Must Do Activities :: Local Recommendations

You can print this list, along with other helpful information by downloading our Nicaragua Travel Guide.

• Hike to the cross for a bird’s eye view of town – looking towards the north end of the bay, high in the hill you will see a large white cross. After hiking to this view point, you will have a 360 degree view of town, and the ocean, spanning up the coast and down to Costa Rica. During the dry season you can walk across the river mouth on the beach into “La Talanguera”, the beach front neighborhood on the other side of the bay. Go one block off the beach and take a left. You will come to the gate for Pacific Marlin, a residential community. Hike up this hill until you reach a “T” in the road. Go left and about 100 meters further on your left, you wil see a very steep driveway with steps going up on the side. We recommend doing this during the day, as part of the hike is steep and can be dangerous at night.
• Zip down the mountain on Da Flying Frog tree canopy tour – get suited up with a harness, helmet, and reinforced gloves that will act as your hand brake. Then climb aboard the Mercedes UNIMOG military truck to be driven to the top of the foot hill behind San Juan del Sur. Once reaching the top, take in the sweeping views and get ready for an adrenaline rush as you make your way down the foot hill on a network of 17 cables. As you zip between platforms, above the tree canopy, you will see monkeys and tropical birds, and some of the most breath taking views. This adventure is suitable for all ages from 7 years and older.
• Have a street side dinner at the “chicken lady” –one is located on the southwest corner of the central park, and another on Calle del Mercado, just east of the market. These are about as local as you can get for dinner, with open flame BBQs turning out delicious pieces of chicken, served with fresh tortillas, cabbage salad, and fried plantains. Fresh juices and sodas are typically available as well, or you can bring your own beer.
• Eat with locals at the market – join locals who gather here daily for breakfast and lunch, sitting at rows of tables that are set up family style in front of multiple “comedors”. Whichever “comedor” your table is in front of is where you will get your food. The menus are pretty much the same across all comedors, offering soup, chicken, beef, pork, fish, pancakes, eggs, fruit, salad, and of course gallo pinto. Ask which “jugos naturales” (fresh juices) they are serving that day and make sure to try a sweet concoction made from tamarind, passion fruit, pataya, or other locally grown fruits. As you can imagine, credit cards are not accepted here, but these are by far some of the best prices in town, just 2-3 dollars for your entire meal.
• Enjoy a pargo entero (whole snapper) – this deep fried whole fish is typically served with tostones on the side and can be ordered at just about any beach front restaurant in town. The flavor is amazing and this dish goes very well with a cold Tona or Victoria.
• Watch the sunset from the beach – a tropical vacation must anywhere in the world, but made even more special when you hear the flocks of parakeets in the trees along the Avenida de la Bahia. At the right angle, you can see “the face of the Indian”, on the north end of the bay where the sheer rock cliffs meet the Pacific Ocean. At any angle, you can see the variety of boats moored in the bay, adding to the unique feel of San Juan del Sur.
• Take a sailing trip on the Pelican Eyes sailing boat – the full day cruise includes all food and drinks, catered with delicious foods from the La Cascada Restaurant and an open bar serving soft drinks, beer, wine, rum punch, and more. The sail boat takes you south to the beach of Brasilito, where you swim ashore to enjoy the white sand beach, go snorkeling and swimming, play Frisbee, and enjoy the company of other vacationers. Evening sunset cruises are available as well.
• Sample a Nica Libre – Mixing Nicaragua’s famed Flor de Cana rum with coke and a lime on ice. After one, this will most likely become your preferred drink during your visit.
• Visit the Stones & Waves Veterinary Clinic & Wildlife Center – located within the Pelican Eyes Hotel & Resort, this non-profit organization was formed to help protect local wildlife and to educate locals about the sensitivity of their eco system. You will see rescued animals including spider monkeys, macaws, margays, armadillos, and the occasional sloth.
• Watch Olive-Ridley sea turtles lay eggs or hatch – if you have your own rental car (4X4 is recommended), you can head south towards Play Coco. Just past Playa Coco you will find the entrance to the La Flor Wildlife Refuge, home to one of the largest sea turtle nesting grounds in Central America. Depending on when you visit Nicaragua, you can witness turtles swimming onshore at night to lay eggs and bury them in the sand, or you can witness the hatching of up to several hundred baby turtles at a time, and watch them make their way to the water and swim out to sea. Stop by the Casa Oro on the corner of Avenida Central and Calle del Parque for information about their shuttle service to La Flor and to view the turtle forecast.
• Attend the rodeo – when the rodeo comes to town, a good number of spectators gather around to watch first-time and experienced riders test their skills. You might even dare to enter the ring, but make sure you are quick on your feet, quick enough to outrun a bull!
• Take in a baseball game– just south of town, on the road heading to Ostional you will find San Juan del Sur’s baseball field. Sunday morning is when the action comes to town, as teams from outlying areas of town challenge each other in the most popular sport in Nicaragua.
• Play a pick-up game of soccer on the beach – head down to the beach just before sunset and you will find one or more groups of locals and travelers playing a game of beach soccer before the sun goes down.
• Eat a nacatamal – this mixture of pork, onions, tomatoes and spices is wrapped in masa, a cornmeal, and then slow cooked in banana leaves. The Hotel Vila Isabella serves nacatamals on Sunday mornings.