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Plumed basilisk iguana

Things to do in Nicaragua

Nicaragua is one of the most welcoming nations in Central America and the lack of visitors, variety of things to see and do and authentic charm make it a unique destination. The cobbled streets of the elegant capital, Grenada, and their colonial treasures, such as La Merced church and the San Francisco convent and museum, are best discovered on foot. You can also climb to the top of volcanic Cerro Negro for unforgettable views, or take a night tour of Masaya volcano and peer inside the crater to observe the glowing lava.

Wildlife spotting opportunities abound on Juan Venado Island and in the Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge, home to alligators, caiman, turtles and iguanas.
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Audley Travel specialist Corina

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Ideas for experiencing Nicaragua

Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Nicaragua, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.

  • Ometepe Island Tour
    Charco Verde, Ometepe Island

    Ometepe Island Tour

    Granada

    Ometepe Island Tour

    Rising proudly from the waters of Lake Nicaragua, Ometepe Island is made up of two magnificent volcanic cones and is a more than impressive sight as you gaze across to its shores.

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  • Granada City Tour
    Granada, Nicaragua

    Granada City Tour

    Granada

    Granada City Tour

    This tour takes in the "La Merced" church, the house of the Zamora family, the impressive brightly painted cathedral, the famous "Casa de Los Tres Mundos" and the San Francisco convent with its iconic blue façade.

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  • Volcano Cerro Negro Hike
    Volcan Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

    Volcano Cerro Negro Hike

    León & Northern Nicaragua

    Volcano Cerro Negro Hike

    Rising out of the green trees the black walls of Cerro Negro create a bizarre contrast with the surroundings. You hike first on trails and later on a kind of black dune created by former lava. As you reach the foot of the volcano you begin an easy climb up to the first of two active and colourful craters.

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  • Indio Maíz Biological Reserve
    Walking in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve

    Indio Maíz Biological Reserve

    El Castillo

    Indio Maíz Biological Reserve

    Expect to see howler monkeys, brightly coloured poison dart frogs, a wide range of birdlife including trogons, manikins, tanagers and if you're lucky scarlet macaws. There is also an endless variety of flora and the chance to see larger mammals such as ocelots.

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  • Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge
    Poison dart frog, Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge

    Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge

    Solentiname Islands

    Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge

    You can expect to see great egrets, blue and green heron, kingfishers and cormorants as well as parakeets and many other species. There is also a healthy population of alligators, caiman, turtles and iguanas.

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  • Masaya Volcano Tour by Night
    Masaya volcano, Nicaragua

    Masaya Volcano Tour by Night

    Granada

    Masaya Volcano Tour by Night

    The main area of interest here is the massive Santiago crater that was created between the Nindiri and Masaya volcanoes. Eruptions took place frequently during the 1900s until the crater eventually collapsed in 1985.

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  • Juan Venado Island Excursion
    Great egrets, Juan Venado Island

    Juan Venado Island Excursion

    León & Northern Nicaragua

    Juan Venado Island Excursion

    Travel by boat to the important ecological sanctuary of Isla Juan Venado, where you will witness a huge variety of wildlife, including crocodiles, caiman, water birds and iguanas, among beautiful natural surroundings.

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  • Matagalpa Coffee Tour
    Coffee plantation at Selva Negra

    Matagalpa Coffee Tour

    Matagalpa

    Matagalpa Coffee Tour

    Learn about the production and processes involved in creating coffee, the most popular hot drink in the world. Visit Selva Negra, one of the finest coffee producers in Nicaragua, and learn about the plantation and the steps it has taken to support the local community.

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  • León City Tour
    Iglesia La Recoleccion, Leon

    León City Tour

    León & Northern Nicaragua

    León City Tour

    Enjoy a pleasant walking tour of the wonderfully-atmospheric city of León, including time exploring the delightful art galleries, museums and beautiful colonial architecture of the city's historic buildings.

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  • Managua City Tour
    Lake Managua, Managua

    Managua City Tour

    Managua

    Managua City Tour

    One of the first places you visit is the "National Historic Park Loma de Tiscapa". In this location we will get to know an important part of the city's history. Here you learn about the story behind national hero Augusto Cesar Sandino and the Somoza dictatorship.

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