Granada & Isletas boat tour: Chocolate, cigars, lake

See Granada's colonial heart and the Isletas in one morning without splitting your day

A combined tour of Granada's colonial city and the Isletas islands, with hotel pickup and a certified English-speaking guide. You'll visit the Church of La Merced, watch chocolate and cigar artisans at work, walk the local market, then board a boat to explore the calm waters of Central America's largest lake, passing Monkey Island and spotting birds and wildlife along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Granada colonial city and Isletas boat tour

• Meet certified guide at hotel
• Travel to port and board boat
• Visit Castillo fortress and Monkey Island
• Birdwatching and nature observation
• Tour Church of La Merced and panoramic city views
• Visit chocolate and cigar factories
• Explore local market and leather products

The experience

The tour starts at your hotel with pickup, then moves into Granada's colonial center on foot. You'll climb the bell tower of the Church of La Merced for a panoramic view of the city, visit working chocolate and cigar factories to see how they're made, and walk through the local market where vendors sell leather goods and other crafts. An air-conditioned vehicle moves you between stops, so you're not walking the whole day in the heat.

After the city portion, you board a boat at the port to cruise the Isletas: a chain of small islands dotting Lake Nicaragua. The water is calm, and the guide points out the wildlife: monkeys, birds and the landscape that surrounds the islands. You'll pass the old fortress, El Castillo, and Monkey Island, where you can watch the animals in their habitat. The boat moves at an easy pace, giving you time to take in the views without rushing.

The whole experience runs about four hours, combining the colonial walking section and the boat cruise into one outing. This means you can spend the rest of your day exploring other parts of Granada or resting at your hotel, rather than splitting your time between two separate trips.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the city portion.
• certified guide speaking English.
• entry to the Church of La Merced bell tower.
• visits to the chocolate and cigar factories.
• local market tour.
• boat cruise on the Isletas with views of Monkey Island and El Castillo fortress.
• wildlife spotting (birds and monkeys).

Options for this experience

2 options

Boat tour of the Isletas and the colonial city of GranadaGuide in English · Available from 17 Oct 2027Lasts 2 hours; pickup is included

Colonial tour by horse carriageGuide in English · 09:00 and 14:00Horse carriage ride of 1 hour: Discover the historical city aboard a horse carriage, the traditional vehicle of the oldest city in Granada. Lasts 4 hours in total, including a 1-hour walking tour afterward, which starts once we have explored the colonial area. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 16 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Danny's Tour

Is this one for you?Choose this combined route to cover Granada's colonial center and the Isletas in one morning, leaving your afternoon open for other plans.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 16 years); Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do you see at the chocolate and cigar factories?

Both are working production facilities where artisans make chocolate and cigars by hand. You watch the process and learn how each is made. The factories are active workshops, not museums.

Is the boat ride suitable if I get motion sickness easily?

The Isletas tour takes place on the calm waters of Lake Nicaragua, so the boat moves smoothly without rough waves. If you're sensitive to any motion at all, mention it when you book so the guide can advise on positioning or timing.

How much walking is involved in the colonial city part?

You'll walk to the Church of La Merced, climb its bell tower, visit the two factories and the market. It's not a long-distance hike, but it's spread across several stops in the city center over a couple of hours.

What's the best time of day to book this tour?

Morning departures work well because you finish by early afternoon and avoid the hottest part of the day. The market is busiest in the morning, and you'll see more activity at the factories earlier in the day.