Self-drive Nicaragua | 14 day itinerary to the highlights of Nicaragua
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country Nicaragua
duration 14 nights
attribute Breakfast

Self-drive itinerary to Nicaragua: explore the highlights in 14 days

During this holiday you will experience Nicaragua to the fullest and see the various highlights of the country. Nicaragua offers you a colourful culture and vibrant nature. In combination with its long and turbulent history, the country offers something for everyone and you will certainly enjoy travelling around here. In the historic cities, you learn more about the rich culture of the country and get to know more about Nicaragua’s turbulent history. Immerse yourself in daily life while visiting the local market or have a drink on a little terrace in the centre of Granada. Near the city, you’ll find volcanoes, the immense lake of Nicaragua and the beautiful ‘pueblos blancos’, charming little towns which are delightful to explore.

One of the best-known destinations in Nicaragua is perhaps the volcanic island of Ometepe. Enjoy your stay at a local ecolodge and step on a bike to discover this special island. A visit to a local coffee farm is a nice way to learn more about local crops.

You’ll end this journey on the wonderful beaches of San Juan del Sur on the west coast of Nicaragua. Here you can enjoy a beautiful sunset or rent a surfboard and catch some good waves.

  • Spend the night in small-scale accommodations
  • Private transportation from hotel to hotel
  • Transportation from / to airport
  • 24/7 telephone service
  • (International) flights
  • Entrance national parks
  • Excursions

León

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

León

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

León was the capital of Nicaragua for a long time and you can clearly see that when walking around the historic center of the city. Therefore, definitely take the time to explore the city with its  monumental churches and beautiful, colonial buildings and squares.

Would you like some more action? Head for the nearby Cerro Negro volcano to go sandboarding. In addition, you could visit the so-called “Ring of Fire” various volcanoes that are close to the city (and that you can climb) and the village of San Jacinto, known for its hot mud pools.

If you like rum, then a visit and tour of the rum factory of the famous Flor de Caña brand is a must. Last but not least, you might want to  escape the city to go relax on the nearby beach of Las Peñitas.

Estelí

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast
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Estelí

duration 2 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

Estelí is a charming town in the northwest of Nicaragua. The climate is pleasant and fairly cool, which makes the region very suitable for tobacco production. For that reason Estelí became a refuge for Cuban cigar makers after the revolution in that country in 1959.

Since then, the town has become one of the leading cigar production centers in the world. Even if you do not smoke, a visit to a cigar factory is an absolute must.

Estelí is a charming town and you cannot miss its artistic character when exploring the city center. There you will find beautiful murals. Just outside the town you walk through a beautiful green and hilly area to the waterfall of Salto Estanzuela and a nice lake where you can swim.

Granada

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast
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Granada

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

Granada, with its age-old, colourful architecture and historic churches, is the most beautiful city in Nicaragua. In the centre you will find nice shops, bars and restaurants (often with outdoor seating!), In addition, there’s the lively Parque Central and a large market where you can buy exotic fruit and vegetables.

The city is not that big and can easily be explored on foot or by bike. Granada is located next to the immense Lake of Nicaragua and off the coast, you find the so-called “Las Isletas”, small, often uninhabited islands. Here you will find all kinds of birds, monkeys and petroglyphs left behind by pre-Colombian tribes such as the Chorotega. From Granada, you can easily book a boat or kayak tour exploring the waters around Las Isletas.

Ometepe

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast
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Ometepe

duration 3 nights
attribute Hotel
attribute Breakfast

Ometepe is the island of the two volcanoes (“ome” means two and “tepe” means volcano). You cannot miss the huge Concepcion and Maderas and their presence has also led to a very fertile island.

Tourism on Ometepe is small-scale and you sleep in a comfortable eco-lodge where fruit and vegetables are grown in your own garden. The island has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2010 and its unique biodiversity is well protected.

Ometepe has a long history. Various Indian cultures such as the Chorotega, Nahuatl and also the Maya saw the island as a holy place and now the island is famous for its many petroglyphs.

The best way to explore the island is by moped or bicycle. There’s some great hiking (and you can climb both volcanoes, but be prepared for rather intense hikes!). Afterwards, it is great to swim and relax in a hammock with a local Toña beer.

San Juan del Sur

duration 3 nights
attribute Bed and breakfast
attribute Breakfast
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San Juan del Sur

duration 3 nights
attribute Bed and breakfast
attribute Breakfast

San Juan del Sur is Nicaragua’s best-known beach destination, and for good reason! In the small village, you will feel the relaxed “beach vibe” which invites you to go and take surf lessons, to go hiking in the hills or to just relax on the beautiful, crescent-shaped beach.

Are you a bit more adventurous? Then book a canopy tour! In the evening you can go for a snack and drink at one of the bars or restaurants on the boulevard or on the beach. In addition and if you’re lucky, you can also spot sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs on the beautiful Playa el Coco beach.

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Tom and Bonny

We found our hotel in Granada and the city itself fantastic! Highly recommended is to explore the volcano in Masaya, because this one for sure one of our highlights. We also saw lava there and at sunset this was very impressive.

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André H.

We booked a surf lesson in Playa Maderas (near San Juan). Unfortunately, we were not very talented… However, it was a lot of fun! It was very affordable too and our teacher spoke English very well. Afterwards, the Toña beer tasted even more delicious.

Tip from Lisa:

Tip from Lisa:

In León I recommend a visit to the KISS ME ice cream shop. They really make the best ice cream I have ever tasted in all of Central America! The cones are freshly baked for you and there are many special ice cream flavors to choose from. Mmmm!

Ask for more info or book this trip here!

What can you see and do during this 2 week trip in Nicaragua?

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