Nicaragua is a land of lakes and volcanoes – and far less developed for tourism than its neighbours Costa Rica and Panama. Visitors should understand the political situation and behave accordingly. Here are the key facts and my travel story.
Nicaragua at a glance
Top sights
Masaya Volcano
About 30 km from Managua and only around 14 km from Granada, you can drive almost to the rim of the Santiago crater. Since reopening in 2025 the glowing lava is visible again – most impressive on an evening visit, which has its own time slot and a higher fee. Time at the crater is limited.
Granada
The oldest colonial city on the mainland sits on Lake Nicaragua: colourful façades, the cathedral, horse carriages and boat trips to the Isletas. In the evening leave valuables at the hotel – the German Foreign Office names Granada specifically for pickpocketing and robberies.
León
The university city in the west is more political and livelier than Granada. From here you head to Cerro Negro, a young ash volcano where you slide down the black slope on a board – volcano boarding is one of the country’s best-known activities.
Little Corn Island
This small Caribbean island has no cars, only footpaths. Getting there: La Costeña from Managua to Big Corn (about 80 minutes, around US$180 return), then roughly 30 minutes by open panga boat (about US$10, no reservation). Cheaper but long: bus to Bluefields and ferry. German Foreign Office note: assaults on travellers have also occurred on the Corn Islands – don’t walk alone at night.
Ometepe
Two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, rise from Lake Nicaragua as one island. Ferries and boats run from San Jorge near Rivas to Moyogalpa (about 60 minutes) or San José del Sur; the small lanchas do not run on Sundays. The lake can be rough from November to February.
My travel story
Nicaragua feels like Central America before mass tourism: less infrastructure, less English, more authenticity.
Granada is the classic start – colonial façades in every colour, evening light over the lake. The highlight comes after dark at Masaya Volcano, looking over the crater rim at the glowing lava below. Few places show so clearly that the earth is alive.
On Ometepe everything slows down: scooters, dusty roads, two volcanoes taking turns to disappear into the clouds. And then Little Corn Island – no engine noise, just palms, forest paths and water in colours you know from brochures.
León provides the contrast: students, murals, heat – and Cerro Negro, which you slide down on a board.
Getting there from Munich
There is no direct connection from Munich to Managua. Typical routings go via Houston, Madrid and Panama City, or Amsterdam; expect 20 hours or more. On a journey this long it pays to have at least the first and last kilometres stress-free: we pick you up at home, take you to Munich Airport at a fixed price and wait in the terminal with a name sign when you return.
As of November 2026. All information without guarantee; entry and vaccination rules can change at short notice. Entry details apply to German citizens. Please check the German Foreign Office travel advice and consult a travel-medicine specialist about vaccinations.