Nicaragua
Granada
It is one of the most important and most visited destinations in Nicaragua. The colonial architecture of its old center, many museums, galleries, hotels, restaurants, bars and a cosmopolitan ambiance make this city a destination itself. It is located on the coast near Lake Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua), it is an archipelago and the oldest city in the country, which still preserves original historic colonial center. Closeby is the Mombacho Volcano, which features an exotic cloud forest wher eyou can walk around the craters, learn about how coffee was made or enjoy ziplining through a forest.
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a tourist town, with a complete and diversified tourist offer. Surrounded by two mountains, the bay of San Juan del Sur is home to one of the most visited areas by surfers. In the surrounding rural area one can practice surf, fishing, whale watching, canopy, yoga, horseback riding and other sports. Or lay back and relax on one of the many unspoilt beaches including the most famous ones: Marsella, Maderas, Majagual, La Flor, El Ostional, El Coco, Las Salinas, El Astillero and El Yankee.
La Flor Beach
Le Flor is a stunning, secluded beach that has the privilege of being one of the few spawning spots in Central America where Olive Ridley and Leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs. These sea turtles weigh about 45 kg and hatch around 45 days later. They are an endangered species throughout the world and so La Flor has been classified as a Wildlife Refuge covering over 3,000 hectares in order to protect this species. There are no facilities in the reserve, with the only infrastructure belonging to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. The institution has established park rangers living there in order to protect the arrival and birth of these turtles. This beach is approximately 2 km long, is white , sandy and bordered by rocky formations. In front of it, there is a small island in which a great number of seabirds have their nests. There is a large presence of wildlife in the woods and nearby along a small estuary.
El Coco beach
El Coco beach is a quiet and peaceful private beach. Its shape is elongated but like the other beaches with rock formations around it. It is possible to surf on this beach and swim or just walk along and enjoy the feeling you are in paradise.
Leon
The elegant city of León preserves its attractive historical center and colonial buildings. One can find still ruins of the first Spanish colonial cities that were built in the continent, which are preserved thanks to the volcanic sand that buried the place after an eruption.It is one of the most important cities in the country. The center itself is an attractive destination due to its museums, art galleries, colorful colonial architecture, an imposing cathedral, and the facades of its churches. It is a student town with a lot of life and hustle and bustle.
Volcanoes
Near to Leon is situated Lake Managua and the Momotombo volcano, which caused the destruction of the city of 1610. Leon has eight volcanoes closeby, all of them are part of the ‘Cordillera de Los Maribios’. The most interesting might be Cerro Negro, which is a young, small volcano that offers incredible views and slopes to practice snowboarding. Other sites are the volcanoes of Santa Clara, Momotombo (volcano/island) and the natural reserves of Pilas-El Hoyo and Telica-Rota. Also, there are two volcanic lagoons: Asososca and Monte Galan.
There are even more attractions around Leon, such as several beaches on the Pacific Ocean, which are spread throughout the municipalities of Nagarote and Leon. El Velero, El Tránsito and Puerto Sandino (good waves for surfing and a nice estuary) are located in Nagarote whilst in the municipality of Leon has the most famous ones: Poneloya and Las Peñitas. In front of the last one, you can find the Juan Venado Island Natura Reserve.
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