Rivas10 min read
Peñas Blancas Border Crossing from Liberia Airport: Step by Step
Penas Blancas border crossing from Liberia airport: 88 km, US$8 Costa Rica exit tax, US$10 Nicaragua entry fee, the 7-day form and the documents you need.
Updated
46 guides
Travel guides
What we tell travelers before they come: the border, the ferry, the seasons and the places we drive to every week. Written by the team, with sources.
San Juan del Sur
Ometepe Island
Granada and Masaya
46 guides · Monkeys Travels & Tours team
Before you arrive
The border, airport transfers and official advisories: the practical part to sort out before you come.
San Juan del Sur10 min read
Liberia to San Juan del Sur Shuttle, Bus or Private: Prices 2026
Liberia to San Juan del Sur: shuttle from US$50, van from US$68, Daytrip from US$32 per person, Monkeys from US$45 per person. Seen November 3, 2026.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
Is Nicaragua Safe to Visit? What the 2026 Advisories Say
Is Nicaragua safe to visit: the US Level 3 advisory of May 14, 2026, Canada, the UK and Spain in their own words, what we cannot promise and what we do.
Updated
By destination and season
Beaches, volcanoes, islands, ferry schedules and local dates.
43 guides
San Juan del Sur11 min read
Nicaragua Itinerary: 5 Days from Costa Rica via Liberia
Nicaragua itinerary, 5 days from Costa Rica: Liberia to Peñas Blancas, San Juan del Sur, Ometepe, Granada, Masaya, León or Tola, border fees and prices.
Updated
San Juan del Sur9 min read
San Juan del Sur Beaches: Which One to Pick by Distance and Use
San Juan del Sur beaches from 7 to 19 km out: Remanso, Maderas, Marsella, Hermosa, Majagual, Yankee and El Coco, sorted for surfers, families and swimmers.
Updated
Rivas11 min read
Best Time to Visit Nicaragua: Seasons, Months and Activities
Best time to visit Nicaragua: dry season November to April, rains May to October, turtles July to January, Semana Santa and a month by month table.
Updated
San Juan del Sur8 min read
Jesus Statue San Juan del Sur: Cristo de la Misericordia Guide
Jesus statue San Juan del Sur guide: a 24 m Cristo dedicated in 2009, how to walk or drive up, the US$0 to US$3 fee reported in 2026 and the best hour.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
Renting a Car in Nicaragua: License, Checkpoints and Night Roads
Renting a car in Nicaragua in 2026: home license up to 60 days, US$500 card hold, mandatory liability cover and a 50 km/h limit on every road.
Updated
León7 min read
Esteli Cigar Tour: Tobacco Fields, Factory Floor and Miraflor
Estelí cigar tour from Rivas: tobacco fields, curing barns and the rolling room in a city 150 km north of Managua. Private, lunch included, from US$60.
Updated
Granada and Masaya7 min read
Granada and Masaya Volcano Day Tour: 9-Hour Itinerary and Prices
Granada Masaya volcano day tour, 9 hours from Rivas or San Juan del Sur: Granada, Isletas boat, Masaya market and Santiago crater. From US$45 per person.
Updated
Granada and Masaya8 min read
Isletas de Granada: Boat or Kayak, Monkey Island, Fort San Pablo
Isletas de Granada by boat or kayak: 2 to 3 hours by private boat from US$35, or 3 hours by kayak from US$40. Fort San Pablo and Monkey Island.
Updated
La Flor and Tola7 min read
La Flor Turtles Season: Arribadas near San Juan del Sur
La Flor turtles season runs July to January. Arribada counts from MARENA and La Prensa (32,949 females, October 2026), night rules and the trip from SJDS.
Updated
Granada and Masaya7 min read
Laguna de Apoyo Day Trip: Catarina and San Juan de Oriente
Laguna de Apoyo day trip: a 175 m deep crater lake protected since 1991, the Catarina viewpoint and San Juan de Oriente pottery. Workshop from US$40.
Updated
San Juan del Sur9 min read
Managua Airport to San Juan del Sur: Shuttle, Taxi, Bus, Private
Managua airport to San Juan del Sur is about 132 km and 2 h 20 min by car. Shuttle from US$34.50, private car from US$116, bus about US$3. November 2026.
Updated
Granada and Masaya7 min read
Masaya Market Nicaragua: Hours, Jueves de Verbena, What to Buy
Masaya market Nicaragua: the craft market in the old market building, hours listed as 8:00 or 9:00 to 17:00, Thursday Verbena from 19:00 and what to buy.
Updated
Granada and Masaya8 min read
Mombacho Volcano Hike: Trails, Fees and the Cloud Forest
Mombacho volcano hike near Granada: Crater trail 1.5 km, Tigrillo 2.5 km, Puma 4 km, a 4.6 km road up to 1,344 m, fees reported in 2025 and 2026.
Updated
León7 min read
Coffee Farm Tour Nicaragua: Matagalpa, Jinotega and Selva Negra
Coffee farm tours in Nicaragua: Matagalpa (128 km from Managua), Jinotega and Selva Negra, when the harvest runs and three private day tours from US$55.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
Nicaragua Day Trip from Guanacaste or Tamarindo: Is It Worth It?
A Nicaragua day trip from Tamarindo means 12 to 15 hours and two border crossings, from US$230 per person. Compare it with 1 or 2 nights in Rivas.
Updated
Rivas9 min read
Festivals in Nicaragua by Month: Dates, Towns and What to Expect
Festivals in Nicaragua month by month: El Güegüense in Diriamba (January 17 to 27), Palo de Mayo, Santo Domingo, San Jerónimo in Masaya and La Purísima.
Updated
San Juan del Sur8 min read
Nicaragua Honeymoon: 7 and 10 Day Routes, Pacific to Caribbean
Nicaragua honeymoon routes of 7 and 10 days: San Juan del Sur, Ometepe, Granada and Little Corn, with prices for two and Big Corn flight times.
Updated
Rivas7 min read
Nicaragua SIM Card for Tourists: Claro, Tigo and eSIM Prices
Nicaragua SIM card for tourists, prices seen November 3, 2026: a 7-day pack costs C$120 (about US$3.30) at Claro or Tigo; travel eSIMs cost far more.
Updated
León8 min read
Volcano Hikes Nicaragua: 8 Volcanoes Compared by Effort and Price
Volcano hikes in Nicaragua compared: San Cristóbal (1,745 m) to Masaya (635 m), with height, effort, hours and private tour prices from US$55 per person.
Updated
San Juan del Sur9 min read
Nicaragua with Kids: Family Activities by Age, Permits and Safety
Nicaragua with kids: activities by age from Rivas and San Juan del Sur from US$35 per person, the Costa Rica exit permit for minors and official advice.
Updated
Granada and Masaya8 min read
Nicaraguan Food: Traditional Dishes and Where They Come From
Nicaraguan food: gallo pinto, vigorón (Granada, 1914), nacatamal, indio viejo, quesillo and vaho, with origins and a cooking class from US$45.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
Nicaraguan Slang and Spanish Phrases: What Locals Really Say
Nicaraguan slang decoded with the Diccionario de americanismos: tuani, chele, maje, chunche, dale pues and voseo, with meanings checked word by word.
Updated
Ometepe Island7 min read
Ometepe Day Tour from San Juan del Sur: Realistic Itinerary
Ometepe day tour from San Juan del Sur: 60-minute ferry from San Jorge, Ojo de Agua, Charco Verde and howler monkeys, from US$55 per person with Monkeys.
Updated
Ometepe Island7 min read
Chico Largo Legend of Ometepe and the Charco Verde Lagoon
The Chico Largo legend of Ometepe per UNAN-Managua (2021) and La Prensa (2007), where the Charco Verde lagoon is and how to visit it on a day tour.
Updated
Ometepe Island7 min read
Rio San Juan Nicaragua El Castillo: Fort, Indio Maíz and Boats
Río San Juan and El Castillo: the 1675 fortress, the Indio Maíz reserve, boats from San Carlos and an honest plan from Rivas. Private tour from US$85.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
San José to San Juan del Sur by Road: Tica Bus, Shuttle, Private
San José to San Juan del Sur is about 325 km and 5 hours of driving plus the border. Tica Bus US$33, shuttles from US$44, Monkeys private from US$65.
Updated
San Juan del Sur7 min read
San Juan del Sur Shore Excursions: Tender Port and Time Ashore
San Juan del Sur is a tender port. As of November 2026 the next listed call is August 17, 2027, 10:00 to 18:00. What fits ashore and how to return on time.
Updated
Granada and Masaya7 min read
San Juan del Sur to Granada: Shuttle, Bus via Rivas or Private
San Juan del Sur to Granada is 98 km, about 1 h 45 min by car. Shuttles US$18 to US$40, private car from US$87, bus via Rivas about US$4. November 2026.
Updated
Ometepe Island7 min read
Solentiname Islands Nicaragua: How to Get There and What to See
Solentiname islands, Nicaragua: 36 islands in Lake Cocibolca, primitivist painters, a 3-hour boat from San Carlos and a private 2 to 3 day trip from US$95.
Updated
San Juan del Sur8 min read
San Juan del Sur Fishing Charter: Species, Seasons and Rules
San Juan del Sur fishing charter guide: sailfish peak February to April, blue marlin May to October, catch and release rules and charter prices compared.
Updated
La Flor and Tola8 min read
Best Time to Surf Nicaragua: Swell, Wind and Level Month by Month
Best time to surf Nicaragua: bigger south swells from May to August, softer waves from November to January, and why February is the month to skip.
Updated
León8 min read
Telica Volcano Tour at Night: Hike, Lava Odds and 2026 Status
Telica volcano tour from León: a 40 to 45 minute hike to a 120 m deep crater, lava glow not guaranteed, ash emissions reported in 2026. From US$65.
Updated
San Juan del Sur7 min read
Tipping in Nicaragua: What the Law Says and How Much to Leave
Tipping in Nicaragua is voluntary under Law 842, but 10% is the custom at restaurants. Amounts for guides, drivers and hotels, in dollars and córdobas.
Updated
León8 min read
Volcano Boarding Cerro Negro León: What to Expect and Cost
Volcano boarding on Cerro Negro (728 m, last eruption 1999) near León: the climb, the descent, gear included, fitness, best months and prices compared.
Updated
Ometepe Island8 min read
What to Pack for Nicaragua: Volcano, Rain and Beach Packing List
What to pack for Nicaragua: type A and B plugs at 120 V, 20% DEET repellent, a rain jacket from May to October and no drone, which Nicaragua prohibits.
Updated
León7 min read
La Gritería in Nicaragua: What It Is, December 7 and Its Origins
La Gritería in Nicaragua: the December 7 shout and response, La Purísima from November 28 to December 8, its 1857 origin in León and where to see it.
Updated
Granada and Masaya7 min read
Masaya Volcano at Night in the Dry Season: What to Expect, Hours 2026
Masaya Volcano at night: a red glow in the Santiago crater, lava lake buried since 2024, night session from 16:30 (TN8, 2026), US$10 entry, what to bring.
Updated
Rivas7 min read
Nicaragua Currency: Dollars or Córdobas, ATMs and Cards in 2026
Nicaragua currency in 2026: the official rate is fixed at C$36.6243 per US dollar, card payments settle in córdobas and ATMs cap withdrawals at US$500.
Updated
San Juan del Sur7 min read
San Juan del Sur at Christmas and New Year 2026: What Is Open, How to Get Around
San Juan del Sur at Christmas and New Year: holidays December 8, 25 and January 1, Ometepe ferry unchanged, Masaya hours, border lines, what to book.
Updated
San Juan del Sur7 min read
Holy Week 2027 in Rivas and San Juan del Sur: Dates and When to Book
Holy Week 2027 in San Juan del Sur: Palm Sunday March 21, holidays March 25 and 26, Rivas had 1,251,750 visitors in 2026 per INTUR, when to book.
Updated
La Flor and Tola6 min read
La Flor Turtle Arribada Dates 2026-2027: A Running Log from MARENA
La Flor arribada log: 30,388 females in September and 32,949 in October 2026 per MARENA, what past seasons show for November to January, and the rules.
Updated
Rivas8 min read
Costa Rica to Nicaragua Border with Kids: Exit Permits and Documents
Costa Rica to Nicaragua border with kids: Costa Rica's exit permit for minors (Decree 36659-G), the US$8 tax children also pay, the 7-day form, real times.
Updated
Ometepe Island7 min read
Ometepe Ferry Schedule from San Jorge: Times Checked November 2026
Ometepe ferry schedule, San Jorge to Moyogalpa: first boat 7:00, last 17:45, about C$50 per person, 60-minute crossing. Checked November 5, 2026.
Updated