Day Trips

Nicaragua Unveiled

While you could very happily spend all of your time at the Orquidea and around San Juan del Sur, we know that some guests would like to get a taste of what the rest of Nicaragua has to offer. Head into the interior of this beautiful country with fully customizable day trips to the destinations below – you are sure to enjoy an exhilarating adventure that delights the senses and expands the mind.

Colonial Granada: The oldest European settlement in the Americas (1524)

  • Tour the city in a horse-drawn buggy and visit its Parque Central, Choco Museo, numerous churches, and other historical points of interest
  • Ride in a boat out into Lake Nicaragua and navigate the hundreds of isletas (tiny islands), some of which are inhabited only by wild monkeys
  • Climb the church bell tower for commanding views of the city
  • Dine on delicious whole grilled fish at a local restaurant known for its seafood dishes

Laguna de Apoyo: Naturally heated volcanic crater lake

  • Take a dip unlike any other in this 600-foot deep, 18-square mile circular lake inside the caldera of an ancient, mostly dormant volcano

Volcán Masaya

  • Truly exceptional in nature, you can drive right to the top of this highly active volcano and look over its rim into a fiery pit of bubbling lava below

San Juan de Oriente

  • Visit this tiny neighborhood on the way to Managua to shop for the most exquisite, artfully designed pottery you will find in Nicaragua

Mercado de Masaya

  • Far more extensive than the market in San Juan del Sur, you can buy a plethora of items here including paintings, wood work, clothing, leather goods, shoes, jewelry, and children’s toys

Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve

  • Hike or zip line through one of the only cloud forests in Nicaragua, home to 457 species of plants and 186 species of birds

Ometepe

  • Step even further away from the modern world by ferrying across Lake Nicaragua to Ometepe, a small island community comprised of two volcanoes and the isthmus that connects them
  • Rent a motorcycle, bike, or 4-wheeler to explore its back roads and beaches
  • Swim in the crisp, crystal clear waters of the Ojos de Agua (Eyes of Water), a natural spring located between the two volcanic peaks

While you won’t be able to do everything on this list during your stay, it’s possible to combine several of these choices into a single day or two of off-property travel. With so many amazing cultural experiences at your fingertips, you may have to start planning your return trip to the Orquidea sooner than you thought.