Multi-Day Trips from San Juan del Sur
Travel advisory, as of October 2026: The US State Department rates Nicaragua Level 3, “Reconsider travel”, at the time of writing. It cites the risk of wrongful detention of US citizens, arbitrary enforcement of laws, searches of electronic devices and very limited consular help, and some visitors have been refused entry or expelled. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel, but it warns that foreigners must stay out of political activity and that drones are prohibited. San Juan del Sur itself is a long-established tourist town. Read the US State Department advisory and the UK FCDO advice before you book, carry travel insurance and leave any drone at home.
Plan Around the Distances
San Juan del Sur is a base for beaches, and every longer trip starts with a road. Most routes run through Rivas, and the roads are poor and unlit, so travel in daylight. Prices are in US dollars, and the local córdoba (C$) is officially about 36.6 to US$1.
Ometepe in Two or Three Days
Ferries to the island leave from Puerto de San Jorge on Lake Nicaragua, about 40 minutes by taxi from San Juan del Sur. The crossing to Moyogalpa takes about 60 minutes. See the ferry schedule for times, and note that the last boat back leaves Moyogalpa at 17:30.
On the island the usual stops are:
- Ojo de Agua, spring-fed pools, at about US$5 to 10 depending on whether a food voucher is included.
- San Ramón waterfall, about US$2 to 3 per person.
- Charco Verde, a loop of about US$5.
- Volcán Maderas, hiked with a required guide at about US$35 to 55.
Volcán Concepción is active. The UK government advises against hiking it without an experienced guide, so check INETER or MARENA alerts first. Neither volcano is near San Juan del Sur.
Granada, Masaya and Mombacho
Base in Granada, about 95 to 100 km north and 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours by road. Masaya Volcano is open for night visits at about US$10 for foreigners, though visitors should expect a crater glow, not a lava lake. Mombacho reserve entry is roughly US$25 to 30. Both are two hours or more from San Juan del Sur.
Popoyo and the Emerald Coast
The surf area around Popoyo lies northwest of town via Rivas and Tola, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road. It is a surf trip for those who want a change from the bay beaches. Check access rules for any private resort beach before you go.
Adding Costa Rica
Peñas Blancas is the land border. The route runs from San Juan del Sur to Rivas and on to the border, about 1 to 1.5 hours by private or shared shuttle, with a shared shuttle listed from about US$28. A chicken bus takes 2 hours or more, plus time at the border. Fees reported for a round trip total about US$25 to 27, mostly paid in cash US dollars, and officials often have no change. Border queues can be long, and Costa Rican rental cars cannot cross.
Nicaragua allows UK citizens 90 days without a visa. That limit is shared with Guatemala and El Salvador and does not restart at borders. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival, and an onward ticket may be demanded. Entry costs a US$10 arrival tax in cash, and the US$35 departure tax is normally in your air ticket. Check Nicaragua’s migration site before a land crossing.
Read more: Day trips for the same destinations in a single day, and romantic getaways for places to stay.
For places to stay on the way, see Booking.com listings for Ometepe .