Granada Itinerary (3 Days) in Nicaragua: Complete breakdown

Granada Itinerary (3 Days) in Nicaragua: Complete breakdown

A visit to Nicaragua wouldn’t be complete without spending at least 3 days in Granada. It’s one of Nicaragua’s most iconic cities, and for good reason! Founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, it’s the oldest colonial city in the country, bringing with it much European influence. Granada’s politically-charged past as the opposition to the more liberal and revolutionary León, has further shaped the city we see today.

Whilst there are similarities between these two major backpacking hubs, Granada has its own distinct character which I grew to enjoy! Streets laden with colourful colonial architecture, their faded walls providing a dated charm. The clopping of hooves against tarmac as work-horses tow their carts and carriages. And the juxtaposition of quiet, ornate streets with the bustle of daily Nicaraguan life that you can find with the turn of any corner.

If this is your first time visiting this wonderful city, then look no further. This 3-day Granada itinerary will cover everything you need to know, including the best things to do; how to budget, and tips for your stay.

Let’s get started!

Granada Itinerary in Short

• Day 1: Explore the city and see the lava at Masaya Volcano
• Day 2: Islets Boat Tour
• Day 3: Visit Mombacho Volcano (+ Optional Treehouse Party)

How to use this Granada Itinerary: This itinerary compiles what I think is the best 3 days in Granada for first-timers. The days and activities can easily be shuffled around to suit your needs. There is plenty more to do in Granada if you want to add additional days (I wouldn’t blame you!).

Granada Itinerary in Full

How many days do you need in Granada, Nicaragua?

I recommend spending at least 3 days in Granada. This will give you a chance to see all the main sights that the city has to offer, without being rushed off your feet.

Having said this, if you prefer to travel slowly, you could easily spend another couple of nights here. If you intend to stay for the Treehouse party on a Friday night, you may also need to extend your stay. Either way, there are still even more things to do in Granada if you have time!

If you want to compare the length of your stay in León with your stay in Granada. My honest view is that you should allow similar amounts of time to explore each. I found Granada to be prettier and larger, while León had more character (though a little rough around the edges), and a more obvious connection with its revolutionary history. Both cities offer options outside of town to extend your stays closer to day-trip activities such as Las Peñitas for Leon, and Apoyo or Mombacho for Granada.

3-Day Granada Itinerary

Day 1: Explore the city + Masaya Volcano

Your first day in Granada will allow you to familiarise yourself with the local area and your surroundings. Plus you’ll get a taste of Nicaragua’s unmatched volcano scene!

AM: Explore the city

When visiting any new city, I try to either join a walking tour or explore independently with my camera.

Dubbed as the prettiest city in Central America (alongside its sister city of Antigua in Guatemala), Granada is not one to be missed!

This colourful colonial city is best explored at street level, exploring its array of churches and cathedrals; witnessing the workhorses in action; smelling the aromas of the city; and maybe even stopping off to try some street food!

You can join one of the many walking tours around the city, which normally last anywhere between 2 and 4 hours. You can either book online or with tour operators.

NOTE: Another popular option for tourists is the horse-drawn carriage tours, which last around 90 minutes and cover Granada’s main sights. Having seen the way the horses are ‘looked after’, I can’t really endorse this activity.

Main Sights

Walking tour or not, here are some of the best things to see whilst walking around Granada. What’s great is that they’re all so close together!

• Parque Central de Granada: The main plaza is filled with market stalls, fountains, ice cream vendors and more! It’s a great place to get souvenirs and grab food, but I recommend returning again after dark as there’s a buzz of activity.
• Granada Cathedral: Situated on the edge of the main plaza is Granada Cathedral (aka Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral). This well-preserved, colonial building in yellow and white stands majestically in the centre of town. It’s the main landmark of the city, plus it’s FREE to enter!
• La Iglesia de la Merced: This beautiful church offers 360-degree views of Granada. It costs $1, to go upstairs to the bell tower, which is 100% worthwhile to get a different perspective of the city.
• Sidestreet Markets: If you are looking to see a more authentic side of Granada, take a wander down some of the sidestreets. Here you will see a hub of activity as people go about their day-to-day lives and sell things. Though avoid going down any back alleys at night!
• La Polvora Fortress: This medieval fortress on the edge of the city was originally built to protect Granada from pirates as well as store gunpowder! Now you can explore the lookouts and wander the exhibits as it’s been converted into a museum. Once again it’s FREE to enter and offers impressive views of the city.
• Xalteva Church: Perhaps not as iconic as Granada Cathedral or La Iglesia de la Merced, but Xalteva Church is certainly one of the prettiest in the city. With a bright orange exterior and baroque and Islamic influences, this reconstructed church really stands out.

TOP TIP: If you are considering booking a walking tour of Granada, decide what other activities you want to do while you’re here. Most operators offer a variety of different tours, so you can use the walking tour as a bargaining tool to get the price down for other activities.

PM: Masaya Volcano

No Granada itinerary is complete without a visit to the Masaya Volcano. Whilst there are many volcanoes in Central America, this offers a unique experience as you can look directly into the crater to see the bubbling lava within.

Tours of Masaya Volcano cost approximately $25, including transport from Granada and a guide to show you around. Whilst you can arrange your own transport, with the park entrance fee of $10, it probably works out somewhat similar.

Arrive just before sunset to explore the multiple craters and watch the sun go down. It’s a short walk up to the best viewpoint. You can also take a sneak peek at the Masaya crater during the daylight to compare it with night.

After dark, return to the main crater. This time you should be able to see the glowing red lava. Visibility varies depending on the wind blowing the fumes.

Day 2: Visit Las Isletas de Granada

Las Isletas, which translates to ‘the little islands’, are a series of land formations scattered across the surface of Lake Nicaragua.

Formed by the eruption of Mombacho many years ago, 365 islets are now dotted across the lake. Over time their surfaces have become habitated with lush plant life and wildlife.

There are various ways to explore the islets in Granada. The most popular being by boat!

There are a variety of tours available, from day tours to sunset rides or even booze cruises. They can last anywhere from 1 hour to half-days. Pretty much all tour operators and hostels in Granada will offer excursions to Las Isletas.

Alternatively, you can explore a smaller section of the islets by kayak if you would prefer to rent and explore at your own pace. Kayak rental costs a similar amount ($20-$25).

Day 3: Mombacho Volcano + Treehouse

On the outskirts of Granada is the mighty Mombacho volcano.

It’s a volcano unlike any that I’ve visited! So much so that it almost doesn’t feel like a volcano! Home to a cloud forest with dewy plants and an abundance of life. Keep a look out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of bird species (including the quetzal).

You can either hike up to the volcano from the very bottom (it’s a steep climb up winding roads) or get a lift most of the way. We decided to hitch a ride with a very kind local who was heading in that direction. This helped avoid paying the additional cost for vehicle entry and the sweaty uphill walk.

Once you’re at the reserve, there are three well-maintained walking trails to fully explore Mombacho.

• Crater Trail: A 1.5km loop circling around the main crater of Mombacho. It’s free, doesn’t require a guide, and heads out to a couple of epic viewpoints looking back towards Granada, Lake Nicaragua and Apoyo Lagoon.
• El Tigrillo Trail: This is a continuation of the Crater trail leading to two additional viewpoints. It wasn’t the best signposted and I didn’t realise I’d completed it until we circled back.
• El Puma Trail: The hardest trail on Mombacho takes you deeper into the forest along a 4.5km route. The walk requires a guide and an additional entry fee. You will see the Puma trail cordoned off from the other hiking trails.

There are tours available to visit Mombacho from Granada, however I chose to explore independently which I was grateful for. I also opted to hike without a guide to save on cost which was perfectly fine as the trails are easy to follow. The only downsides of no guide was that I couldn’t complete the Puma Trail (however tempting hopping the un-manned fence seemed), and I couldn’t get the local knowledge and stories about the volcano.

While you are in the Mombacho area, there are places to zipline or explore a coffee plantation. These can often be booked alongside the tours.

There’s also a cafe (Cafe Las Flores), halfway up to Mombacho which offers a place to grab food and refreshments. It’s not always open so avoid relying on this and bring your own water and snacks.

Treehouse Party

If you align your stay in Granada with a Friday night, you can head to the Treehouse party in the canopy aside Mombacho Volcano. This party has a reputation spanning the whole of Central America. I’ve written a more detailed post about it here.

The hostel where the rave takes place lets guests watch the sunset before the party starts. You can buy all your food and drinks there and enjoy the music until it finishes at 3am. The music is predominantly techno and house music but varies each week.

Granada Itinerary Map

Granada Budget

Since I didn’t follow this exact 3-day Granada itinerary (extending longer and staying in the Treehouse), I have broken down the costs of each of the individual aspects to calculate how much you should expect to spend during this 3-day Granada itinerary.

The breakdown is approximately as follows:

NOTE: Alcohol not included. Breakfast was included with my hostel.

While Nicaragua felt cheaper than other Central American countries, it’s easy for activities to add up. It was probably one of my more expensive stops in Nicaragua. While, I could quite easily tell you that it costs $30/day to travel in Granada (which is entirely possible, especially if you stayed longer), I want to give you a better representation of how much a backpacker could be spending to do the activities they wanted. I averaged approximately $44/day during my time. Probably slightly more including the unaccounted-for alcohol and personal items.

What to do if you have more time in Granada?

If you are not on a strict timeline; are killing time before the Treehouse on Friday night, or want to experience more than just the ‘highlights’ of Granada, here are a few more options for your Granada itinerary:

Apoyo Lagoon

If you are in the mood for a relaxing day, head over to Apoyo Lagoon, a crater lake just outside of Granada. You can swim, rent kayaks, bob around in an inner tube, or simply chill out on the beach! I think there’s even scuba diving available!

If you have seen a lot of Central America already, this might be an activity to skip to save money. However, if the idea of swimming in a crater lake excites you, then go check it out!

Most tours will drop you off at El Paradiso, a hostel on the beachside of the lagoon. Tours are approximately $20-$25, though you can contact the hostel directly for a cheaper price. Another way to make the visit cheaper is to combine it with an evening excursion such as the Masaya Volcano tour.

Booze Cruise

If you like to party, the booze cruise in Granada is definitely something to add to your list! Every Wednesday from 16:00 til midnight, the boat sets sail into Lake Nicaragua for an evening of partying. Heading out towards the islets and watching sunset before returning to shore for a beach party.

Spanish Schoool

Like many of the other Central American cities, Granada offers the opportunity to improve your Spanish. What’s great about learning Spanish in Nicaragua is that it’s cheaper than the likes of Guatemala or Costa Rica with all the same benefits. There are plenty of options with homestays, language schools, or 1:1 lessons available.

Where to go after Granada?

Once you have seen all that Granada has to offer, you have a number of choices for where to go next. The south of Nicaragua is generally well-connected so you have lots of flexibility.

If you are travelling east through Nicaragua, your next stop could be in Ometepe or San Juan del Sur. Ometepe is the closer of the two

Whereas, if you are travelling west through Nicaragua, your next stop should be in Leon where you can try out volcano boarding!

Alternatively, you could check out Managua for a day before flying out and exploring somewhere else entirely! Take a flight to the idyllic Corn Islands in the northeast of Nicaragua.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my 3-day Granada itinerary in Nicaragua. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy travelling!