Granada was founded by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524. This picturesque city is one of the oldest colonial settlements in all of Central America. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure. Situated on the edge of Lake Nicaragua and in the shadow of Mombacho volcano, Granada is a city of colourful colonial homes and neoclassical and baroque churches. Now listed as a must see on any visit to Nicaragua - it is our first stop on our itinerary.

Our city tour guide picked us up at 7:15am to get an early start to exploring Granada. Best to get an early start here, as the afternoon temperatures in January will hit 32 Celsius or 90 Fahrenheit. Starting at the Merced Church you get a 360 degree vista of this beautiful city. It is a city of magnificant Catholic churches. They stand out in the landscape for as far as you can see.

Anyone visiting a Latin American country will surly know the importance of the local market. Packed into a central building and around the outskirts are the true entrepreneurs of Granada or any Latin country. It is a chaotic scene but only to outsiders. This is where the you can literally buy anything. Know what you want and know its value, as there are no signs listing the prices. A good barterer will do well here.

Granada is located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua which is the largest lake in Central America and the 19th largest lake in the world. The lake drains to the Caribbean Sea via the San Juan River, historically making the lakeside city of Granada an Atlantic port. Unfortunately for Granada, this access to the Atlantic allowed pirates to assault and occupy the city on three different occasions. The lake has 365 islands with the volcanic island of Ometepe being the largest.

Lake Tour

A popular tourist activity is to kayak or boat around some of the islands located close to Granada. These islands are now seasonal homes to some of Nicaragua’s wealthiest families. Well worth including this activity during a stay in Granada. The tour even includes a fun stop at Monkey Island.