During the colonial times, Granada City, nicknamed "La Gran Sultana", suffered a lot of devastation after debastation but despite those events, it managed to maintain its original colonial style. The city, due to its importance, was a target for invaders and pirates, including the famous William Walker who almost completely destroyed the city back in 1856. However, because this city has always being a very prosperous one, it was able to bounce back after each and every attack as one can still notice its colonial structures almost intact.

Founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistador Hernández de Córdoba, Granada has the privilege to be the oldest city in the American Continent on firm land. Not only that, it's also country's most visited city by foreign tourists. The best way to tour the city and its colonial buildings is by taking a ride in one of those typical horse-drawn carriages, which will take you to the most important sites around the city.

Granada' churches are definitely a must-see. The Granada Cathedral, located in front of the Central Park, is a beautiful architectural jem that's worth visiting. Another outstanding colonial structure is the "Casa de los Leones" (House of the Lions), also known as Casa de los Tres Mundos. Not to be missed is "Convento San Francisco" (San Francisco Chapel), which was built in 1529 making it the oldest one in the city and one of the most important ones in Central America.

Granada city, like every other city the Spaniard built, is sitting at the foot of a volcano; the 1,300+ meter high Mombacho Volcano. This tremendous dormant volcano, declared a natural reserve back in 1996, is an excellent option for eco-tourism lovers since it possesses many different types of flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the world. For those who love orchids, they can be found all over the cloud-forest. Also, for those adventurous people, they can practice canopy here.

Climbing this volcano is a very exausting task but believe me, it's absolutely worthy. Actually, it doesn't have to be so tiring because they have a truck service which takes you to the top. Well, once at the top, oh man, it's awesome and also educational. From a lookout, the panorama is just spectacular. You can see the isletas, the tremendous Lake Cocibolca, Granada City, Lake Apoyo and the surroundings.


Granada is not only located at the foot of a volcano, but also on the western shores of the great Lake Cocibolca. An archipelago called Isletas de Granada, just off the shores of the lake, provides another great options for those who enjoy Mother Nature, without having to sweat. This archipelago, containing more than 360 little islands of volcanic origin, can be best appreciated by taking an adventurous boatride through these little islands as one can check out the fauna and flora surrounding them, not to mention the refreshing cool breeze of this immense lake. Famed people in Nicaragua and other foreigners, own isletas and they have built beautiful houses on them. Not only that, there're even hotels on them.


Zapatera Island National Park is a unique place. It's an island, near Granada, covered by a dense tropical forest and with very important archeological sites. The bad thing is that it's pretty hard to get there. A boutride is pretty price for most. But it's definitely a beauty.

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