Private 1-Day Tour to Nicaragua from Playas del Coco

Cross two countries and stand at a volcano's crater in a single day

A private full-day tour from Playas del Coco into Nicaragua, departing with hotel pickup and border assistance, visiting Masaya Volcano's active crater, the Masaya Craft Market, Granada's colonial architecture and the Islets of Granada by boat. The guide handles all passport and visa procedures at the crossing, and the day includes breakfast, lunch, transportation and water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nicaragua's volcanoes and culture

• Hotel pickup and border crossing
• Breakfast after border crossing
• Visit Masaya Volcano crater viewpoint
• Shop at Masaya Craft Market
• Visit active Masaya Volcano crater
• Tour colonial Granada and Church of La Merced
• Boat tour of Granada Islets
• Return to starting point

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a 30-minute drive to the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border, where your guide takes over all the paperwork and visa procedures so you don't have to navigate them alone. After crossing, you'll have breakfast before heading to Masaya Volcano National Park to see the dormant crater and its views over Granada and Lake Nicaragua. You walk freely around the rim before moving on to the Masaya Craft Market, where you can browse handmade goods and eat a typical Nicaraguan lunch in the market itself.

The afternoon centers on Masaya's active volcano: one of the few in the world where you can stand right next to the crater, hear it rumble and watch gases spew from the ground. From there, the route takes you to Granada, the colonial city on Lake Nicaragua's shore. You'll climb the stairs inside the Church of La Merced to its roof, where the view opens onto Granada's colorful streets, the Mombacho volcano and the lake beyond. The final stop is a boat tour through the Islets of Granada, an archipelago of more than 360 small islands formed when Mombacho erupted thousands of years ago. The islands are covered in tropical vegetation and ringed by local communities. The boat passes through them slowly enough to spot monkeys, tropical birds and the layered landscape that makes the site one of Nicaragua's most photographed destinations.

The return journey crosses back into Costa Rica and ends with drop-off at your hotel. The entire day runs 12 hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• breakfast and lunch.
• bottled water.
• all entrance fees and activities.
• guide assistance with border crossing and visa procedures.
• boat tour of the Islets of Granada.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Guanacaste Airport Shuttle Cr

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that fits your comfort level. The 12-hour day and multiple border crossings suit travelers with a full afternoon and evening free, not those on a tight schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

How does the border crossing work when I'm traveling from Costa Rica into Nicaragua?

Your guide handles all passport and visa procedures at the border, and the crossing itself takes approximately 30 minutes. You don't need to arrange anything in advance. The guide walks you through every step.

What is Masaya Volcano like when you stand at the crater?

Masaya is an active volcano where you can stand right next to the crater, hear it rumble and watch gases spew from the ground. It's one of the few places in the world where you can get this close to an active volcanic crater.

What happens during the boat tour of the Islets of Granada?

The boat moves slowly through an archipelago of more than 360 small islands on Lake Nicaragua, formed when Mombacho Volcano erupted thousands of years ago. You'll see tropical vegetation, spot monkeys and tropical birds, and pass by local communities living on and around the islands.

What is included in the price of this tour?

The tour includes private transportation, hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast and lunch, bottled water, all activities at each stop, and taxes for both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and handles all border procedures.

Is there time to shop and explore on your own, or is the day fully scheduled?

You have free time to walk around the Masaya Volcano crater rim and browse the Masaya Craft Market at your own pace before lunch. In Granada, you'll visit the Church of La Merced and have time to photograph the city and surrounding area from the roof.