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Granada

ViaNica.com > Destinations > Granada

Department housing a beautiful colonial city offering a wide variety of cultural, ecological, and adventurous activities.

Population: approx. 191,000 people
Location: central Pacific side, northwest of Lake Nicaragua (Lake Cocibolca)
Attractions: architecture, Lake Nicaragua, watersports, Mombacho Volcano, culture, islets

The department of Granada is home to the oldest city of Nicaragua. This city, also called Granada, features many colonial buildings and is in close proximity of two other main attractions in this department: Lake Nicaragua, an enormous freshwater lake that houses hundreds of small islets, and the Mombacho Volcano, an imposing volcano that has a lot to offer.

Granada: a colonial jewel

Granada was founded in 1524 and holds the title of oldest city established on mainland during the Spanish conquests. The city has a fascinating history: during colonial times Granada was attacked several times by pirates. Later on the city has been capital several times before Managua got chosen to end the fight between Granada and León for being capital city. Granada was sought after, captured, and destroyed by North American filibusters. Nowadays, Granada is the city most visited by tourists in Nicaragua.

Granada is located 47 kilometers from Managua, and can be reached without much effort. The historical center is a great place to stroll around or take a traditional horse pulled carriage to see some more of the city.

The central park is a good place to start your visit. From here you can see several colonial buildings that surround the park. You can also taste the famous ‘vigorón’, a typical plate from Granada consisting of yucca, pig fat, and a vegetable salad accompanied by a cacao drink.

Close to the central park you can find the Convento San Francisco museum. This building is one of the most important buildings of the city, because it was the first church and convent built by the colonizers, constructed in the year 1529. In the museum you can see artifacts and find more information about the ancient pre-Columbian cultures that were present in this area. There are also statuettes from the Zapatera Island. Other interesting museums include the Spanish fortress La Pólvora, located in the west part of the city.

There are many colonial buildings and churches in Granada, and walking around in the city can be a great way to see some beautiful architecture. Although some buildings appear to be on the verge of collapse, many others have been beautifully renovated and now function as restaurant, hotel, or residential home. A great way to get a nice overview of the city is by ascending the towers of the La Merced church.

When it comes to hotels and restaurants, Granada has a lot to offer. There are many great hotels and hostels, in all price classes and often located in a colonial setting. For dining Granada also has a lot of variety to offer. Great cuisine and beautifully decorated restaurants can easily be found within walking distance from the central park.

You can arrive at the pier of Granada by walking down the La Calzada or El Caimito street. These streets run down straight from the city center to the lake. There is a nice area at the lakefront where you can relax or rent a boat or kayak to explore Lake Nicaragua.

The lake and the islets

Lake Nicaragua or Lake Cocibolca is the tenth largest freshwater lake in the world, and the second largest of Latin America. It is connected to the Caribbean Sea through the San Juan River, and it therefore proved of great strategic value as it enabled conquerors as well as pirates to access Nicaragua’s mainland once they had access to this vast lake. The location of the city of Granada was also chosen as a result of tactical and logistical advantages of the site.

Not only provides Granada easy access to this huge lake, it also provides access to the extraordinary group of islets that can be found close to the shore. These islets are locally called ‘Las Isletas’ and they are formed by a group of 365 islets of volcanic origin. One of the most popular activities is to take a boat ride and cruise around the islets. You can also enjoy the beauty of the islands by renting a kayak. There is even a possibility to enter some of the islets, because several of them feature a hotel or restaurant. Water sports can also be practiced in the lake.

Lake Nicaragua is known to have been inhabited by an extraordinary species: freshwater sharks. Unfortunately, a shark fin processing plant that was set up next to the San Juan River, which was point of entry for the sharks, caused a rapid decline in the shark population. Nowadays, the Bullshark is very rarely spotted in Lake Nicaragua. However, the lake still forms a great habitat for many other animals, including many species of birds.

The Mombacho Volcano: vegetation and views

After the Masaya Volcano, the Mombacho Volcano is probably the most easily accessible volcano of Nicaragua. There is a very steep but paved road that leads to the top of the dormant volcano, and the well-equipped visitor center at the top will be able to provide guides and information about the volcano.

Because of its height, a permanent cloud forest and dwarf forest exist around the top of the volcano. These types of ecosystems are highly productive and have a high biodiversity. Also, because these forests are isolated from other similar vegetation, several indigenous plant and animal species have evolved at the Mombacho Volcano.

There are several trails set up, with hikes varying in duration between 30 minutes and four hours. In addition to observing the spectacular flora and fauna, you can also enjoy some superb views of the area around the volcano. Canopy tours can also be undertaken at the slope of the Mombacho.

Nandaime and the bewitched villages

The small towns called Diriomo y Diriá are also located in the department of Granada. They form part of a chain of villages called the "Pueblos Brujos", which means the "Bewitched Villages", which is a name that comes from strong traditions and belief in magic in this area. Another name given to these villages is "Pueblos Blancos", or "White Villages", after the many white houses that exist in these small towns. The majority of these Bewitched or White Villages are located in the department of Masaya.

Nandaime is the second most important city of the department. There is a colonial church called Santa Ana located in the city center. One of the most important attractions in this area takes place in the month of July, when the image of the region's saint is peregrinated to the slopes of the Mombacho Volcano, as part of the regional celebrations. Originally, this was the place where the city of Nandaime was located until the 17th century, when a landslide forced the people to move.

Diriomo and Diriá also house some old, colonial churches and both villages are renowned producers of colorful and tasteful candies. Another site of interest in Diriá is the El Boquete viewpoint, from where you can enjoy a great view of the Apoyo Lagoon.

Zapatera: an undiscovered island

Located south of Granada, in line with the volcanic chain that runs through the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, the island of Zapatera is also of volcanic origin. Before the Spanish conquerors invaded Nicaragua, Zapatera was inhabited by indigenous tribes who have left many traces behind. The island is one of the most important finding places of pre-Columbian artifacts in Nicaragua. Many objects have unfortunately been smuggled off the island, but there are still many objects believed to be hidden below the surface.

The island is inhabited by a relatively small population, and there is little tourism infrastructure. In addition to the historical importance, however, the island is also of great attractiveness because of the stunning nature. Getting there still requires quite some effort, but these efforts will be well-rewarded by the beauty of this little explored island.

Getting there and getting around

It is easy to get to Granada from Managua. The highway between these two cities is currently being renovated, but most of the work has already been done. You might experience some delay, but you should be able to reach Granada within 1 hour and 15 minutes from the capital in car or express bus. The connection with public buses is also good, with many buses leaving to and from Granada. It is also easy to get there from Masaya. The international buses that come from Costa Rica also often travel through Granada, and they do allow for you to get off the bus in the colonial city.

Within Granada, you can explore a lot of the city by foot. Many beautiful colonial buildings as well as restaurants and hotels are all located within a couple blocks from the city center. Horse-pulled carriages also provide a way of exploring the city, but they are not efficient as conveyance. There are also plenty taxies within the city, and car rental shops also have offices in Granada. Renting a bike is also a possibility. For more information on transportation issues, visit our transportation section.

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