The Cathedral in León, Nicaragua

A city you won’t want to miss on your Nicaragua vacation is León.  It is a department (State) in north western Nicaragua.  León itself is the second largest city after the capital of Managua.  The original city of León was discovered by Francisco Hernandes de Cordoba, but after the eruption of the Momotombo Volcano and the flooding from Lake Managua which followed, it was decided to move the city further east next to the town of Subtiava.  Over its history, it has competed with the city of Granada to be the capital of Nicaragua because of political reasons (one city was Liberal and the other city was Conversative). Managua eventually ended up being the capital of Nicaragua.  The ruins of old León (excavated in the 1960s) became known as León Viejo.  León Viejo was named a Unesco World Heritage site in 2000.  Like Granada, the city was frequently raided and looted by pirates.  In 1685, it was attacked by pirates who burned down the city as they fled.

León is a fascinating historical city full of churches, colonial architecture, culture, museums, beaches and volcanos.  You won’t want to miss visiting this city on your Nicaragua vacation. It is a city rich with culture and history and is very important to Nicaragua economically.

Tours in and Around León:

León City Tours:

Take a tour of the city of León when you first arrive here.  An experienced guide with lots of knowledge will give you all the information on the rich history of León, the culture and the legends.  You will witness the beautiful colonial architecture.  Another tour available in León is the Indigenous Art tour.

The Ruins of León Viejo:

A tour of the ruins of León Viejo – the original León is most fascinating.  Learn about the history and get a chance to photograph the surrounding landscapes.

Cerro Negro Tour:

The Cerro Negro Tour is a tour of the Cerro Negro Volcano.  This volcano has two small craters and is active – having had about a dozen eruptions during its short life (short for a volcano).  The option of ash boarding down the volcano is available too for those willing to dare board down the side of the volcano.

Juan Venado Island Tour:

It is possible to take a tour of Juan Venado Island in the Pacific Ocean and this is a bonus for nature lovers.  Explore the mangroves, witness the abundance of wildlife such as iguanas, crabs, exotic birds, aquatic wildlife and turtles.  You may see some alligators also.  Another option available on this tour is kayaking and a twilight hike.  You can also enjoy a walk or swim on the secluded Pacific side beach.

San Jacinto Volcanic Field and Iguana Village Tour:

Enjoy rural Nicaragua, learn to bake tortillas and visit a breeding farm for green iguanas.  Tour and observe the volcanic fields of San Jacinto.  Most enjoyable!

Volcano Hiking Tours:

Hike on the Telica, El Hoyo and Cosiguina Volcanos.  Options available include horseback riding and a campesino lunch.

These León tours can be arranged with Va Pues Tours in León which offers many tours for different budgets.  They are located at the north side of El Laborio Church.  Their telephone is 2311-4099.  Their website is at Vapues and www.bosawas.com.