15 Fantastic Day Trips from León, Nicaragua
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León, Nicaragua is the second largest city in the country. It is brimming with history, natural beauty, and a unique, local culture. I recommend allocating at least a couple days here on your Nicaragua itinerary. But what if you have done everything that you wanted to within León itself and want to see more? This post lists 15 fantastic day trips from León, Nicaragua.
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<3 Dominique
volcano.
Adventure Day Trips
León’s proximity to the Maribios Cordillera makes it a great base for those looking to climb a volcano or two (or three or more…). The department of León has one of the largest concentrations of volcanoes by area in the world. This is because”Los Maribios,” the largest volcanic chain in Nicaragua and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, crosses the department. Cordillera de Los Maribios contains eight volcanoes. This section details hiking adventures to volcanoes, volcanic lagoons, and nature reserves that visitors can explore in day trips from León, Nicaragua.
lava from this active volcano.
1) Cerro Negro
Cerro Negro is an active volcano that is about a 30 minute drive from León. It is one of a handful of places on Earth where you can go volcano boarding. Volcano boarding draws about 20,000 visitors to the area every year. It is the most popular day trip from León, Nicaragua. Besides offering the thrill of sliding down an active volcano, the hike up Cerro Negro in itself is picturesque.
Summary of Cerro Negro Hike (one-way)
| Total Distance | 2.4 km/1.5 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 224 m/735 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
2) Reserva Natural Complejo Volcánico Pilas – El Hoyo
The Reserva Natural Complejo Volcánico Pilas-El Hoyo (in English: Pilas-El Hoyo Volcanic Complex Natural Reserve) is a natural reserve that is located 25-30 km east of León. Cerro Negro is part of this nature reserve but warranted its own section as the biggest draw to the area. It is part a natural reserve along with three other volcanoes that share the same base: Las Pilas, El Hoyo, and Asososca.
Volcánico Pilas-El Hoyo.
Hiking the Las Pilas-El Hoyo circuit is one of the most popular day trips from León, Nicaragua. Las Pilas is a dormant volcano that is 1,008 m/3,307 ft above sea level. El Hoyo is the second most active volcano in the reserve that is 1,089 m/3,573 ft above sea level. Many opt to camp out on El Hoyo in order to see the breathtaking sunrise over the Maribios range. Volcano boarding on nearby Cerro Negro can easily be incorporated into this itinerary.
Photo credit: marlaynaglynnbrown
Responsible travel tip: the park fees you pay to get into the nature reserve is collected by the Cooperativa Las Pilas-El Hoyo – a community co-operative that takes its proceeds and invests back to community infrastructure projects.
Summary of Las Pilas-El Hoyo Hike
| Total Distance | 12 km/7.5 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 568 m/1,864 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Duration | 5.5 hours |
3) Laguna de Asososca (Laguna del Tigre)
Volcán Asososca and Laguna de Asososca are also part of Reserva Natural Complejo Volcánico Pilas-El Hoyo. From what I hear, the hike up Volcán Asososca is an extremely difficult hike and therefore is less frequented by visitors. At the base of Volcán Asososca is Laguna de Asososca – a volcanic crater that formed into a beautiful lagoon. Laguna de Asososca is a popular stop for those wanting a refreshing swim after completing the Las Pilas-El Hoyo hiking circuit. Kayaks are available for rent here. Laguna de Asososca is also a popular spot to go camping.
There is another Laguna de Asososca that is bigger and located in Managua. To avoid confusion, the locals refer to the one near León as “Laguna del Tigre” or “Asososca Junior”.
4) Telica
Telica is the most active and one of the oldest volcanoes in Nicaragua. It is located in Reserva Natural Telica-Rota which is 30 km away from León. When you reach the top of this volcano, you can see the smoke and hear the rushing lava from 120 m deep crater. You will also be rewarded with panoramic views of the other volcanoes that make up the Maribios Cordillera.
I did a Telica sunset tour with Volcano Day. The sunset was absolutely breathtaking and it was one of my favourite hikes in Nicaragua. Beware of the hike back to the parking lot though! I recommend wearing hiking shoes with ankle support and bringing a flashlight. Camping is also a popular activity at Volcán Telica for those wanting to catch the sunrise there. Nearby attractions include a bat cave (some tour groups are taken here) and the boiling mud of San Jacinto. The boling mud is only accessible if you’re doing the longer hiking trail that takes 5 hours to reach Volcán Telica.
Summary of Volcán Telica (Short) Hike
| Total Distance | 5 km/3.2 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 294 m/965 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate (though descent after sunset gets quite challenging without a flashlight) |
| Duration | 2.5 hours |
5) San Cristóbal
A 1.5 to 2 hour drive to San Cristóbal is one of the most popular day trips from León as it is the tallest volcano in Nicaragua. It is also one of the most active volcanoes in the country. Avid hikers come here with the goal to summit Nicaragua’s tallest volcano. The hike up San Cristóbal is really challenging! Most hikers start their day around 4 am to beat the heat. Camping on San Cristóbal is possible for those wanting to see the sun rise over the Maribios volcanic mountain range all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Summary of Volcán San Cristóbal Hike
| Total Distance | 6 km/4 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 1,037 m/ 3,402 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Duration | 5 hours up (descent is much shorter as you slide down for most of it). |
6) Momotombo
Momotombo is the southern most volcano on the Maribios volcanic range. Momotombo is an icon of Nicaragua. It is the destroyer of León Viejo (the original capital of Nicaragua) and served as inspiration for a Rubén Darío poem. Momotombo isn’t as high as San Cristóbal but it is one of the taller volcanoes in the region. The hike to the summit is quite challenging but you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Lake Managua (aka Lago Xolotlán).
Summary of Volcán Momotombo Hike
| Total Distance | 5.5 km/3.4 mi |
| Elevation Gain | 630 m/2,067 ft |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Duration | 6 hours |
7) Somoto Canyon
Somoto Canyon is in northern Nicaragua near its border with Honduras. The longest river in Central America runs through the Somoto Canyon. In 2006, the Somoto Canyon National Reserve was established to protect this unique area. Recently, canyoning tours have been made available at the reserve. It has since become one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.
Somoto Canyon is a four hour drive away from León. It would probably be more comfortable to plan for an overnight trip to the canyon but there are day trips departing from León for those short on time.
8) Isla Juan Venado
Isla Juan Venado is an uninhabited island with swimming holes and lots of wildlife. On one side you’ll find wild beaches facing the Pacific and on the other, red and black mangroves reflected in emerald lagoons. Tour companies in León, Nicaragua offer day trips to Isla Juan Venado for kayak tours of the mangroves. If you happen to be there between November and January, you can visit a local turtle hatchery where you can watch baby turtles take their first steps into the ocean.
9) Cosigüina
If you have ever wanted to hike up a dormant volcano to get views of three different countries at once, then a visit to Cosigüina is the perfect day trip for you. Because of its location, not that many tourists make it out to Cosigüina. It is about 4-5 hour drive from León but there are day trips departing from León, Nicaragua available. The hike up to Cosigüina is easy. Once you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with views of not only the vivid waters of the volcanic lake of Cosigüina but also a Nicaraguan volcanic range, El Salvador and Honduras.
Cultural Day Trips
While León itself is brimming with historical and cultural Nicaraguan treasures, there are a number or cultural attractions that warrant a day trip from León, Nicaragua. I recommend these for history buffs and the curious.
10) León Viejo
The ruins of León Viejo is one (of three) UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nicaragua. It is actually the location of ORIGINAL León which was the original capital of the colony that would become Nicaragua. The original León was devastated by an earthquake in 1610. The city’s infrastructure was so damaged that the colonists chose relocation over rebuilding. The colonists moved León 30 kilometers away from its original location at the foot of Volcán Momotombo to its present-day location.
León Viejo (in English: Old León) would eventually be buried buried by ash and volcanic stone coming from Momotombo and by lake sediments from Lago de Xolotlán/Lago de Managua. Its location would be forgotten for 300 years. It would be rediscovered in 1967 and excavations begun the following year.
While León Viejo isn’t a lavish excavation site, it is one of the few places left in Nicaragua to learn about its complex colonial past. I would recommend a tour like this one that bundles León Viejo with other attractions. Founded in 1524, León Viejo is also one of the oldest Spanish colonial settlements in the Americas. Because of its history, it is the only 16th-century colonial city in America that has never suffered city-planning alterations during its history. This is the main reason why it received UNESCO designation in 2000.
11) El Fortín de Acosasco
This is a fort that was built in 1889 to protect the area from attacks from the coast. It was abandoned by the 1930s. In the 1960s, the Somozas recognized the strategic placement of the fort near León, a liberal city known for its opposition to the Somoza regime. Sure enough, when President Anastasio Somoza García was assassinated in León in 1956, the Somoza family dictatorship refurbished El Fortín de Acosasco as a detention center for their political enemies.
Soon whispers started to spread in León about the clandestine activities happening at the fort: torture, disappearing of political enemies, executions. The Somozas’ secret police, the National Guard, would patrol León’s streets at night and take away anyone suspected of being a political opponent to the fort. Their bodies would then reappear near Acosasco. There were reports that children stumbled upon the cabbage-white skulls bobbing amid the grass, and the ridge became dubbed “the cabbage patch.” This is where Somoza loyalists retreated when Sandinistas took León (and subsequently Managua) in 1979.
Source: WikiCommons
This place has a morbid history and many people attest to the haunting vibe of the fort on the hilltop. The fort offers panoramic views of León and the Maribios range. For the curious, you may need permission to wander the various torture chambers on site. Today, you can visit the fort and experience the uneasy stillness that haunts the hilltop. Ex-Sandinistas have lobbied to refurbish Acosasco, to turn it into a memorial to their years of struggle.
Travel tip: El Fortín de Acosasco is easily accessible from León via taxi. Go with a group as muggings of solo travellers have been reported on the hike to the fort.
12) Flor de Caña distillery tour
Flor de Caña rum is a source of pride for Nicaraguans and you will find it everywhere that serves alcohol in the country. There are many companies offering day trips to the Flor de Caña Rum Distillery departing from León, Nicaragua. The tour which comprises of tastings and learning about the rum distilling and maturation process lasts about an hour. You can combine this day trip with a hike up San Cristóbal or Cosigüina as they are all in the Chinandega department.
Beach Breaks
León, Nicaragua is located in one of the hottest regions in the country. Luckily, it is located near the Pacific coast of Nicaragua so day trips from León to the beach are wildly popular. This section covers a beach to match every vibe.
13) Las Peñitas
Las Peñitas is a a popular beach town that is about a 20 minute bus ride away from León. There are plenty of volcano boarding tours that bundles a sunset shuttle to Las Peñitas as part of their package. You can also come to Las Peñitas independently with no issues. Las Peñitas isn’t exactly a “must-see” destination but it isn’t off-the-beaten path either.
If you’re looking for a day to just relax and cool off by the water, then a day trip to Las Peñitas is for you. Note though that the beach gets busier during the weekends when locals come from the city on their day off. While not a party hub like the beaches in the south, there are a handful of amenities in Las Peñitas where you can purchase food and drinks. You can also stay in Las Peñitas if you don’t want to use León as your home base as there are accommodations available near the beach.
12) Poneloya
South of Las Peñitas is an even quieter beach at the fishing town of Poneloya. This beach doesn’t get the same foreign tourist numbers as Las Peñitas but is popular with the locals on weekends and holidays. You will find little stores selling snacks and refreshments along the road to the beach, as well as a handful of restaurants. There are very few amenities available. If you need cash, the closest ATM would be in Las Peñitas.
15) El Tránsito
If you’re looking for the best surf in northwestern Nicaragua, then look no further than El Tránsito. Its lack of crowds makes it the ideal spot in Nicaragua for beginner surfers. If you are not into surfing, El Tránsito is also known for its tide pools. This surfers’ hub is about an hour drive from León.
Read more: 10 Best Things To Do in León, Nicaragua
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Do you have any favourite day trips from León, Nicaragua? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!