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Complete guide to visiting León, Nicaraguacarwater
The city of León, in NicarWater, it is a place of great importance in the country's history, having been the capital for years. It was also the epicenter of the Sandinista Revolution that, after many strikes and armed confrontations, overthrew the dictatorship of the Somoza family after ruling the country for more than 4 decades.
Today the trace of that revolution is still present and throughout the city you can find a curious mix of colonial buildings with statues and murals in memory of the revolution that took place in its streets. To help you visit and enjoy the city and its surroundings I bring you a complete guide on what to see and do in León.
HOW TO GET TO LEÓN
León is located north of Managua, very close to the Pacific coast and due to its proximity to the capital. the routes from almost any tourist area in Nicarwater They pass through Managua firstAs a foreigner, you might be asked to pay more for the bus ticket; it will still be cheap, but if you want to avoid this, ask the locals waiting for the same transport before getting on.
How to get from Granada to León
We made this transfer using the buses that depart from the Granada-Managua Bus Terminal Next to Central Park. You'll arrive at the UCA terminal in Managua, from where minivans depart for León without a fixed schedule; you'll have to wait until the van is full. The total journey from Granada to León, including the bus transfer in Managua, is about 4 hours.
How to get from Managua to León
The fastest and easiest way to get to León from Managua is with the minivans leaving the UCA Terminal, right in front of the university. These vans leave every time they are full, the journey takes just under two hours and costs about 80 córdobas. If you have a lot of luggage they may ask for more money, if that happens try to negotiate with the driver.
Chicken buses also leave to León from the Israel and Oriente Terminals in Managua. The price of the ticket is lower than from the UCA Terminal but the journey takes longer due to the multiple stops made.
How to get from Honduras to León
If you want to go from Honduras to León, the best border crossing is the one at GuasauleLeaving Honduras is free, but entering Nicaragua costs money.carWater costs $13. Once you complete all the paperwork, you have to searchcar The chicken buses or minivans that go to León. These depart from a small terminal about a 5-minute walk from the border.
The minivans go directly to León and the chicken buses go to Chinandega and there you have to take another one to León.
From the Tegucigalpa area, the nearest border crossing is Las Manos., we have written a complete article explaining how cross this border terrestrial.
THINGS TO DO IN LEON
Tour of the city's historic buildings
The center of León is home to a large number of colonial-style buildings and of course many churches, with the León Cathedral being the largest and most notable. Although there are many historic buildings, they are not as old as in Granada as the original city of León, Founded in 1524, it is about 30km away. This place is known as León Viejo, and It was destroyed by an earthquake and the eruption of the Momotombo volcanoThe foundations of León Viejo can be visited, but we were told that they are not well maintained and decided not to visit them.
If you want to make a route through the center I recommend you from the city join a free tour and discover the best places. If you prefer to explore on your own, you can start at the Cathedral and visit the plaza where it's located. Continue by visiting the Rubén Darío Museum, the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, the Recolección Church, and the Central Market, where you can stop for a bite to eat or a drink. Then you can continue along Rubén Darío Street to the El Calvario Church.
Go up to the roof of the León Cathedral
The very white Cathedral of León is the largest in all of Central America and you have the possibility of going up to your roof and walk barefoot to see León from the heights, and the volcanoes of the region.
Do “volcano boarding” in Cerro Negro
One of the most exciting activities you can do in León is descending the face of the Cerro Negro volcano at full speed on a wooden board. If you enjoy adventure sports and getting an adrenaline rush, you can't miss this activity, where you'll also enjoy amazing views of the entire area from the top of the volcano. We loved it glide down Cerro Negro in our itinerary through Nicarwater.
Cerro Negro is a young volcano which stands out greatly in the surrounding environment for not having any vegetation and for living up to its name by being an unmistakable black color. This color is due to the black volcanic sand, which also makes it practically unique in the world thanks to being very fine and allowing descent with the board.
The descent in the table is simpleIt requires no prior experience, and you decide your own speed, braking more or less with your feet. Most people start very slowly and gradually increase their speed as they gain confidence during the descent.
They'll also give you a full-body suit and protective goggles to shield you from ashfall and potential falls. I recommend bringing a scarf or neck gaiter to protect your mouth and nose.
Several companies offer this tour, we did it with volcano day. The price of the sunset activity is $33 and includes transportation, equipment, guide, a souvenir t-shirt, some photos, dinner and a beer. You can make the activity cheaper if you do it in the morning because it includes a few less things, but the truth is that the sunset was beautiful.
volcano day
Other excursions from León
The excursion to Cerro Negro is one of the most popular things to do in NicarWater, but if you have the time and budget, there are many other options! Doing them independently is a bit complicated because there's no transport to the starting points of the routes, but you could always hitchhike, especially if you're not in a hurry because I doubt you'll be in a rush. carbusy roads.
We know other travelers who have done, and really liked, the route to El Hoyo and Telica. Both are volcanoes, and the option at Telica to spend the night in a tent must be a really cool experience.
Try Leonese gastronomy
A good way to get to know the city is by trying its delicious cuisine. At dusk in many of its streets you will find those known as “fritangas leonesas” which are outdoor grillsThese street food stalls offer a wide variety of grilled and fried dishes that are very typical of León. I recommend trying the carThe grilled meat, the nacatamales, and the fried cheese (what a treat!). You order by pointing to what you want, and they assemble it on one or more plates, so you can try a variety.
Another good place to Try local cuisine during the day and at a very good price at the Municipal Market and the La Estación Market. They have an area with shared tables where you can sit and eat what you bought at the market fritangas, and of course, also places where you can order a natural juice to accompany your meal.
It's not a food recommendation, but if you're sweltering at midday like we were, there's a McDonald's opposite the Municipal Market and it was the only place we found with air conditioning for a drink and refreshmentcarwe weren't from the 40 degrees that were outside.
Go to Las Peñitas beach
A great thing to do in León is to spend the afternoon at the nearby Peñitas beach. This beach boasts dark volcanic sand and stretches for 2,5 km. It is considered one of the best in the country and it is very frequented by locals. has some tongues of sand very large that create a kind of lake of calm waters where Take a bath. In contrast, past the tongue there is a good ocean swell, where there are usually surfers. In fact there are surf schools and board rentals if you want to try.
In front of the beach there are many bars and restaurants where you can eat local fish and seafood or have a beer or a natural juice at sunset.
To go from León to Las Peñitas you have to take the chicken bus that leave on Rubén Darío street in front of the Sutiava Market, the journey takes half an hour.
Learn about León's revolutionary past
León was declared the First Capital of the Revolution as it was the first city liberated from the dictatorship. For that reason the Museum of the Revolution, located in the Central Plaza of León, It is the most important in the city. Among its walls full of bullet holes, murals with newspaper clippings, documents and photographs from those years are displayed. In this museum you don't need to imagine how everything happened because the guides are ex-combatants that I explain to youcarThey tell the story in detail. Admission to the museum costs $3 plus a tip for the guide.
But, the Revolucionaria de León brand does not end there. In many streets you can find murals and statues in memory of combatants fallen, scenes of the revolution or messages against the dictatorship. You will find a good example on the July 23 court. where all its walls have murals representing different periods in the history of León, such as the destruction by the volcano and of course the protests against the dictatorship.
WHERE WE TO STAY IN LEON
León is a city with very manageable distances that you can walk around without any problemAlthough we stayed on the outskirts, we did everything on foot. If you plan to go out at night, it's more practical and safer to stay in a centrally located hotel.
Basic accommodation in León: Casa Esperanza
Managed by Esperanza and her son. The rooms are very simple and it is somewhat far from the center, but The price is very affordable and includes homemade breakfast and dinner., that They are usually accompanied by a good conversation.
You can book by contacting them directly on their phone (+50589313356).
Recommended hostel in León: Hostal Fachente
It offers both private and shared rooms that include breakfastYou can use a shared kitchen if needed. It also boasts an enviable location. in the heart of the city next to the Rubén Darío Museum.
Best hotel in León: Vía Vía León
Central, with comfortable rooms with private bathroom and breakfast included. The staff there is very attentive and A wide variety of tours are offered like volcano boarding. It has an interior patio with a popular restaurant to go for a drink.
I hope this guide to León helps you organize your days in the city. Remember that we have other items from Nicaragua that could help you if you are going to visit this interesting country. You can also relive our trip through Central America by watching our stories on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions about León
The quickest way is to take one of the minivans that leave from the UCA Terminal, opposite the university. The journey takes just under two hours and costs around 80 córdobas (about €2).
The sunset descent with Volcano Day costs $33 and includes transportation, equipment, a guide, a t-shirt, photos, dinner, and a beer. Doing it in the morning is slightly cheaper.
Climbing to the rooftop of León Cathedral costs $3. You walk barefoot and from there you can see the city and the volcanoes in the area.
It depends on your budget: Casa Esperanza is the most economical option, Hostal Fachente is right in the center next to the Rubén Darío Museum, and Vía Vía León is the best option if you are looking for more comfort.
