Smoke billows out of a dark, volcanic crater in Masaya National Park in Nicaragua during sunset.

5 Awesome Day Trips from Granada, Nicaragua

Last updated:

May 6, 2024

Granada, Nicaragua is the perfect base for some of the best things to experience in Nicaragua. As the oldest city in the Americas, you can find history and a unique, local culture everywhere you look. In addition, it is located close to some of Nicaragua’s natural wonders. This post lists three fantastic day trips and two equally amazing night trips from Granada, Nicaragua.

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<3 Dominique

A woman looks at the smoke coming out of the Masaya Volcano at sunset.

Day Trips

Granada nestles on the shores of Lago Cocibolca (also known as Lake Nicaragua) – the largest lake in Central America. It is the gateway to some of Nicaragua’s natural wonders. This section details some of those wonders that visitors can explore via day trips from Granada, Nicaragua.

1) Laguna de Apoyo

You can find this pristine volcanic lake in the middle of the Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo (English: Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve). The lagoon is about 30 minutes away from Granada. It offers visitors the opportunity to relax in a tranquil setting by crystal-clear waters, surrounded by a tropical forest.

Blue water of the Laguna de Apoyo, a large lake in a crater near Masaya, Nicaragua — View of Laguna de Apoyo from one of the many nearby *miradors*.
Photo credit: Lauren Squire

Laguna de Apoyo was an ancient, dormant volcano that formed into a beautiful lagoon. The lagoon is edhorheic (closed off to other bodies of water) but has an influx and outflow of groundwater. It has a mix of fresh AND salt water. The water is warm and calm making it ideal for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the lake.

Reserva Natural Laguna de Apoyo is a protected nature reserve. It is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including howler monkeys, birds, and endemic plants. There are hiking trails, birdwatching excursions, and even scuba diving for those who want to see the area’s biodiversity up close.

There are plenty of beach clubs/hostels that dot the shores of Laguna de Apoyo. You can get a day pass to enjoy club/hostel amenities. If the lagoon absolutely enchants you away from Granada, you can stay overnight at one of these clubs/hostels.

Travel tip for Laguna de Apoyo

For a hassle-free experience, I caught the daily shuttle that departs the Oasis Hostel in Granada at 10 am. The shuttle will drop you off at Paradiso Hostel in Laguna de Apoyo. Prices of going this route are as follows:

You need to reserve your spot at least a day in advance and to pay in cash at Oasis Hostel.

Day pass at Paradiso Hostel include the following:

access to a beach directly on Laguna de Apoyo with chairs and hammocks
Wi-Fi access
the use of kayaks and tubes
floating dock
washrooms
billiards table, ping pong table, volleyball equipment

There is also a fantastic restaurant at Paradiso Hostel. I opted to go with Masaya Volcano night tour bundle and was dropped off right at my VRBO at the end of the night!

A view of a blue lagoon (Laguna de Apoyo in Nicaragua) bordered by bright vegetation and flowers. — View of Laguna de Apoyo from Paradiso Hostel.

2) Las Isletas de Granada

Granada is located on the shores of Lago Cocibolca (aka Lake Nicaragua). On Lago Cocibolca near Granada, there is a cluster of 350 small islands called “Las Isletas de Granada” (English: islets of Granada). These islets were formed when Volcán Mombacho blew much of its cone into the lake thousands of years ago. This created the archipelago that is rich in vegetation which attracted diverse wildlife.

Islets with rich, green vegetation on the green waters of Lake Nicaragua. — Las Isletas de Granada. Photo credit: DavorLovincic

A scenic boat tour of the isletas is one of the most popular excursions in Granada. People and diverse wildlife inhabit the isletas. Each islet has a different character including wealthy residential areas, less affluent communities, and a colonial fortress offering superb views of the lake, Granada, and Volcán Mombacho. In order to book a boat tour, you can go down to the Malecon and wait for a tour operator to approach you to negotiate prices. Alternatively, you can book online. Many reviewers praise this scenic boat tour of the isletas + Granada City tour as it covers a lot of ground in a day.

For the adventurous, k ayak tours of the islets are also available. If you want to relax and connect with nature, check out this paddle boarding and meditation experience at the isletas.

A boat on the blue waters of Lago Cocibolca aka Lake Nicaragua among lily pads — Photo credit: AnkNet

3) Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve

Is a listicle about the best day trips in “the land of lakes and volcanoes” complete if it didn’t include a volcano related excursion?

Volcán Mombacho is located near Granada. At a height of 1,344 m/4,409 ft, it’s an imposing feature in the area. The Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve protects Volcán Mombacho and its surrounding area. It is about a 30 minute car ride from Granada. The highest regions of Mombacho are home to a cloud forest and a dwarf forest. You can find flora and fauna endemic to the volcano here.

A view of crater lake with blue waters surrounded by lush, green vegetation with Mombacho volcano visible in the background. — Laguna de Apoyo with Volcán Mombacho visible in the horizon.
Photo credit: DavorLovincic

The reserve has hiking trails through the cloud forest, providing explorers with opportunities to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy breathtaking views of the reserve, Lago Cocibolca, Las Isletas, Laguna de Apoyo, and Granada.

By visiting the Mombacho Volcano Forest Reserve, travelers contribute to the conservation efforts and sustainable development initiatives in the area. The reserve supports ecotourism initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and provide economic benefits to local communities.

At the top of the "back" of Volcan Mombacho, looking out toward Lake Nicaragua. — Views from Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve.
Photo credit: Christa Boaz

Check out this g uided tour of Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve with an expert guide. If you hate the descent from mountainous hikes as much as me, this t our where you can zipline down from Mombacho might be a better option for you.

Bonus Day Trip Idea: Isla de Ometepe

I highly recommend allocating a few days of your itinerary to the magical island of Ometepe. But if you are short on time but don’t want to miss out, there are day trips to Ometepe available that depart from Granada.

If you are visiting Ometepe via the day trip option, be prepared for a long day. One-way trip between Granada and Ometepe would take a little over three hours.

Night Trips

So the title of this post is a little misleading… But “3 Awesome Day Trips and 2 Equally Awesome Night Trips from Granada, Nicaragua” wouldn’t make for a catchy title. This section covers two excursions from Granada that are best enjoyed during and after sunset.

4) Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya

This is the oldest and largest national park in Nicaragua. It is also the most visited park… and for good reason! The park has two volcanoes, five craters, and a lava tube where you can find bats. Elevation ranges between 100 m/328 ft and 630 m/2,067 ft above sea level throughout the park. The park is on the tentative list to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is about 30 minutes away from Granada.

Masaya’s largest draw is the active Santiago crater. It is here where you can observe Masaya’s glowing lava from the crater mouth of the volcano. The lava is only visible after sundown and even then, you might have to wait a bit to be able to see the lava.

The park is beautiful at all times of the day. During daylight, you can observe the large amounts of sulfur dioxide gas emitted by the volcano. For this reason, I don’t recommend that you spend too much time in the area or at least bring a face covering. The ideal time to go would be during sunset.

A woman walks along hiking trail in a green, sloping trail in Masaya National Park in Nicaragua. — Bring closed-toe shoes to Masaya Volcano National Park. There were fantastic trails but the volcanic soil made for a messy hike in
flip flops.

5) The Treehouse Nicaragua – Friday Party

A common question I was asked whenever I met someone new in Nicaragua was: Did you make it to the Treehouse party? … and I felt like the unhip kid that didn’t hear about the party every time.

Every Friday night, The Treehouse Nicaragua hostel hosts a legendary party in the middle of a jungle. The line-up to this party is curated every week with “the best electronic music in Nicaragua” featuring international and local DJs and other entertainment. Set times are released weekly on Treehouse’s insta.

The Treehouse Party is a ticketed event that often sells out. The ticket covers entrance to the party and a roundtrip shuttle between Madhouse Hostel in Granada and The Treehouse Hostel located at the foot of Volcán Mombacho. This ride takes about 30 minutes plus a 15 minute hike up to The Treehouse. If this sounds interesting to you, you can get your tickets online. The site is updated every Sunday around 10am for the next four Friday Party events. Beware of scams! The only official platform where you can buy a Treehouse Party ticket is Eventix.

Travel tip: You can take the early shuttle to The Treehouse to have some drinks and watch the marvelous sunset before you spend the late (to early) hours dancing the night away!