Laguna de Apoyo
Laguna de Apoyo
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
992 reviews
Excellent
657
Very good
259
Average
65
Poor
5
Terrible
6
Desirée C
New York City, NY25 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
This is a very beautiful place to take picture. The spot I visited was very rocky and so you will need water shoes or feet like the Flintstones. The water felt great though and the black sand was beautiful.
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Randy M
Ontario, Canada52 contributions
Feb 2023
Warm clean water, small waves, good breezes, fun place - one of my favorite NIC places by far. Not far from Masaya
Written 22 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris D
Carlisle, UK27 contributions
Oct 2022
The water was beautiful, great swim. Great food and a wonderful place to visit. Monkeys in the trees, clear clear water.
Written 11 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rowan H
Cairns, Australia1,332 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Laguna de Apoyo is a 200m deep crater lake located a short distance from Granada on the road to Masaya.
Logistically the easiest way to visit this from granada is with the $14USD tour offered by the various tour companies. There is a public chicken bus that travels here (Look for ‘La Laguna’) but these travel from Masaya, not Granada so in order to catch one you actually need to get a chicken bus from Granada to Masaya, then another from Masaya to La Laguna. So its a bit tricky. Its also worth noting that the 14USD tours include a day pass into the Paradiso Hostel which costs $7USD. So you’re effectively paying 7USD for transportation. You do want to go to the Paradiso Hostel as it has a private beach and affords use of some pool tires, a floating platform and some kayaks. You can also purchase decent food and drink at the hostel. There is a section of Laguna De Apoyo that is open to the public but its not the best (see below).
On the positives this is a beautiful crater lake to relax by with stunning views. I found the water to be a bit on the warmer side. The section of the lake we were based on was relatively clean however I did kayak to the public section. The public section was covered in floating plastics and garbage which was quite a surprise given that this is promoted as ‘Central America’s cleanest lake’. I felt this would benefit from a clean up.
Other than that it was a good way to spend a day!
Logistically the easiest way to visit this from granada is with the $14USD tour offered by the various tour companies. There is a public chicken bus that travels here (Look for ‘La Laguna’) but these travel from Masaya, not Granada so in order to catch one you actually need to get a chicken bus from Granada to Masaya, then another from Masaya to La Laguna. So its a bit tricky. Its also worth noting that the 14USD tours include a day pass into the Paradiso Hostel which costs $7USD. So you’re effectively paying 7USD for transportation. You do want to go to the Paradiso Hostel as it has a private beach and affords use of some pool tires, a floating platform and some kayaks. You can also purchase decent food and drink at the hostel. There is a section of Laguna De Apoyo that is open to the public but its not the best (see below).
On the positives this is a beautiful crater lake to relax by with stunning views. I found the water to be a bit on the warmer side. The section of the lake we were based on was relatively clean however I did kayak to the public section. The public section was covered in floating plastics and garbage which was quite a surprise given that this is promoted as ‘Central America’s cleanest lake’. I felt this would benefit from a clean up.
Other than that it was a good way to spend a day!
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Miyali Gil
Miami, FL7 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We went to spend the day at Laguna de Apoyo with our family, we had a very good time and fun. The food were amazing and the service outstanding.
Great location to visit as they have kayaks, paddle boards available to rent. Highly recommend it!!
Great location to visit as they have kayaks, paddle boards available to rent. Highly recommend it!!
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rob R
Rehoboth Beach, DE49 contributions
Jun 2022
For fans of true escapism, Laguna de Apoyo is hard to top. From it's stunning vistas to its heated crystal-clear waters, it's a unique respite from a busy world.
Written 3 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CalvinofCroft
Waterloo, Canada90 contributions
May 2022
We got a Private Taxi from Granada to the look out at Catarina, Magnificent view of Lake Apoyo on a beautiful day. The Crater Lake has blue water surrounded by the lushness of Apoyo Lagoon Reserve. Continued on to Paradiso Hostel & Restaurant for the day-pass. Great beach, dining options/bar area on a manicured property. A chillin vibe with a fun younger crowd. We used their shuttle van option back, Paradiso has shuttle service to their sister property The Oasis Hostel in Granada. Good food & drink on the a semi secluded beach on the thermal springed Lake Apoyo. (reasonably priced day depends on your dining/bar needs ) Maravilloso !!!
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BEMA4EVER
Miami, FL94 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
Closest place to paradise. The lagoon was amazing, surroundings unbelievable, the people around the area very friendly. We really got in touch with the nature doing kayak, swimming, having breakfast in the early morning watching the sunrise was an unforgettable experience.
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
bucketlisttravellers
Sydney, Australia3,783 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a beautiful lagoon nestled in the crater of an old volcano. The water is a beautiful blue colour and the lagoon has some of the cleanest water in Central America. It’s a perfect place to go swimming and relax by the shore. There are a number of restaurants and hotels scattered along the shore of the lake. You can either go to the lagoon as part of a day pass with one of the hotels or there are some spots where you can get to the lagoon yourself. In some parts of the lake the water is nicely warmed by the volcanic soil underneath which is also very pleasant. This is one of our favourite places in Nicaragua and well worth the visit when you’re in the area.
Written 24 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Suzana J
Los Angeles, CA114 contributions
May 2021
Splashed and played in the warm water. As it was windy there were many waves, but never the less it was fun :-) Water appeared clean.
Written 31 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
makepmama
19 contributions
Thank you for your post. what touring company did you use
Jody G
Toronto, Canada262 contributions
I booked 2 tours with a small company just 1 block from the cathedral on the street with all the bars and restaurants. Not sure of the name but maybe Mohamid Tours. They were very nice and bargaining made it really good value. Sorry my memory for names not the best but easy to find.
Side W
San Diego, CA17 contributions
Is there just one resort that Miranda B could be referring to and if so, what's its name? Thank you.
forestbynum
Baton Rouge, LA70 contributions
There are several resorts on the laguna and a few in walking distance. I stayed at Casa Marimba. The ones on the lakefront property will be much more expensive . I would look at all options and amenities before making a choice.
JOE M
Chicago, IL7 contributions
what is the town of esteli like is it a safe town and how far is it to the closest border ?Hondorus
Dave N
Medicine Hat, Canada65 contributions
The main thing in Estelli is of course the fabulous cigars. I just got back inside from enjoying one each with a bud, we brought our limits back. Lol. It's nice enough area too, and we didn't have a lot of time there, but our perception was that if you want a town in the mountains Matagalpa was far more interesting and Jinotega was our favorite place to just chill in Nica that didn't involve a beach. Lol. But Nica is an amazingly diverse country, one you could easily spend months exploring imo
conceptsbycaron
Monterey, CA
I live in California, and am thinking of retiring to this region of Nicaragua. Any advice for a long term place to stay for a month or so as I look at options.
I am a 60++ year old female traveling by myself- and possibily my dog is customs/animal requirements allow for this.
Don't be afraid to offer ideas and suggestions-I will be on a limited budget.
Thank you!
PilikaiHawaii
51 contributions
Get a cheap hotel and then search for a local house for rent with the local people.
If you're planning to retire here I imagine that at least you speak Spanish fluently right ? So just walk around the small shops and sure enough they will put you in contact with the right places .
mantella66
antibes4 contributions
Bonjour, nous partons au Nicaragua pour 5 semaines en novembre et nous comptons voyager en transports locaux et ne pas louer de voiture. Pensez-vous que cette façon de voyager au Nicaragua est bonne? Comment-avez vous voyagé? L'hébergement est-il abordable?
En vous remerciant.
Eric et Corinne,
Antibes
Adam
Washington DC, DC1 contribution
Does anybody know of a good diving company who does tours at Laguna de Apoyo?
Nicaragua P
Leon, Nicaragua32 contributions
I recently dived there. Jeffrey McCrary is a scientist working with the Estacion Biologica. Jeffrey has been conducting a study of the fish in the lake. We dove just at the beginning of the breeding season. There are at least 100 pairs of fish nesting, most of them with tiny fry. Several species of fish have been discovered by them. By diving with them, you help them collect data to promote their protection. You can see photos of the fish and the lake at 8882-3992.
In response to some of the other people here, the lake is about as clear as the Pacific Ocean, but without currents and dangers. The visibility on my dive was about four meters in some parts, eight meters in others. A dive cost 35 dollars.
LAGUNA DE APOYO (La Laguna de Apoyo) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Laguna de Apoyo
- We recommend booking Laguna de Apoyo tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 10 Laguna de Apoyo tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Laguna de Apoyo:
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour (From S$81.15)
- Nicaragua One Day Expedition from Costa Rica (From S$309.39)
- Charming Nicaragua "9 days Private Tour" (From S$1,490.05)
- PRIVATE tour at Granada+Apoyo Lagoon +handicraft market+ LAVA Masaya Volcano (From S$147.97)
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua (From S$363.20)
- Hotels near Laguna de Apoyo:
- (1.55 km) San Simian Lodge
- (0.60 km) Hostal Calle Real
- (0.60 km) Casa Vega Hostal
- (0.79 km) Hotel El Balcón
- (2.78 km) Paradiso Hostel
- Restaurants near Laguna de Apoyo:
- (0.03 km) Restaurante Saratoga
- (0.93 km) Restaurant Suan
- (12.45 km) Tostometro Granada Nicaragua
- (13.09 km) Restaurante El Garaje
- (12.11 km) La Frontera