Colonial Granada and Boat Tour

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a leisurely one and three-quarters hour drive north through a gorgeous tropical landscape. This verdant region exemplifies Nicaragua’s nickname, the “Land of Lakes and Volcanoes,” and colonial Granada lies at its heart.

Upon arriving in this historical city, you will board a boat for an immensely scenic cruise off the northern shore of Lake Nicaragua. Now freshwater, the lake was once part of the sea until an ancient volcanic eruption caused it to become an inland basin. As a result, it became the world’s only lake with oceanic marine animals such as sharks and swordfish.

Following your sightseeing cruise, you will tour San Francisco Convent, one of Granada’s oldest buildings. Now a cultural center and museum with fine pre-Columbian statues, the convent has been rebuilt several times over ancient catacombs. Your guided visit showcases some of the most important displays and exhibits housed here, giving you great insight into this city that Spanish conquistadors founded in 1524.

Next, a walking tour of Granada will reveal more interesting sites, which you may explore further during the free time that follows your traditional Nicaraguan lunch at a local restaurant. Signature attractions include the central plaza for shopping and an abundance of colorful colonial architecture, some of it still scorched from the great fire of 1856. At the appointed time and location, you will rejoin your group and transfer back to the pier.