Surfing, sunshine and black sand—a coast-to-coast guide to Nicaragua

With its dramatic topography, smouldering peaks and emerald waters, it’s easy to understand why Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes. The largest nation in Central America features former colonial villages in sun-baked countryside, easygoing surf towns lining Pacific shores and divers’ paradise off Caribbean beaches. Here are five unmissable hotspots to visit across this coast-lined country.

Managua

Nicaragua’s capital, Managua, is often viewed as a gateway to the country’s more popular destinations. However, the city — located on the shore of its eponymous lake — is also home to a number of cultural sites, including the Old Cathedral of Managua, a Belgian-built 1920s landmark that narrowly withstood the great earthquake of 1972. It’s been eerily abandoned ever since, with greenery bursting out of the once-grand interior. A five-minute walk away is the National Palace — one of the only downtown buildings that survived the same earthquake — which houses the National Museum and its pre-Columbian art collection. The city also features the Tiscapa Lagoon Natural Reserve, a volcanic pool where you can spot many of the region’s brightly coloured bird species.

Granada and the islets

Situated an hour’s drive south of the capital, Granada is one of Nicaragua’s most significant cities, formerly a trading hub where timber, gold and silver were exchanged. Formally established in 1524 during the Spanish colonial period, it sits at the foot of Mombacho Volcano on the fringes of Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America. While exploring the city, travellers shouldn’t miss Parque Central’s palm-fringed main square with its cheerful yellow cathedral, originally built in 1583. From there, walk out onto the cobblestoned Calle la Calzada. The pedestrian promenade is lined with a string of boutiques and cafes serving fish tacos, steak fajitas and vegetable burritos.

The road leads to the shore of Lake Nicaragua, where travellers can hop on a wooden boat to cruise around the islets of Granada, a collection of 365 volcanic islands scattered across its waters. Some of the atolls are home to howler monkeys and vibrant tropical birds, including the turquoise-browed motmot, the country’s national mascot. For striking views of the lake's twin volacanoes, travellers should venture on a boat tour at sunset.

San Juan del Sur

Nicaragua’s surf capital is set on a wide, crescent-shaped beach with calm, warm waters. Some of the best surf spots in the country are a short drive away, such as Playa Maderas — a pristine beach village accessible via the new, paved Costanera Road. After a day out enjoying the sand and sun, return to San Juan del Sur’s town centre to dine on freshly caught seafood. To end the night, have a drink under the stars at one of the many open-air bars serving rum cocktails and fresh fruit juices.

Ometepe Island

One of Nicaragua’s most remarkable destinations, this lush island is located in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. As you approach by boat, Ometepe’s twin volcanoes loom — the smaller and dormant Maderas in the shadow of the taller, active Conceptión. Translating to ‘two mountains’ from the Indigenous Nahuatl language, the island remains largely undeveloped — ideal for hiking, tracing ancient petroglyphs and dipping into waterfalls.

On the island, the crystal-blue Ojo de Agua is a natural swimming pool set among Nicaragua’s volcanic black-sand beaches. Meaning ‘eye of water’ in Spanish, the crystalline pools are rich with minerals such as magnesium, calcium and sulphur, which are said to harbour rejuvenating properties. The site has an on-site restaurant serving organic Nicaraguan coffee.

Corn Islands

Attractive and remote, the Corn Islands — comprising the more developed Big Corn and the tiny, car-free Little Corn — see much fewer travellers than the mainland. The sister isles are hemmed with serene white-sand beaches which offer access to an underwater playground for snorkellers and divers. Enthusiasts can jump in to explore coral reefs, caves and shipwrecks that serve as habitats for tropical fish. Alternatively, stay on dry land, dozing in a hammock before enjoying a homestyle meal at one of the island's family-run restaurants.