The Saturday City: León, Nicaragua
Posted: 03/01/2014 | March 1st, 2014
Located inwards northwest Nicaragua, León is a college town oftentimes overlooked yesteryear tourists who remain south, close Granada, Ometepe, as well as the beaches. However, given that the surface area has as well as then much to do, I expected a lot of tourists only instead found generally empty hostels as well as few gringos wandering the streets during my visit.
I’ll order you: all those absent travelers are missing out.
León, a metropolis filled amongst history, delicious food, outdoor activities, volcanoes, as well as nearby beaches, was ane of the highlights of my trip to Nicaragua.
The metropolis is named subsequently León, Spain. After Nicaragua was granted independence inwards the 1800s from Spain, the elites of León as well as Granada struggled over which metropolis would acquire the majuscule (eventually Managua was picked). During the struggles betwixt the Sandinistas as well as Somozas inwards the 20th century, the metropolis changed hands many times betwixt the 2 as well as was a scene of constant as well as intense fighting (you tin dismiss however come across bullet marks on some buildings). This lasted all the agency through the 1980s (which saw U.S. of America involvement inwards the Iran-Contra affair) until peace was finally established.
Now, León is a stable academy town amongst a growing nutrient scene, lots of markets, growing (but non overwhelming) tourism, as well as to a greater extent than colonial churches as well as cathedrals per capita than whatever other house inwards Nicaragua. I spent iv days hither hiking, eating, overdosing on churches, as well as sweltering inwards the heat.
I honey the metropolis as well as found a lot to create inwards Leon. There’s no shortage of ways to pass a yoke of days hither every bit you lot move roughly Nicaragua. Here’s a listing of my favorite things to create inwards Leon:
Visit the churches
There are a lot of churches inwards Léon. I spent an entire solar daytime visiting these monuments to God as well as marveling at their varying levels of detail. Even if you’re non a religious individual (I’m not), you lot tin dismiss belike however appreciate the beauty, architecture, as well as history of these buildings. León has to a greater extent than churches per capita than whatever other house inwards Nicaragua!!! My favorites are Iglesia El Calvario, Iglesia La Recolección, and Iglesia de San Juan Bautista de Subtiava.
Enjoy the beach
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 brusque motorbus ride from the city, you’ll honour beautiful beaches, warm water, as well as people inwards the surf. The surf isn’t every bit enjoyable every bit inwards the southern business office of the province (I’m told it’s a fleck fossil oil here), only if you’re looking to relax as well as cool off inwards the dry out oestrus of the region, these beaches banking venture stand upwards for all the correct boxes. Playa Poneloya is the most pop beach.
Visit the Museum of the Revolution
(Parque Central)
This museum inwards the sometime mayor’s residence is dedicated to the Sandinistas as well as their manage against “the man.” It’s exclusively 2 rooms, only you’ll acquire your ain personal guide who explains the history of the movement (in Castilian or English) as well as volition remove keep you lot upwards to the roof for skillful photos of León. The trips may live short, only it was my favorite action inwards the city, every bit you’re talking to a local as well as getting a detailed history filled amongst local perspective as well as context. The museum tour costs $2 USD. Ask for Fernando; he was a funny as well as informative guide.
Go volcano boarding downwards Cerro Negro
Throughout the country, I saw people wearing the pop “I went volcano boarding” shirt, as well as this action is what draws most backpackers here. After all, who wouldn’t desire to slide downwards an active volcano on a slice of wood? (Not me. I skipped this activity. The hike? Sure. Going downwards on a plank of wood? No thanks.) Trips acquire out multiple times per solar daytime as well as finally a few hours. Bigfoot Tours as well as Quetzaltrekkers are the 2 biggest operators. Cerro Negro is 50 minutes from the city. Prices showtime roughly $30.
Wander the markets
León is a marketplace town, as well as its famous gigantic marketplace located close the cathedral is hectic, fun, as well as interesting. You tin dismiss honour everything there: grocers, street nutrient vendors, toys, kitschy souvenirs, as well as everything inwards between. Moreover, you’ll honour delicious soups, BBQ meat sticks, as well as other local fare.
Take inwards the art
There is a large fine art scene inwards the city, as well as a release of galleries are available to enjoy, amongst Museo de Arte Fundación Ortiz-Gurdián ($2 USD) existence the biggest. Housed inwards 2 buildings, it features a collection of sometime religious fine art every bit good every bit modern Nicaraguan artists. It takes a few hours to explore, as well as both buildings remove keep lovely courtyard gardens to relax in. My favorite prototype was El Retiro yesteryear Mauricio Gomez Jaramillo.
Hike some volcanoes
One of the principal reasons why people come upwards hither is to hike the nearby volcanoes, every bit León is close the country’s volcanic range, many of which are however active. You’ll live able to select betwixt tardily half-day hikes as well as to a greater extent than intense total 12-hour solar daytime hikes. The most pop hikes are: Cerro Negro (volcano boarding), Telica (where you lot function for sunset hikes — come across to a higher house photo!), San Cristóbal (the longest as well as hardest), as well as Momotombo (second hardest).
Visit “old” León
The ruins of León Viejo engagement dorsum to the 16th century as well as are a brusque trip from León. The site is Nicaragua’s exclusively UNESCO World Heritage listing as well as is ane of the oldest Castilian colonial settlements inwards the Americas. While this isn’t some lavish ruin site, it’s actually the exclusively house to come across as well as larn virtually the country’s founding colonial past. The ruins of León Viejo were discovered inwards 1967 as well as excavations began the next year.
Enjoy the burgeoning nutrient scene
León is attracting an increasing release of international tourists as well as expats as well as every bit such has a growing nutrient scene. While you lot are never inwards brusque provide of local gallo pinto, I branched out to swallow a lot of Western nutrient (there is exclusively as well as then much rice as well as beans ane tin dismiss eat). I was pleasantly surprised to honour a lot of enjoyable meals.
What I loved virtually León was its closed proximity to as well as then many outdoor markets, inexpensive food, as well as decent foodie restaurants. It felt a lot to a greater extent than “local” than the tourist meccas of Granada as well as Ometepe downwards south. My catch to León was ane of the highlights of my trip to Nicaragua, as well as I’d highly recommend you lot acquire into a cry for of visiting hither too.
Logistics for visiting Leon
- The nearest airdrome is inwards Managua, an hr as well as a one-half drive from León.
- You create non actually cry for a auto every bit the metropolis is super walkable.
- Local buses damage C$ 4 per ride. Taxis are C$ twenty anywhere inwards the city.
Book Your Trip to León: Logistical Tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a inexpensive flying to León yesteryear using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my 2 favorite search engines. Start amongst Momondo.
Book Your Accommodation
You tin dismiss mass your hostel inwards León amongst Hostelworld. If you lot desire to remain elsewhere, role Booking.com every bit they consistently render the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance volition protect you lot against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. I never e'er continue a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for x years. You should too.
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