Spending 2 weeks in Nicaragua makes for an unforgettable trip, offering you enough time to sample everything from volcanoes to colorful cities to stunning beaches.
Of the 6 Central American countries we visited during our time backpacking the region, Nicaragua is the one we left in the biggest hurry to return to!
It’s beautiful, it’s comfortable, and compared to its neighbors to the south, Costa Rica and Panama, quite a bargain for foreign backpackers like us.
Two weeks in Nicaragua is the perfect amount of time for an introduction to the country. You’ll have long enough to hit several major destinations, as well as get off the beaten path a bit, without feeling too rushed.
If you only have one week, though, book the tickets anyway! You won’t be sorry.
And, of course, you can certainly burn more than 2 weeks in Nicaragua without being bored. We spent about a month in the country, and left with more places to visit and things to do on our return bucket list than we expected!
Looking for a Nicaragua itinerary that will get you excited about your first trip to the country? This one will do the trick.
Table of Contents
How We Structured This Nicaragua Itinerary
This itinerary for Nicaragua works through the country from north to south.
It’s perfect for backpackers coming from Honduras and heading toward Costa Rica, which is exactly what we did, but you can easily adapt it to flying in and out of Managua.
If you’re traveling from south to north through Central America, simply reverse the itinerary and go from there.
We included 11 scheduled days on this 2 week Nicaragua itinerary, leaving one day at each end of the two weeks for traveling in and out of the country, and one extra day to either work into a favorite destination or count as a “lost day” when traveling between destinations takes up the bulk of your time and energy for the day.
We followed this Nicaragua backpacking route fairly closely ourselves, with a couple of notable exceptions.
We spent 2 weeks relaxing in Granada and about a week in San Juan del Sur, though the amount of actual sightseeing we did could easily be condensed to reflect this itinerary during a more direct trip.
A Note on Safety in Nicaragua
Before getting started, it’s important to note that our time spent backpacking in Nicaragua took place in 2017, before the widespread civil unrest of 2018.
Things have improved for travelers since then, and backpackers have long since returned to the country.
Hotels are open, flights are operating, day trips and tours are for sale online, and travel insurance is available for purchase.
Tourists are not the focus or target of protests (which should absolutely be avoided by travelers).
Nicaragua is still a destination for intrepid travelers, offering a far different experience than Costa Rica to the south, but it always was.
This Nicaragua itinerary sticks close to the backpacker trail, making it a good option for those who want to visit Nicaragua, but also want to plan their trip around the backpacker safety network of travelers, hotels, and tour operators.
Would we return to Nicaragua today? Likely we would, with precautions.
However, I won’t put a definitive yes/no on that statement, as any decision to visit Nicaragua (or any country) would need to be made on the most updated information possible.
As of my latest update to this blog post in 2026, the US State Department has a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory issued for Nicaragua, which was last updated on December 13, 2024. Before December 2024, there was a period of time when Nicaragua’s travel advisory was at “Level 2: Exercise increased caution.”
We strongly recommend reading the most recent travel advisories for Nicaragua before booking your trip, as things do change. Here are the Canadian, British, and Australian advisories.
As always, use your best judgment when planning travel in Nicaragua (or anywhere else), and stay up-to-date with news alerts on the ground as you travel.
The Ultimate 2 Week Nicaragua Itinerary
Nicaragua Itinerary Stop 1: 2 Days in Leon
The Highlights of Visiting Leon
People tend to come to Leon for a few specific things.
First, the roof of its UNESCO-World-Heritage-designated cathedral, where you’ll think that you’ve stepped out onto the island of Santorini. The entire roof is blindingly white, incredibly beautiful, and worth admiring from every angle. We loved our visit!
Second, the revolutionary murals found throughout the city (best admired when snacking on street food, if you ask me).
And third (and most famously), volcano boarding down Volcano Cerro Negro.
Honestly, we were happy to stick with the city itself and not book a volcano boarding tour, but if you’re excited to add volcano boarding to your list of adventure activities, Leon is where to do it.
I will say, we’ve heard time and time again from friends that this is an activity that’s more fun in theory than in actual practice, which is why we didn’t sign up! The volcano itself is supposed to be incredible, though.
Things to Consider When Visiting Leon
Leon is a great city for walking around during the day.
Try booking a hotel or hostel that is fairly close to the main square, and you should be able to reach anything you need on foot (except volcano boarding, of course: you’ll need a tour for that).
Where We Stayed in Leon
Central Lodge Hostel — This small hostel was basic, but exactly what we needed.
It was quiet and clean, the a/c worked, and it was just a 5-minute walk to the main square of Leon.
Nicaragua Backpacking Route Stop 2: 4 Days in Granada
The Highlights of Visiting Granada, Nicaragua
Even though there’s plenty to do in Granada, don’t be afraid to let a solid chunk of your time spent based in Granada be consumed by attractions outside the city!
A visit to the Masaya Volcano at night to see lava boiling beneath you is an absolute must, and almost everyone who takes a trip to Laguna de Apoyo (a volcanic lake housed in a crater, whose warm water is full of minerals) raves about the experience.
The experience of staring down into the Masaya Volcano is still seared into my memory years later!
Some of the best things to do in Granada itself include taking in the beautiful main square (Parque Central de Granada), admiring views from the top of Iglesia de Merced, ogling the colorful buildings, walking along the lakefront, and exploring Las Isletas (islands of Granada) by boat tour or by kayak.
The postcard-perfect view from the top of Iglesia de Merced is the top image of this blog post, and you should definitely make the climb yourself.
Sampling street food along Calle la Calzada is a must, too!
The Granada Cathedral, the bright yellow building visible from so many places in the city, is also well worth a closer look.
Things to Consider When Visiting Granada
Granada is one of those destinations where you’ll meet a lot of foreign residents who say things like, “Yeah, I came for a week back in 2004, and now I own a house here and live in Nicaragua full time…”
In other words, it’s an easy place to get stuck!
Even when you’re not checking sites off of a to-do list (which you should definitely do, no shame there!), the experience of being in Granada itself can suck you in and make you excited to take it slow for a while.
Where We Stayed in Granada
Our Airbnb in Granada was one of our favorite Airbnbs of all time! It was extremely clean, very modern with plenty of nice finishes, and had a private plunge pool inside the apartment: what’s not to love?
The owners also couldn’t have been more kind or helpful.
If we didn’t get an Airbnb, we would have stayed somewhere similar to this:
Casa Cuiscoma (9.1 rating on Booking.com) — Within easy walking distance of the city center, complete with wifi, air conditioning, a low price, and a clean private room, Casa Cuiscoma ticks all the boxes we look for when booking lodging in Nicaragua.
Nicaragua Itinerary Stop 3: 3 Days in San Juan del Sur
The Highlights of San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur was one of those places we expected to feel “meh” about, but actually adored when we visited and now plan to see again one day.
While the beaches located 30 minutes to an hour outside the city, such as Playa Maderas, are considered superior to the beach in town, the hike to the Christ of the Mercy statue overlooking San Juan del Sur will be quick to remind you of why the town popped up around this particular beach.
The curve of water viewed from above is simply magnificent.
Horseback riding along Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast is also a must while in town, as far as I’m concerned!
We spent an afternoon with Rancho Chilamate and couldn’t be more thrilled about the chance to wind our way through the hills, gallop along the coast, and ride home under the cover of night.
It was easily one of the most memorable horseback rides we’ve experienced anywhere in the world, and we’ve been lucky enough to sample many at this point.
Tips for Visiting San Juan del Sur
Not everyone likes San Juan del Sur. It is a bit of a party town in its heart-of-hearts, and a bit dirty around the edges, but even non-partiers such as ourselves can find ways to adore the colorful city.
The center of San Juan del Sur’s party scene is Sunday Funday, an all-day pool crawl that goes heavy on the booze and debauchery and takes place every Sunday.
Depending on whether this sounds like a headache or an amazing time, plan your stay accordingly (quiet people should avoid the party hostels that host the event, etc.)
If you don’t care to take part in the Sunday Funday, don’t feel like you need to avoid San Juan del Sur entirely on Sunday. We actually found the town pretty quiet and relaxed when all the party-goers were otherwise engaged.
Also, if you’re looking for a great bargain breakfast, the market in the center of town has several comedors inside it, where you can load up on eggs, beans, tortillas, avocado, Nica cheese, and coffee for just a couple of dollars. Don’t miss it!
Where We Stayed in San Juan del Sur
Moke Huhu Guesthouse — We called Moke Huhu home in San Juan del Sur. The property is in a great location, right in the center of town and a short walk from the beach.
The first room we were put in here was both cramped and loud, but when we upgraded to a larger room with an ensuite bathroom for an extra $5/night, our experience at Moke Huhu got much better.
We wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again if we head back to San Juan del Sur and are looking for a budget hotel.
2 Weeks in Nicaragua Stop 4: 2 Days on Ometepe
The Highlights of Isla de Ometepe
The island of Ometepe is made up of two volcanoes in the center of the gigantic Lake Nicaragua, and it’s both an incredible place to visit and very different from the other stops on this Nicaragua itinerary!
The island is sparsely populated and completely peaceful. After running around sightseeing for almost 2 weeks in Nicaragua, Ometepe is the perfect place to unwind and relax.
Waterfalls and swimming holes can be accessed if you know where to look (read: ask the locals or take a tour), and the views over the lake are beautiful from any shore.
If the water is low in the lake, which was the case when we were there, venture out to “La Punta” to have a chance to walk out so far onto a sandbar that you can turn around and see both volcanoes rising out of the earth behind you.
If you’re looking more for excitement than relaxation while on Ometepe, try climbing either Volcano Concepcion or Volcano Maderas.
Both are extremely difficult day hikes that require a guide to accompany you, though Maderas is supposed to be slightly more manageable.
With memories of climbing Volcano Acatenango in Guatemala still fresh in our minds, we were happy to skip climbing while on Ometepe.
Things to Consider When Visiting Ometepe
Ometepe has very infrequent bus service, very expensive taxis, and attractions that are very spread out. We recommend choosing where to stay based on what kind of experience you are looking for, and don’t expect to see it all.
If you’re hoping to pack in as many attractions as possible, plan on staying in town and booking a pricey (in Nicaraguan terms) tour to help out with logistics, unless you feel like braving a scooter and have strong enough Spanish to get directions to various points along the way.
The easiest way to get to Ometepe from the mainland is from Rivas, a small town right on the lake.
A chicken bus from San Juan del Sur will take about an hour and cost just a few dollars, or you can find a taxi to take you right to the ferry.
From the Rivas bus station, grab a quick taxi to the ferry (there are plenty of drivers waiting around) and buy your ticket there. You can find the ferry schedule here.
There is, rarely, a (reportedly very long, rough, and uncomfortable) ferry to Ometepe directly from Granada, but it is definitely not something to count on. It runs once a week when water levels are high enough, which they often are not.
Scroll to the bottom of the ferry schedule for any updated information.
Where We Stayed on Ometepe
Hotel La Punta Resort — This hotel wasn’t sure what it was trying to be. It billed itself as a resort, but operated more like a hotel.
The large dining room was only open for breakfast (even though most restaurants and shops cost $15 USD round trip to access by tuk-tuk and were too far away to walk to).
They didn’t sell tours, but there wasn’t a good place to access any outfitters within walking distance.
Essentially, it was a nice, quiet hotel that didn’t make any effort to compensate for its beautiful, but remote, location. We will definitely stay closer to town if we visit Ometepe again.
Getting Around During 2 Weeks in Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, the easiest and most affordable way to get around, by far, is by chicken bus.
We took chicken buses for several of our city-to-city routes, and they were overall more comfortable than the tourist shuttles we took when chicken buses weren’t a viable option for us. Sure, the buses get crowded, but at least there’s decent airflow!
It’s also hard to beat the price. In 2017, we paid about a dollar per hour per person.
If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, taxis can be negotiated to go just about anywhere.
Frankly, we would never want to drive a car in Nicaragua due to navigation and road conditions, but if you are set on driving yourself, definitely take out insurance on the vehicle!
Some insurance policies cover collision damage while driving a rental vehicle, but be sure to double-check the details with your company before heading out onto the road.
Other Places to Visit in Nicaragua
This is by no means an exhaustive list of places to visit in Nicaragua. In fact, we hope to go back and expect that we’ll have very few repeats on things to do when we’re there!
If you’re looking for more to do during two weeks in Nicaragua (or even longer), check out this great Nicaragua bucket list from my friend Allison.
Personally, we’re most sad to have missed the chance to hang out on Little Corn Island off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, and it is at the top of the list for our next visit.
What to Pack for Nicaragua
We have a full, detailed packing list for Central America and Mexico that we recommend perusing before your trip!
To get you started, though, here are a few travel essentials we definitely suggest bringing along on your trip to Nicaragua!
Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without insurance. Anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.
Pacsafe
The safe allows us to store our most valuable belongings (passports, laptops, etc.) in our room without fear of theft. Simply fill the safe, attach it to the sturdiest thing in the room (usually a pipe), and head out for the day with peace of mind.
We opted for the large version (12L) to be able to store our laptops.
Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for your trip to Nicaragua, that’s totally understandable.
Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a Northface backpack leftover from my school days for years and loved it as well.
Reusable Water Bottle & Water Purifier — You’re definitely going to want to bring a reusable water bottle (this is my current go-to) and a purifier system with you to Nicaragua!
We used our Steripen, which kept us safe for years, but LifeStraws and similar are all the rage now, and we might opt for one of those these days.
We’ve used our Steripen in more than a dozen countries over the years, including throughout Latin America, and never gotten sick from the water.
Dry Bag — Planning on taking any ferries? Visiting the beach? Going on a boat tour?
You’ll want to have a dry bag on your Nicaragua packing list!
A dry bag will allow you to safely bring your electronics, passports, etc., onboard without fear of damage.
It will even allow you to swim to shore from a boat with your camera if you plan to visit any islands via boat!
Purell Hand Sanitizer
Read More About Backpacking Central America
Are you backpacking Central America like we were during this trip?
If you found this Nicaragua blog post helpful, you might also enjoy these posts from our 6-month journey from Mexico City to Panama:
- Magical Macaw Mountain is Worth a Visit in Copán Ruinas, Honduras
- Why We Didn’t Click With Placencia, Belize
- 11 Cool Things to Do in Chiapas, Mexico
- Our Experience Going to the Dentist in Antigua, Guatemala
- Fire on Utila: An Unexpected Afternoon on Island Paradise
I would like to visit Nicaragua for 2weeks
I am happy you help me with the itinerary
Martin Damoah
Ghana
Great post! I’m wondering if it’s worth it to spend a couple nights around La Laguna de Apoyo. Any thoughts? Or just a day trip kind of thing?
Thanks Nancy! We didn’t make it to Laguna de Apoyo ourselves, but my understanding is that while it is more of a day trip place, you can spend a night or two nearby if you want to enjoy the area with fewer crowds!
Hi! I really loved the way you structured this post. We’re starting a RTW trip in Nicaragua and have planned for approximately two weeks. I like how you highlighted the main regions we should visit, and gave a reco on how many days to spend there, and the “things to consider” section is helpful too.
-V
Oooh, thanks so much, and Nicaragua sounds like an amazing start to a RTW trip, Vanessa! Hope that you guys love it as much as we did and that your whole trip is fantastic!
Nicaragua ?? is so Beautiful!
I’ll take my vacation there with my family ?????♀️??♀️
Nicaragua is definitely becoming increasingly popular. Excellent suggestions for first time visitors. Great photos and travel inspiration! 🙂
Thanks, Robert! I’m so curious to see how much it will change in the next decade.