Explore Nicaragua!

A perfect two day itinerary for a short visit in Nicaragua

Don’t have much time? Read a shorter summary of this article here. There may be affiliate links in this article.

Masaya Volcano National Park

The Masaya Volcano National Park became Nicaragua’s very first national park in 1979. The volcano is still active, and bright red bubbling lava can be seen from the viewing areas above.

The volcano is located about 20 kilometers from Managua, and is one o the most popular attractions on the Pacific Coast of the country. After you have entered the park and are on your way to the top, you’ll want to stop and take a (careful) walk on the old lava flows. The lava flows extend quite far from the mouth of the volcano, and make a very interesting landscape along with the bright green vegetation scattered throughout.

Although we hiked to the top of the volcano, there is a nicely paved road that can take you straight to the top. Once you’re at the top, the views into the crater are quite a sight to see. As mentioned earlier, lava can be seen bubbling below in Santiago Crater. To the right of the crater is a long set of stairs, climbing up to a large cross. In 1529, the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Bobadilla climbed the mountain to erect a large cross, which was meant to ward off evil spirits that inhabited the volcano. It’s a pretty interesting story in and of itself!

Granada

Granada is a beautiful little Colonial town, rich with a history of war, conquest, and agriculture. The city was named after the Spanish Conquistador, Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, in 1524. The Granada area is a major contributor producer of organic cacao, coffee, bananas, plantains, avocados and cattle.

Street Market

Venture out into the town where the street markets are, and you can get the biggest avocados you’ll ever see! When I first saw the size of the avocados, I thought they would be very watery with extra large pits. Much to my delight, they were as creamy as Hass avocados and had a normal small pit. I absolutely recommend you try at least one of these! Of course, there is also every other kind of local produce that you could want to eat available as well.

Dining

There are lots and lots of choices for food in Granada, but the nighttime is where the restaurants shine. Take a walk down Calle de Calzada, just past the Cathedral of Granada (Iglesia Catedral Inmaculada Concepción de María) and you’ll find a great selection of restaurants to choose from. Thanks to a large population of expats from all over the world, you’ll find everything like pizza, an Irish pub, steaks and seafood. Of course local dishes can also be found! To add to the experience, most restaurants on this street have outside seating along the street.

Hotels and Accommodations

There is no shortage of places to stay in Granada, so you’ll have lots to choose from depending on your budget. We stayed in the Hotel Colonial and had an amazing time. The room was very spacious and had a balcony overlooking the hotel pool. The hotel is also directly across the street from Granada Central Park (Parque Central de Granada). The rooms are available at an affordable ~$60-$75, and for what you get, is an amazing deal. Click HERE for prices. You can also use the search below to find and compare other hotel prices.

Find Hotels and Accommodations For Your Trip Below

If you are traveling on a backpacker’s budget, there are also tons of very nice hostels in the city. Most that I reviewed looked very nice and were rated consistently around a 9 out of 10. So take a look and you’ll find something you love!

Take a morning walk through the city and you will be sure to discover some wonderful sights and memories. Horse draw carriages may be popular with tourists in this wonderful little city, but the locals use them as transportation as well. You’ll notice that there are so many streets that are just full of character and friendly smiling people, so get out and explore!

Granada Cathedral - Iglesia Catedral Inmaculada Concepción de María

Directly across from the Granada Central Park is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The first temple was built in 1525, with the second temple being completed in 1751. The dome was built in 1915, and it stands as it is today since 1972.

The views from the top of this cathedral of the entire city of Granada are beautiful. But before you clime to the top of this beautiful cathedral, make sure to marvel at the wonderful paintings that adorn the inside of this cathedral.

Isletas de Granada

Directly off the “coast” of Granada is the massive Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca), and a stunning 365 islands to enjoy. If you go to Cabañas Amarillas, you will be able to take a boat tour through the islands (make reservations first). The islands are absolutely beautiful tropical paradises all on their own, but some are truly stunning. Many of the islands are privately owned and have multi-million dollar mansions and just as impressive landscaping. Even better, many of these island mansions are available for private rentals! From my research, renting the private islands are at very reasonable prices for what you get. So, gather up your friends and throw a huge party!

Some of these islands even have monkeys inhabiting them, and are great fun to watch!

Iglesia La Merced Catholic Church

One beautiful and historic spot you definitely check out when you’re in Granada is at the Iglesia la Merced Catholic Church. The church has a very long history of being originally built in 1534, and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times since. The church is open to the public, and has a beautiful gilded main alter. Also, you can pay a small fee to climb to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the entire city.

Don’t miss the opportunity while you’re here to visit this beautiful church!

We hope you enjoyed the information and photographs from Granada, Nicaragua! If you would like to help support this website, please follow some of the links throughout the page.