Granada, Nicaragua is very special.
On the shores of Lake Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua) and at the foot of Mombacho volcano; Granada is like a movie set from Pirates of the Carribean. Established by the Spanish in 1524, Granada is one of the most intact and oldest colonial cities in the Americas.
Pirates were once a regular feature of Granada. From the Carribean sea they’d sail into Lake Nicaragua and cause havoc. We heard several stories of buried treasures and shipwrecks full of treasure. The city has a network of underground tunnels that were used to hide during these crazy days.
Lake Nicaragua Isleta’s – The Party Boat
This was amazing. Lake Nicaragua is riddled with small islands. The ferry anchors at a particular point in the lake that’s in the vicinity of a hot spring. Those who are brave or drunk enough jump in and have a ball. Floating devices, and even floating tables are provided.
To book, go on Facebook ‘Expats of Nicaragua’. There’s many expat locals who are regulars on the ferry. You can’t miss them, they’re hilarious.
Granada – Places to Visit
Church of the Mercy
This is the most beautiful Church. People just seem to meet there and hang out at Church of the Mercy. There’s usually a papusa cart nearby.
The Jockey Club
A big, clean pool and cafe, most of the time you have Cocibolca Jockey Club to yourself. Buy a coffee and swim for free.
Juniors Gym
This pay per session gym is the locals choice. It’s a no nonsense, ‘lift weights and get out of there’ kind of gym. Juniors Gym is not the cleanest or shiniest, but compared to another very popular gym in Granada, at least you can get onto a machine.
Where We Ate
Cafe De Las Sonrisas (Smiles Cafe)
Cafe de las sonrisas Staffed by deaf people, this cafe has an amazing vibe and excellent crepes. The cafe also has a workshop where they make hammocks and ceramics. There’s also a bi-weekly Sunday Craft market.
Nectar Bar
After exhaustive research we awarded the Nectar Bar as the best mojito venue in Granada. Happy hour 4-6pm.
La Frontera Restaurant
There’s several great places to eat, but the pulled pork burger at La Frontera is a stand out.
Burrocks – Comida Mexicana
A little sleeper of restaurant, great prices, really fresh food and you’ll always get a table at Burrocks.
Maria Elena Cafe
In a quite part of town, Maria Elena Cafe this is the best cafe in town. Beautiful coffee and French styled pastries.
Please note that some links on our blog are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Using these links supports us in our mission to share our journey with you.
The Paraguay Relocation Guide
$5 USD
The Paraguay Relocation Guide is an essential planning tool for your move to Paraguay.
It’s designed to kick-start your moving process and guides you through the core decisions, mindset & steps you need to take.
It’s essentially a summary of all the most important lessons we learnt from our moving journey!
Sign Up To Our Newsletter to Get the Inside Goss!
We post what we can on our YT, Rumble & Blog, but there’s many things that we hold back on.
Sign up to our email list and we’ll email you the stories behind the stories.
Book A One on One Chat
ONLINE – From $60 USD
Leaving your home country can be daunting!
Our one hour session is focused on your questions about moving to or living in Paraguay.
We are happy to share our journey and everything we know about Paraguay and life here. We also have a trusted network of English speaking people that can help you build your new life here.
We would love to help you find your place in the sun!
Click below for more info, testimonials & to book.