30 Amazing Things to Do in Nicaragua to Add to Your Bucket List

If you love hiking, swimming, surfing, and adventuring, these are some of the best things to do in the country of Nicaragua! Nicaragua, though a lesser-travelled country, is filled with so many bucket list-worthy adventures. To this day, I still talk about how this is one of the best places I’ve ever visited and I would return in a heartbeat.

With so many epic places to visit in Nicaragua from beaches to volcanoes, there are so many different things to do. It can certainly be challenging to do them all in a single trip unless you are backpacking for an extended period of time.

Continue reading to explore the most incredible things to do in Nicaragua to add to your bucket list!

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Best Things to Do in Nicaragua to Add to Your Bucket List

Visit the Iconic León Cathedral

While there are a few gorgeous churches in the city of León, the most iconic is definitely León Cathedral. It is the largest in Central America and is located right in the heart of downtown where lively markets are located. Visitors can go on the roof and find great views of the city!

Experience Volcano Boarding on Cerro Negro

Nicaragua is one of the few places I’ve heard to offer volcano boarding down an active volcano. After hiking up Cerro Negro, you suit up in these jumpsuits and put on protective goggles. Then, you’ll use a wooden board to toboggan down the side of the volcano!

You are able to control your speed and go rather slowly if you are scared. But, there were some people who flew down at around 40 km/h!

Try Elote (Street Corn)

This street corn is to die for! Various stands around the cities will sell Elote, which is corn covered in cheese and sauces. It is definitely messy but will leave you wanting more.

Eat Some Gallo Pinto With Every Meal

Gallo Pinto is a dish made of rice and beans that locals eat quite frequently as it is very affordable to make. It isn’t strange to see it served for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner.

Visit Big Corn Island…

While there are so many reasons to visit Corn Islands, the biggest highlight is the fact the islands are entirely underrated. There are no resorts or chain restaurants on the islands, along with few tourists around. It feels like an escape to a private island in the Caribbean.

… and Little Corn Island!

Little Corn Island has no motorized vehicles on it, making it a really unique place to explore. It is only accessible via boat from Big Corn Island. The calm island is extremely walkable and has pristine beaches to relax at!

Scuba Dive off of the Caribbean Coast

Whether you want to try scuba diving for the first time or you are an experienced diver, there are some incredible dive sites off of the coast of Nicaragua. The waters are calm and are great for trying out diving with a Discover Dive. With these, you will learn how to dive in a pool before heading out into a more shallow area in the ocean to swim with the fish!

Head out Snorkeling and Admire the Tropical Fish

Snorkeling is so much fun, especially when there are very few people around! The Caribbean coast offers great snorkeling, where you’re bound to find interesting fish and reefs to swim around.

Visit the Exciting Lakefront Plaza at Seawall Managua

Seawall Managua is quite an interesting place to visit. There are giant colourful sculptures along the waterfront. When I visited, it was near Christmas time so there were plenty of giant decorations around the area. At night, everything became lit up and many locals came out to celebrate. There was lots of street vendors and live music all around!

Visit Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve

Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve is a lagoon located in Managua. It is interested as it is of volcanic origin and formed over 10,000 years ago! It is now a protected nature reserve and a gorgeous place to walk around.

Enjoy a Beer Along Puerto Salvador Allende

Nearby Tiscapa Lagoon, there are plenty of shops and restaurants along a boardwalk. After a relaxing walk down the boardwalk, you can grab a beer and enjoy the views of the lagoon!

Have a Drink On the Beach at Sunset

With less strict alcohol laws in Nicaragua, there are plenty of little huts on the beach offering fruit and alcohol drinks. Find a seat near one of the shops approaching sunset, so you can relax with a drink while watching the sun set over the water.

Walk Along the Boardwalk in San Juan del Sur

The boardwalk in downtown San Juan del Sur is stunning. There’s something really relaxing about walking on a warm day and listening to the sounds of the ocean. There are plenty of cafés, restaurants, bars, and little shops to check out!

Learn How to Surf

Despite living on the beach in California for a few years, my first time actually trying to surf was in Nicaragua. I decided to try out a lesson with a giant foam board. Though the waves weren’t giant, it was definitely a great item to knock off of my Nicaragua bucket list.

Drink Fresh Coconut Water at the Beach

There’s something fun about drinking out of a freshly opened coconut when you’re at the beach! To me, it is what I picture when relaxing at a beach in the Caribbean. In places like Nicaragua, they are sold for next to nothing as well!

Stay at a Party Hostel in San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is known as the party city of Nicaragua. Backpackers from all over the world flock to the city to experience some of the parties and meet great people. It’s really popular to stay at party hostels within the city to be right in the center of the action.

Experience the Memorable “Sunday Funday” Bar-Hopping Events

Arguably one of the most exciting things to do in Nicaragua for backpackers, the “Sunday Funday” events in San Juan del Sur are quite wild. It is known as the biggest party in all of Nicaragua! Thousands of travellers throw on their swimsuits flock to hotel and bar pools to binge drink until late in the evening. It’s a great way to meet people, but be careful of overdrinking!

Try Traditional Foods at a Local Restaurant

One of my favourite things to do when travelling is to try the local food! Though it can be challenging as a vegetarian, I try to at least get a taste for local cuisines when I can. In Nicaragua, I had a lot of rice and plantains! An interesting fish dish that was served at restaurants was Conch, which many locals recommended to try.

Shop for Locally Handmade Goods and Taste the Foods at the Markets

My second favourite thing to do when travelling is to buy neat souvenirs and local artisan items. Shopping at the markets rather than box stores are a perfect way to support the locals. Markets in Nicaragua have a lot of bright fabrics, different kinds of fruits, and plenty of street foods to try.

Explore Somoto Canyon

Somoto Canyon is a gorgeous protected area in rural Nicaragua. It is home to some of the oldest rock formations in Central America, with canyon walls soaring up around 150 meters. There are plenty of tours that visit here to hike and go cliff jumping!

Take a Boat or Ferry Across Lake Nicaragua

Lake Nicaragua is the largest freshwater lake in Central America. It’s an interesting lake as you can find oceanic animal life such as sharks within it. Visitors tend to book boating excursions or opt to take a ferry to Ometepe Island.

Stay at Accommodations at Ometepe Bilingual School and Support the Locals

One of the most memorable places I stayed at was accommodations connected to Ometepe Bilingual School. This stunning place is located right on the water and is focused on providing quality education to locals. The buildings are built from recycled plastic from trash found around the island. You can fill up 2L bottles with trash to be used for constructing additional buildings.

Canoe Between Volcanos on Ometepe Island

Ometepe Island has two volcanoes at either end of the island. If you rent a kayak or canoe and head out onto the water, you’ll find great views of both volcanoes. There are various shops and hostels that offer rentals for an hour or more.

Hike Around Concepcion Volcano

Concepcion is one of the two volcanoes located on Ometepe Island. It is an active volcano that previously erupted back in 2010. You are able to book a trek to the summit of the volcano, up steep and rocky paths. Once at the summit, you’ll find stunning views of the entire island. The roundtrip hike takes around 6-10 hours.

Swim at the Base of San Ramon Waterfall

On one side of the Maderas volcano, there is a tall waterfall that plunges into a swimming hole. After walking around 2km down a dirt road, you’ll find this hidden beauty. The area is stunning to relax, or you can opt to continue hiking through the jungle!

Rent a Scooter And Ride Around Ometepe Island

If you’ve talked to someone who’s rented a scooter and rode around Ometepe Island, you’ve probably heard some horror stories. Though this is the best way to get around the island, the roads are very bumpy. Because of this, there are a lot of scooter accidents!

Fun Fact: Scooter accidents happen so frequently here, that when you see tourists with scraped-up knees in other cities, they usually confirm they crashed a scooter on Ometepe Island!

Try Toña Beer

Another thing I love to do when travelling is trying the local beers. The two main beers people drink in Nicaragua are Victoria and Toña. I personally preferred the taste of Toña more, but both taste quite similar.

Visit the Stunning City of Masaya

Masaya is a beautiful city that is home to Masaya Volcano National Park and Laguna de Apoyo. It’s a great destination for nature-lovers and for those looking to go hiking. There’s also a great Crafts Market that is perfect for buying souvenirs!

Experience Masaya Volcano Erupting at Night

Masaya Volcano is one of Nicaragua’s most active volcanoes and is quite popular to visit on a night tour. The lava in the volcano is visible to those visiting, making it a really unique experience!

Wander the Colonial City of Granada

Granada is one of the most-visited cities in Nicaragua and it’s no surprise why! The city is filled with stunning colourful colonial buildings that create a cheerful vibe. There are plenty of walking tours, museums, and restaurants to explore in the city.

Travel Vlog: Best Things to Do in Nicaragua to Add to Your Bucket List

Book an Excursion Now

Discover More

Nicaragua is filled with so many amazing things to do to add to your bucket list. It is one of my most memorable trips and one of my best planned ones to date. You bet a trip back is in my future!

Have you been to Nicaragua? What would you recommend as the top things to do in Nicaragua? Let me know in the comments!

Be sure to Pin this post for later!

Subscribe to my blog to get updates on my latest posts!