Hi, I'm in León, Nicaragua, since a couple of weeks and I'd like to share some advices:
Since León is a beautifull and very interesting city it's easy to get stuck here without getting bored! At the hostal Via Via I definitely recommand the tours offered by the new tour and info agency called "El Forro". They organize great activities such as a sunday evening at the Gallera to see roosters fights with the locals, a day at a farm near León where you milk a cow and make your own cheese out of it, a cooking workshop at a nice ladie's place, an art class in the art center for the children of the poor neighborhood, a visit of the indigenous part of the city, and much more. So a lot of originals activities that are great and that help the community! Ask for Harrie and Masha, the 2 very helpfull and friendly owners of the agency.
I would also recommand the hostal Via Via recently renoveted with great 6 beds dorms for 85 cordobas (about 4,50$US). Bathroom in every dorms, nets against the moskitos, fans and your bed made up every day! The restaurant of the hostal also serves great food, cheap and good music (live on friday), popular with locals and tourits.
As for the hostal Big Foot across the street I have to say I would avoid it as I heard it's more noisy and not as nice as the Via Via. And even if their tours are cheapers, the quality is much more inferior compared to the ones offered by "El Forro" at the Via Via and the money doesn't goes to the community... Big Foot also do volcano boarding down the Cerro Negro wich was fun but I would have like to know before that people get injured almost every day... lot's of bloody legs, arms and faces...
So for those who'll go in León, I wish you a nice time there!