Nicaragua Travel & Tourism

Renowned for its plethora of scenery, Nicaragua offers dramatic volcanoes, pristine beaches and lush rainforests to satisfy the adventurous traveler. Known as the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes, it is difficult to find a place in Nicaragua that isn’t punctuated by the smoking silhouette of an active volcano. Visitors can stop by the colonial city Granada, founded in 1524, for a taste of the area’s history. Known as the oldest city in the “New World,” Granada was founded by the Spanish and acted as a trade center and a showcase city for the Spaniards. Granada is located on Lago de Nicaragua and pampers guests with a variety of accommodations, acting as a superb starting point for exploreing the surrounding area. Visitors can stop by Masaya to learn about the native Chorotegan culture. The cityscape is dominated by the smoking Volcán Masaya and a Gothic Spanish fortress, Mercado Artesanías, which is offers spectacular native handcrafted souvenirs. Adventurous travelers can climb Volcán Concepción, which towers over Lago de Nicaragua and offers spectacular views of Granada and the island-dotted coast. Nicaragua’s capital, Mangagua, offers visitors a spectacular array of restaurants and hotels, a vigorous nightlife, stunning views of Lago de Managua and glimpses of the overlooking volcano, Volcán Momotombo. León, Nicaragua’s original capital, is a cultural epicenter that offers a wealth of art, historic sites and spectacular churches. Visitors are often more entranced with León’s authentically Spanish scene than the claustrophobic capital city of Mangagua. Visitors can once again escape the confines of a city to explore Northern Nicaragua’s mysterious cloud forests, which offer scenery speckled with old cathedrals and silky waterfalls. Nicaragua’s Northern Highland cities are generally comprised of historic adobe structures, offering visitors a glimpse into the hidden civilizations. Still visitors can escape to Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast to view a spectacular array of white sandy beaches, hot springs and islets that punctuate the landscape.


Worldwide Tourism Popularity Ranking: 88 of 230


Air Travel

  • Quality of Airports: Average (4.2 of 7)
  • Number of Airlines: 9
  • Number of Arriving Passengers: 932000

Hotels & Lodging

  • Quality of Lodging: Good (4.3 of 5)
  • Number of Hotels: 186
  • Average Room Rate: $91.07

Purpose of Visit

  • Business Trip: 10%
  • Family Vacation: 15%
  • Couples Getaway: 46%
  • Friends Trip: 18%
  • Solo Travel: 15%

Top Vacation Destinations in Nicaragua

Most popular cities in Nicaragua in terms of percentage of visitors and number of hotels:

  • Granada
    Popularity: 1 | 30.85% Visitors | 29 Hotels

  • Managua
    Popularity: 2 | 20.33% Visitors | 41 Hotels

  • San Juan Del Sur
    Popularity: 3 | 12.67% Visitors | 16 Hotels

  • Montelimar
    Popularity: 4 | 5.26% Visitors | 1 Hotels

  • Little Corn Island
    Popularity: 5 | 4.32% Visitors | 5 Hotels

  • Leon
    Popularity: 6 | 4.21% Visitors | 9 Hotels

  • Isla De Ometepe
    Popularity: 7 | 4.13% Visitors | 15 Hotels

  • Big Corn Island
    Popularity: 8 | 3.74% Visitors | 10 Hotels

  • Masaya
    Popularity: 9 | 2.74% Visitors | 10 Hotels

  • Tola
    Popularity: 10 | 2.69% Visitors | 5 Hotels

  • Matagalpa
    Popularity: 11 | 1.88% Visitors | 6 Hotels

  • Playa Gigante
    Popularity: 12 | 1.39% Visitors | 3 Hotels

  • Esteli
    Popularity: 13 | 1.28% Visitors | 9 Hotels

  • El Castillo
    Popularity: 14 | 1.0% Visitors | 3 Hotels

  • Altagracia
    Popularity: 15 | 0.69% Visitors | 1 Hotels

  • Las Penitas
    Popularity: 16 | 0.69% Visitors | 4 Hotels

  • Los Cardones
    Popularity: 17 | 0.58% Visitors | 1 Hotels

  • Rivas
    Popularity: 18 | 0.38% Visitors | 3 Hotels

  • Boca Sabalos
    Popularity: 19 | 0.38% Visitors | 1 Hotels

  • Jinotega
    Popularity: 20 | 0.28% Visitors | 6 Hotels

  • Lago De Apoyo
    Popularity: 21 | 0.19% Visitors | 2 Hotels

  • Pochomil
    Popularity: 22 | 0.13% Visitors | 1 Hotels

  • Poneloya
    Popularity: 23 | 0.08% Visitors | 2 Hotels


Top Nicaragua Hotels

  • 1
    Hotel Con Corazon
    Calle Santa Lucia 141, Granada
    100% recommended | 198 reviews
  • 2
    Hotel Patio Del Malinche
    Calle Caimito, Granada
    99% recommended | 235 reviews
  • 3
    Hotel Plaza Colon
    In front of Central Park, Granada
    100% recommended | 236 reviews
  • 4
    La Pyramide
    Gimnasio Hercules, 1c. al sur, 1c. al este, 2 1/2 c. al sur, Managua
    100% recommended | 118 reviews
  • 5
    Hotel La Bocona
    Calle la Libertad, Granada
    100% recommended | 66 reviews
  • 6
    Hotel Boutique Villa Maya
    Calle Los Laureles, 105, Managua
    98% recommended | 67 reviews
  • 7
    Hotel Terrasol
    Avenida Barricada, Granada
    98% recommended | 175 reviews
  • 8
    Mango Rosa Nicaragua
    Playa Marsella, San Juan del Sur
    97% recommended | 105 reviews
  • 9
    Buena Vista Surf Club
    Playa Maderas, Playa Maderas
    98% recommended | 179 reviews
  • 10
    Jicaro Island Ecolodge
    Granda Isletas, Granada
    0% recommended | 54 reviews