As hard as it was to pull myself away from the beaches of San Juan, I had to explore more of this beautiful country. Next stop Granada. From San Juan you can take the cheap local buses or a $15 shuttle. I chose the latter. The shuttle dropped me off at my new hostel, El Caite. I chose El Caite because of its prime location near center of town and of course its gorgeous pool!
All I need to be happy is a pool and a hammock! The vibe at El Caite was like a hotel. The staff doesn’t speak much English and aren’t going to be hanging out with you, but they are nice. Without a bar area, I thought it would be more difficult to meet people. However, I did make a few good friends (one was Ashley who convinced me to go back to San Juan for Sunday Funday with her).
Granada is historically one of Nicaragua’s most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage which shows in its architecture. Walking down the streets is like being thrust into a kaleidoscopic dream.
So, a funny thing happens when you are traveling. A lot of the people you meet are going to the same places you are so you will see people you saw in a previous city or country in your next destination. Remember the (sexy :p) scuba instructor Tim I met in San Juan? Well, he was in Granada too!
He had been in Granada before so he knew all the good places. A fun and free activity to do is visiting the Chocolate Museum. There are paid tours or you can have a guide take you through the different products they make for free. I sampled delicious cacao tea, different types of chocolate, chocolate spreads, liquors, and body lotion. There is also a hotel situated within the museum. The grounds are not only lush and green, but the amount of foliage makes you feel like you are in the middle of a jungle.
My guide was super fun and had great energy. I laughed a lot and highly recommend checking this place out. Since Tim had already done the museum he dropped me off while he got a $3 haircut in an old school barbershop.
After getting high on coco, we walked down the main street, which is lined with colorful restaurants and bars. At the end of this long street, we hit Lake Nicaragua. Exploring, I was in awe of the intricate details of the buildings, from the classic yellow church to the black and white modern interior of a bar. Every step promised another magical moment.
The parties get started around midnight in Nicaragua (which can be difficult to stay up for because its pitch black at 6pm). With plenty of time to kill we headed to De Boca en Boca hostel, one of the most popular hostels in Granada, for a drink. I ordered the incredible dragonfruit daquari. So, so good!
After slugging down a few of these, we headed to the main street to indulge in the two for one happy hour most bars offer. We settled on Isa House, which is where I may or may not have had seven Cuba Libres. Oops, sorry not sorry! They also have food on the happy hour menu and I ordered amazing empanadas for $3. I don’t think I can ever pay New York prices again!
Speaking of food, there was a Taco Stop around the corner from El Caite. We may or may not have eaten basically every meal there. Again, sorry not sorry. It is so good and cheap! Who needs variety anyways?!
After consuming our libations, we made our way to Reilly’s, a popular bar in the area. It has a nice mix of both locals and tourists. That night they were having karaoke and the boys made me sing so we could get free shots (of which I didn’t even have because I hate shots, but hey, I will take one for the team).
Next day, it was finally time for some volcanos! First, I went to see Mombacho. It is not extinct, but its last explosion was in 1570, so just guessing that we are pretty safe :p Not all the trails were accessible from Hurricane Nate’s wrath, but I was taken on a nice hour-long hike to a few different view spots. I couldn’t help but notice how vibrant and green everything is. I lingered to I inhale the sweet smell of the pure nature surrounding me.
From here, you can see the city of Granada, the hundreds of islets, and Laguna de Apoyo. It was simply breathtaking.
As part of the hike, I passed through this otherworldly tunnel, which is believed to have been built by the ancient people to get water. Pretty impressive.
Needing more volcano action, I decided to visit Masaya, an active volcano where you can peak into its opening and see the magma bubbling below. The tours start at night and you will be driven up to the top where you will have about 15 minutes to enjoy this wonder. Stepping out of the car, I immediately saw the fiery orange glow emanating into the air. Walking up to the railing, I felt my heart catch in my chest, the excitement of seeing lava for the first time growing rapidly. Peering down into the opening, I could see a glimpse of magma moving around. Viewing the lava and the sky full of stars above me was surreal. I felt privileged to be seeing this incredible site.
The next day, I set out for a tour of the islets with Ashley. The islets of Granada are located in Lake Nicaragua and consist of 365 islets. I was also baffled by that number! Some of the islets are second homes to Nicaragua’s rich and famous, but many are home to fishermen living in ramshackle wooden houses. Two of the islands are home to monkeys!
The tour was very relaxing, but it wasn’t as amazing as I thought it would be, so if you are low on time/budget skip this one.
My last activity in Granada was spending the day at Laguna de Apoyo, a nature reserve located between Masaya and Granada. There is one hostel located here called Paradiso and tours include a day pass to use their facilities which include hammocks, kayaks, beach chairs, and free coffee and tea. Unfortunately, on the day I went, the weather was pretty cloudy, but I still had a nice, relaxing day.
After a much needed day of R&R, I headed back to San Juan for my second Sunday Funday before heading to Costa Rica. Nicaragua, I certainly haven’t seen the last of you!
XO,
Sarah
Wandering Publicist 