What to do in Nicaragua!

FIRST STOP: Granada, Nicaragua (hour out of Managua)

- Cool, Colonial city - Kinda Gringo-ized
- Nice restaurants, fun bars

- Stay at Casa Capricho (casacapricho.com)
............. $50-$60 per night, ask for the room called "Nueva York" or "Olvidar"
- Stay at El Club (elclub-nicaragua.com)
............ I think it's just a bit pricier, but its a fun, party atmosphere with a popular bar attached

- Eat at The Garden Cafe for breakfast and lunch... it kicks ass
- Eat at Jimmy three fingers for dinner, they have killer Gorgonzola & mushroom stuffed Filet Mignon
- Go see the Isletas, little islands you tour on a boat. Grab a bucket full of Toña's for the ride.
- Party at Cafe Nuit for live music and fun peeps

Read our newsletter for more on Granada & Leon: "Fleeing the Campo"

 

SECOND STOP: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua (hour and a half from Granada)

- Fun party town by the beach
- Sort of gringo-ized, definitely lots of surfer/backpacker types
- Fun nightlife, good food

- Stay at Villa Isabella $50-$75 per night including breakfast and wi-fi
- Stay at Casa Feliz (lacasafeliz.com)
....................the best party hostel in town and has our bestest nica friends $8-$16 per night
- Venture up the hill to Pelican Eyes (piedrasyolas.com)
................. for the sweetest view in town $140-$375 per night (this is where you should splurge)

- Eat at El Colibri .....meditteranean food AND they have Limoncello!
- Eat at the Mercado for cheap Nica food
- Eat at San Juan Pizza (Mauricios) for the best pizza
- Eat at El Timon, for the best place by the beach
- Eat at El Pozo (www.el-pozo.com)
................. for a sweet Cali type bar & restaurant- they have sushi!

- Surf at Maderas beach (20 minutes away)
- Take the shuttle that meets at Casa Oro for 5 bucks
- Go to Pelican Eyes Wed & Fri for Happy hour 5-8 ... SO FUN
- Go to Iguana's bar any night, best bar in town - Go to Sunset disco to dance your ass off
- You can Scuba dive in San Juan & do the Zipline with Da Flying Frog

 

THIRD STOP: Gigante, Nicaragua (1.5 hours from San Juan - WHERE WE LIVE!)

- Stay at Dale Dagger's Surf lodge (nicasurf.com)
................. $70-$220 per night depending on how much surf you want
- Stay at The Acopio or Hostel, $15-$20 per night, beachfront budget accommodations
- Stay in a pimp Hacienda Iguana Condo (honeyox.com/surf.html)
................ in front of the best surf in the country $125-$250 per night, depending on the season

- Visit The Swell surf shop/restaurant for killer Margaritas and Mojitos (piedegigante.net)


SURF
FISH
Drink lots of rum
GOLF
Drink more rum
Go for a hike
Go sailing
Sun bathe
Take a nap
Repeat



FOURTH STOP: The Island of Ometepe (hour from Gigante, take the ferry from Rivas)
-Rent motos, tour the volcanos, and natural springs and jump off the ferry for fun while waiting for it to leave!


Ometepe Ferry Schedule:


San Jorge to Ometepe .................................Ometepe to San Jorge

09:30 am (boat - Sor Maria) ..........................5:30am (boat - Sor Maria)
10:30 am (boat - ferry ometepe) ................... 6:00 am (boat - Sra. del Lago)
11:30 am (boat - Sra. del Lago) .................... 6:30 am (boat - Karen Maria)
12:30 pm (boat - Karen Maria) ..................... 6:45 am (boat - Ferry Ometepe)
01:30 pm (boat - Santa Martha) .................... 7:00 am (boat - Reyna del Sur)
02:30 pm (boat - Ferry Ometepe) ................11:30 am (boat - Santa Martha)
03:30 pm (boat - Reyna del sur) ..................12:30 pm (boat - Ferry Ometepe)
04:30 pm (boat - Sra. del Lago) ................... 1:30 pm (boat - Sra del Lago)
05:30 pm (boat - Ferry Ometepe) ................. 3:30 pm (boat - Reyna del Sur)
.......................................................................4:00 pm (boat - Ferry Ometepe)


 

OK! All of these things are just suggestions and I have had a blast with every one of them. I would recommend taking a taxi or Expresso buses to get around, and all you have to do is ask a local where to find them. If you want a completely cush ride, book with PAXEOS (paxeos.com). They have AC vans, are super reliable and friendly. Otherwise you are totally fine taking a chicken bus for $1.50!