Sun-soaked, Nicaragua boasts a laid-back lifestyle that’s miles away from the hustle and bustle. Here, you can enjoy delicious local cuisine while gazing at the endless azure sea. Besides, it also offers world-class spa treatments.

However, the real reason many people go to Nicaragua is for its immaculate beaches. In this post, we’ll cover the best Nicaragua beaches along the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and what each one has to offer. Plus, we’ll also share the latest Nicaragua travel requirements.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Best Beaches in Nicaragua by the Pacific Ocean

Facing the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find the best beaches for surfers and adventurers, as well as luxurious resorts. Here, the waters get clearer the further south you go.

Nicaragua’s most spectacular Pacific Coast beaches include:

• Las Peñitas Beach
• Popoyo Beach
• Maderas Beach
• San Juan del Sur Beach
• Manzanillo Beach

Las Peñitas Beach

Las Peñitas is a warm coastal beach located in a fishing village. Aside from being picturesque, it’s also a good place to meet the locals since it’s not crowded with tourists. Moreover, here you can also enjoy affordable, fresh, and delicious seafood.

Popoyo Beach

Popoyo is a large beach that is ideal for surfers of all skill levels. It has a beginner’s bay and is home to dozens of surfers’ retreats. Many people call it a well-hidden gem for its chill atmosphere and few tourists.

Maderas Beach

If you’re into yoga or surfing, Maderas Beach will be heaven for you. Here, both beginners and advanced surfers will find waves to suit their skills. And for those who want to stretch and relax, there are multiple yoga studios.

You can reach Maderas Beach within 20 minutes by driving north along a bumpy road from San Juan del Sur Bay.

San Juan del Sur Beach

San Juan del Sur Bay is home to the most visited town by surfers: San Juan del Sur Beach. There is a wide range of tourist attractions in the city center, and it’s famous for its party scene.

Some of the activities you can enjoy here include:

• Surfing
• Fishing
• Whale watching
• Canopy
• Yoga
• Horseback riding

Manzanillo Beach

Manzanillo Beach combines the best of the luxurious 5-star Mukul hotel with the strongest waves for pro surfers. Inside the hotel, you’ll find an impressive selection of therapeutic treatments based on regional herbs and traditional healing methods. Additionally, if you’re into golf or tennis, you’ll find excellent courts nearby.

Best Beaches in Nicaragua by the Atlantic Ocean

Among natural beauty destinations, the Nicaraguan Atlantic Coast may be at the top of many traveler’s lists. The islands and beaches facing the Caribbean offer a paradise-like landscape.

You may want to visit:

• Corn Island
• Pearl Cays
• Miskito Cays

Corn Island

Corn Island is splendidly rich in beauty. The Great and Little Corn Islands make up this municipality, which is a true Caribbean paradise.

In addition to turquoise waters, here you can find:

• White sand beaches
• Coconut forests
• Coral reefs

It’s a snorkeler’s dream come true, and you could spend hours just lounging.

The Great Corn Island has several neighborhoods and hills that rise from its flat surface. Meanwhile, Little Corn Island is less populated and much more peaceful. Both islands offer hotels, restaurants, and neighborhood tour services.

Pearl Cays

Pearl Cays are a stunning group of islands with lush palms and a coastal jungle. This archipelago of 12 cays offers great swimming, snorkeling, and diving options. Plus, there is a wide diversity of land and sea life.

Despite Pearl Cays’ beauty, there’s limited infrastructure on the islands. Not all of them have potable water, and you can only reach them by boat. Therefore, you’ll have to lean into the bigger islands to find restaurants. There, you can also find small boarding houses where locals host tourists.

Miskito Cays

Miskito Cays is located in one of the least explored corners of Nicaragua, where tourists still have many fascinating attractions to discover. It’s home to the largest natural reserve in Central America, the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve.

You may be familiar with iconic images of tiny homes perched on wooden pillars above the turquoise water. Well, those are the houses that the fishermen in Miskito Cays built, and you can visit them too.

Although the tourism infrastructure in the cays is practically non-existent, the great variety of natural scenery offers many options for all kinds of visitors.

In Miskito Cays, you can enjoy a wide array of activities, including:

• Boat rides
• Swimming
• Snorkeling
• Scuba diving
• Fishing
• Bird watching

Travel Requirements to Nicaragua

As you’ve seen, Nicaragua is a great destination if you want to relax and enjoy nature. With its yoga retreats and uncrowded spots, it is a hidden gem for travelers. Yet, it’s also an amazing place to visit if you enjoy adventure or surfing.

Travel requirements for Nicaragua have changed from restrictions that were requested in the past few months. Now, people entering the country no longer require a negative PCR test or proof of COVID-19 vaccination. However, be mindful that COVID cases worldwide increased by 38% during August. And it appears that this trend will continue.

If you experience any COVID symptoms during or after your trip, you should get tested right away. Ultimately, it’s better to be safe than waste vacation days for being sick.

Need a COVID test? No matter where you are, discover testing locations near you in our internal directory.