Basic Questions

Leaving for Nicaragua on Feb 13. Staying until March 8th (3.5 weeks ish). Im trying to put together a priliminary itinerary and have a few basic questions....

1) SHould we budget time fo over-night stays to places like Laguna de Apoyo, Masaya and Las Penitas? Or would day trips suffice?

2) After readign reviews on this forum, I'm thinking of skipping SJDS. We are planning to stay 3-4 nights on Little Corn and also visit Omepte. Would we be missing much in terms of beach-y things if we skipped SJDS?

3) How much time should we budget, each way to get to Isla de Ometepe? We'd be coming from either Granada or Leon area.

4) In our trip of 3.5 weeks, I can't decide whether to visit Little Corn at the start or end of the trip. We are flying into Managua, arriving at 9pm at nite. So I figured we'd stay the nite and then head out to Corn Islands early the next day.....?? Or we could continue to Granada and do the Corn Islands before we fly home? Just trying to figure out what's best logistically.....

That's it for now......

Thanks!
andy

1) I think day trips out of Granada would be OK.

2) SJDS was the one place I wouldn't go back to. Although I hear there are nice beaches in the area. It looks like you have plenty of time, though, so maybe go check it out. It isn't that far out of the way, if you are going through Rivas to get to/from Ometepe.

3) Take taxi from Granada to boat dock (through Rivas,was it San Jorge where the dock is at? I forgot the name), about 2 hours. Wait 1 hour for the next boat. About 1 1/2 hour boat ride.

4) Don't know. I didn't go to Corn Islands.

1) went to laguna de apoyo for one day. would have liked to stay longer. will return in july for one or two nights, probably again monkey’s hut. it’s a good place to relax, swim, canoeing.
I was disappointed from masaya. perhaps went to the wrong side of the city? the malecon was nice.
Las peñitas is my favorite. went for one night, stayed a week at barca de oro.
2) went three times to sjds. beaches at the north are great. loved to eat good pizza and spaghetti, and once a room with television to watch a soccer game. with the kids the beach in SJDS was full of relax, drinking a piña colada or toña while they boogie boarded or played soccer with the local kids.
3) bus from Granada to Rivas then taxi to the ferry dock less than 2 hours. I liked Hotel Finca Playa Venecia near Charco Verde. Will go again in July.
4) don’t know little corn island but won’t go, prefere the pacific side.
Have fun and enjoy.
Jacqueline

1. Don´t know

2. My wife and I enjoyed SJDS. I think it is put down by people that are used to California or Cancun type beaches. Nice laid back town, close to Rivas, Grenada and Ometepe and a lot cheaper than Costa Rica beaches. There is no surfing on the town beaches, but an excellent surf beach is only 20 minutes and a $3 ride away. You can still enjoy the sun, drink ice cold beer in a beach palapa bar and soak up local culture.

3. Budget an all day trip to get to anywhere on Ometepe. If it is Moyogalpa you are shooting for, or a southern beach it is easier, but to get to more remote parts near Volcan Maderas it is tougher on public transport. Of course there are the enterprising taxis who will take you anywhere for $20 or more. We had some trouble with the ferry schedule with one being out of comission so remember to budget in Central American fluid schedules.

4. Didn´t make it to little corn this time so no comment

Good Luck!!!

Hi,

SJDS isnt bad, ist a nice place and there are lots of beaches to explore around.. If you got the time I would go there.

Question to warren3: Which beach with good surfing 20 mins away for 3 bucks are you talking about? I always went to playa maderas or majagual and the only way to get there was with a surf company or hotel bus and cost about 6 bucks return??

Greets,

Alex

Thanks all for your advice so far......more questions to come once I choose my route :)

The $3 quote was one way. They have standardized the prices for collectivos and buses. You are quite correct.

The beach I was talking about was Maderas.