Nicaragua backpacking itinerary

Day 1-3 Leon
After a long 12 hour ride from El Tunco, I finally arrived to Leon. Because of the riot in Hounders I arrived around 10pm at night. I did not have a hostel booked in advance. On the same bus with me was Jo and Medori they booked in advance to stay in Poco a Poco Hostel, So I decided to stay in the same hostel with them. But guess what, the hostel was fully booked! However I managed to book the next couple of day at Poco a Poco Hostel. After a bit of walking around I ended up at Bigfoot Hostel. But I did not like that place, it was so loud and drank people walking back to the dorm all the night. Sorry BigFoot but that night was bad… The first thing I did in the morning was checking in at Poco a Poco Hostel, which was by far a much smarter choice.
If you staying in Leon Poco a Poco Hostel is one of the best hostel you can stay in. Leon is relatively small city and most of the hostel are located with in walking distance from the main attraction of the city. However both hostel had a great location, So if you stay anywhere around this area you going to be good. Leon definitely worth staying in for few days if you visiting Nicaragua. Leon is full of churches and old building as will as many local shops. The best way to explore the city is by doing the free walking tour. You can easily get the information about the tour from your hostel. Night life is also nice in Leon, you will find a lot of restaurant in the area, as well as live music. There is also a bus tour which you can do, the bus will take you to various area of the city, unfortunately I did not get a chance to do it.
On the other hand Leon is very close to Las Peñitas beach, which is one of my favorites beach in Nicaragua, Las Peñitas is awesome both for surfing and swimming. I spent a full day on Las Peñitas beach. There are few restaurants on the beach, where you can enjoy a meal. Las Peñitas only had few shops, so its mainly a beach. However if you need a break from the city and you would like to spend a day or two in nature Las Peñitas is your spot. There are few hostel located on the beach you can stay in. If you staying I recommend you stay at Simple Beach Lodge or Hostal Mano a Mano. But you can always get to Las Peñitas and shop around for a hostel since its only 30 minutes away from Leon. The number one activity in Leon is volcano boarding, I was not in the mood for it, so I did not do it this time. My tip prepare yourself to do it before getting to Leon, so you do not miss it.

Top things to do in Leon

You can do number of tours from Leon click on here for more information.

• Leon walking tour
• Leon bus tour
• Volcano boarding
• Las Peñitas beach
• Telica hike and sunset
• El Hoyo Volcano, Nicaragua
• San cristobal volcano
• Masaya volcano (it best to do it from Granada)

My accommodation in Leon

If you staying in Leon Poco a Poco Hostel is one of the best and quietest hostel you can stay in. Leon is relatively small city and most of the hostel are located with in walking distance from the main attraction of the city. However if you a party person BigFoot is your home, both hostel have a great location, So if you stay anywhere around this area you going to be good.

Transport From Leon to Granada

Shuttle go regularly from Leon to Granada. Click here for times for Shuttle from BigFoot hostel, also you can book from here. I booked the am Shuttle to Granada, we stopped in Managum to drop some people, than we continued to Granada. Its an easy 3 hours ride. I was in Garnada for midday.

Day 4-6 Granada
Granada, well let me tell you this city is especial, its small, unique, quite, peaceful and have some crazy super busy makes. On the top of that its on the cost of lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in central America and the 19th in the world. I spend around 8 day around lake Nicaragua, and its truly amazing, and it has an awesome nature especially at Islets of Granada, which you most see. I even so people surfing on this lake, the wave can get crazy on it. I spend three days in Granada, I can tell you the city is rich and you can easily spend more time. If I did not have to move on I would stay longer. One thing to mention here some people may say its very similar to Leon and you should see one or the other. Its completely different and you most see them both. I stayed at Hostal De Boca en Boca, which was right in the center. I highly recommend staying their.

Day 1: I arrived to Granada around 12 in the afternoon. The day was still young, so I decided to start by exploring Masaya market. The trip by itself is a tour, I toke a chicken bus which dropped me at Masaya bus station. From their I started to walk and in few minutes I was in the local markets. It was crazy all sort of things you find in this market. One thing I noticed that, I probable was the only tourist in the market, which I found strange. However when I was back to Granada, I was told their are few different market, It look like I want to the local market instead. However it was an awesome experience. From Granada you can easily take a chicken bus to Massaia market, just ask any one in your hostel about the location of the bus stop. By let afternoon I was back to Granada.

Day 2: The next day was amazing, I did a tour to Islets of Granada. The tour is only few hour, but it well worth it, Islets of Granada is very nice and its nature is beautiful. In the afternoon I explored Granada city more. I visited the Old Railway Station, Walked by the cigar factory and visited the Chocolate museum.

Day 3: Was a relaxing morning. However I did Masaya Volcano tour in the evening, which you most put on you list. The tour include a visit to Masaya Volcano where you can look inside Masaya Volcano and see the lava. Its one of those once in life experience. You also get to visit a museum near by. On the next day I booked a taxi to go to one of my favorites place in the world, Apoyo lagoon.

Top things to do in Granada

• Masaya Volcano (this is a must)
• Islets of Granada (this is a must)
• Massaia market
• Old Railway Station
• Chocolate museum
• Walked by the cigar factory

My accommodation in Granada

Granada is relatively small city and most of the hostel are located with in walking distance from the main attraction of the city. I stayed Hostel De Boca en Boc, which was in a very good location and have a comfortable room.

Transport From Granada to Apoyo lagoon

Well my next stop was Apoyo lagoon, its only about one hour drive from Granada. You can take a chicken bus or shuttle. The easiest way is by booking a shuttle, I booked the Shuttle from my hostel.

Day 7-9 Apoyo Lagoon

Apoyo Lagoon this is a must if you are in Nicaragua. This place is magical and if you are not a party person and you want to enjoy nature you must stay at Laguna Beach Club. Apoyo Lagoon is a very small village and there are 2 or 3 shops in the entire area. This what make it unique, its a place were you can just relax, enjoy nature and do water activity in the lagoon. Swimming, cooking, watching sun rise and sun set, watching the animal and talking to people and friends will become your main daily activity. You simple will dissolve in life. Many people will come for a day trip from Granada, do not do that to appreciate Apoyo Lagoon, you need to spend at lest 2 day in the area. I stayed for two days. Day one was mainly kayaking and swimming in the Lagoon, on the second day I explore the village for a while then back to swimming and kayaking.

Top things to do in Apoyo Lagoon

• stay at Laguna Beach Club hostel
• Swim and Kayak in the Lagoon
• Go for a walk in the Village

My accommodation in Apoyo lagoon

As I already told you Apoyo lagoon is very small village and 90% of your time you going to spend in the lagoon side of your hostel. I stayed at  Laguna Beach Club which was a very quite family and friends orientated hostel. Hostel Paradiso is another option, if you are a party person, However you can always go to Hostel Paradiso for the party if you like as its is open for non resident too. Hostel Paradiso  is only minutes walk from Laguna Beach Club.

Transport From Apoyo lagoon to Ometepe

My next stop in the itinerary was Ometepe island, Which is one of my favourites island in the world. I will tell you more about it letter. From Apoyo lagoon you need to go to Rivas and from Rivas you take a water taxi to Ometepe island. I booked a taxi with 4 other peoples from my hostel to Rivas, Tip if you by yourself you can always ask other traveller to share the taxi with you. The trip is about 2 hours to Rivas and you need around another hour from Rivas to Ometepe. You can see the ferry time from here

Day 8-14 Ometepe

Here we go we are at Ometepe island. This island is special its just magical and in the middle of no where. Isolated and full of life, have large number of activity and sightseeing area, as well as having one of the best sunset spot in the world at Punta jesus maria. The island divided into two side by two volcanoes (known as Volcán Concepción (you can drive around here) and Volcán Maderas (road are bad you better off with a scooter) and its on lake Nicaragua.
There are many villages and community in the island and they all unique and have nice accommodation and different things to do, see the attached photo to understand Ometepe map.

However the main area to stay in my opinion is Moyogalap. Especially for the first few days just because you can easily find shops, tour agency in this area. The island is relatively small. You probably need 2 hour to drive around the entire island. One thing to mention in here that on Volcán Maderas side of the island, the road are very difficult to drive on, you need 4X4 or a scooter.

Ometepe is one of those quite spots in the world, you can easily loss track of time and get lost in the island wondering around. I spend only 4 days in Ometepe. However I could easily spend another few more days without getting board. But this will depend on you, I would say you need at least 3 full days to be able to appreciate the island.

Day 1: I arrived early on the day to Ometepe, my main objective was to find a hostel, I stayed in 2 different hostels I cant remember the name of the first hostel, but the second was Hostel Los Abuelos, which was very basic, quite and reasonably priced. Once you arrive to Moyogalap you will have plenty of option for accommodation, I say walk around and stay were you feel confutable. Moyogalap is relatively small town, everything is within walking distance. Once I checked into my hostel I spend the rest of the day exploring Moyogalap and enjoying its culture.

Day 2: Was an active day, me and 2 other friend who I meet on my trip, decide to rent a car and drive around the entire island. Which was not a bad idea at all. We simple followed this map. I think we paid around $70 US dollar between the three of us for a full day. But this way you can just drive and as you see an interesting spot you will stop and so on. There are many highlights

Day 3: Was a super active day, and here where my revenge story will come to light. On that day I decided to hike Volcán Concepción. I booked a tour from Moyogalap. On the morning I was picked up from my Hostel and we made our way to the starting point. I was told that Volcán Concepción is one of he steepest mountain in central America, but It look like I underestimated that. We started the hike around 9am and our guide told as we should aim to get down before the sunset, and if we get delayed we might have to cut our hike as its not safe to go down in the dark. The hike was awesome the view point and the scenery was amazing. The hight of Volcán Concepción around 1700 meter, The real fun start in the last 300 – 400 meter. once we reached an attitude of 1200 meter the weather changed and the wind was so fast I thing it is one of the strongest wind is seen in my life so far, it was unforgettable. I think at an attitude of around 1500 meter the mountain become very steep and slippy and I decided not to go future, as I was slowing the group down and my shoes was not the best for such a conditions. instead I asked to wait for my group on a rock while they go up and come back. This was the first time for me not to make it to the top. Hence my revenge. I am hopping to go back to hike Volcán Concepción at some point to hike it again.

Top things to do in Ometepe

• Explore Ometepe Island, You can rent a car, scooter or cycle
• Watch the sunset from Punta jesus maria (this is a most) if you staying in Moyogalap you can cycle to Punta jesus maria
• Hike Volcán Concepción and/or Volcán Maderas
• Explore Charco Verde Park & Butterfly Aviary
• I was told there is a waterfall but I could not find it 🙁

My accommodation in Ometepe

As I told you before, there are many villages in Ometepe and you need to decided where to stay. I spend all my time in Moyogalap, which has a very good location, I have drived  through most of the others towns and I think they are quite similar, but Moyogalap was more central and have the eases access to the island. I stayed at Hostel Los Abuelos which was very basic, quite and reasonably priced. Moyogalap is very small and you can walk easily around.

Transport From Ometepe to Costa rica

Sadly Ometepe was my last stop in Nicaragua. If you have time I can recommend to explore Playa Maderas and San Juan Del Sur. back to my itinerary. From Ometepe I took a ferry to Rivas, which is the get way to Ometepe. From Rivas you can go to anywhere in Nicaragua, as it has a big chicken bus station. My Next stop was Costa rica, From Rivas I took a checkin bus to the Costa rica border. Its only about 1 hour ride from Rivas. The bus will drop you around 1 mile from the border crossing point. I walked it, but you can also take a taxi. Once you enter Costa rica, you will find bus station just out side the border control point. The bus station have buses going to most of the cities in Costa rica . I decided to go to San José, which I will tell you more about on my Costa rica itinerary.