The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Mancarrón's greatest human-made gift is Nuestra Señora de Solentiname, where populist priest Ernesto Cardenal ran a rather enlightened parish. Constructed…
Must-see attractions in The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
The second-largest tract of intact primary forest in the country, the Reserva Biológica Indio-Maíz is a vast wilderness and a hugely important rainforest…
Unión de Pintores y Artesanos de Solentiname ‘Elvis Chavarría’
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Set in an old mahogany house uphill from the sheltered dock, this cooperative features the work of about 50 of the islands’ top artists and artisans…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Properly known as La Fortaleza de la Limpia Pura e Inmaculada Concepción, this photogenic fortress was constructed between 1673 and 1675, commissioned…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Administered by the Fundación del Río in San Carlos, this 90-hectare property borders Reserva Biológica Indio-Maíz, and offers a peek at the region’s very…
Sistema de Humedales de San Miguelito
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
The San Miguelito wetlands contain a handful of rivers, including the gorgeous Río Piedra, a glassy slice of black water framed by a dense tangle of…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
The highest concentration of craft workshops on the islands are just inland from the dock in Comunidad El Mancarrón (also called El Refugio). Feel free to…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
There's not much left of the town's fortress, which dates from 1724, but it enjoys some impressive Lake Nicaragua and Río San Juan views from several…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
San Juan de Nicaragua’s traditional tourist attraction is the swampy remains of Greytown, a short boat ride (up to four people US$80 to US$100, three to…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Nestled on the Río Frío, roughly halfway between San Carlos and Los Chiles, is this private 50 sq km humid tropical forest reserve. Expect to see hundreds…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Avid birders won’t want to miss tiny Islas Zapote and Zapotillo, which feature Nicaragua’s highest concentration of birds, most famously flocks of roseate…
Museo Archipiélago Solentiname
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Follow the trail to the right of the dock uphill through the avocado grove to this museum. The view and surrounding gardens alone are worth the hike…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
You will hear the residents of Isla El Padre before you see them. Set between Mancarrón and San Fernando and named for yet another priest who long ago…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
The social heart of the town, this waterfront promenade overlooks both the lake and river and is always busy with children playing and couples taking a…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
Isla Sevilla, just west of Mancarroncito, is a haven for birdwatchers, with thousands of cormorants, tiger herons and pelicans here to enjoy some…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
This fine museum up the hill from the church houses a small but intriguing collection of pre-Columbian metates, pottery and idols unearthed in the…
The Río San Juan & Islas Solentiname
A charming old Spanish observation post complete with cannons and panoramic views. To reach it, head up the staircase at the far end of the malecón.
