Luxury holidays in Nicaragua

Nicaragua Volcanic landscapes, colourful cities, tranquil lakes and a rugged Pacific coastline

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Nicaragua with True Travel

The volcanic spirit of Nicaragua

Still something of a secret, Nicaragua is Latin America’s ace card. A land of colourful colonial towns, mighty volcanoes, tranquil lakes and wild Pacific beaches, it’s where adventure and relaxation go hand in hand. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can sandboard down an active volcano. Spend days trekking through rainforest, surfing secluded shores or kayaking across volcanic lakes, then retreat to remote eco-lodges surrounded by extraordinary scenery and steeped in unforgettable luxury.

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Specialist Tip

Explore the volcanic landscapes around Granada and Leon. Sandboarding down Cerro Negro or taking a boat through the Isletas of Lake Nicaragua offer adventures you won’t find elsewhere in Central America.

Evie Oswald, Latin America Programme Manager

Journeys we love

Luxury Nicaragua holidays

Each of our journeys starts from a conversation. Every detail, from the route to the hotels, is built and rebuilt around you until it fits. To provide you a taste of what True Travel can create, our team of global destination specialists have created a selection of suggested journeys, from our recent travels. Get in touch to start planning your next adventure.

Nicaragua

Classic Nicaragua

Nicaragua brings together colonial history, volcanic landscapes and Pacific shores in an 8 day journey that moves from the country’s interior to its islands and coast. In Granada, explore the…

Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Rum, Cigars & Colonial Cities

Nicaragua’s history and traditions come to life on this 9 day journey, from León’s revolutionary murals and grand cathedral to the country’s rum and cigar-making heritage. In León, go behind…

EXPLORE NICARAGUA

Places in Nicaragua

Our Favourite Places Granada & Ometepe Granada, on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and in the shadow of the Mombacho volcano, is the oldest city in Central America and arguably the most attractive town in the country. Its cobbled streets, red-tiled roofs and colonial churches have changed remarkably little over the centuries. From here, Ometepe Island, formed by two volcanoes rising out of the lake, makes a striking onward stop, and the two combine well over a few days.

HOW WE TRAVEL DIFFERENTLY

True Experiences in Nicaragua

Explore a selection of our hand-picked experiences our Travel Designers can build into your holiday, from a night time visit to the Masaya Volcano to a private coffee tasting at Salva Negra.

Nicaragua

The Masaya volcano at night

Visit Masaya Volcano after dark to see the glow of its active lava lake, conditions permitting. With a local guide, learn about Nicaragua’s volcanic landscape and watch the changing colours of the crater as night falls.

Nicaragua

Coffee tasting

Discover Nicaraguan coffee at Selva Negra, a lush working coffee estate in the mountains. Learn how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted before tasting the finished beans and discovering what gives Nicaraguan coffee its distinctive character.

Nicaragua

Kayaking on Lake Nicaragua

Explore Lake Nicaragua by kayak, paddling through calm waters with views towards volcanic islands and the surrounding countryside. Keep an eye out for birdlife and discover the quieter side of this vast freshwater lake with a local guide.

Nicaragua Accommodation

A Taste of Where We Stay

Where you stay can become one of the most memorable parts of a journey – a beautiful room overlooking an a dormant volcano, a coffee finca deep in the wilderness or a characterful restored hotel at the heart of colonical Leon. We seek out the places that have a sense of their own, from quietly luxurious retreats to extraordinary properties in remarkable settings. Each has been chosen for its character, setting, service and the experience it creates. Discover some of our hand-picked luxury accommodation, known to us through our travels and trusted relationships from our little black book.

El Convento

The colonial city of León is known for its history, architecture and vibrant cultural scene, and Hotel El Convento is well placed to experience it all. Built on the site of León's oldest convent, the property combines historic character with modern comforts, while the city's cathedral, markets and museums are all within easy reach.

Hotel Plaza Colón

Granada's cathedral and main square sit directly opposite Hotel Plaza Colón, placing guests at the centre of one of Nicaragua's most attractive colonial cities. Housed within a carefully restored 19th-century building, the property combines historic character with modern comforts, while Granada's churches, markets and lakeside attractions are all within easy reach.

Jicaro Private Island Lodge

Scattered across Lake Nicaragua, the Isletas de Granada offer a very different side of the country, and Jicaro Island Lodge occupies one of the most secluded. Its collection of lakeside casitas looks towards Mombacho Volcano, while kayaking, paddleboarding and boat trips provide opportunities to explore the surrounding islands. Just a short boat ride from Granada, it combines easy access to the city with the tranquillity of life on the lake.

Morgan’s Rock Lodge

Wildlife, beaches and outdoor adventures are all part of life on Nicaragua's Pacific coast, and Morgan's Rock is well placed to experience them. Set within a private nature reserve near San Juan del Sur, the property features a collection of thatched bungalows surrounded by forest. Hiking trails, kayaking and horseback riding offer opportunities to explore the landscape, while seasonal turtle hatchings are a highlight for many visitors.

Selva Negra Lodge

Built and owned by German-descendent Nicaraguan families; a third of the property is dedicated to the coffee cultivation and the award-winning estate; another third is used rotational pastures for sustainable cattle ranching and organic farming; and the last third has been preserved as virgin forest making it a truly eco-friendly lodge.The hotel grounds are comprised of a complex of cabins dotted around the gardens, rooms are made from brick and sustainably harvested wood from the surrounding forest, as are the beds and furniture within them. Selva Negra works well for couples with one bedroom cabins as well as for families with their multi-bedroom cabins.

True Travel Journal

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From finding the right guide to unlocking hidden doors along Rome’s cobbled streets, to knowing which room offers a front-row view of Patagonia’s mountains at first light, or where to find Kyoto’s best counter seat, our journals are filled with the kind of insight that comes from years of travelling, planning and exploring.

Explore destination guides, travel news and stories from our specialists’ travels around the world, from new hotels and destinations to the experiences worth seeking out. Discover fresh ideas and insider knowledge to inspire your next trip.

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What our guests say

From the travel and transfers to the lodging, it was the most magical and perfect trip that we will remember for the rest of our lives. The hotels were beautiful and luxurious, with the most amazing staff. Every day was 10/10, and the trip was so well balanced with adventure and relaxation.

Amy, UK

It was one of the best trips I've ever done, and 95% of that was down to True Travel and their team. The organisation was perfect, as was each destination and guide. I hope I can travel again with them soon.

Fatima, Spain

True Travel arranged all our internal flights and transport, which ran like clockwork. Each accommodation was lovely, as was being able to explore Ecuador's varied regions and amazing people, culture and animals. As usual, True Travel delivered a seamless trip.

Jane, UK

My sister and I spent 12 days in Cambodia, planned by True Travel. Everything went perfectly. We stayed in four different amazing locations, had wonderful guides and drivers, and did so many different activities. The team at True Travel were really easy to deal with and great at communicating.

Jill, USA

Best trip ever. This trip was awesome. We were treated like royalty. We were taken care of from beginning to end. We saw everything we expected and then some. The accommodations were fabulous. I could go on forever, but just to say everything was planned to perfection to the finest detail. I hope to use them again and will recommend True Travel to everyone. A trip we'll never forget.

Jean, USA

The True Travel team provided excellent service throughout, from initial planning and finalising the details to support during the trip. They were extremely knowledgeable about Australia, including off-the-beaten-path destinations, boutique hotels and restaurants. Their local partner was always on hand to help with any issues or changes. Using True Travel meant I could relax and enjoy the trip without worrying about the logistics or small details.

Liza, USA

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Quick Answers

Common Questions

What is volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, and is it safe?

Volcano boarding involves sliding down the loose volcanic ash slopes of Cerro Negro, an active volcano, on a reinforced wooden board, reaching genuinely high speeds over a short descent. It’s run by established local operators who provide protective clothing and safety briefings, making it a manageable adventure activity for reasonably fit visitors rather than an extreme, unregulated stunt.
Why does the Caribbean coast feel so different from the Pacific side, language- wise?

Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, including the Corn Islands and Bluefields, has a genuinely distinct English-speaking Creole culture and indigenous Miskito communities, a legacy of British colonial influence quite separate from the Spanish- dominated Pacific side. An itinerary combining both coasts is worth approaching as two culturally different halves of the same country rather than a uniform experience.
What currency is used in Nicaragua?

The Nicaraguan Córdoba (NIO) is the local currency, and US dollars are also widely accepted, particularly in tourist areas like Granada and San Juan del Sur. ATMs are available in larger towns, though less densely than in neighbouring Costa Rica, so withdrawing what you need in advance of more remote stops is sensible.
What language is spoken in Nicaragua?

Spanish is the official language across most of the country, though English and Miskito are widely spoken on the Caribbean coast. Guides and hotel staff in the main tourist areas of Granada and León operate confidently in English regardless.
What time zone is Nicaragua in?

Nicaragua operates on Central Standard Time (UTC- 6) year-round, with no daylight saving changes. This aligns with several neighbouring Central American countries, so no adjustment is needed on a regional multi-country itinerary.
Can I drink the tap water in Nicaragua?

Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Nicaragua, including Granada and León. Bottled or filtered water is provided as standard at hotels and should be your default throughout, including on Ometepe Island where the source is drawn from the lake itself.
Should I carry cash or are cards widely accepted?

Cards are accepted at larger hotels in Granada and León, but smaller towns, markets and Ometepe Island generally expect cash. Córdobas or US dollars in small denominations cover day-to-day spending more reliably than cards outside the main towns.
Is tipping expected in Nicaragua?

A 10 percent tip in restaurants is customary, and guides on volcano tours or Ometepe excursions are typically tipped directly in cash at the end of the activity. This follows a broadly similar pattern to tipping elsewhere in Central America.
What plug sockets are used in Nicaragua?

Nicaragua uses Type A and Type B sockets, the same flat two or three-pin design used in the US, running at 120V. This applies consistently throughout the country, so US travellers can generally use their own devices without an adapter.
What's the significance of Ometepe Island's twin volcanoes?

Ometepe, formed by two volcanoes rising directly from Lake Nicaragua, is one of the largest volcanic island formations within a freshwater lake anywhere in the world, giving it a genuinely striking, symmetrical silhouette visible from much of the surrounding lake. The island’s relative remoteness, reached only by ferry, means slower travel times between sights than the map distance suggests.
Why is Nicaragua often described as more affordable than Costa Rica, and does this affect trip planning?

Nicaragua’s tourism infrastructure has developed more recently and at a smaller scale than Costa Rica’s well-established eco-lodge industry, generally translating into lower costs for comparable experiences, though this also means fewer ultra-luxury options in some regions. Building slightly more flexibility into transport timings, since infrastructure is less uniformly developed than in Costa Rica, is worth factoring into a Nicaragua-focused itinerary.

Nicaragua Volcanic landscapes, colourful cities, tranquil lakes and a rugged Pacific coastline

The volcanic spirit of Nicaragua

Nicaragua With Us

Luxury Nicaragua holidays

Classic Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Rum, Cigars & Colonial Cities

Places in Nicaragua

True Experiences in Nicaragua

The Masaya volcano at night

Coffee tasting

Kayaking on Lake Nicaragua

A Taste of Where We Stay

El Convento

Hotel Plaza Colón

Jicaro Private Island Lodge

Morgan’s Rock Lodge

Selva Negra Lodge

Read all about it