eatery known for its stunning 270-degree views over the golden sands and rolling waves of the Pacific.
Downstairs, the Rock Bottom Bar is even more lively, with frequent live music and DJ sets on Saturday that transform this relatively sleepy coastal spot into a party.
Areas to Visit
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View of Concepcion Volcano from Ometepe Island in Nicaragua.
Managua
Visitors will be content with merely passing through Nicaragua’s capital city of Managua on their way to more picturesque parts of the country. “Unfortunately, a lot of the historic charm of Managua was destroyed in a devastating earthquake in the 1970s,” explains Kendall, “and there isn’t much appeal to the city for most travelers.”
Granada
Bask in the beauty of Granada, with its cobblestone streets and facades dating back as far as the 16th century. Colorful colonial architecture hides modern restaurants and cafes, making the city “an instant favorite among visitors,” says Emanuel. The city’s lakeside location makes it convenient for exploring some of the country’s most gorgeous destinations, including the nearby crater lake, Laguna de Apoyo.
Ometepe Island
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ometepe Island sits at the heart of Lake Nicaragua. The island’s name originates from the native Nahuatl words ome (“two”) and tepetl (“mountain”), speaking to its striking hourglass shape anchored by two towering volcanoes. It’s now a haven for ecotourism with hiking trails, wildlife-laden forests, natural pools, and hidden beaches. “Many visitors say it’s their favorite part of Nicaragua,” says Kendall.
The Corn Islands
Flung more than 40 miles off the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands have long been spoken of by in-the-know travelers looking for a truly tranquil escape. This pair of palm-fringed, white-sand islands rimmed with colorful reefs is nothing short of paradise, with the car-free Little Corn Island embodying the essence of the unhurried, undisturbed Caribbean of decades past.
Emerald Coast
Long known for its stellar surfing, the Emerald Coast is now an emerging destination for adventure and wellness-minded luxury travelers looking for their next escape. Most visitors will stay put in or around San Juan del Sur, but there are other smaller towns up the coast with even better surf breaks and plenty to see. Popoyo’s new Hide & Seek Resort and a slew of other surf schools with sleek accommodations speak to the region’s rising profile.
Best Times to Visit
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Pontoon boat on Lake Nicaragua.
The best time to visit Nicaragua is between mid-November and April, when the country’s delightful dry season brings clear skies and temperatures are more springlike than sticky. The rainy season starts in May and lasts until early November, though rains generally tend to pass quickly. Sustained, sometimes travel-impacting downpours make it best to avoid Nicaragua in September and October.
Visitors heading to Little Corn Island should be aware that windy conditions from December through February can make the boat ride from Big Corn Island rough, or on the rare occasion, cause it to be canceled outright. Though unlikely, tropical storms and hurricanes are possible in the Corn Islands during the Atlantic hurricane season from June through November.
Known as Semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter is one of the busiest times to travel, with locals streaming out of cities and heading straight to the coasts. Expect travel to be punctuated by memorable cultural experiences like processionals, traditional foods, and music, but destinations will be notably crowded and more expensive.
How to Get There
Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua is Nicaragua’s main international airport. United Airlines now offers daily flights between Managua and its Houston hub, adding even more flights during peak travel periods. It’s the only airline that provides direct service to Managua from destinations outside of Florida, where several airlines offer flights out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Travelers headed for destinations in southern Nicaragua, like San Juan del Sur and the Emerald Coast, may also consider flying into nearby Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Though the drive takes slightly over two hours, the journey from Managua is just as long, and the Guanacaste airport offers numerous direct flights from cities across the United States.
Related: A Top Travel Advisor Reveals the Best Multi-country Itineraries for Central America
How to Get Around
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Colorful street in Granada, Nicaragua.
With no significant rideshare programs available in Nicaragua, most visitors take taxis when traveling locally. Budget-conscious travelers can also take local or regional buses for a fraction of the cost (and an extra helping of adventure).
When it comes to regional travel, “I usually recommend visitors take a private transfer between cities rather than renting a car. While roads are decently good in much of the country, private transfers tend to be highly affordable and save a lot of hassle,” says Emanuel. The proximity of Nicaragua’s most popular destinations rules out domestic flights unless you’re traveling to the hard-to-reach Caribbean Coast or the Corn Islands.
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