Nicaragua Travel Itinerary: 10 Days in the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes
Start your Nicaragua travel with an adventurous border crossing by boat from Costa Rica to Nicaragua and visit the capital city Managua. Explore the beautiful Spanish colonial city, Granada, by bike and climb the Masaya Volcano by night.
Afterward, you can visit the highlights of the Isla Ometepe by bike. Drive further to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua’s number one surf destination, and end your trip with a visit to the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park in Costa Rica.
Before you go (updated October 2026): since February 2026, most visitors to Nicaragua, including US, Canadian and EU citizens, need a visa approved in advance. The US State Department also rates Nicaragua at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, so check your government’s current advice before booking.
Day 1 – Border Crossing Costa Rica to Nicaragua by Boat
Most people who are traveling from Costa Rica to Nicaragua cross the border in Peñas Blancas.
It is the fastest way to travel to the main destinations like San Juan del Sur, Ometepe, Granada, and Managua.
When you, however, have some time and are looking for a more adventurous border crossing, I suggest you take a boat from Los Chiles in Costa Rica via the Río Frio to San Carlos in Nicaragua.
Since my trip, a faster land crossing has opened at Las Tablillas, 6 kilometers from Los Chiles, with a bridge over the Río San Juan and vans on to San Carlos. Ask in Los Chiles whether the river boat is still running before you plan around it.
You will end up east of Nicaragua Lake. From here it takes more or less 6 hours by bus to the capital Managua.
Day 2 – Sightseeing Managua – The Capital City of Nicaragua
Today you have time for sightseeing in Managua. Please note that Nicaragua’s capital is not the safest place, and you should only walk in certain safe areas.
You can either hire a driver or take taxis from one attraction to the other.
You could start the tour at the Salvador Allende Port, continue to the Plaza de la Revolucion, the Ruins of the Catedral de Managua, and visit the Palacio Nacional and the park Loma de Tiscapa.
Day 3 – Explore the Beautiful Spanish Colonial City of Granada by Bike
Granada is a beautiful Colonial City with six main churches and a wonderful central park. Every place is easily reachable on foot, though I think the city is more fun to explore by bike.
There are several shops where you can rent them. You can take any random street, and you will always find a nice place.
Granada is, in contrast to Managua, pretty safe. However, I recommend asking at your hotel which areas are better to avoid.
Day 4 – Visit the Active Masaya Volcano by Night
In Granada, you can book organized tours to the Masaya Volcano. Normally I am not a big fan of organized tours and prefer making the trips on my own.
In this case, however, I suggest you book a Night Tour of the Volcano. When I did it, the tour cost $40, started at 4 pm and had me back in Granada by 8 pm. In 2026, night tours from Granada cost around US$20 to US$25, and the park’s night visits run from 5 pm to 8 pm, with a US$10 entrance fee for foreigners.
During the tour, you stop near the cross (La Cruz de Bobadilla) from where you have a wide view over the volcano, watch bats coming out of a cave, visit an underground tunnel, and end at a viewpoint where you can see red, glowing lava when you are lucky.
The lava lake in the Santiago crater became visible again in mid-2025, though less of it shows than before. Visitors get about 30 minutes at the crater, and the bat cave and lava tunnels close intermittently because of volcanic activity.
Day 5 – By Ferry to Isla Ometepe
From Granada take the bus to Rivas, which takes about 1.5 hours. From here you can take a taxi to the ferry terminal in San Jorge, which is just about 5.5 kilometers.
Several boats are going every day to the Isla Ometepe. It takes about one hour, and you will arrive in Moyogalpa on the island’s west side.
Day 6 – Experience Isla Ometepe
Today I recommend you make an island tour by motorbike or even better by bicycle. From Moyogalpa you can drive to Punta Jesus Maria, Charco Verde, Ojo de Agua Natural Pools, Santo Domingo, and Altagracia.
When you do this tour by bicycle, it takes a whole day. The course goes partly uphill, and it can be tiring with the wind.
However, you have time to recover at the different stops, and I think you will see most of this beautiful island by bike. From Altagracia, you may also take the bus back to Moyogalpa.
Day 7 – San Juan del Sur – Nicaragua’s Number One Surf Spot
From Ometepe, you can take the same ferry back to San Jorge and take a bus from Rivas to San Juan del Sur. It is Nicaragua’s Number One Surf Spot and has some beautiful beaches.
Since it is so popular, it is rather expensive compared to other places in Nicaragua.
Day 8 – A Birds-Eye View of San Juan del Sur from the Jesus Statue
Today you can relax on one of the beaches or hike up to the huge Jesus statue, the Cristo de la Misericordia. The road is steep, but it rewards you with a wide view over San Juan del Sur and its beaches.
If you want to go back to Costa Rica, you could connect this trip with the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park.
Day 9 – Border Crossing to Costa Rica
From San Juan del Sur, take the bus to Peñas Blancas, where you can cross the border to Costa Rica. From here, take the bus to Liberia.
From the Liberia bus terminal, there is a bus going to Curubandé, which is about 8 kilometers away from the main entrance of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park. It is a tiny town.
Day 10 – Rincon de la Vieja National Park
The Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park (in Spanish: Parque Nacional Volcán Rincón de la Vieja) is located in the province of Guanacaste and Alajuela and has a size of 14,161 hectares.
You can see many geothermal activities within the park, such as fumaroles, mud pots, and the “Little Volcano”.
Nicaragua Travel FAQ
Do you need a visa to travel to Nicaragua?
Since February 2026, Nicaragua has required most visitors, including US, Canadian and EU citizens, to obtain a visa approved in advance instead of buying a tourist card on arrival. Processing can take several weeks, so check the current rules with a Nicaraguan consulate well before you travel.
Is Nicaragua safe to visit in 2026?
The US State Department rates Nicaragua at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, as of May 2026, citing crime, health, wrongful detention and arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Granada, Ometepe and San Juan del Sur are the most visited areas, but check your own government’s current advice before booking.
How many days do you need in Nicaragua?
Ten days is enough for the classic route in this itinerary: Managua, Granada, the Masaya Volcano, Isla Ometepe and San Juan del Sur, with a border crossing at each end. With less time, skip Managua and start in Granada.
How do you get from Costa Rica to Nicaragua?
Most travelers cross at Peñas Blancas on the Pan-American Highway, the fastest route to San Juan del Sur, Ometepe and Granada. A quieter option is the Las Tablillas crossing near Los Chiles in northern Costa Rica, with vans on to San Carlos on the Nicaraguan side.
Plan the rest of your trip
Coming from San José? See how to get from San José to Los Chiles, San José to Managua or San José to San Juan del Sur.
In Nicaragua, add a day in León for volcano boarding down Cerro Negro. Back in Costa Rica, our guides to northwest Costa Rica and La Fortuna cover the next leg.
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Tim Kroeger is the founder and editor of Universal Traveller, covering luxury stays and active travel. Based in Bangkok, he draws on 15+ years of travel across 112+ countries, from reviewing luxury hotels to bikepacking through Southeast Asia. He also writes about luxury wellness and longevity travel at tim-kroeger.com, where he developed the Restorative Index.
