Granada & Masaya Volcano Tour: Lake Nicaragua Boat Ride

Cross into Nicaragua and ride a boat through Granada's island channels

A full-day private tour from Costa Rica to Nicaragua combines a 25-minute boat ride on Lake Nicaragua to visit Granada's islands with a carriage tour of Central America's oldest city, a stop at Masaya Volcano to watch active lava, and time at the Oriental Craft Market. The itinerary includes breakfast and lunch, all transportation, and border taxes for both countries.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Catarina1h
2. Masaya Volcano30m · entry included
3. Lake Nicaraguapassing by

Full day tour from Costa Rica to Nicaragua

• Depart from hotel in Guanacaste
• Pass through Liberia city without stopping
• Cross Peñas Blancas border with tax paid
• Arrive at Lake Nicaragua in Rivas
• Take photos and have breakfast
• Travel to Granada city
• Boat ride on Lake Nicaragua to islands
• Horse carriage ride in Granada city
• Visit cigar and chocolate presentation
• Visit Lake Las Catarinas viewpoint
• Tour Masaya Volcano and visitor center
• Enjoy typical Creole lunch
• Shop at Oriental Craft Market
• Return to Costa Rica

The experience

You leave your Guanacaste hotel and drive toward the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border at Peñas Blancas, a 40-minute journey through Liberia. The operator handles all border taxes in advance, so you clear customs without extra stops. The crossing itself takes 15 to 20 minutes depending on truck traffic. Once across, it's another 20 to 25 minutes to Lake Nicaragua, where you'll stop to photograph Ometepe Island and the water before breakfast or after, depending on your preference.

From there, you head to Granada (about an hour away) and board a boat for a 25-minute ride through the lake's islands. You'll see monkeys, spiders and smaller islands as you move through the water, with time to photograph the landscape. Back on land, you take a carriage ride through Granada's colonial streets while a guide explains the city's sculptures, monuments and history as the oldest settlement in Central America. You'll pass a workshop where local artisans make cigars and chocolate, with the chance to watch the process and buy if you want. This section takes roughly an hour.

Next is Laguna de Catarina, a viewpoint overlooking a crater lake ringed by blue water and cloud cover: locals sometimes play music there, and binoculars help you take in the landscape from a distance. Then you drive to Masaya Volcano, where a guide explains the eruption history and the 16th-century cross planted near the crater to ward off evil. You'll stop at the visitor center to learn the site's background, then ride up to the highest point to watch active lava: a rare direct view. After lunch (a typical Creole meal), you visit the Oriental Craft Market to shop for souvenirs before the drive back to Costa Rica.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel in Guanacaste.
• admission to all sites.
• breakfast and lunch.
• bottled water.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• all border taxes for Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by ARON THE BIG PAPI AMAZING ADVENTURE

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a fixed itinerary hitting five stops (lake, Granada, carriage ride, volcano, market) in one outing. Choose a private guide instead if you need flexibility to linger at sites or skip activities.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How long does the boat ride on Lake Nicaragua take?

The boat tour lasts about 25 minutes and travels through the islands around Granada, where you can see monkeys, spiders and smaller islands while taking photographs.

What is Masaya Volcano like when you arrive there?

Masaya Volcano is an active site where you can watch lava directly from the highest point of the park. A guide explains the eruption history and the 16th-century cross planted near the crater. The park is also home to coyotes, skunks, raccoons, iguanas and howler monkeys, though wildlife sightings depend on the animals being in view.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the border?

No, the tour includes private transportation from your Guanacaste hotel all the way to Nicaragua and back, plus all border taxes for both countries are paid in advance by the operator.

What meals are included in this tour?

Breakfast and a typical Creole lunch at Masaya Volcano are both included. Bottled water is also provided throughout the day.

Is there time to buy souvenirs?

Yes, the tour ends at the Oriental Craft Market, where you have time to browse and purchase gifts, souvenirs and local crafts before returning to Costa Rica.