Booking choice: The Nicaragua Full Day Tour, from $230 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The stops below follow the itinerary of the most reviewed tour, which lists a time for each one. Other tours visit the same places in a different order, and some add the Masaya crafts market, the ChocoMuseo or a cigar shop.
The quick answer
Catarina viewpoint about 30 minutes, Masaya Volcano about 15 minutes at the crater, Granada about two and a half hours with lunch, and a 45-minute boat ride among the islets on the most reviewed tour. Breakfast comes first, overlooking Lake Nicaragua.
Where is breakfast?
On the most reviewed tour, at a spot overlooking Lake Nicaragua and Ometepe Island, soon after the border.
Breakfast is typical Nicaraguan food. Guests are mixed on the breakfast venue but mostly positive about the food overall.
What is the Catarina viewpoint?
Mirador de Catarina, a lookout over the Laguna de Apoyo crater lake, with Lake Nicaragua and Mombacho volcano in view.
The flagship tour allows about 30 minutes here. One guest found only about 20 minutes at the market and lookout, with souvenir stalls on the way, so head straight for the view.
Catarina, Masaya, Granada and the islets in one day: check dates for the most reviewed tour.
Check dates for the Nicaragua Full Day TourWhat is Masaya Volcano like?
An active volcano in Nicaragua's first national park (1979), where you can drive up to the crater rim and look down at the gas rising from the Santiago crater.
Masaya has been continuously active since 2015. The tours stay about 15 minutes at the crater; one guest noted the stay is limited by the volcanic gases. On one guest's day the craters could not be seen because of the activity, so treat the view as a bonus, not a promise.
Can you see lava on a day trip?
Not reliably: the day tours visit in daylight, and what you see depends on the volcano.
One small-group guest in 2024 wrote about seeing the lava around sunset. On the standard day tours, plan on gas and a deep crater rather than glowing lava.
What do you do in Granada?
Free time in the colonial centre, a Nicaraguan lunch and, if you want, a horse-carriage ride for an extra fee.
Granada was founded in 1524. The flagship listing mentions views from La Merced church; guests mention the town square, a chocolate shop and the carriage ride, which they report paying $10 to $20 for. Bring cash in small bills.
Chocolate fan? The Liberia expedition includes Granada's ChocoMuseo.
Explore the Liberia expeditionWhat are Las Isletas?
A cluster of small islands off Granada in Lake Nicaragua, formed when Mombacho volcano blew part of its cone into the lake.
The flagship tour includes about 45 minutes by boat among them. Guests mention a monkey island on the boat ride; in heavy rain, one group's boat skipped the stops.
Which tours include all four stops?
The most reviewed tour includes all four; others drop the boat ride or swap stops.
Compare the itineraries in Nicaragua day tours compared. If you are already in Granada, the half day from Granada covers Catarina, Masaya and a pottery village.
Want every stop, including the islets? Check dates for the Nicaragua Full Day Tour.
Check dates for the Nicaragua Full Day TourFrequently asked questions
How long do you get at Masaya Volcano?
About 15 minutes at the crater on the most reviewed tour.
Is Granada worth visiting on a day trip?
Yes for most guests: it is the longest stop, about two and a half hours, and the one many reviewers wanted more time in.
Is the Lake Nicaragua boat ride included?
On the most reviewed tour, yes: about 45 minutes among the islets. Check other listings, as not all include it.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option here. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Nicaragua Full Day Tour from Costa Rica
- Hotel, condo or house pickup from Tamarindo to Liberia (some resorts pay an extra fee)
- Breakfast, lunch and bottled water
- All taxes, fees and handling charges, plus national park fees
Nicaragua One Day Expedition from Liberia
- Meet at Plaza Santa Rosa mall, Liberia, at 6:00 AM (free pickup inside Liberia)
- Breakfast and lunch; transport on both sides of the border
- Bilingual guide; all taxes, fees and border charges
Day Trip to Granada from Playas del Coco
- Hotel pickup and drop-off, 5:00 AM start
- Driver-guide and an air-conditioned vehicle
- Breakfast and lunch
