Regions and Recommendations

Southern Pacific Coast- Between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Nicaragua

• San Juan del Sur- Party beach town.
• Close to Playa Maderas-Our recommended beach. Great to watch surfing!
• Recommended hotel is Casa Maderas.
• Recommended hostel is Casa Oro in town or Casa de Olas with a pool
• Rivas- Is a city that connects the north with San Juan del Sur and the border. 
• Isla de Ometepe- Middle of Lake Nicaragua. It's an hour ferry ride from San Jorge Port near Rivas to Moyogalpa. You can also go to San Jose port on Ometepe, but there are not as many ferries. You can rent scooters on the island for the day. 
• Recommended hotel is La Omaja, located in Merida on Ometepe. 
• Recommended hostel is Hacienda Merida. 

Capital Region- Between Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua

• Managua-Capital. Has an international airport.
• Masaya- Artesian town, great market to buy souvenirs. 
• Laguna de Apoyo-A must see! It's a beautiful laguna in a volcanic crater with refreshing, clean water for swimming. There are beach clubs where you can pay $6.00 to stay for the day and use all their water toys, wifi and beach chairs. 
• Granada-Colonial City on Lake Nicaragua (no one swims in the lake from here)
• Recommended Hotels- Hotel Alambra or Hotel Granada. 
• Recommended Restaurant- El Garaje and The Garden Cafe
• We also recommend going to the Chocolate Museum and paying $6.00 to swim in their pool for the day. 
• Masaya Volcano National park- Look into an active volcano crater, hike in lava tubs, watch a colony of bats depart at night. Erik Tours is a great company to go with!

Northern Highlands- The mountains above Lake Managua

• Matagalpa-Cute, mountain town. Great climate that is much cooler than the south!
• Recommended hostels- Martina's Place and Buena Onda
• Recommended hotel- El Castillo
• Tour the coffee plantations and factories in the nearby mountains. 
• Visit the Selva Negra with a dry forest, rainforest and cloud forest at different elevations. 
• Jinotega- Coffee Country. Enjoy hiking and adventure sports from here. 
• Esteli- Located on the Pan American Highway. Know for cigars.
• Visit the nearby Miraflor Nature Reserve.

Northern Pacific Coast- North of Lake Managua on the Pacific Ocean side. 

• Leon- Cool University city that is 20 minutes away from excellent beaches, Poneloya and Las Peñitas. 
• You can go on The Flor de Cana Rum tours or go volcano boarding. 
• Recommended hostel- Bigfoot Hostel or Surfing Turtle Hostel in Leon. 
• Surfing Turtle Lodge is on the beach!
• Chinandega- Great surfing beaches!

Rio San Juan Region

• Solentiname Island- Island on Lake Nicaragua to the south. A car free island. 
• Gateway to the rainforest of the Indio Maiz Reserve
• Juigalpa

Caribbean Nicaragua- You have to fly from Managua to Bluefields. It’s the more indigenous side of the country. 

Check out more info about Nicaragua on our website www.vayavolunteers.com !