Explore western Nicaragua’s popular destinations on a 5-day tour of Managua, León and Granada. Visit some of the country’s most famous sites, including Managua’s National Palace of Culture, the World Heritage-listed Ruins of León Viejo, Leon’s Rubén Darío Museum, Masaya Volcano National Park and the Cathedral of Granada. Plus, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Nicaragua (also known as Lake Cocibolca) and hear all about the history of Nicaragua while you tour each city with your bilingual guide. With four nights of accommodation at 3.5-star or 4-star hotels, transportation between all sites, breakfast and entrance fees all included, this is the perfect way to see Nicaragua’s top attractions with a knowledgeable guide!
Highlights
- 5-day guided tour of Managua, Granada and León
- Enjoy a sightseeing tour in Managua and visit the National Museum
- See León top sights on a city tour to the Cathedral of León and Rubén Darío Museum
- Get up-close views of an active crater at Masaya Volcano National Park
- Learn about Granada’s colonial past on a sightseeing tour of its historic attractions
- Take a boat tour on Lake Nicaragua to see its 300+ small tropical islands and Mombacho Volcano
- 4 nights of accommodation, breakfast, transportation and entrance fees included
Useful Information
Cathedral of Leon
From the moment your 5-day Nicaragua tour beings in Managua, you’ll be immersed in Nicaragua’s historic sites and scenic splendors. During your three sightseeing tours in each city, you’ll see or visit top attractions like the Rubén Darío National Theatre and the National Museum; UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Ruins of Leon Viejo and the Cathedral of León; and natural wonders like Masaya Volcano National Park and Lake Nicaragua.
You have your choice of 3.5-star or 4-star hotels in each city. Breakfast and entrance fees are included each day, as is comfortable transportation between all destinations.
Please see the Itinerary section below for details on each day of the tour.
You have your choice of 3.5-star or 4-star hotels in each city. Breakfast and entrance fees are included each day, as is comfortable transportation between all destinations.
Please see the Itinerary section below for details on each day of the tour.
Itinerary
Day 1: Managua
After your arrival at the Managua airport, you'll be greeted by your driver and taken to your selected hotel. Spend the rest of the day and night exploring the city on your own or relaxing at the hotel.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star hotel in Managua
Day 2: Managua – León (B)
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Managua with your guide. Visit the National Palace of Culture, home to the National Archive, National Library and the National Museum, which houses exhibits ranging from prehistoric bones to pre-Colombian ceramics to modern paintings and sculptures. Take a guided tour of the museum, and then venture to Rubén Darío National Theatre, a well-known Central American theater named for Rubén Darío, a beloved writer who was a key figure in the Spanish-American literary movement of the late 19th century. The theater is one of the few buildings that survived the devastating earthquake of 1972, and is home to many shows, concerts and other cultural performances. Next, make your way to Tiscapa Historical National Park, where you'll find the statue of the silhouette of Augusto Sandino, Nicaragua’s famous revolutionary leader of the early 1900s. As you walk around the park with your guide, admire impressive panoramic views of Tiscapa Lagoon and the city.
After free time for lunch near Tiscapa Historical National Park , leave Managua with your guide and head north to the city of León, where you’ll have your second city sightseeing tour of the day. Visit the Ruins of León Viejo (Old León), declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Follow your guide on a tour of the ruins and learn how the former city is the second-oldest in Nicaragua, established in the early 1500s. You'll see foundations of centuries-old houses, as well as some restored buildings. Continue into the modern-day city of León, founded in the early 1600s. Known for its beautiful churches and stunning streetscapes, León is a picturesque colonial city with many historic attractions that you’ll see with your guide, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cathedral of León, one of the largest churches in Central America. Tour the church, admiring its interior filled with marble statues and other magnificent works of art.
Next, head to the Art Center of the Ortiz Gurdian Foundation, which you’ll tour with your guide. Located in two restored colonial buildings, this center houses various exhibits of paintings, sculptures and contemporary art. Then visit the Rubén Darío Museum, located in the house where Darío once lived. Tour the museum and see photographs and hand-written manuscripts.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in León
Day 3: León – Masaya – Granada (B)
After breakfast, you’ll depart León and for the town of Granada, stopping along the way for a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park, where you’ll see the active volcanic crater up close and explore the Ecological Museum to learn about the geology and history of the volcano. Before continuing to Granada, head into the town of Masaya to walk through the local market, where you'll find clothing, jewelry and beautiful handmade crafts made from wood and ceramics. It’s a great place to grab a souvenir!
Next, re-board your coach for the rest of the drive to Granada, located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. With your guide, enjoy a sightseeing tour and learn about the city’s culture and colonial past. Visit Independence Plaza, where you'll find an obelisk dedicated to the heroes of the 1821 struggle for independence. Then head to Central Park, where you'll see the Cathedral of Granada, originally built in the early 1500s. Admire the cathedral’s four chapels and 12 stained-glass windows, and then walk along the pedestrianized street of La Calzada to marvel at the colorful colonial buildings.
After your city tour, the day is yours to continue exploring Granada on your own.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in Granada
Day 4: Granada (B)
Start your day with breakfast, and then get ready for your Lake Nicaragua adventure! The fun begins as you board a boat for an exciting cruise to more than 300 tiny tropical islands. Stay on the boat, learning about the lush flora from your guide as you cruise through the islands, which were formed more than 10,000 years ago when Mombacho Volcano erupted. While you listen to your guide’s commentary about the history of Lake Nicaragua, which is home to freshwater sharks and sawfish, admire views of Mombacho and keep an eye out for native birds like tanagers, hawks, jays and warblers.
Your cruise will end in the early afternoon, and you’ll have the rest of the day and night to do as you wish in Granada.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in Granada
Day 5: Granada - Managua (B)
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Managua airport for your departing flight. If you don’t have a flight today, you may be taken to the hotel of your choice or to the Managua or Granada destination of your choice.
After your arrival at the Managua airport, you'll be greeted by your driver and taken to your selected hotel. Spend the rest of the day and night exploring the city on your own or relaxing at the hotel.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star hotel in Managua
Day 2: Managua – León (B)
After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Managua with your guide. Visit the National Palace of Culture, home to the National Archive, National Library and the National Museum, which houses exhibits ranging from prehistoric bones to pre-Colombian ceramics to modern paintings and sculptures. Take a guided tour of the museum, and then venture to Rubén Darío National Theatre, a well-known Central American theater named for Rubén Darío, a beloved writer who was a key figure in the Spanish-American literary movement of the late 19th century. The theater is one of the few buildings that survived the devastating earthquake of 1972, and is home to many shows, concerts and other cultural performances. Next, make your way to Tiscapa Historical National Park, where you'll find the statue of the silhouette of Augusto Sandino, Nicaragua’s famous revolutionary leader of the early 1900s. As you walk around the park with your guide, admire impressive panoramic views of Tiscapa Lagoon and the city.
After free time for lunch near Tiscapa Historical National Park , leave Managua with your guide and head north to the city of León, where you’ll have your second city sightseeing tour of the day. Visit the Ruins of León Viejo (Old León), declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Follow your guide on a tour of the ruins and learn how the former city is the second-oldest in Nicaragua, established in the early 1500s. You'll see foundations of centuries-old houses, as well as some restored buildings. Continue into the modern-day city of León, founded in the early 1600s. Known for its beautiful churches and stunning streetscapes, León is a picturesque colonial city with many historic attractions that you’ll see with your guide, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cathedral of León, one of the largest churches in Central America. Tour the church, admiring its interior filled with marble statues and other magnificent works of art.
Next, head to the Art Center of the Ortiz Gurdian Foundation, which you’ll tour with your guide. Located in two restored colonial buildings, this center houses various exhibits of paintings, sculptures and contemporary art. Then visit the Rubén Darío Museum, located in the house where Darío once lived. Tour the museum and see photographs and hand-written manuscripts.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in León
Day 3: León – Masaya – Granada (B)
After breakfast, you’ll depart León and for the town of Granada, stopping along the way for a visit to Masaya Volcano National Park, where you’ll see the active volcanic crater up close and explore the Ecological Museum to learn about the geology and history of the volcano. Before continuing to Granada, head into the town of Masaya to walk through the local market, where you'll find clothing, jewelry and beautiful handmade crafts made from wood and ceramics. It’s a great place to grab a souvenir!
Next, re-board your coach for the rest of the drive to Granada, located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. With your guide, enjoy a sightseeing tour and learn about the city’s culture and colonial past. Visit Independence Plaza, where you'll find an obelisk dedicated to the heroes of the 1821 struggle for independence. Then head to Central Park, where you'll see the Cathedral of Granada, originally built in the early 1500s. Admire the cathedral’s four chapels and 12 stained-glass windows, and then walk along the pedestrianized street of La Calzada to marvel at the colorful colonial buildings.
After your city tour, the day is yours to continue exploring Granada on your own.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in Granada
Day 4: Granada (B)
Start your day with breakfast, and then get ready for your Lake Nicaragua adventure! The fun begins as you board a boat for an exciting cruise to more than 300 tiny tropical islands. Stay on the boat, learning about the lush flora from your guide as you cruise through the islands, which were formed more than 10,000 years ago when Mombacho Volcano erupted. While you listen to your guide’s commentary about the history of Lake Nicaragua, which is home to freshwater sharks and sawfish, admire views of Mombacho and keep an eye out for native birds like tanagers, hawks, jays and warblers.
Your cruise will end in the early afternoon, and you’ll have the rest of the day and night to do as you wish in Granada.
Overnight: Your selected 3.5- or 4-star accommodation in Granada
Day 5: Granada - Managua (B)
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Managua airport for your departing flight. If you don’t have a flight today, you may be taken to the hotel of your choice or to the Managua or Granada destination of your choice.
Recent Reviews of this Tour
Reviewed by IAN S, March 2013
Overall excellent . Always on time .Good guides.Great things to see.
Reviewed by Nabil A. B, November 2012
The tour was good overall except for one glitch. On our way to Granada, we stoppd in Massai and realised that a festival was taking place later on that day. We proceded to Granada and our tour guide told us that there is a visit to 2 museums on the program. We suggested that instead of the museums, we would rather go back to Massai to see the festival which is 10 or 15 minutes away. The guide came back to us saying that he spoke with the owner and he asked us to pay for the gas in order to go back to Massai.. I gave him $20 but I found it to be of poor judgement. The gas woul cost only $5 and since we don't want to go to the museums in Granada, that should make out for it.
