Hotels in Nicaragua

Hotels in Nicaragua: your guide to where to stay

How much does a hotel in Nicaragua cost?

The price depends on the standard, the city and the dates. The table shows indicative nightly rates for a double room. The cheapest month is usually August, while March, at the peak of the dry season, is the priciest. Booking ahead usually brings better rates.

Indicative rates, updated periodically. For exact prices and availability, select your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Nicaragua: most popular cities

Travellers choose surf beaches, colonial cities and islands. These are the destinations chosen most often:

• San Juan del Sur. The most popular destination, a coastal surf town with hostels and bars. Gentle waves and a backpacker vibe.
• Managua. The capital and main gateway, with the widest choice of hotels, from budget to 5-star. A convenient base to start.
• Granada. The country's oldest city with colonial architecture, by Lake Nicaragua. Plenty of boutique hotels.
• Leon. A university city in the west, one of the cheapest for accommodation and a base for volcano boarding.
• Corn Islands. Caribbean islands with reefs and beaches. Big Corn Island has the priciest stays in the country.

Nightly rates vary between cities. Here are indicative prices per night for a double room:

What to see in Nicaragua

Nicaragua combines volcanoes, beaches and colonial history. A trip is easy to build around a few highlights.

• Surfing in San Juan del Sur. Gentle waves and surf schools on the southwestern Pacific coast.
• Little Corn Island. A car-free Caribbean island with palms and open-air restaurants. Ideal for relaxing.
• Colonial Granada. The country's oldest city, founded in 1524, with colonial architecture by Lake Nicaragua.
• Coffee plantations near Jinotega. A region producing most of Nicaragua's coffee, with tastings and harvest tours.
• Volcano boarding. Sliding down the active Cerro Negro volcano near Leon, one of the country's signature activities.

How much does a trip to Nicaragua cost

Beyond the room, daily costs are low. A meal at a nicer restaurant is about C$440 (13 USD) and a local beer about C$40. Cash is welcome almost everywhere, US dollars are often accepted on the street, but it is better to carry cordobas. Cards work mainly at hotels and restaurants.

When is the best time to visit Nicaragua

The climate is tropical. The dry season, from December to April, is the most comfortable for travel and that is when prices are highest, peaking in March. The rainy season from May to November tends to be cheaper, with August the cheapest. The Caribbean coast is wetter than the Pacific.

Getting to and around Nicaragua

Almost all international flights land at Augusto C. Sandino Airport in Managua, with direct routes from US cities such as Miami, Los Angeles and Houston. From Europe you connect in the US, Mexico or Panama. You can also enter by land from Honduras and Costa Rica, with an arrival tax of around 12 USD. Buses serve the country, with a city ride about 35 NIO and intercity trips from around 135 NIO. The Corn Islands are best reached by plane from Managua. Car hire starts at around 16 USD a day.

Example hotels in Nicaragua

A few recognisable properties from different cities for reference:

• Hotel Globales Camino Real Managua and Best Western Las Mercedes Airport in Managua (upper tier, from approx. C$2,950).
• Treecasa Hotel & Resort and Hc Liri Hotel in San Juan del Sur (from approx. C$2,700).
• Hotel Mozonte and Villalobos Hotel (cheaper city options, from approx. C$1,100).