Located off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the Corn Islands are a gorgeous place for a vacation retreat. Most people come to the islands to snorkel, scuba dive, fish, soak up the sun, and relax with a good book. You can see hammerhead sharks and there are lots of underwater caves to explore as well. There are two islands: Little Corn and Big Corn. Little Corn is the quieter, more backpacker-oriented island with cheaper guesthouses and fewer resorts. Big Corn is more developed with larger resorts and more restaurants, and it’s more expensive. The Corn Islands are a magical, tropical couplet off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Both islands are well known for extraordinary rainbow reefs and a spectacular array of sea life (think stingrays, sharks, and dolphins) resulting in a booming dive culture.

In the Caribbean Sea, about 70 kilometers off Nicaragua's east coast, the Corn Islands are where to go for a laid-back holiday. Big Corn is where visitors will usually arrive. Despite its name, the Big Corn is actually quite small, and you can bike around it in about an hour. The beaches here are beautiful, light-gold-sand affairs fronted by crystal-clear, turquoise water that stays warm year-round. From Big Corn, it is a 40-minute boat ride to Little Corn. The tiny island has some accommodation and eating options but no banks or vehicles. You can walk around Little Corn in less than an hour. This is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.

Protected in the country's largest national park, the Masaya Volcano is also one of the best things to do in Nicaragua, just 20 kilometers south of Nicaragua's capital city of Managua. The most amazing part about visiting this active volcano is how close you can get to the lip of the crater in a private vehicle - you simply drive right up to the edge and park, although you have to park facing downhill in case an emergency evacuation is necessary. Looking down into the crater, you can see a lake of molten lava. Visit after dark to see the glow the bubbling lava creates inside the pit. If you visit during the day, there is a museum on-site, as well as picnic facilities. Visitors can peer into the volcano from a safe distance, though because of the noxious fumes they limit your time at the crater to about 10 minutes. Still, it’s an incredible experience, and definitely one of the most iconic things to do in Nicaragua. At about $15-20 for a night tour, it won’t break the bank, either, for one of the most exciting Nicaragua points of interest.

Masaya Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua, and seeing it is a bucket list thing to do in Nicaragua. Although smoke and steam escape from the Santiago crater, giving off vapors with a peculiar sulfurous odor, it is possible to stroll around the crater. There are a variety of hiking paths around the area and you can also rent a horse to take you all the way down to see the lava if you don’t feel like walking. The best time to go to Masaya Volcano is at night when you can see the lava in the dark. There are various hiking trails and it is also possible to rent a horse to go all the way to the crater to see the lava.

When Spanish colonists first saw Lake Nicaragua, it was so vast, they thought it was a sea. In reality, it is Central America's largest lake at 177 kilometers long with an average width of 57 kilometers. It is home to more than 365 small islets and larger islands, like Ometepe, with two volcanos, in the lake's center. Another interesting fact about Lake Nicaragua is that it is the only freshwater lake to have ocean animals, including sharks. Therefore, visiting Lake Nicaragua is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua. It is believed the lake was once a sea bay, but then a volcano erupted, trapping marine life and turning it into an inland lake. Over the millennia, marine life has adapted to living in freshwater.

Lake Nicaragua, also called Lake Cocibolca, is nearly the same size as South America’s Lake Titicaca, which is why the Spanish nicknamed it the ‘Mar Dulce,’ or Sweet Sea. There are plans to make the lake the centerpiece of a canal project that would rival the one in Panama, likely causing serious environmental degradation, though it might never become a reality. For now, the lake is an ecotourism hotspot, with the island of Ometepe – made of two volcanoes and the narrow strip of land between them – as the focal point. Farther afield is the Solentiname archipelago, an artist colony, and the Rio Coco, which runs parallel to the Costa Rican border and gives access to the Caribbean coast.

In southwest Nicaragua, on the Emerald Coast, near the border with Costa Rica, San Juan del Sur is a vibrant town with a large ex-pat community and an excellent surf beach just 20 miles to the north. The town itself is filled with colorful buildings and murals. There is also a large Christ of the Mercy statue perched on a hill overlooking the city below that is worth a hike up for sunset, especially to experience the views. And then there is the long gold-sand meets Pacific Ocean Playa Maderas beach, which is also lined with small hotels and eco-resorts. It picks up most of the swells that hit Nicaragua and is best approached at medium to high tide. The beach is also known for its long, drawn-out sunsets with an amazing display of bright, shifting colors.

A hit with surfers and backpackers, San Juan del Sur is the most popular beach destination, and also the best things to do in Nicaragua. All the beaches are beautiful and lapped by warm water. Here you’ll find great surfing, the second-largest statue of Jesus in the world (behind Christ the Redeemer in Brazil), and lots of cheap bars. Expect to pay around $30 USD for a two-hour group surf lesson. Other popular activities include taking an ATV tour and heading to Ometepe Island for a day trip. All the beach lovers and amateur surfers will go head over heels for San Juan Del Sur the second they set foot on the white sand beaches. Though this buzzing fishing village remains a somewhat hidden gem, it’s starting to gain serious momentum with the tourist crowd since its allure is absolutely undeniable.

Discovered accidentally in 2004 by two Czech geologists, Somoto Canyon National Monument is now a protected gorge in northern Nicaragua about 2.5 hours from Leon. The scenery here is stunningly beautiful, and this is also another perfect destination for adrenaline addicts. You can book four- or six-hour descents of the narrowest section of the gorge. Both trips require rock scrambles, floating down rapids in inner tubes, and jumping from high cliffs into deep pools. The six-hour trip also includes rappelling down cliffs into bat-filled caves. Either way, this is an adventurous day trip, and also one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.

In rural Nicaragua, there is a beautiful protected area named Somoto Canyon. This recently discovered and lesser-known gem of Nicaragua is perhaps the closest thing they have to a slot canyon. The turquoise blue water has carved out this narrow canyon which offers ample swimming or cliff jumping should you desire. It is home to some of Central America’s oldest rock formations, including canyon walls that soar up to around 500 feet. Here you will find a series of natural pools with clear waters, all surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs from where you can jump. You can visit independently, but it’s much better and easier to go there on a guided tour departing from Leon.

Ometepe Island is in Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in Central America, and also home to the Islets of Granada. The island has not one but two volcanos, both of which can be climbed. Maderas is the volcano in the south of Ometepe, and it is less active than the Concepcion volcano in the north. The hike to the summit of Maderas takes you to a beautiful crater lake. There is also an impressive waterfall at the base that cascades for almost 50 meters down a sheer rock wall. The island is also popular for horseback riding, mountain biking, or kayaking the Istian River that runs through it. You can also just laze on the white sands of Santo Domingo beach. Visit Ometepe Island is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.

This extraordinary island is located on Lago de Nicaragua and is formed by two joined volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. Hiking, kayaking, cycling, and healthy food are the island’s main draws. Just keep in mind that hiking the volcanoes is as hard as it appears: you’ll need to start really early or the midday heat will slow you down significantly (I learned this lesson the hard way). The hikes take 8-10 hours and guides are mandatory. Expect to pay around $20 USD for a group hike. Just make sure you have solid footwear, a hat, and sunscreen. Nicaragua is freaking hot pretty much any time of year, so cool off with a lovely dip in this natural beauty. The perfectly conical and active Concepcion Volcano lies to the north on Ometepe Island and on the south of the island you’ll find the extinct Volcano Maderas. In addition, primarily used for agricultural purposes, nearly anything will grow in Ometepe’s rich volcanic soil, including coffee, bananas, and avocados.

The second only in size to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Nicaragua's Bosawas Biosphere Reserve was established in 1997 to protect the biodiversity found in this northern corner of the country. The reserve also protects the free flow of species between Mexico and Central America. A birder's paradise, you'll find that 600 of the 790 bird species that call Nicaragua home live in this reserve. You'll also find plenty of mammals, including jaguars, Baird's tapir, and spider monkeys in the trees and on the forest floor.

If you’re wondering where to go in Nicaragua for the best hiking, the UNESCO Bosawas Biosphere Reserve is the best of the best, becoming one of the best things to do in Nicaragua. After the Amazon rainforest, this reserve is actually the second-largest rainforest in the Americas. The trails range from short, easy hikes to multi-day treks for experienced backpackers and along the way, you’ll find exotic flowers, insane wildlife, and several bodies of water. Though spotting the jaguar is practically mission impossible, you can still admire several species of birds and monkeys. Expeditions need to be properly arranged as you’ll have to plan for food, drinks, and the right equipment, and be prepared for a high level of discomfort. The reserve is about 350 km (217.5 miles) north of Managua and is best accessed from Siuna, where you will find a Bosawas Office.

Colorful Granada is a wonderful old city to wander to for an afternoon. It is home to some of the best-preserved architecture in Nicaragua, including a number of buildings and churches constructed in the Spanish colonial style. Here, you'll find Convento San Francisco, which is one of the oldest churches in Central America. It has an unmissable Tiffany blue facade, and inside, you'll find one of Nicaragua's top museums, dedicated to the country's pre-Columbian people. There are also restaurants, shops, and coffee houses with sidewalk seating around its main square. Granada is a popular base for exploring the islands in Lake Nicaragua on whose shore it sits, this is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua.

Granada has some of the most well-preserved architecture in Nicaragua. It was the first big Spanish settlement in the country, and many of the buildings and churches in the Spanish colonial style are beautifully preserved (and painted in a myriad of colors). Besides wandering around gawking at the architecture, you can take a kayaking trip to the nearby islets, enjoy hiking trips to the Mombacho volcano, and visit the nearby markets in Masaya. From deep cobalt blues to vibrant yellows and hot pinks, basically every color you can think up has a home here. The doors are no less stunning, and so fun to pose in if you can grab a photo buddy. For many travellers, the cobblestone streets and colonial townhouses-turned-boutique hotels in Granada serve as a base from which they explore the rest of the country. Easy day trips from the city allow for hikes on the forested slopes of the Mombacho Volcano or for soaks in the hot springs below it.

From cooling off under icy waterfalls to horseback riding or trekking in search of some 300 species of birds that live here, including the bright queen quetzal, there is plenty to keep you naturally entertained at Reserva Natural Miraflor. This reserve in Nicaragua's north covers three climate zones, including dry forest and cloud forest. Visitors can also participate in community tourism projects here at coffee cooperatives. These give you a chance to spend a night with a local family and get a glimpse into their culture and way of life. This smaller natural reserve has a mountain, several waterfalls, and endless stretches of rolling hills.

Close to Estelì, Reserva Natural Miraflor is a paradise for bird-watching, hiking, horse riding, and more waterfalls. You will be able to spot orchids, various species of birds, and even howler monkeys. As the reserve is run by the local community, you will also have the chance to experience a stay with a local family – it’s one of the best things to do in Nicaragua. The reserve centers on a mountain lake ringed by primary forest that is transected by hiking trails to several waterfalls. This is a stunning cloud forest with rivers and waterfalls, offering the chance for day hikes and multi-day treks.

Home to Nicaragua's National University, Leon is considered the country's intellectual capital, and also one of the best things to do in Nicaragua. The city is also known for its cathedral, art museums, and growing food scene. Leon's cathedral is Central America's biggest and merges Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Just a few blocks north of the cathedral is Iglesia de la Recoleccion, which is a beautiful church dating back to 1786. It is built in Mexican-style Baroque design and features a distinct, deep-yellow facade with cream trim. While strolling the walkable downtown, also keep an eye out for murals and graffiti dating back to the political war of the 1980s. The colonial baroque Basilica Catedral de la Asuncion was built between 1747 and 1814 and is the largest cathedral in Central America. Having endured earthquakes and bombings, it has become a symbol of the city itself.

Leon is a sophisticated baroque city in the West that somehow manages to be a home base for all of Nicaragua’s best adventures. Of course, visitors will want to spend some time taking in the historic architecture and excellent culinary scene. It buzzes with energy, it is lively, full of young people (it is a university city and in fact, Nicaragua’s first university was founded here in 1912), packed with interesting museums and murals, and gorgeous in a decadent kind of way. Leon served as the capital of Nicaragua during colonial times.

Less than a 30-minute drive from Granada, Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve is a giant volcanic crater lake that was created more than 20,000 years ago when the original volcano's cone imploded. The lake is about 198 meters deep and is so big that when the wind blows hard enough, there are waves big enough to windsurf. The lake is also fed by volcanic fumaroles that keep the water warm and slightly salty. Activities include kayaking, swimming, scuba diving to explore thermal vents, or just chilling at one of the restaurants on the beachfront. A few restaurants and ecolodges, some of which rent kayaks, can be found on a strip along the northwestern shore of Apoyo, though the majority of visitors come on a day trip from Granada.

Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve is a lake formed in the caldera of an extinct volcano between the capital of Managua and the tourist favorite of Granada. This is one of the best things to do in Nicaragua. At 175 meters (574 feet) deep, this natural lake is surprisingly warm thanks to the geothermal activity below. Hostels nearby offer amenities like kayaks and stand-up paddleboard rentals. You can do a day trip for as little as $12 including roundtrip transportation and day access to amenities. There’s a reason this is one of the most popular places to visit in Nicaragua, so join the crowds and enjoy it. This natural lagoon reserve is as pretty as can be and is situated inside an old volcano.