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How to visit the Somoto Canyon, Nicaraguacarwater✅
The Somoto Canyon is one of the most fun places in Nicarwater, where you can release some adrenaline during a Simple canyoning route in an incredible environment through the Coco River. This canyon remains an unknown gem for foreign tourists; it is not part of the typical itinerary of those who visit Nicarwater, which is already a little-visited country.
touring the inside of the canyon You will enjoy a beautiful landscape while you swim between pools, jump into the water from different heights and visit some caves.
Furthermore, since it is very little touristy, we loved walking through the town of Somoto and seeing the more rural lifestyle that we loved in the cities.
HOW TO GET TO THE SOMOTO CANYON
To visit the Somoto Canyon you will first have to get to Somoto, a small town near the Honduran border.
Most likely you will go from Lion. To reach First you have to take a 2 and a half hour bus to Estelí. Then, at the same Estelí terminal, change to a bus heading to Somoto, which takes approximately 1 hour and a half.
If you travel from Managua You have to take a bus at the terminal next to the Mercado Mayoreo bound for Somoto. There are “express” lines that are somewhat faster, about 4 hours, and the ordinary ones that make many more stops. If when you arrive at the terminal there is no bus bound for Somoto, you can also go to the city of Estelí.
Go from Somoto town to the Canyon
Getting to the beginning of the routes through the canyon on your own is very simple, you just have to take a bus or minivan at the station with destination to the El Espino border post and tell the driver that you are going to the canyon. The trip costs about 15 córdobas and they will leave you in the community of Sonis from where you will have to walk about 500 meters to the entrance to the canyon.
WHAT TOURS IS THERE IN THE SOMOTO CANYON?
To tour the Somoto canyon you have to go with a guide. It is a local organization with guides from nearby communities who alternate so that everyone has the opportunity to earn money from the tourism that the canyon attracts. The guide will accompany you and help you throughout the journey, and of course, it will also show you the best places to jump!
The price of the tours includes a life jacket and a waterproof bag for your valuables.
Trail through the viewpoints
This route is ideal for those who do not want to bathe in the river or for the rainy season when the current is very strong and the other tours cannot be carried out. It is a path through the upper part of the canyon from where you will have views of the course of the river. There are 3 viewpoints to stop to appreciate the Somoto Canyon and the nature that surrounds it. To do the entire route it takes about 4 hours.
Short tour
The shortest of the tours is Aimed at people who just want to take a dip and enjoy a quiet day In nature. The tour begins in the lower part of the river where they put you on boats to take you upstream to the area where it narrows and accesses the Somoto canyon. In that place there are some floats that are used to travel part of the canyon and reach an area of pools where you can bathe calmly and if you want there are some rocks from which to jump into the water.
This tour costs $12 for foreigners or 300 córdobas for locals. It is a total route of 6 km and lasts about 3 hours.
Medium tour
With this tour, which was the one we chose, You will see most of the canyonIn total, 8 kilometers are covered in approximately 4 hours and it costs $15 for foreigners and 350 córdobas for locals.
It begins with a short walk through the mountain until you reach one of the entrances to the canyon and once there the hike begins. descent down the river doing a kind of simple canyoning. In many sections you will walk along the shore or through areas where it only covers up to your ankles, in others you will have to swim and In the funnest ones you will have to jump into the water from a few meters. The guides know the canyon well and They will show you different areas from which to jump depending on what you want more or less height.
The conditions of the route change throughout the year depending on the flow of water that comes down the canyon. In the dry season it is a very calm river in which you have to swim in many sections andIn the rainy season the water is strong enough to drag you and you don't need to swimThe route ends with a short boat ride from the end of the canyon to a nearby dock. carretera.
Long tour
This is the most complete route that runs through the canyon in its entirety. Start with a half-hour walk to the start of the canyon. From there you descend in the same way as on the medium tour, walking along the banks, swimming or letting yourself be carried by the current. When doing the complete tour There are many more areas from which you can jump and pools to swim in. As well ends with a boat tour up to the community near the carretera.
This tour costs $20 for foreigners and 450 córdobas for locals, lasts 5-6 hours and lunch is included.
Free tour
We read that it can be done completely on your own starting the route in the La Playa community. From there you follow the course of the Tapacalí River until you reach the Somoto canyon, ending in the same place as all the tours. Nevertheless We have not tried this route so we do not know the conditions of the canyon between La Playa and the official starting point of the tours.
Keep in mind that when doing it on your own You won't know how deep the pools are. in which you have to jump nor the current that exists those days, so try to find out in town first. And if you do, please tell us details so we can provide more information!
WHERE TO SLEEP IN SOMOTO
Many tourists choose to visit the Somoto Canyon for a single day from León, but I think it is an unnecessary beating to take a 4-hour bus ride from León, another 4 or 6 hours of touring the canyon, and then retrace your steps. In my opinion it is much better to sleep in Somoto and take it easier.
Recommended Accommodation in Somoto: Hostal San José
Hostal San José located in the center of Somoto it includes breakfast, the rooms are comfortable and the staff will help you with whatever you need.
I hope this article on how to visit the Somoto Canyon helps you get to know this wonder of nature, ideal for combating the Nica heat. Remember that we have other items from Nicaragua that will help you organize a trip. You can also relive and be inspired by our trip through Central America by watching our stories on Instagram.
Thanks for the info!
Hello, thank you for sharing your experiences, could you please tell me what route you recommend?
regards
Martha
Hello Martha, thank you for your comment!
We did the medium tour and we really liked it and it was very complete. If you are not in a hurry you could also do the long one, so you will get to know the entire canyon.
All the best